Genome Atlantic

Genomics is transforming health outcomes across Atlantic Canada

From preventing fatal heart disease to accelerating rare disease diagnosis to advancing mental health care - Genome Atlantic's health research is delivering life-changing impact across our region.

Preventing Fatal Heart Disease: Our support helped Memorial University researchers identify the genetic mutation behind the "Newfoundland Curse” - arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). A simple blood test now identifies at-risk individuals, and implantable defibrillators have saved countless lives. The team received the Governor General's Innovation Award in 2018.

Faster Diagnosis, Closer to Home: The All-for-One Rare Diseases initiative ($4.8M) brought clinical genome sequencing to Atlantic Canada, reducing diagnostic wait times from 7-8 years and giving families earlier answers without outsourcing to U.S. labs.

Mental Health Breakthroughs: We're supporting groundbreaking research into the genetic underpinnings of bipolar disorder and serious mental illness, with recent findings showing genetic testing can be nearly as accurate as family history in detecting vulnerability, paving the way for earlier intervention and more effective treatment.

From the heart to the mind, our health research spans the full spectrum of human health, delivering better outcomes for Atlantic Canadians.

Find out how is improving health, the economy & the environment https://bit.ly/3YEaOHW

Climate-ready forests for Atlantic Canada's future

Climate change threatens Canada's softwood lumber industry, but genomics is helping us breed trees that can weather the change.

FastTRAC, a $6.2M partnership led by Genome Atlantic and Génome Québec with industry and provincial governments, is using genomic selection to accelerate breeding of commercial spruce varieties that thrive in warmer climates.

The game-changer? Estimating tree traits at the seedling stage vs. waiting 20 years with conventional breeding. Building on earlier work that boosted production by 10%, this project is helping secure the future of Atlantic Canada's forestry sector.

Creating climate resilient forests is one of 25 amazing ways that genomics is driving economic development, improving health outcomes, building climate resilience, supporting sustainable industries, and creating opportunities across Atlantic Canada. One of 25 amazing innovations to check out in our https://bit.ly/3YEaOHW

When disease threatens an industry, genomics responds.

The deadly MSX parasite – harmless to humans but fatal to oysters - devastated the Bras d’Or Lake’s oyster industry two decades ago. In July 2024 it was confirmed in P.E.I.'s Bedeque Bay, and soon after in New Brunswick. MSX threatens a $58M industry in P.E.I. alone and puts thousands of coastal livelihoods at risk.

Genome Atlantic is leading a coordinated response: a $3.1M project (4 years) is developing MSX-resistant oyster broodstock through genomics and selective breeding—led with Génome Québec, L'Étang Ruisseau Bar/Mallet Oysters, and Université Laval. A second, $800K eDNA project is creating early detection tools for MSX and Dermo parasites. Together, these efforts protect coastal communities and strengthen the oyster industry's resilience.

Full story (including videos) in our latest Annual Report https://bit.ly/3YEaOHW

Impact that counts: For every $1 of public funding, Genome Atlantic enables $23 in applied R&D investment and contributes $59 to GDP.

Between 2018-2023, our work generated:
• $178M in economic output
• $122M in GDP
• $8.9M in tax revenues
• 927 jobs supported

We're proud to play a pivotal role in advancing innovation priorities across Atlantic Canada, delivering strong returns on public investment. Get the full picture of how genomics is driving economic impact in our region, in our latest Annual Report https://bit.ly/3YEaOHW