Recent Gene Therapy Research Funded With Canadian Tax Dollars

Going back down the conspiracy rabbit hole, let’s take a look at the concept of “gene therapy”. Ottawa is quite open about the fact that this kind of research has been going on for years.

Gene therapy is using “genes as medicine”. It is an experimental approach to treating genetic disease where the faulty gene is fixed, replaced or supplemented with a healthy gene so that it can function normally. Most genetic diseases cannot be treated, but gene therapy research gives some hope to patients and their families as a possible cure. However, this technology does not come without risks and many clinical trials to evaluate its effectiveness need to be done before gene therapy can be put to regular medical use.

To get a new gene into a cell’s genome, it must be carried in a molecule called a vector. The most common vectors currently being used are viruses, which naturally invade cells and insert their genetic material into that cell’s genome. To use a virus as a vector, the virus’ own genes are removed and replaced with the new gene destined for the cell. When the virus attacks the cell, it will insert the genetic material it carries. A successful transfer will result in the target cell now carrying the new gene that will correct the problem caused by the faulty gene.

Viruses that can be used as vectors include retroviruses like HIV, adenoviruses (one of which causes the common cold), adeno-associated viruses and herpes simplex viruses. There are also many non-viral vectors being tested for gene therapy uses. These include artificial lipid spheres called liposomes, DNA attached to a molecule that will bind to a receptor on the target cell, artificial chromosomes and naked DNA that is not attached to another molecule at all and can be directly inserted into the cell.

The actual transfer of the new gene into the target cell can happen in two ways: ex vivo and in vivo. The ex vivo approach involves transferring the new gene into cells that have been removed from the patient and grown in the laboratory. Once the transfer is complete, the cells are returned to the patient, where they will continue to grow and produce the new gene product. The in vivo approach delivers the vector directly to the patient, where transfer of the new gene will occur in the target cells within the body.

Isn’t this lovely? According to the Canadian Government, “gene therapy” is a way of making genetic changes to a person’s code, in order to cure certain ailments. In essence, it’s modifying the person to make them healthier. Of course, this is how it’s supposed to work in theory.

There is the disclaimer that this is EXPERIMENTAL. In order to obtain informed consent, this must be made clear to all patients.

Gene therapy is now so widely accepted that there are harmonization standards being set up for labelling and distribution of these products.

According to the CIHR, mRNA technology has been used for many years. This really is a sort of gene therapy, but they claim that it wasn’t rushed in any way. Of course, they don’t mention the part of the manufacturers being indemnified against lawsuits from potential victims.

By the way, your tax dollars are being used to advance this industry.

With all the talk about these mRNA “vaccines” unleashed on the public, it’s important to note that gene therapy isn’t a brand new concept. In fact, the Canadian Government has been subsidizing such research for years. The bulk of these grants appear to have been issued by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), or the National Research Council (NRC).

Yes, there were a few duplications in that list, but even so, it’s shocking.

