Genomic and Metabolomic Solutions for BC Agriculture

遗传学改变了人们对生命有机体的理解，使新的科学工具和技术得以出现。近几十年来，这些工具和技术已被整合到人类医学中，并使人们能够以精确的方法了解疾病和推进治疗。遗传学也改变了大规模农业，加速了产品开发和可持续性。然而，大多数农业中小型企业(SME)获得遗传专业知识和基础设施的机会仍然有限。KPU与不列颠哥伦比亚省的农业部门有着长期的合作关系。KPU通过其研究机构和实验室促进可持续农业生产，以满足私人、公共、非营利和土著合作伙伴的需求。最近，KPU通过其应用基因组学中心(AGC)为高质量的基因组和代谢研究开发了新的基础设施。该中心旨在使农业中小企业更容易获得遗传专业知识和工具，以支持它们的创新需求。自2019年1月开业以来，AGC已与8个行业合作伙伴开展了5个成功的应用研究项目，并培养了多名本科生。这些项目得到了来自公共资助者、私人组织、行业协会和当地中小企业的254,000美元现金的支持。KPU已投资41.4万美元用于人员工资和研究用品，并为AGC新建一个研究实验室投资了150万美元。当地对该中心基因组和代谢解决方案的需求超出了最初的预期。NSERC的支持将确保我们通过在KPU建设能力来满足这一快速增长的需求。与行业伙伴的持续对话将确保中心的应用研究满足当前和未来的行业需求，同时扩大KPU学生的相关体验式学习机会。

Genetics has transformed understanding of living organisms and enabled the advent of new scientific tools and technologies. In recent decades, these tools and technologies have been integrated into human medicine and enabled a precision approach to understanding disease and advancing treatments. Genetics has also transformed large-scale agriculture, accelerating product development and sustainability. However, access to genetics expertise and infrastructure remains limited for most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture. KPU has long standing partnerships with BC's agricultural sector. KPU advances sustainable agricultural production through its research institutes and laboratories to meet the needs of private, public, non-profit, and Indigenous partners. Recently, KPU developed new infrastructure for high quality genomic and metabolomic research through its Applied Genomics Centre (AGC). The Centre aims to make genetics expertise and tools more accessible to SMEs in agriculture to support their innovation needs. Since opening in January 2019, the AGC has engaged in five successful applied research projects with eight industry partners, and trained several undergraduate students. These projects have been supported by $254,000 in cash from public funders, private organizations, industry associations, and local SMEs. KPU has already invested $414,000 toward personnel salaries and research supplies, and $1.5M toward a new research laboratory for the AGC. The local demand for the Centre's genomic and metabolomic solutions has exceeded initial expectations. Support from NSERC will ensure we meet this rapidly growing demand by building capacity at KPU. Consistent dialogue with industry partners will ensure that the Centre's applied research fulfils current and future industry needs, while expanding relevant experiential learning opportunities for students at KPU.