Two physiological responses to protect tissues from nuclear defects

A new study by the Cell Cycle Regulation Research Unit, headed by Vincent Archambault, identifies two physiological responses activated when nuclear reformation defects are detected by the cells at the end of their division. These responses play a crucial role in protecting tissue integrity during development. Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the project was led by doctoral student Jingjing Li.

Together for the Cause!

On September 21 and 22, the Beneva Marathon took place in Montreal, and IRIC is proud to announce that nearly $33,500 was raised, with a total of 454 donations. This significant contribution placed IRIC in 5th position among all participating organizations.

Major Research Grants at IRIC

It is with great pleasure that IRIC highlights the recipients of major grants offered by partner organizations. A well-deserved recognition for the Institute’s research teams, who certainly have the wind in their sails!

Announcement of the winners of the Science Réflexion 2024 contest

IRIC is pleased to announce the winners of the Science Réflexion 2024 contest. This annual contest highlights the creativity and talent of the IRIC community and presents science in a new way.

Challenge: to create an advanced materials academy

Delphine Bouilly, Université de Montréal’s representative on the executive of the Regroupement québécois sur les matériaux de pointe (RQMP), and her colleagues will set up the Advanced Materials Academy (AMA), a new initiative to enrich graduate training in advanced materials. The project is made possible by a $1.65M grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) CREATE (Collaborative Research and Training Experience) program.

A CRS Doctoral Research Awards winner at IRIC!

IRIC would like to congratulate Anaïs Vivet on receiving the Doctoral Research Awards from the Cancer Research Society (CRS). She is one of 40 recipients of this second edition of the Doctoral Research Awards.

Improving the design of experiments involving BRET biosensors to make them more physiologically relevant

A new study by the laboratory of Michel Bouvier, Director of IRIC’s Molecular Pharmacology Research Unit, compares the advantages and disadvantages of various biosensors used to analyze G protein-coupled receptor signaling. The research project was conducted jointly by postdoctoral fellow Shane Wright, research advisor Charlotte Avet and postdoctoral fellow Supriya Gaitonde. It is published in the journal Science Signaling.

Anca Apavaloaei receives the 2024 Best Thesis Award

Two students determined to walk for leukemia

The annual Light The Night walks, organized by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, brings together the blood cancer community across the country. The event raises funds for research on 137 types of blood cancers. Students Ryan Borotra and Tyler Lussier have mobilized a team for IRIC, and will be supporting the cause during the Montreal Light The Night walk on October 26. Meet these two committed representatives of the next generation.

Development of a tool to study new treatments for liver cancer

The team led by Sylvain Meloche, Director of IRIC’s Signalling and Cell Growth Research Unit, has developed a new preclinical model for the study of the most common subtype of liver cancer. Published in the journal Disease Models & Mechanisms, the work was carried out by research associate Laure Voisin and research advisor Marjorie Lapouge. Vincent Quoc-HuyTrinh, Director of IRIC’s Digital Histology and Advanced Pathology Research Unit, also contributed to the study.

Katherine Borden elected Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

Katherine Borden, Principal Investigator and Director of the Structure and Function of the Cell Nucleus Research Unit at IRIC, and Full Professor in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology in the Faculty of Medicine at Université de Montréal, is one of XX new Fellows elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS).

IRIC on the road again this upcoming fall

As part of its IRIC on the road student recruitment tour, the Institute’s academic affairs team will participate this fall in several graduate studies fairs organized by Canadian universities.

Genetic parasites involved in the development and function of the immune system?

A recent study by the team of Claude Perreault, Director of IRIC’s Immunobiology Research Unit, proposes three potential functions for “parasite” DNA sequences in the development of T lymphocytes. Led by doctoral student Jean-David Larouche, the work is published in the journal eLife.

A novel approach to study hypoxia enables identification of a potential new marker for ovarian cancers

In a new study, the team led by Etienne Gagnon, Director of IRIC’s Cancer Immunobiology Research Unit, has developed a cell culture protocol that accurately reproduces the characteristic conditions of primary tumors. The group also identified a novel form of the WT1 protein associated with poor long-term survival in ovarian cancer patients. Published in the journal Cancer Gene Therapy, the study was led by doctoral student Jordan Quenneville.

All but nanometric leadership for Delphine Bouilly

Delphine Bouilly, Director of IRIC’s Design and Application of Electronic Nanobiosensors Research Unit, has been on a roll in recent months. Appointed head of three strategic networks, she has also seen her Canada Research Chair in Bionoelectronics renewed and won a prestigious award from the Electrochemical Society. Here’s a look back at her record of achievement.

Three IRIC graduates named to the Honor List of the Rector of the Université de Montréal

IRIC is proud to count three of its graduates among the most recent appointments to the Rector’s Honor List.

