Marc LePage, President and CEO of Génome Québec, is pleased to announce the results of the Québec Vert Competition, launched last spring, and made possible thanks to a grant from the Ministère du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation. The aim of this competition is to fund pilot projects that will use genomics to solve issues related to ecosystem health.
“We all have a role to play in protecting ecosystems. Our very future—our ecology, our economy and our culture—depends on it,” explained Marc LePage. “In that sense, sustainable development has become a core value for Quebecers and for Génome Québec, which is proud to support researchers who are working to solve problems related to ecosystems health. I also want to emphasize the quality of the projects submitted, which confirms the importance of genomics to the cutting-edge sectors that contribute to sustainable development. We are happy to promote the talents of these internationally renowned researchers in a sector where various strengths were identified and which accounts for about 25% of genomics researchers in the province.”
Three projects were selected, and will each receive $100,000 in funding. The researchers are: Prof. Vincent Martin, from Concordia University, Prof. Connie Lovejoy, from Université Laval, and Prof. François Belzile, also from Université Laval. These pilot projects will use genomics to study issues relating to fossil-fuel dependency, the Arctic environment, and sustainable development, and will allow to initiate large-scale genomics projects on these topics. To find out more about these projects, visit our Website.
About Génome Québec
Since May 2000, Génome Québec has been the driving force behind the development of genomics in Québec. By supporting over 60 projects and 750 researchers and managing the operations of the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre, Génome Québec is helping to accelerate the discovery of new applications for genomics in strategic areas, such as human health, forestry and the environment.
The funds invested by Génome Québec are provided by the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade of Québec (MDEIE), the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and private partners.
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For more information:
Éva Kammer
Public Relations Advisor
Génome Québec
514 398-0668, ext. 206