GRANT RECIPIENT DATE AMOUNT
Agudelo, Daniel S May 1, 2017 $150,000.00
BC Cancer, Provincial Health Services Authority Jul. 13, 2020 $110,220.00
Carleton University (Academia) Mar. 16, 2020 $158,400.00
Caruso, Manuel P Apr. 1, 2014 $318,420.00
Centre for Commercialization of Cancer Immunotherapy Apr. 1, 2021 $1,000,000.00
Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine Jul. 1, 2021 $544,500.00
Council of Canadian Academies Jan. 7, 2020 $1,147,956.00
Dellaire, Graham P Apr. 1, 2018 $1,063,350.00
Dos Santos, Claudia C Oct. 1, 2013 $739,239.00
Entos Pharmaceuticals Inc. (For-profit) Oct. 1, 2018 $128,600.00
Foldvari, Marianna Apr. 1, 2013 $509,660.00
Gatignol, Anne Apr. 1, 2014 $159,550.00
Gatignol, Anne Jul. 1, 2016 $955,625.00
Grol, Matthew Jul. 1, 2014 $150,000.00
Hampson, David R Jul. 1, 2016 $469,404.00
Incisive Genetics Inc. (For-profit) Jun. 1, 2020 $142,000.00
Incisive Genetics Inc. (For-profit) May 1, 2021 $252,000.00
Kyoto University Apr. 1, 2021 $750,000.00
Matsubara, Joanne A Apr. 1, 2017 $975,375.00
Nash, Leslie A May 1, 2016 $105,000.00
Meunier, Michel Apr. 1, 2018 $374,183.00
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Mar. 29, 2021 $198,000.00
Pancella Inc. Jan. 1, 2020 $400,000.00
Ramzy, Adam Sep. 1, 2015 $150,000.00
Roberge, Michel Nov. 1, 2017 $305,439.00
Schemitsch, Emil H Oct. 1, 2011 $293,267.00
Simpson, Elizabeth M Oct. 1, 2018 $906,526.00
Singh, Sheila K Oct. 1, 2013 $554,057.00
Tandon, Anurag Jul. 1, 2016 $978,560.00
Thibault, Patricia A Sep. 1, 2016 $150,000.00
Turcotte, Sandra Jul. 1, 2012 $205,000.00
Turcotte, Sandra Oct. 1, 2014 $495,930.00
Uludag, Hasan Apr. 1, 2012 $513,029.00
United Kingsom Research and Innovation Jun. 18, 2021 $508,388.00
Université Laval (Academia) Mar. 20, 2020 $200,000.00
Université Laval (Academia) Dec. 22, 2020 $195,000.00
University of Alberta May 10, 2017 $250,000.00
University of British Columbia (Academia) May 10, 2017 $355,000.00
University of British Columbia (Academia) Jan. 13, 2020 $1,127,311.00
University of Calgary May 10, 2017 $170,000.00
University of Ottawa (Academia) Mar. 30, 2020 $299,880.00
University of Ottawa (Academia) Apr. 15, 2020 $269,170.00
University of Ottawa (Academia) Jan. 1, 2021 $221,364.00
University of Toronto (Academia) Jan. 1, 2019 $1,942,475.00
University of Waterloo (Academia) May 10, 2017 $150,000.00
Wang, Jian Oct. 1, 2014 $250,468.00

One worth noting went to the University of Ottawa in March 2020. This was listed as “Artificial intelligence protein design for drugs and gene therapies”. Of course, there’s not too much available here, but a bit disturbing to have this go on. How would it be tested exactly?

Another grant was aimed at gene therapy to accelerate the healing process for fractures in the body. Sounds like something one would see in a cartoon.

Yet another was listed as a grant for: “Kill-switch” enabled, immune-silent, non-cytopathic, and persistent paramyxovirus vector for respiratory gene therapy”.

While all of these sound harmless enough, messing around with genetics is serious business. The long term effects of this may not be known for several years.

Now, this may be cynical. However, Bill S-201, the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act, can now be looked at in an entirely new light. Perhaps the goal was never about protecting people in their normal state of being, but to protect the altered versions of themselves. Just as hormones and major surgeries are protected (for trannies), now genetic modification of people would be as well.

(1) https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/science-research/emerging-technology/biotechnology/about-biotechnology/gene-therapy.html
(2) Gene Therapy – Canada.ca
(3) https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/applications-submissions/guidance-documents/international-conference-harmonisation/consultations/draft-step2-guidance-s12-nonclinical-biodistribution-considerations-gene-therapy-products.html
(4) Consultation_ Release of Draft (Step 2) ICH Guidance_ S12_ Nonclinical Biodistribution Considerations for Gene Therapy Products – Canada.ca
(5) https://www.ich.org/page/safety-guidelines#12
(6) ICH_S12_Step2_DraftGuideline_2021_0603
(7) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMphGEEX_F4
(8) https://search.open.canada.ca/en/gc/
(9) https://search.open.canada.ca/en/gc/?sort=agreement_value_fs%20desc&page=1&search_text=gene%20therapy
(10) https://search.open.canada.ca/en/gc/id/nrc-cnrc,172-2021-2022-Q3-947523,current
(11) https://search.open.canada.ca/en/gc/id/cihr-irsc,236-2011-2012-Q1-00070,current
(12) https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/s-201/royal-assent

One Reply to “Recent Gene Therapy Research Funded With Canadian Tax Dollars”

  1. You’re not being cynical. The Genetic Non Discrimination Act means they can’t demand a PCR test upon entering Canada, which is at odds with Trudeau’s decrees. Royal Assent in 2017! Definitely to protect the genetically altered. You know what they think of the unaltered.

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