Sébastien Carréno collaborates with a team from France on a study published in EMBO J

Sébastien Carréno, Director of IRIC’s Cellular Mechanisms of Morphogenesis during Mitosis and Cell Motility Research Unit, has signed a new publication in EMBO J with colleagues from the Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology of Toulouse. The project was led by PhD student Perrine Verdys, co-supervised by Professor Carréno. The group’s work demonstrates that macrophages, which are immune cells, can migrate without the ERM proteins, cell cortex proteins until now considered essential to any cell migration process.

Three IRIC projects funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) recently awarded Project Grants for the Spring 2024 competition. This program aims to support original ideas with the potential to advance basic and applied health knowledge. Across the country, 373 research projects, representing a total investment of $325 million, have been funded. Three IRIC projects are recipients of these prestigious grants.

2024 Student Recruitment Event: meeting a new generation of motivated and diversified students

The 2024 edition took place from June 5 to 7 and welcomed 32 participants from universities around the world. More than 150 interviews were scheduled this year between participants and the Institute researchers present at the event.

Targeting the surface of leukemia cells with immunotherapies

Immunotherapies, which are more natural and less toxic than chemotherapies, have made major advances in recent years. However, they remain relatively unexploited in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of leukemia that is particularly heterogeneous genetically and difficult to treat. The Leucegene group, led by Guy Sauvageau (IRIC’s Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Research Unit) and Josée Hébert (Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont), and involving the teams of Philippe Roux, Sébastien Lemieux and Pierre Thibault at IRIC, and of Vincent-Philippe Lavallée at the CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre, has developed a new approach to analyze the molecules present on the surface of leukemia cells. Their work has led to the identification, in AML specimens, of new high-potential targets for immunotherapies. The study was led by Marie-Ève Bordeleau, Deputy Director of the Sauvageau laboratory, and is published in the journal Cell Reports.

Marc Therrien takes the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer of IRIC

IRIC is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Marc Therrien as Interim Chief Executive Officer of IRIC. The Executive Council of the Université de Montréal recently ratified the recommendation made by IRIC’s Board of Directors. Marc Therrien is Principal Investigator in the Institute’s Intracellular Signalling Research Unit and Full Professor in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal.

IRIC’s Science Reflexion contest: 2024 Edition !

We are pleased to announce the return of IRIC’s Science Reflexion contest. The 2024 edition of IRIC’s Science Reflexion contest is here!

You have a beautiful microscopy image, a figure from your bioinformatics analysis or any other illustration from your research?

Cole Foundation scholarships for two IRIC students

Two IRIC students win Cole Foundation doctoral scholarships worth $50,000 for two years.

Welcome to the 2024 IRIC Next Generation Awards recipients!

This scholarship enables undergraduate students to spend 12 to 16 weeks at IRIC during the summer term.

IRIC Master’s and Ph.D. Scholarships – Recipients of the Winter 2024 Competition

The objective of the IRIC Master and Doctoral Awards Competition is to support IRIC students who have an excellent academic and research records, but do not benefit from substantial scholarship.

Success for IRIC at the Festival Eurêka! 2024

On May 24, live from Île Sainte-Hélène, IRIC took part in the 17th edition of the Festival Eurêka! This festival is an opportunity for families and the next generation of young people to immerse themselves in the world of scientific discovery.

From lab to stage, Vanessa Laflamme piles up the miles and dollars in support of research

A biologist by training, having completed a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology at IRIC, Vanessa worked for a few years in the biotech industry before returning to IRIC in 2020. Since then, she has been working as a research advisor in the Drug Discovery Unit headed by Anne Marinier. A member of Équipe IRIC for a second year, she generously agreed to share her running and fundraising experiences with us.

End of Michel Bouvier’s mandate as Chief Executive Officer of IRIC

IRIC marks the end of Michel Bouvier’s mandate as the Institute’s Executive Director since 2014.

Seventeen scholarships and grants from the Fonds de recherche du Québec awarded to IRIC members for 2023-2024

The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) offers $53.2 million in training grants, $13.7 million in career grants and $52.8 million in research grants for a total of $119.7 million in new grants for the year 2024-2025. IRIC is proud to count several of its members among the winners of these competitions.

Les Grandes Retrouvailles at IRIC: discover the world of fundamental research

As part of Les Grandes Retrouvailles of Université de Montréal, IRIC opened its doors to the general public on May 9, giving them an opportunity to discover the world of fundamental research. Over twenty people were on hand to learn about cancer research and discover the Institute.

