Achieving breakthrough discoveries to
protect humankind

It had all the elements of high stakes drama. An aggressive, deadly disease was rapidly spreading around the globe. Quarantines were going up. And health officials were scrambling to shut down the new virus known as SARS.

"I was wondering what we could do," says Marco Marra, a UBC associate professor and director of Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) at the BC Cancer Agency. "And I approached my colleagues with the idea to sequence the SARS virus." That was on March 27.

By April 5, Marra's research team had obtained an RNA sample from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. After working around the clock they announced on April 11 that they had completed a draft DNA sequence of the virus -- the first in the world.

"This was a significant step," explains Marra. "Scientists now had the genetic information to develop tests for the presence of the virus, and work on a vaccine."

Marra credits achievements like this to the vision of the late Michael Smith, Nobel Laureate, UBC professor and founding director of the GSC. He also credits Victor Ling, vice president of research at the BC Cancer Agency, and vital funding from the B.C. Cancer Foundation, which made the vision for the GSC a reality.

"Michael was instrumental in bringing me back to Canada," says Marra. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be mentored by one of the world's leading thinkers." Marra himself mentors UBC graduate students at the BC Cancer Agency, ensuring the legacy of Michael Smith will live on in the quest for a cancer cure.

Marco Marra and his colleagues worked around the clock to complete a DNA sequence of the SARS virus

Related Links

• Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre
• B.C. Cancer Agency

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Peter Wall Distinguished Professor. Researcher Brett Finlay received UBC's most prestigious academic honour last year for his work on bacterial disease, research that could save the lives of millions and protect our water supplies.

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