Bermuda College partners with Dr. Carika Weldon’s newly-launched CariGenetics genomics research company

Bermuda College’s recently announced strategic partnership with Dr. Carika Weldon’s newly-launched CariGenetics genomics research company, imparts new significance to the term ‘innovative learning’ to Bermuda. For the first time ever, Bermuda’s research capacity, research output and research reputation will garner global attention through the use of biodiversity research examining the unique genomic environment of Bermuda and the Caribbean. Research results are expected to “unlock the power of the Caribbean human genome” to improve health outcomes for patient care in the region. CariGenetics founder and CEO, Dr. Carika Weldon, said the company fulfilled a worldwide need for data from the genomics research field for people of Caribbean descent.

“The global genome database (currently) used for drug discovery does not have Caribbean people represented. This means drugs are not designed for us, and in fact, can cause adverse effects,” she said. “It is possible to correct this, but only through empowering ourselves to do genomic studies for the benefit of our community and ensuring the data is fully owned by us.”

President of Bermuda College, Dr. Duranda Greene said the College was “honoured” to be a strategic partner with CariGenetics, and to be participating n this “pioneering, remarkable and critical part of Bermuda’s biodiversity and genetics research.”

Bermuda College students and faculty will be afforded volunteering and internship opportunities in the research that is expected to be published in international peer reviewed journals. It also provides students with connections to some of the leading-edge research institutions, such as Rockefeller University, the University of Rochester, Cornell University and Northeastern University.

For the full excerpt of the press conference click here.