$3.7M in funding for a research project on cellular rejuvenation

A collaborative research project between the teams of Guy Sauvageau, director of the IRIC Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Research Unit, and Anne Marinier, CEO of biotech company RejuvenRx, recently received $3,697,199 in funding. The grant was made possible by investments from the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM), the Quebec government, RejuvenRx, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Université de Montréal Partenariat fund.

$21M in funding to tackle antimicrobial drug resistance

The Canadian Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) and the Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF) are investing $21 million in a research project aimed at accelerating the discovery of new antibiotics to counter drug-resistant bacteria. Led by Yves Brun, professor in the Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology and researcher at the UdeM Faculty of Medicine’s Centre for Biomedical Innovation, the project will involve various IRIC teams.

$750 000 raised during the IRIC Audace Gala at the Université de Montréal

On April 10, over 250 guests gathered for IRIC’s Gala Audace 2024. Thanks to the generosity of donors and guests, $750 000 was raised. Since 2014, more than $8 million has been raised through the Gala Audace, helping to perpetuate IRIC’s fundamental research and perfect cancer therapies.

Success for the scientific outreach evening Cancer and immunology

On March 28, four IRIC students participed in the game of science outreach at the BistroBrain: Cancer and Immunology event.

A new strategy based on copper overdose to treat AML

Despite the therapeutic advances of recent years in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), this pathology remains associated with a poor prognosis. In a new study, the Leucegene group led by Guy Sauvageau, Director of IRIC’s Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Research Unit, Anne Marinier, Director of IRIC’s Drug Discovery Unit, and Josée Hébert (Banque de cellules leucémiques du Québec (BCLQ), Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center) proposes a therapeutic strategy based on copper overdose as a treatment for a genetic subgroup of AML particularly sensitive to this approach. Led by Céline Moison and Deanne Gracias (biology), and Julie Schmitt and Réjean Ruel (chemistry), in collaboration with the BCLQ genetics laboratory team, this project has been published in the prestigious journal Science Advances.

CSMB honours Sylvie Mader and Guy Sauvageau

IRIC congratulates Sylvie Mader and Guy Sauvageau, recipients of awards from the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB). Sylvie Mader, Director of IRIC’s Molecular Targeting in Breast Cancer Treatment Research Unit, is the 2024 recipient of the Jeanne Manery-Fisher Memorial award. Guy Sauvageau, Director of IRIC’s Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Research Unit, is the recipient of the Arthur Wynne Gold Medal award.

Identification of an enzymatic activity required for the completion of cell division

Cell division, a process required for the survival of all species, enables the genetic material of a mother cell to be separated and shared between its two daughter cells. As many aspects of cell division remain poorly understood, the team led by Jean-Claude Labbé, Director of the Cell Division and Differentiation Research Unit, focused on one of its final stages, cytokinesis. The team identified a new protein, OSGN-1, as being required for the correct completion of cell division. The study, published in the journal PNAS, was led by research associate Eugénie Goupil and doctoral student Léa Lacroix.

IRIC marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science

On February 10, IRIC was present at the Centre des sciences de Montréal for Women and Girls in Science Day, to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This 7th edition of the event drew a record crowd, with over 3,300 curious onlookers on hand to discover different scientific disciplines.

Pasquale Gentile: “Without science, I wouldn’t have survived my cancer.”

February 4 was World Cancer Day. Watch the video of Pasquale Gentile, a patient who received UM171 cell therapy, a molecule discovered by Guy Sauvageau and Anne Marinier’s teams at IRIC.

The Canadian Cancer Society awards a grant to Geneviève Deblois

Geneviève Deblois, Director of IRIC’s Metabolic and Epigenetic Alterations in Cancer Research Unit, is the recipient of a Emerging Scholar Research Grant from the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). Sixteen of these grants were awarded across the country in the 2023 competition to advance cancer research programs. Geneviève Deblois, the only researcher to be funded in Quebec, has been awarded $550,000 for her project “Finding better ways to treat triple-negative breast cancer”.

Expansion of hematopoietic stem cells: the mechanism of action of the UM171 molecule involves MYC regulation

The ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), an important advance for cell-based therapies, can lead to replicative and metabolic stresses; much as aging does. In their efforts to identify the best strategies for HSC expansion, the team led by Guy Sauvageau, Director of IRIC’s Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Research Unit, has been investigating the molecular mechanisms induced by the UM171 molecule, which was jointly discovered in 2014 by his laboratory and the team led by Anne Marinier, Director of IRIC’s Drug Discovery Unit, and enables the ex vivo expansion of HSC derived from umbilical cord blood. Their most recent study, led by researcher Jalila Chagraoui and published in the journal Blood, reports that the UM171 molecule preserves HSCs from cell culture-induced stress by modulating the activity of the MYC protein.

