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Aqua Gen has received funding for a research project, the goal of which is to find a genetic marker for resistance to salmon lice. The project will last three years and will take place in the period 2010-2012.

Previously, Aqua Gen has had great success in implementing a QTL (quantitative trait locus) for resistance to the viral disease IPN.  We would now like to extend this work by employing marker-assisted selection (MAS) and/or genomic selection for more, similarly beneficial traits.

This new project is at the forefront of "state-of-the art" in the field of genomic research in aquaculture species, and the knowledge which will be gained will have great significance for development in the discipline.  It will also increase genetic development in Aqua Gen's own genetic material, and will contribute to supplying the industry with more disease-resistant fish with better quality and production characteristics.

This is a user-driven innovation project which will be carried out in cooperation with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) and the Centre of Integrative Genetics (CIGENE).  In this project we will also have the benefit of data from Geninova and Aviagen (Aqua Gen's sister organizations in the field of poultry genetics) which can make a significant contribution based on their broad experience in the areas of molecular and quantitative genetics.

Project costs are estimated to be NOK 11. 2 million and will be financed by the Norwegian Research Council (32 %), Skattefunn (18 %) and Aqua Gen (50 %).  Aqua Gen's grant application was one of five out of 18 applications which came through this round of grants for user-driven projects.