Generating solutions

The Metabolomics Innovation Centre (TMIC) was launched in 2011 and serves as Canada’s national metabolomics laboratory, mandated to provide Canadian scientists and trainees with access to comprehensive, cutting-edge metabolomics services and technologies. TMIC, which comprises seven nodes in four Canadian universities, has four key strengths: its ability to perform quantitative metabolomics on a wide range of matrices, including biofluids, tissues, plants, microbes, water, air and soil; its world-class informatics capabilities and database tools; its capacity to innovate and perform translational technology development; and its ability to perform metabolomic measurements and analyses for a wide range of health, agriculture, environment, wildlife, fishery and forest applications.

To date, TMIC has analyzed some 30,000 samples and conducted more than 55,000 assays, attracting more than $3.6 million in service revenues from more than 285 Canadian and international academic clients, 33 government labs and 78 companies from Canada and around the world. It has leveraged Genome Canada’s $5 million in funding with an additional $27.3 million in co-funding from other sources.

Moving forward, TMIC will grow substantially to meet an estimated tripling of metabolomics activities in Canada in the next five years. It will continue to extend its reach nationally and adding new technological capabilities. It will also expand its technology development activities, including developing and commercializing metabolomics kits to make metabolomics more accessible, affordable and mainstream.