Decoding the molecular and structural bases of signal transduction to design more effective drugs

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are bound by a wide range of ligands: over 500 molecules naturally present in humans (such as hormones), as well as a third of approved drugs, target them. The binding of these ligands to GPCRs leads to the selective activation of different signaling pathways, which are involved in processes as varied as metabolism, cell growth and immune responses. Michel Bouvier, Director of the Molecular Pharmacology Research Unit and Chief Executive Officer of IRIC, and his collaborators set out to better understand, at the atomic level, the molecular and structural determinants that dictate a ligand’s ability to activate a GPCR. The work, a collaboration with Madan Babu, researcher at Ste-Jude Research Hospital, and Brian Kobilka, researcher at Stanford University and co-recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was conducted by Franziska Heidenreich while she was a postdoctoral fellow in the Bouvier laboratory. It is published in the journal Science.

A molecular glue that promotes cyclin K degradation

The CDK12 and cyclin K proteins form a complex that plays important roles in several types of cancer, including melanoma and breast cancer. The team led by Philippe Roux, IRIC’s Scientific Director and Head of its Cell Signaling and Proteomics Research Unit, has characterized the mode of action of a novel CDK12 inhibitor, developed for its therapeutic anticancer potential. The results obtained reveal that the inhibitor in question, the molecule SR-4835, acts as a molecular glue to induce the degradation of cyclin K and thus inactivate the complex it forms with CDK12. Conducted jointly by postdocs Thibault Houles and Jonathan Boucher, the project has been published in the journal Cell Death Discovery.

A look back at IRIC’s 20th anniversary: A year of celebration!

Over the past 20 years, IRIC has built a research model unique in the country, and brought together exceptional expertise. To shine the spotlight on its community, promote science and set the stage for future achievements, the Institute has created a special program for 2023. Here, in retrospect, are the various initiatives and celebrations that marked this special year.

New study identifies targets for immunotherapy in two breast cancer subtypes

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world. There are several subtypes that differ immunologically, some generating stronger immune responses than others. The team led by Claude Perreault, Director of IRIC’s Immunobiology Research Unit, used a proteogenomic approach to study the immunopeptidome of two breast cancer subtypes: hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. They identified several new antigens for each subtype, which were also shown to generate an immune response in vitro. These new antigens therefore represent potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. The project was led by doctoral student Eralda Kina and is published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

A $6M grant to improve the treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemia

Guy Sauvageau, as director of the IRIC Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells Research Unit, and Anne Marinier, as CEO of the biotechnology company RejuvenRx, obtain $6M over 3 years from Genome Canada for the project “Development of a Novel Cyclin K Degrader of High-risk AML Patients and Associated Genomic Features”. The funding is provided as part of Genome Canada’s Genomics Applications Partnership Program, which aims to foster partnerships between industry, public users, and academic research.

Two CRS Doctoral Research Award winners at IRIC!

IRIC would like to congratulate Myriam Iliana Ibanez Rios and Karla Lucia Paez Martinez on receiving a Doctoral Research Award from the Cancer Research Society (CRS). They are among 21 recipients of these new fellowships across the country, which offer funding of $70,000 over two years. This new CRS initiative aims to provide an essential support to the doctoral community.

Two UdeM Excellence Scholarship recipients among our student community!

The Assistant Vice-Rector for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies honored student excellence by awarding 155 scholarships. Two IRIC members are among the recipients of these scholarships for excellence. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, perseverance and volunteer work.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Mélanie Fréchette

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Mélanie Fréchette, Animal Health Technician in Guy Sauvageau’s laboratory.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Sandra Weber

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Sandra Weber, Research Advisor in Marc Therrien’s laboratory at IRIC.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Jinny Émond

­­­­In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Jinny Émond, Animal Care Worker In vivo Biology Core Facility.

A CRS grant to validate therapeutic targets in liver cancer

The team led by Sylvain Meloche, Director of IRIC’s Signaling and Cell Growth Research Unit, has been awarded a two-year grant of $125,000 for the project “Advanced preclinical validation of SRC-family kinases as therapeutic targets in liver cancer”. This grant is funded in partnership with the Canadian Liver Foundation.

Lucyle Depoërs, doctoral student and science communicator, presents the magazine L’ÉclairSci

IRIC is proud to support the creation of the new magazine l‘ÉclairSci. Initiated by doctoral student Lucyle Depoërs, from Claude Perreault’s laboratory, the project will present scientific studies carried out by IRIC teams in the form of popularized infographics. In a digital form, l‘ÉclairSci aims to share the latest advances in cancer research with the general public.

