Grant: Major Resources Support Program - Infrastructure

The Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding (CCDB) is leading the construction of a new system for the identification of life based on patterns of sequence diversity in short, standardized gene regions. Canadian researchers, joined by colleagues in 25 nations, have recently activated the International Barcode of Life Project (iBOL), the largest program ever undertaken in biodiversity genomics.The overall task of iBOL lies in collecting and curating specimens, gathering barcode records from them and building the informatics platform needed to store these records and to enable their use in species identification. In addition, iBOL participants will apply DNA barcoding to real world problems such as forensics, conservation, marketplace regulation and ecosystem monitoring. Within five years, iBOL researchers will gather DNA barcode records from 5M specimens, representing at least 500K species, producing a highly effective identification system for those species that are regularly encountered by humanity. Although iBOL's work involves a broad research alliance, Canada will have a leadership role. Research involvements will span the nation, but the CCDB at the University of Guelph will oversee its highest-volume sequencing centre, will operate its central informatics platform and will host its Secretariat. In particular, the CCDB-LAB will sequence more than 50% of the 5M specimens scheduled for analysis, while its informatics team will sustain development of BOLD, the Barcode of Life Data System, which is the primary repository and analytical platform for DNA barcode data. The present application seeks funding for key supervisory positions in the CCDB-LAB, a new programming position to support the establishment of BOLD mirror sites and a reactivation of the staff position needed to support a highly successful international exchange program.