Congratulations to Dr. Bruce Carleton!
Dr. Bruce Carleton from the University of British Columbia, alongside his colleagues Dr. Michael Rieder from the University of Western Ontario and Dr. Maja Krajinovic from the Université de Montréal, were part of a cohort that received over $49 million in funding to advance hereditary cancer care, child drug safety, and heart health.
Their project, Longitudinal, Deep-Phenotyped Pediatric Databank of Medical and Drug Therapy Outcomes, aims to improve drug safety and effectiveness for children by expanding access to genomic data on pediatric responses to medications and helping researchers and health agencies minimize harmful drug reactions.
Many children experience serious side effects from medications, but because pediatric diseases like cancer are rare, it is difficult to gather enough data to understand why. Over the past 20 years, the Canadian Pharmacogenomics Network for Drug Safety (CPNDS) has collected DNA and medical data from more than 12,350 patients, tracking their responses to over 100,000 medication uses and 10,000 severe adverse drug reactions. Some patients in this database have more than 40 years of medical history. This project will build on that work by adding a pediatric component to the Pan-Canadian Genomics Library (PCGL)—a national resource that makes genomic and clinical data accessible for research.
The project will reconnect with previously enrolled patients to obtain their consent to add de- identified genomic and clinical data to the PCGL and continue recruiting new patients at 10 existing study sites across Canada. A key focus will be increasing diversity and accessibility to ensure the database better represents all populations. Researchers will also upgrade the data from genome- wide typing (GWAS) to whole genome sequencing (WGS), allowing for a more detailed investigation of drug-related harm.
With these expanded resources, the team will use genomic data to identify biomarkers that predict harmful drug reactions in children with cancer. The insights gained will improve how medications are prescribed, making treatments safer and more effective for children in Canada and beyond.
About Genome British Columbia
Genome BC is a not-for-profit organization that has advanced genomics research and innovation for 25 years, growing a world-class life sciences sector in BC and delivering sustainable benefits for British Columbia, Canada and beyond. Genome BC has attracted over $1 billion in direct co-investment to the province, which has contributed to funding more than 550 genomics research and innovation projects. These initiatives enhance healthcare and address environmental and natural resource challenges, improving the lives of British Columbians. Genome BC also integrates genomics into society by supporting responsible research and innovation and fostering an understanding and appreciation of the life sciences among educators, students and the public.
https://www.genomebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BACKGROUNDER-CPHI2025-GenomeBC_FINAL.pdf