The Genomics Center of the Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – A center of international caliber focused on excellence and efficiency
Québec City, May 26 2014 – The Genomics Center of the Centre de recherchedu CHU de Québec, with its high-tech equipment, offering services to over 300research teams each year, was officially inaugurated today. This centerenables research professionals from the CHU de Québec, affiliated withUniversité Laval, to maintain and develop their acquired leadership in this cutting-edge area of genomics.
The science of genomics focuses on decoding and understanding all thegenetic information contained in a living organism. This discipline makes itpossible to understand the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for alarge number of complex genetic diseases. Our goal is to develop preventivediagnostic tools and treatments for these diseases. The research professionals at the Genomics Center are internationally renowned for theirexpertise, specifically in the study of infectious diseases (infectiology),personalized cancer screening and for the identification of biomarkers for theearly detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
“The Genomics Center benefits researchers working in areas as varied ashuman health, and particularly in personalized healthcare, brain diseases,mother and child health and wellbeing as well as other areas of the lifesciences. It is in this spirit of collaboration and by pooling our expertise andhigh-tech equipment, that we have reached an international caliber of researchin Québec and that we remain competitive”, explains Serge Rivest, Director ofthe Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec.
“Laval University is proud to have been able to contribute to the realisation ofthis multidisciplinary center offering an exceptional opportunity for researchersto take part in discoveries that will improve the health of individuals andcommunities. The contributions of our partners and the collaboration of thedifferent players involved in the project confirm the extraordinary regionaldynamics that are required to be able to create such a center of expertise ingenomics, and that are vital for our establishment and for the entire scientificcommunity of Québec”, mentioned Université Laval Rector, Denis Brière.
Thanks to the financial support of the Québec Government, the CanadianFoundation for Innovation (CFI), the Fondation du CHU de Québec, GenomeCanada and Genome Québec, Université Laval and the CHU de Québec canoffer cutting edge platforms to the research professionals of the Québec areawho are working in this effervescent discipline, making it possible for them tolaunch several major genomics projects. Furthermore, the Genomics Center also offers a high-quality learning environment and is a force of attraction andretention for students and research professionals from here and all over theworld.
“Our government believes that significant investments in Canadian researchare essential to sparking innovation, creating economic prosperity andimproving the lives of Canadians,” said Jacques Gourde, ParliamentarySecretary to the Prime Minister, for Official Languages and for the EconomicDevelopment Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Member ofParliament for Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la Chaudière. “Ensuring top researcherslike those at the Centre de recherche CHU de Québec have the cutting-edgetools they need to conduct world- leading research is a key component of ourcommitment to science and technology.”
“If the province of Québec and its National Capital are able to remain on thecutting edge of genomics research and be a world class leader in appliedbioinformatics, it is because of the vision and pursuit of excellence of theperson who authorized the funding for this ambitious project back in 2005, Mr.Philippe Couillard, then Minister of Health and Social Services and now PrimeMinister of the Province of Québec. Thanks to the 16 M$ of funding from theMinistry of Health and Social Services, today’s inauguration is the end result ofour collective efforts”, said André Drolet, Member of Parliament for Jean-Lesage, representing the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. GaétanBarrette, for this event.
“The Fondation du CHU de Québec is proud to have been able to contribute 5million dollars toward the realisation of the Genomics Center. The Foundationoffered its significant leverage to help obtain a grant from the CanadianFoundation for Innovation. The Foundation is proud that the contribution of itsbenefactors has ensured a quality environment for research professionalswho are working on the science of tomorrow. This is why the CHU de Québecis able to shine on both a national and international level”, added Mr. RossGaudreault, President of the Fondation du CHU de Québec’s Board ofDirectors.
The Genomics Center was built with a budget of 30 million dollars andrepresents 8,500 additional square feet of space, with over 40 million dollars’worth of high-tech scientific equipment acquired within the last 10 years.