Dr. Wong was recently recruited as a Research Chair in Biosystems for Alberta’s Informatics Circle of Research Excellence (iCORE). The $2-million 1,000 Plants Initiative is an early spin-off of Dr. Wong’s four-year, $4-million research program.

The Alberta 1,000 Plants Initiative is supported by the Alberta government, the Alberta Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Genome Alberta, the University of Alberta and international partners including the Beijing Genomics Institute (China) and Musea Ventures (USA).  

Technology developed by Dr. Wong, who holds a cross appointment between the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta, will be used to determine the gene sequence of 1,000 plants. Results could be used for breeding improved crops, from which high-value bio-products and medicinal compounds can be commercialized. After the first phase of the Alberta 1,000 Plants Initiative, the most promising plant species will be selected for further commercialization development.

“My work has focused on finding ways to bring speed and cost-saving to DNA sequencing and applying the data to enhance selective breeding of useful plant species,” said Dr. Wong. “Incredibly, only about 100 plant species DNA sequences have been analyzed in the proposed manner, so this project has real potential for new discoveries that can make nature work for us.”

The project will also expand the province’s research and development capacity in genomics and provides valuable experiences for post-secondary students in Alberta and China, who may have opportunities for exchange under the project. Major international projects, like this one require long-term relationships such as, the memoranda of understanding held between Alberta and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shenzhen Bureau of Science and Technology.

As part of the researchers’ strategy to see the project have a positive impact worldwide, all of the sequence data they produce will be made available to the public on the Internet, through the GenBank database at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/.

Dr. David Bailey, President and CEO of Genome Alberta, said, “The Alberta 1,000 Plants Initiative is a bold initiative that takes advantage of the latest advances in genomics science and will create a wealth of information that could advance the province’s bio-products industry.”

“Dr. Wong’s research is on the leading edge where genomics and information technologies converge,” said Randy Goebel, President and CEO of iCORE. “Alberta is rewarded as another iCORE Research Chair’s expertise and research outcomes support the development of innovative communities within Alberta and attracts industry and international funding.”

Growing knowledge-based, value-added activity in Alberta’s life sciences research and industry sector is one of Premier Stelmach’s priorities for building Alberta’s next generation economy.