I have written a number of times about the use of DNA and genetics
in genealogy, as well as the ability of genealogists to aid in DNA and genetic
research. One well-known study involves the nation of Iceland; a somewhat self-contained
population that has excellent genealogy records going back eight hundred years.
Other groups with excellent genealogy records are providing information to geneticists,
including some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in
Utah, French-Canadians in Quebec, and the residents of several islands. One
company involved in the French-Canadian studies has now moved forward with a
major new infusion of cash.
Galileo Genomics is studying the medical records and genealogies
of fifty thousand Quebecers, all descended from two thousand six hundred immigrants
of New France. Quoting from the company’s announcement:
Galileo Genomics Inc., a Montreal-based genomics company,
has announced that it has secured $16.5-million in equity funding. The lead
investor, Investissement Desjardins of Montreal, was joined by other major
investors, BTF of the Netherlands, MVI of Europe and HBM BioVentures of
Switzerland.
Galileo will use these funds to search for genes associated
with twenty-five common and economically important diseases. The research
will be carried out with approximately fifty thousand members of the Quebec
population. The company will also use some of the equity funding to further
develop its technology platform for the discovery of disease genes, using
rapid and inexpensive scans of candidate regions and of the whole genome
with high density marker maps.
The company's research relies on the study of genetic data
collected from the Quebec founder population, a population of six million
distantly-related individuals descended from a small group of approximately
two thousand six hundred common ancestors that arrived from France between
1608 and 1760. Founder populations contain a relatively homogeneous gene
pool, a distinct advantage that is being pursued by several leading genetic
research companies to link genes with the diseases they cause.
"We expect to be among the leaders in the discovery of
genes associated with common diseases," commented Dr. John W. Hooper,
President and CEO of Galileo Genomics. "We believe our research will
rapidly lead to the discovery of new, more effective and safer drugs that
will treat the root causes of diseases and not just their symptoms. The
contribution of Quebecers to this cause is likely to be substantial, and
we look forward to working with our fellow Quebecers in this endeavor. In
recognition of this, Galileo is establishing a trust fund for the benefit
of Quebecers which will receive three per cent of the company's net profits."
Pierre Brunet, Senior Vice President of Investissement Desjardins,
commented "With this equity funding, Galileo will immediately expand
its genetic research in Quebec, with a program expected to be among the
largest of such efforts worldwide, and Investissement Desjardins is pleased
to participate in the growth of this promising company. Galileo's team has
developed in-depth expertise in the study of genetic data, and we are confident
that the data collected from the Quebec founder population will lead us
to a better understanding of common diseases, and produce better targets
for drug therapy."
Dick Eastman Online