A new platform to predict the safety of drug compounds

With their ability to activate multiple signaling pathways at different locations in the cell, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are prime targets for drug development. Shane C. Wright, from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, has managed to harness new technology developed during his time as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Michel Bouvier, CEO of IRIC and Director of its Molecular Pharmacology Research Unit, that can potentially be used to predict adverse effects of new treatments prior to their use in the clinic. The study, a joint effort by the Swedish and Montreal teams, has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Success for the IRIC 2023 symposium!

On October 19 and 20, over 250 guests gathered for IRIC’s international scientific symposium. The event was also an opportunity for everyone to officially mark IRIC’s 20th anniversary at Université de Montréal.

$13,000 raised as part of the Beneva Montreal Marathon

The Beneva Montreal Marathon took place on September 23 and 24 and IRIC is proud to have collected more than $13,000 thanks to generous donors.

Celebration of IRIC’s 20th anniversary and its community!

On September 18, 300 people from IRIC’s student and staff communities gathered to celebrate the Institute’s 20th anniversary.

Announcement of the winners of the competition Science Réflexion 2023

IRIC is pleased to announce the winners of the Science Réflexion 2023 competition. This annual competition showcases the creativity and talent of the IRIC community and presents science from a different angle.

Congratulations to the 3 recipients of IRIC’s Salary Awards Competition for Postdoctoral Fellows

Three postdoctoral fellows won the IRIC Postdoctoral Fellowship Competition this year. These three grants were awarded thanks to dedicated donations.

IRIC on the road: a student recruitment tour powered by the Academic Affairs team

As part of its IRIC on the road student recruitment tour, the Institute’s academic affairs team will participate this fall in several graduate studies fairs organized by Canadian universities.

Pasquale Gentile: a patient treated with the UM171 molecule visits IRIC

On July 14, Pasquale Gentile, a patient who received cell expansion therapy based on the UM171 molecule, visited IRIC’s laboratories to visit the Drug Discovery Unit and meet Stéphane Gingras, the chemist who synthesized the UM171 molecule.

KIF18A: a promising anticancer target for combinatorial therapy with PLK1 inhibitors

The PLK1 kinase is involved at multiple levels in the control of cell division. Cancer cells are often particularly dependent on the activity of this enzyme. However, the anticancer therapies developed to target PLK1 remain largely ineffective to date. The laboratory of Professor Vincent Archambault, Director of IRIC’s Cell Cycle Regulation Research Unit, collaborated with the laboratory of Professor Michael Tyers, then Director of IRIC’s Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology Research Unit, to better understand the cellular functions of PLK1 and to identify genes whose inactivation interferes with cell proliferation in synergy with existing PLK1 inhibitors. The results suggest that inhibition of the kinesin KIF18A could be a therapeutic avenue to exploit in combination with PLK1 inhibitors. Published in the journal PLOS Genetics, the study was led by research advisor Karine Normandin.

Captain Mathilde: combining racing and science for the benefit of research

Research advisor in the laboratory of Sylvain Meloche, who heads the Signalling and Cell Growth Research Unit, Mathilde Soulez has agreed to assume for a third year the captain’s role for Team IRIC at the Marathon Beneva de Montréal. Scientist, runner, coach, mother; meet a woman of many talents and interests.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Madeleine Héroux

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Madeleine Héroux, Biology Assistant Director, Drug Discovery Unit

IRIC Intern Day Conference : An opportunity to learn about scientific communication

The fifth edition of IRIC Intern Day Conference was held on Thursday, August 10. The event, organized by IRIC Academic Affairs Office together with the summer interns, enabled 11 interns to learn about scientific communication in front of their peers and IRIC colleagues.

A total of four oral presentations and seven poster presentations were given.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Simon Girard

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Simon Girard, Research Officer in Guy Sauvageau’s laboratory.

Identification of the Emerin protein as a target of the PP2A-B55 phosphatase: a key regulation for mitosis exit

IRIC’s Cell Cycle Regulation Research Unit and Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Research Unit, headed respectively by Professors Vincent Archambault and Pierre Thibault, have taken advantage of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to identify PP2A-B55 target proteins. Their results reveal that the nuclear envelope protein Emerin is dephosphorylated by PP2A-B55, a regulation event that is important for nuclear envelope reformation and embryonic development. Conducted jointly by doctoral students Virginie Emond-Fraser and Myreille Larouche, the study is published in the Royal Society‘s Open Biology journal.

Four IRIC teams obtain funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) recently awarded the Project grants for the Spring 2023 competition. This program aims to support original ideas with the potential to advance basic and applied knowledge in health. Across the country, 381 research projects, representing a total investment of $325 million, were funded. Four IRIC projects have received these prestigious grants.

