Thompson Rivers University is proud to support Genome BC’s now-enhanced capacity to foster responsible resource development through genomic research initiatives.

On Wednesday, the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification and representatives of Genome British Columbia announced that Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is contributing $715,000 to Genome BC to support priorities that natural resources industries have identified as being critical to longer term success, and that will also help Western Canadian small and medium enterprises grow their international markets.

According to the federal government, this project will lead to concrete examples of how these applications could work in industry settings, with the goal of increasing integration across all areas of the natural resource sectors.

“Thompson Rivers University has a rich history of research that benefits the natural resource sectors of our province,” says Dr. Lincoln Smith, director of research partnerships and enterprise creation at TRU. “We are well-placed to expand our work in genomics and support the commercialization of new technologies.”

Read the Government of Canada News Release

Thompson Rivers University researcher Dr. Lauchlan Fraser is already leading a $300,000 Genome BC-funded project that uses genomic technology to improve strategies for monitoring the impact of the Mount Polley Mine tailings breach on the ecosystem, and to provide recommendations for environmental remediation.

Read about Dr. Lauchlan Fraser’s genomic research

“We are proud to partner with Genome BC and are extremely pleased by the federal government’s investment into genomic research,” said Dr. Will Garrett-Petts, associate vice-president of Research and Graduate Studies at TRU

Read Genome BC’s press release

Some of the partners that Genome BC will be working with include:

• FP Innovations
• Marine Harvest
• Canfor
• Cermaq
• Summerland Varieties Group
• BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences
• BC Wine Grape Council
• BC Food Processors Association
• Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association
• BC Honey Producers Association
• Ministry of Agriculture, Plant and Animal Health Branch
• British Columbia Agriculture Council
• Entrepreneurship@UBC
• University of Victoria
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of Northern British Columbia
• Genome Alberta
• Genome Prairie

More information

Dr. Lincoln Smith
Director, Research Partnerships and Enterprise Creation
250-371-5973
lsmith@tru.ca