Opening of Environmental Genomics Research Centre
St. John’s, NL, June 7, 2017 – Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC), the Research & Development Corporation (RDC), the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Petroleum Research Newfoundland & Labrador (PRNL) participated in the official opening of an environmental genomics research centre today. The first of its kind in the world, the Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications (CEGA) will be fully dedicated to the use of genomics for environmental assessment and monitoring.
Operated by eDNAtec Inc., the 3,500 sq. ft. facility will combine a dynamic research and development (R&D) environment with cutting edge technologies.
The facility will pursue a research program that will help educate and train various stakeholders and individuals, as well as develop new methodologies for the application of environmental genomics in environmental assessment with emphasis on those applications to oil and gas operations.
To establish the Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications facility in St. John’s, HMDC committed to providing $4.4 million in funding, the government of Canada through ACOA’s Atlantic Innovation Fund is providing approximately $3 million and RDC is providing $750,000.
“Information locked within the DNA of every living organism on Earth—so-called “genomics information”—can provide a deeper view into the biological world than is possible with any other technology,” says Dr. Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Chief Scientific Advisor, CEGA. “This centre is a stepping stone in the advancement of genomics research for real-world environmental assessment and monitoring applications.”
“Newfoundland and Labrador has a long history of ocean innovation,” said Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East. “We are home to a dynamic ecosystem of leading-edge researchers and businesses whose expertise and specialized technologies are in demand around the world. With this investment, the Government of Canada continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation which will both strengthen and grow the middle class and help protect our planet.”
“This new world-class facility presents an exciting opportunity that will increase the province’s R&D capacity in genomics and position Newfoundland and Labrador as a leader in environmental assessment and monitoring. Supporting eDNAtec and their innovative research promises economic benefits to the province,” said the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation and Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation.
“It is exciting to see genomics research at the Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications being applied to the oil and gas industry as we continue to advance projects from prospectivity to production,” said the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources.
“The establishment of this facility really shows the commitment to innovation in the field of environmental genomics, and we’re pleased to be a contributor in the building of R&D capacity in NL,” says Jennifer Walck, President of Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd.
“Environmental genomics is a rapidly emerging field that has potential to provide significant insights into marine science. RDC is pleased to invest in eDNAtec as they endeavor to revolutionize characterization of the ocean environment, while further building on genomics research in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Mark Ploughman, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Research & Development Corporation.