UdeM Summer Immersion Program: an opportunity for the next generation to learn about molecular biology in our laboratories

On July 4, as part of the Université de Montréal Summer Immersion Program, 8 young people aged 15 to 17 took part in a thematic workshop in IRIC’s laboratories. Led by doctoral students Fadia Boudghene-Stambouli, Eloïse Duramé and Chloé Tesnière, the half-day workshop gave them the opportunity to experiment and learn about molecular biology and cancer research.

Identification of a novel pro-motility pathway involving the protein CNK2 in cancer cells

At IRIC, Marc Therrien and his team are interested in understanding how signal transduction is disrupted in cancer cells, allowing them to divide and spread throughout the body even in the absence of appropriate signals. Their recent work, which was led by the PhD students Jessica Gagnon and Guillaume Serwe, and the research associate David Kachaner, was published in Nature Communications and describes a new signalling pathway in which the scaffold protein CNK2 plays a central role to increase the motility of cancer cells. The research teams of Gregory Emery and Sylvain Meloche at IRIC also contributed to this study.

Visit the new IRIC store!

IRIC is proud to launch its new online store. Whether for a sporting event or simply on a daily basis, make the Institute shine by wearing its colors.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada presents two awards in honour of IRIC members

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) presents six awards each year to recognize the contributions of the organization’s volunteers and staff. Two of these awards are named in honour of IRIC members: the Dr. Trang Hoang – Healthcare Professional of the Year Award and the William Brock – Courage to Inspire Award. IRIC is very proud to be able to count on these two models of commitment on a daily basis.

ENPP1 reduces the immune response in HER2+ breast cancers

HER2∆16 is an oncogenic variant of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2); it is implicated in breast cancers and other types of tumors as a motor for tumorigenesis and the metastatic process. The laboratory of Professor Philippe Roux, Director of the Cell Signaling and Proteomics Research Unit at IRIC, collaborated with the team of William Muller, from the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute of McGill University, to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying HER2Δ16-mediated oncogenicity. The results obtained suggest that HER2Δ16 alters the tumor microenvironment via the ENPP1 protein, which could prove to be an interesting therapeutic target. Published in the journal Cancer Immunology Research, the study was conducted jointly by Jonathan Boucher, postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Philippe Roux, and Sherif Samer Attalla, doctoral student in the Muller laboratory.

2023 Student Recruitment Event: an edition of meetings and encounters

The 2023 edition took place from June 7 to 9 and welcomed 23 participants from 19 universities around the world. More than 100 interviews were scheduled this year between participants and the 12 Institute researchers present at the event.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Isabelle Caron

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Isabelle Caron, Animal Health Technician in vivo Biology Core Facility

Rector’s Award presented to Julie Mantovani for the Connexion Breaks project

The Rector’s Awards 2023 of the Université de Montréal were presented on June 12 to celebrate the achievements and commitment of outstanding staff members who exemplify university values. IRIC congratulates Julie Mantovani, Head of Academic Affairs, who received the Innovation Award during the ceremony. This award celebrates an individual who dares to bring change by proposing and implementing new ideas.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Raphaëlle Lambert

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Raphaëlle Lambert, Manager of the Genomics Core Facility of IRIC.

IRIC’s Science Reflexion contest: back for the 2023 edition from June 6 !

We are pleased to announce the return of IRIC’s Science Reflexion contest.

You have a beautiful microscopy image, a figure from your bioinformatics analysis or any other illustration from your research?

Enter the contest and try to win one of the 4 gift cards worth $100!

The selected artworks will be printed (e.g. in 3’x3′ format) and displayed in strategic places in the Institute. The artworks could be offered to sponsors for philanthropic activities.

IRIC Next Generation Awards Program 2023 scholarship recipients arrive at the Institute

This fellowship competition enables undergraduate students to spend 12 to 16 weeks at IRIC during the summer term.
This opportunity is made possible through the IRIC Scientists of Tomorrow 2023 Scholarships competition, supported financially by IRIC’s principal investigators and philanthropic funds.

Juliette Humeau wins People’s Choice Award at Science POP provincial final

The provincial final of the Science POP science communication competition was held on May 27 and 28.  In the popularization category, Juliette Humeau, a postdoctoral student in Claude Perreault’s laboratory, won the People’s Choice Award for her presentation entitled “L’action coordonnée des cellules immunitaires dans la lutte anticancéreuse” (“Coordinated action of immune cells in the fight against cancer”).

Philippe Roux appointed Scientific Director of IRIC

IRIC is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Philippe Roux as Scientific Director the Institute. The Council of the Université de Montréal recently ratified the recommendation of IRIC’s Board of Directors for a two-year term. Professor Roux thus becomes the third Scientific Director in the history of the Institute, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023. He succeeds to Professor Marc Therrien, who has held the position with distinction since 2013.

