"Genome sequencing is a powerful tool in Canada's public health response to COVID-19, allowing decision-makers to respond rapidly to new outbreaks and variants of concern. The Government of Canada is proud to work hand-in-hand with Genome Canada and the CanCOGeN network and partners to ensure Canada's pandemic response is informed by real-time data and scientific evidence enabled by open data sharing and pan-Canadian collaboration. Since the launch of the Variants of Concern Strategy, CanCOGeN and its partners to ensure Canada's pandemic response is informed by real-time data and scientific evidence enabled by open data sharing and pan-Canadian collaboration. Since the launch of the Variants of Concern Strategy, CanCOGeN and its partners have been working to quickly scale up genomic sequencing and research efforts to detect new variants, increase real-time data sharing capacity, and inform appropriate public health responses."

"As we mark one year of CanCOGeN, HostSeq has been established as a national project, enrolling multiple sites from coast to coast to coast, through a common project framework. HostSeq has completed whole genomic sequencing of over 2,000 Canadians affected by COVID-19. The genetic data, in combination with associated clinical data, will provide a deeper understanding of the association between the genetic variants in patient genomes and clinical outcomes, allowing for a better understanding of disease susceptibility, progression, response to treatments and vaccine efficacy. Sharing the data internationally will position Canada as a global partner in population genomic studies, laying new groundwork for our response to future national and global pandemics."

“A year ago, Genome Canada set out on a ground-breaking mission to tackle COVID-19 with the launch of CanCOGeN: a grassroots pan-Canadian effort driven by Genome Canada that brings together the regional Genome Centres, Canadian scientists, the National Microbiology Lab and provincial public health labs and partners. As we mark our first anniversary, the importance of national coordination and data sharing in Canada’s pandemic response cannot be overstated. CanCOGeN continues to advance genomic surveillance to inform critical public health decision-making and will ensure Canada has the national genomics data infrastructure and capacity to respond to future public health challenges.”