On April 12, Génome Québec and Université Laval announced the launch of Genovalia, the first center for the production, processing and valorization of non-human genomic data in Quebec. The goal of this center is to support genomic research, from pre-project planning to data development, structuring and storage, by applying the FAIR principles for data management: easily found, accessible, interoperable and reusable.

This initiative will create value by leveraging the synergy between AI and non-human genomic data in areas such as agri-food, forestry and environmental sciences.

Génome Québec

Génome Québec, a not-for-profit organization established in 2000, has given Quebec a head start in genomics research. Genomics is the study of all genetic material of a living being (human, plant, animal or virus), the analysis of the genomes of organisms, both from the point of view of their anatomy (sequences and organization) and their physiology (expression and regulation).

Its mission is to catalyze the development and excellence of genomics research, but also its integration and democratization. A pillar of Quebec’s bio-economy, the funds it invests come from the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec (MEI), the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and private partners.

Daniel Coderre, President and CEO of Génome Québec, stated:

“To lay the groundwork for Genovalia, Génome Québec has invested $500,000 over the past year. This innovative approach between artificial intelligence and non-health genomic data will allow us to optimize this investment and reap the benefits for Quebec society. Finally, this synergy will propel scientific research by making use of the wealth of this large volume of data which, ultimately, will act as a catalyst for Quebec innovation and leverage Quebec’s competitiveness in Canada and internationally.

The center’s scientific director will be Claude Robert, a professor in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at Laval University and a collaborating researcher at IID, the university’s Intelligence and Data Institute.

The IID at Laval University

Founded in 1852 by the Séminaire de Québec, Université de Laval was the first francophone university in North America.

It is currently one of Canada’s leading research universities, a leader in distance education, with more than 1,650 professors, nearly 2,300 lecturers and other teaching and research staff, and approximately 55,000 students from 130 countries each year, 27% of whom are graduate students.

Inaugurated in January 2020, the Intelligence and Data Institute (IID) at Université Laval brings together the driving forces of research and innovation in artificial intelligence and data enhancement in the greater Quebec City area.

Its researchers are working to develop and enrich knowledge in many fields: industry 4.0, smart city, Internet of Things (IoT), sensor networks, smart devices, medical imaging… and genomics.

Genovalia

Genovalia will thus benefit from the expertise of the IID and the research infrastructures of Université Laval to face more effectively the challenges of the genomics field: to allow a better standardization in data collection, to increase the exchange of information between different research fields, to increase the computational capacity, to develop more powerful analysis tools, etc.

A better use of genomic data will provide numerous benefits for industry, public policy and the advancement of scientific research.

Sophie d’Amours, president of Laval University, assures:

“Non-human genomics, which concerns, among other things, the sciences of agriculture, food, ecosystems and forestry, is a field with major scientific and economic potential that deserves to be better developed. The partnership with Génome Québec, which made the creation of Genovalia possible, illustrates Université Laval’s desire to put its expertise and research infrastructures at the service of Quebec society.

Translated from Québec : Génome Québec et l’Université Laval lancent Genovalia, le premier centre de valorisation des données génomiques non humaines du Québec