CANADA USES DIPLOMATS TO PROMOTE "ANTI-CONSCIENCE"/FINANCIAL SECURITIES VIOLATIONS GENOME PROJECT IN ROME
ERIC REGULY GLOBE AND MAIL BLOG POST Last updated Thursday, Apr. 09, 2009 4:19PM EDT
They looked like tourists and marvelled at the sight of Rome at night. But this wasn't about sightseeing. The 45 Canadian men and women, and a similar number of Italians, were all leading scientists with a background in genomics and proteomics. They had gathered for dinner at the Terazza Caffarelli, an elegant terrace on Campidoglio hill in the ancient heart of the city, to get to know one another before the real work begins.
The dinner took place last night and the scientists were guests of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and the Canadian embassy in Rome. The CNR and Genome Canada, the independent agency which funds genomics and proteomics research in Canada, recently signed an agreement to expand their links and establish a broad framework for research into human health. Since Genomics Canada was founded eight years ago, similar agreements have been signed with other European countries, with varying degrees of success. The one with Italy looks promising because the Italians and the Canadians are leaders in this field and neither country seems threatened by the other. In other works, there probably will be few impediments to sharing ideas and research. "These things need a spirit of openness to work well," said Martin Godbout, the CEO of Genome Canada, who was one of last night's guests.
He said the Italian-Canadian genomics partnership was off to a good start. The Canadians had already committed about $10-million to the partnership; the Italians about 10-million euros. The combined figure could easily double. Genome Canada has had considerable success in raising money. About 40 per cent of its budget comes from the Canadian government. The rest comes from the provinces, private donors and foreign sources. The funding to date exceeds $1.6-billion, giving Genome Canada a lot of research firepower and international credibility.
Today the Italian and Canadian scientists are locked in workshop sessions. The goal is to determine where the two sides can work together and how much the collaborative projects, if pursued, would cost. Among the Canadian scientists giving presentations were Robert Roberts and David Castle of the University of Ottawa; Bruce McManus of UBC; John Bergeron of McGill; Andrew Paterson and Michael Moran of Toronto's Sick Kids; and Robert Holt of Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre.
The scientists weren't giving a lot of clues last night about the areas where they might work together, though the possibilities would almost certainly include vaccines, infectious diseases and organ rejection.
Research funded by Genome Canada is starting to produce results. For example, a team financed largely by Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research recently found the gene that causes a deadly disorder known as ARVC5 -- arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy Type 5 -- believed to cause as many as 350,000 cardiac deaths each year in North America. The victims collapse and die without any warning that something is wrong. The gene's discovery will allow high-risk individual to use defbrillators to detect arrhythmia (irregular heatbeat) and return the heartbeat to normal with small electrical shocks.
The gathering of the Italian and Canadian scientists marks a victory for the Canadian embassy in Rome. Promoting trade and investment between the two countries is a worthy, though increasingly frustrating, goal. There are only so many widgets that Italy wants from Canada and vice versa. The sharing of knowledge and research is much more promising way of bringing the two countries closer together. It will also help to save lives.
