Livestock genomics research funding begins roll-out

Calgary, AB – Genome Alberta, the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency and the University of Lethbridge have announced the first of 9 projects approved for funding under Genome Alberta’s ‘Alberta Livestock Genomics Program’ (ALGP).

With $4.5 million in funding available from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, (ALMA) Genome Alberta put out a call for proposals in 2010 and has approved 9 research projects.

The first project to be given the go-ahead is led by University of Lethbridge Researcher Dr Brent Selinger. The project will be co-led by Dr Tim McAllister Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre. Also represented in the project team are IdentiGEN Canada Ltd and University College Cork in Ireland.

The $470,000 in funding and project support will be used by the project researchers to examine Escherichia coli O157:H7. The newly funded project “The use of metagenomics to develop mitigation strategies for Escherichia coli O157:H7 colonization in cattle” will use functional genomics to identify and develop new bioactive compounds for the control of the pathogen and to find new strategies to mitigate the shedding of the bacteria.

Work on the project lead by the University of Lethbridge is underway and over the next several weeks funding details for 8 more research projects will be announced.