{"id":23712,"date":"2023-03-08T13:34:31","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T18:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/genomequebec.com\/?page_id=23712"},"modified":"2023-07-18T08:31:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T12:31:38","slug":"pandemic","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/genomequebec.com\/en\/genomics\/societal-challenges\/pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How genomics plays a pivotal role in the fight against COVID-19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scientists use genomics to study the genetic material of living organisms, including humans, plants, animals and microorganisms. It may come as a surprise, but viruses too have genetic material (DNA and RNA) that can be analyzed using genomics tools. When studying the genome of a virus, such as the SARS-CoV2 causing COVID-19, scientists are able to better understand its characteristics, vulnerabilities, mechanism of action and evolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Genomics can also be used to study the genome of patients and the wide range of symptoms caused by the disease in order to better understand how the virus interacts with the biological systems of humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BIOBANKING<\/h3>\n \n\n

Biobanque qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise de la COVID-19 (BQC19)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To fight COVID-19, researchers need high-quality biological samples and medical data from patients infected with the coronavirus. The BQC19 holds biological samples from more than 4,500 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 with mild to severe symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biobanque G\u00e9nome Qu\u00e9bec and CIUSSS du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the start of the pandemic, this biobank has been storing tens of thousands of nasopharyngeal samples collected from people with COVID-19 at various hospitals in Qu\u00e9bec. The samples are used to isolate and sequence the virus in order to monitor its evolution and spread. The availability of high-quality, well-organized human biological tissue collected early in the pandemic will serve as a long-term source of information for the Qu\u00e9bec research community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SEQUENCING<\/h3>\n \n\n

Sequencing the virus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

G\u00e9nome Qu\u00e9bec is working with the Laboratoire de sant\u00e9 publique du Qu\u00e9bec on a pan-Canadian initiative (CanCogen, VirusSeq<\/a>) whose mandate is to collect and analyze some 150,000 viral sequences from patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. The viral sequences obtained in Quebec will be pooled with those from other provinces to determine the entry pathways of the virus, its spread and its evolution<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sequencing patients samples <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better understand the significant variability of symptoms associated with the SARS-Cov-2 virus, researchers are hard at work studying the human genome. G\u00e9nome Qu\u00e9bec has joined the pan-Canadian effort (CanCogen, HostSeq<\/a>) involved in collecting some 10,000 genomes from Canadians infected with SARS-Cov-2 and presenting a variety of COVID-19 symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RESEARCH<\/h3>\n \n\n

Research funding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

G\u00e9nome Qu\u00e9bec, in partnership with Genome Canada, has invested $1 million in a large-scale project involving the discovery of new therapeutic molecules using an innovative approach based on artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evaluation of research projects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early on in the pandemic, following a call for proposals on short-term solutions to combat COVID-19, G\u00e9nome Qu\u00e9bec received and assessed more than 60 research project proposals. In collaboration with the Qu\u00e9bec government, a first funding announcement has, so far, supported five projects on COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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