CGDN has 11 core facilities located across Canada designed to provide efficient access to sophisticated technologies which speed discovery. These facilities provide state-of-the-art support for CGDN research and efficient pooling of our resources. These facilities have been a major factor in maintaining CGDN research at internationally competitive levels, and in stimulating commercial developments.


Bioinformatics Training

Director: Mr. Francis Ouellette (Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, Vancouver)
Objective: Unique training in development and use of computational tools for the study of biology.


DNA Sequence Analysis

Directors:
Dr. Ben Koop (University of Victoria)
Dr. Michael Hayden (University of B.C., Vancouver)
Dr. Stephen Scherer (Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto)
Objective: Dedicated DNA sequencing with data analysis for high accuracy sequence determination and for use as a screening tool in gene discovery.


Genome Alteration in Mice

Directors:
Dr. Frank Jirik (University of Calgary)
Dr. Andras Nagy/Dr. Janet Rossant (Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto)
Objective: Develop genetically modified mouse strains, including mice expressing transgenes, or having modification of endogenous genes by gene targeting.


Genome Alterations in C. elegans

Director: Dr. Joseph Culotti (Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto)
Objective: Isolate mutated C. elegans gene homologues of human disease genes for investigation of gene action, regulation, and development of strategies for therapeutics development.


Genotyping

Director: Dr. Tom Hudson (Montreal General Hospital, Montreal)
Objective: High-throughput genotyping for genome-wide scans aimed at identifying candidate gene regions for genetic studies.


In vivo DNA Analysis

Director: Dr. Régen Drouin (Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec)
Objective: Analyze the physical state of DNA In vivo to yield information on protein-DNA interactions, DNA methylation status, and distribution of natural and induced DNA damage.


Immunoprobes

Director: Dr. John Wilkins (University of Manitoba, Winnipeg)
Objective: Produce polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and provide advice on antigen design and detection assays for antibody generation.

Proteomics
Director: Dr. Keith Ashman (Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto) http://proteomics.mshri.on.ca
Objective: Sequence database resources using complex mixture separations (high throughput 2-D gels), mass spectrometry analysis of recovered proteins and computer-assisted mass matching.

Transcribed Sequence Detection

Director: Dr. Johanna Rommens (Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto)
Objective: Identify transcribed sequences in genomic DNA in aid of gene discovery projects.