Andriy Bilichak

Image Andriy Bilichak
Research Scientist

I am leading a program on cereal biotechnology and functional genomics. The focus of the program is the adoption of genome editing (CRISPR/Cas) and/or transient manipulation of gene expression methods to increase the performance and output of small grain cereals (wheat, barley, etc.) in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Current research and/or projects

  • Development and optimization of genome editing methods to improve yield and stress tolerance in small-grain cereals.
  • Discovery of epigenetic components involved in the regulation of agronomic traits in wheat.
  • Improvement of wheat transformation efficiency for functional genomics studies.

Education and awards

07/2013     Doctoral degree in Biomolecular Science/Plant Biotechnology from the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

07/2008     B.Sc. (biology) with Great Distinctions, National Precarpathian University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine

05/2012     Alberta Innovates Technology Features Graduate Student Scholarship

Key publications

  1. Dinushika Thambugala, Colin Hiebert, Brent McCallum, Mallorie Lewarne, Andriy Bilichak, Curtis Pozniak, Guus Bakkeren, Harmeet Singh Chawla, Curt McCartney (2023) Fine mapping of the wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr2a. International Plant and Animal Genome Conference, January 13-18, 2023, San Diego

    2023 - View publication details

  2. Bilichak, A., & Laurie, J. D. (2022). Accelerated breeding of cereal crops. Humana Press.

    2022 - View publication details

  3. Harvey C, Araujo GT, Frick M, Laroche A, Laurie JD, Graf RJ, Bilichak A. A genetic approach to improve wheat resilience to emerging stripe rust isolates using novel R gene sequences from Thinopyrum intermedium. Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Meeting (Virtual) of the Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, Edmonton, AB 2021/11/04 - 2020/11/05. Oral presentation T1.

    2021 - View publication details

  4. Bilichak, A., Chapter 13 - Genetic engineering in plants using CRISPRs, in Genome Stability (Second Edition), I. Kovalchuk and O. Kovalchuk, Editors. 2021, Academic Press: Boston. p. 223-233.

    2021 - View publication details

  5. Bilichak, A. and N.S. Yadav, Chapter 12 - Plant genome stability—General mechanisms, in Genome Stability (Second Edition), I. Kovalchuk and O. Kovalchuk, Editors. 2021, Academic Press: Boston. p. 201-222.

    2021 - View publication details

  6. Bilichak, A., et al., Delivery of Cas9/sgRNA RNP into Wheat Microspores Using Synthetic CPP for Genome Editing and Gene Expression Modulation, in CRISPR-Cas Methods, M.T. Islam, P.K. Bhowmik, and K.A. Molla, Editors. 2020, Springer US: New York, NY. p. 191-202.

    2020 - View publication details

  7. Bilichak, A., D. Gaudet, and J. Laurie, Emerging Genome Engineering Tools in Crop Research and Breeding, in Cereal Genomics: Methods and Protocols, L.M. Vaschetto, Editor. 2020, Springer US: New York, NY. p. 165-181.

    2019 - View publication details

Research facility

Route 100, Unit 100-101
Morden, MB R6M 1Y5
Canada

Affiliations

  • The University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Associate member of the School of Graduate Studies
  • Adjunct Professor, University of Manitoba

Language

English

Other languages

Ukrainian