Skip to content

Roche Canada creating software development hub for genomic data in Laval, Que.

LAVAL, Que. — Roche Diagnostics says it is creating a software development hub for genomic data in Quebec's third-largest city. The hub will be housed at Roche's Canadian head office in Laval, north of Montreal.

LAVAL, Que. — Roche Diagnostics says it is creating a software development hub for genomic data in Quebec's third-largest city.

The hub will be housed at Roche's Canadian head office in Laval, north of Montreal.

The company says the expansion demonstrates its commitment to searching for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases.

At the same time, Roche says the move will contribute to the Quebec government's goal of making the province one of North America's five most important life sciences jurisdictions by 2027, with a focus on precision medicine and the use of big data in the health sector.

It will be able to tap into the talent pool from the greater Montreal Life Science industry that employs more than 55,000 people at some 650 companies.

Roche is investing in next-generation sequencing and software development in Canada, said Andrew Plank, president and general manager, Roche Diagnostics, a division of Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

"Together we can make sequencing routine, broaden access to genomics and enable personalized health care for all Canadians," he said in a news release.

The announcement follows other Roche investments in Canada.

In October, Roche Canada announced a $500-million investment over five years into Ontario's life sciences industry that would add up to 500 specialists at its global pharma technical operations site in Mississauga, Ont.

It also launched the Roche AI Centre of Excellence last month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2020.

The Canadian Press