Genetics research funding focuses on sudden cardiac death

St John’s, NL – Memorial University has received funding of $750,000 to support genetics research related to inherited diseases of the heart. In particular, the funding will support the acquisition of a state-of-the-art next generation DNA sequencing platform, which will provide local researchers with the ability to develop diagnostic tools to help prevent sudden cardiac death.

The funding is being provided by the province’s Research & Development Corporation (RDC), which is a provincial Crown corporation responsible for improving Newfoundland and Labrador’s research and development performance, and the provincial government.

“Genetic researchers in this province, and across Atlantic Canada, currently outsource all services related to next generation DNA sequencing to other regions of the country, costing valuable time and money,” said Dr Terry-Lynn Young, associate professor, discipline of genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University. “Today’s funding announcement will allow us to continue to solve genetic puzzles of medical importance to our province and the world and train the next generation of researchers at Memorial University.”