IRIC 2023 Scientific Day highlights new generation of scientists

IRIC’s 10th Scientific Day, held on May 26, showcased the work of the Institute’s scientific community. Over 150 people attended the event, which featured 12 oral presentations and 63 poster presentations. These sparked lively discussions and exchanges, which will provide food for thought for all.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Caroline Baril

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Caroline Baril, Research Officer in Marc Therrien’s Laboratory at IRIC.

Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation: renewed support of $300,000!

Since 2019, with generous support from the Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation, researchers and their teams have been able to further investigate pediatric leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), pushing the boundaries of science on these types of cancer.

Renewal of the mandate of Michel Bouvier as Chief Executive Officer of IRIC

At the 0178th meeting held on April 11, 2023, the Executive Committee of the Université de Montréal appointed Michel Bouvier as Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), for a fourth term beginning June 1, 2023 and ending May 31, 2024.

A NOVA grant for Delphine Bouilly and her partners

IRIC congratulates Delphine Bouilly, Director of the Design and Application of Electronic Nanobiosensors Research Unit, who was awarded a NOVA grant of $225,000 over three years for the project “Functionalized bilayer graphene devices: achieving selectivity and sensitivity”. Offered jointly by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, this grant supports research projects led by up-and-coming researchers from Québec in collaboration with researchers from other Canadian provinces and territories.

Principal Investigator Geneviève Deblois wins Forbeck Award !

Geneviève Deblois, Director of IRIC’s Epigenetic Mechanisms and Cancer Metabolism Research Unit, is one of the 13 recipients of the 2022-2023 Forbeck Prize. “This award will allow me to be part of a group of specialized researchers, many of whom are internationally recognized in fields of research related to mine,” explains Geneviève Deblois.

Identification of supervillin as an ERK3 target: implications for the completion of cytokinesis

Despite potential roles in the tumorigenesis of lung and breast cancer cells, the atypical protein kinase ERK3, a member of the Ras/MAPK pathway, is poorly characterized. The laboratory of Professor Sylvain Meloche, Director of the Signalling and Cell Growth Research Unit, collaborated with the laboratory of Professor Jean-Claude Labbé, Director of the Cell Division and Differentiation Research Unit, both at IRIC, to identify ERK3 targets and better understand its cellular functions. The work carried out led to the identification of supervillin as a target of ERK3. Published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology, the study was jointly led by postdoctoral fellow Joaquim Javary and research advisor Eugénie Goupil, with the collaboration of research advisor Mathilde Soulez.

Thirteen IRIC members are recipients of scholarships and grants from the Fonds de recherche du Québec for the year 2023-2024

The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) offers $58.6 million in training grants, $13.1 million in career grants and $29.8 million in research grants for a total of $101.5 million in new grants for the year 2023-2024. IRIC is proud to count several of its members among the winners of these competitions.

Three finalists will represent IRIC at the provincial Science Pop final

Held on April 12, IRIC’s internal competition awarded three finalists who will take part in the provincial finals of the Science Pop pan-Quebec science communication contest on May 27 and 28.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Éric Bonneil

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Éric Bonneil, Manager of the Proteomics Core Facility.

IRIC’s benefit gala raises $505,000 for Audace 2023

On April 27, over 250 guests gathered for IRIC’s (Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Université de Montréal) 20^th anniversary at its benefit-event, Audace. Thanks to the generosity of guests and donors, over $505,000 were raised to sustain IRIC’s mission and improve cancer-fighting therapies.

The Université de Montpellier awards an honorary doctorate to Michel Bouvier

An honorary doctorate has been awarded to Michel Bouvier for his work on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and his contribution to scientific advances in the field of molecular pharmacology. The highest distinction in higher education was awarded to him by the University of Montpellier during a ceremony held on April 13.

Congratulations to IRIC Travel Awards - Winter 2023

The objective of the competition is to encourage IRIC M.Sc. and Ph.D. students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, to participate in major scientific congresses taking place outside the province of Quebec.

Discovery of new roles for eIF4E: widescale reprogramming of splicing to change the message

The team of Professor Katherine Borden, Director of the Structure and Function of the Cell Nucleus Research Unit at IRIC, set out to understand how alternative splicing was hijacked in certain patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) who do not harbour the DNA mutations usually associated with splicing dysregulation. The study of laboratory models and samples from leukemia patients has made it possible to discover that the splicing of thousands of RNAs could be altered in an unsuspected way by the oncogenic protein eIF4E, conferring cancerous properties to the cells. Published in The EMBO Journal, the work was jointly led by postdocs Mehdi Ghram and Gavin Morris, along with research associate Biljana Culjkovic-Kraljacic.

