News

Cancers are diseases of the genome. They can result from minor changes to single or a few base pairs, known as mutations, or from larger structural changes to the genome, including how it is packaged into chromosomes and manipulated by other molecules. Understanding how things have gone wrong in specific cancers can help scientists develop better prognostic tools and treatment strategies.

Whole genome sequencing has revolutionized cancer treatment planning, enabling the rapid detection of DNA mutations not routinely screened for in the clinic. Until recently, however, scientists were limited in their ability to detect large structural genetic variants using short-read sequencing technology. But with the recent release of long-read sequencing instruments, cancer researchers have been eager to see what such technology could mean for precision oncology.

As part of a federal funding announcement earlier today, Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) at BC Cancer will be one of four Canadian institutions on the forefront of using genome science to understand how different people respond to COVID-19 infection.