Genome Prairie

Genome Prairie, a non-profit organization, aligns partners and resources to develop and manage research projects addressing key regional priorities in the agriculture, human health, environment, energy, and mining sectors. These efforts are playing a central role in building the Prairie region's reputation as a location of choice for innovation and commercialization.

The field of genomics and related biosciences is highly competitive and requires significant levels of expertise, and access to capacity and resources. It takes knowledge, relationships and motivation to turn ideas into reality through discovery and innovation. Genome Prairie’s targeted efforts in project development, research management and community engagement ensure that the Prairie provinces maintain and enhance their reputation as a location of choice for innovation and commercialization.

Conference Objective

To develop strategic alliances with innovators and industrial stakeholders to facilitate future potential partnerships.

Partnering Objective

Genomics research and development across all life sciences sectors.

Delegate Contacts

Dr, Reno PontarolloPresident and CEOP: 1 306 361 1245

Dr. Pontarollo was appointed as Genome Prairie’s President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2013 and is responsible for the organization’s overall operations both in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Prior to being appointed as President and CEO, Dr. Pontarollo served as Genome Prairie’s Chief Scientific Officer. He was responsible for ten Genome Prairie-led and supported projects including the Value Addition Through Genomics and GE3LS (VALGEN), Total Utilization of Flax Genomics (TUFGEN) and Microbial Genomics for Biofuels and Co-Products from Biorefining Processing (MGCB2). He is also responsible for developing international relationships to these and emerging projects Canadian Triticum Advancement Through Genomics (CTAG), Microbial Assessment for Value-Add, Environment and Natural Resources (MAVEN) and Prairie Gold.Dr. Pontarollo held research appointments at the Department of National Defense Medical Countermeasures Section and the Vaccine & Infectious Disease Organization (Saskatoon). Prior to joining Genome Prairie, Dr. Pontarollo was the Director of Research for Pyxis Genomics where he led a program on innate immunity. Dr. Pontarollo graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology in 1999. His primary areas of research have been in genomics, molecular biology, vaccine development, and immunology.

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