More than $10,000 raised for the first FOCUS!

From February 9 to February 12, 2023 was held the first edition of FOCUS, an exhibition presenting science from an artistic perspective thanks to the creative talents of IRIC’s scientific community. The exhibition brought to light scientific works created by the Institute’s community at Projet Casa, a Montreal-based showroom founded by long-time donator : Danielle Lysaught and Paul Hamelin.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Nadine Mayotte

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits entitled “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it has become.

Today, meet Nadine Mayotte, Research Advisor in Guy Sauvageau’s laboratory at IRIC.

Principal investigator Gregory Emery awarded a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grants support original ideas with the potential to advance basic and applied health knowledge. The most recent competition, held in the fall of 2022, funded 382 applications for a total investment of $325 million. IRIC congratulate Gregory Emery, Director of its Vesicular Transport and Cell Signalling Research Unit, who has been awarded a five-year $963,900 grant for the project “Regulation of collective cell migration by the kinase Misshapen”.

Principal Investigator David Knapp receives a Terry Fox Research Institute Award

David Knapp, director of IRIC’s Cellular Engineering Research Unit, is among the 2023 recipients of the Terry Fox New Investigator Awards. He will receive $433,850 over three years for the project “Understanding the Cellular Mechanisms of Age Associated Clonal Hematopoiesis”.

Signature of an exclusive licensing agreement and a new research collaboration in oncology with Ipsen

The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Université de Montréal (IRIC) is proud to announce that Ipsen has exercised its option to acquire exclusive rights to one of IRIC’s pre-clinical oncology programs, which was the result of a successful research collaboration between Ipsen, IRICoR and the Université de Montréal, initiated in May 2020. Ipsen will now lead all further activities for the worldwide development and commercialization of the resulting drug candidate.

IRIC Master’s and Doctoral Scholarships - Fall 2022 Competition Recipients

The objective of the 2022-2023 IRIC Master and Doctoral Awards Competition is to support IRIC students who have an excellent academic and research records, but do not benefit from substantial scholarship. These M.Sc. and Ph.D. scholarships are offered thanks to the support of IRIC’s large community: its employees and researchers, its generous donors and partners.The granting of these scholarships is also made possible thanks to the involvement of several volunteers.

IRIC adopts new guidelines for the payment of Master’s and doctoral scholarships

In the current inflationary context, IRIC adopted in January 2023 new measures to improve the living and working conditions of its student community. With the cost of living having increased over two decades, and particularly in the last two years, the new guidelines adopted by IRIC will help reduce the financial stress of its student community and provide a healthier climate in which to conduct studies.

The Pillars of IRIC: meet Gabrielle Jacob

In 2023, IRIC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Among the initiatives put in place to celebrate this anniversary, the series of portraits “The Pillars of IRIC” will highlight the people who have contributed since the very beginning, sometimes in the shadows, to make IRIC what it is today. Today, meet Gabrielle Jacob, Administrative Technician in IRIC’s Finance team.

Renewed support for Fonds Valérie Blais

Renewed support for Fonds Valérie Blais

IRIC and its partners meet in Montpellier to develop an international Master’s degree program

A collaboration between IRIC, the Université de Montréal, the Université de Montpellier in France and the Università di Pavia in Italy, has led the project “MAD4Cancer – Towards an International Master Degree in Cancer Biology” to be awarded an Erasmus Mondus Design Measures grant of 55,000 euros for 15 months. The objective of the project is to set up an international Master’s degree program in cancer biology allowing students to attend the three partner universities.

The Fondation Jean Gaulin donates $24,420 to IRIC’s General Fund

The mission of the private family foundation Jean Gaulin is to support the well-being of the community. For many years, the foundation has supported the Institute and seek to deepen  knowledge in immunology and cancer. This donation will contribute to convert the discoveries of researchers into innovative therapeutic solutions for the well-being of people affected by cancer.

William Brock Appointed Chair of IRIC’s Board of Directors

IRIC announces the appointment of William Brock, Lawyer Emeritus of the Québec Bar Association, as new Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The use of the CAXII marker could improve the classification of breast tumors

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, which cannot be effectively targeted by a common, single treatment. In two-thirds of cases, the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), a receptor activated by sex hormones, is expressed and can be targeted therapeutically by hormone therapy. However, ERα levels can vary between and within tumors, complicating its detection and subsequent choice of therapy. The progesterone receptor (PR) is commonly used clinically as a co-marker for selection of tumors qualifying for hormone therapy. Indeed, this estrogen-regulated marker is thought to reflect ERa activity. In a new study published in the journal Cancers, Sylvie Mader, director of the Molecular Targeting in Breast Cancer Treatment Research Unit at IRIC, and her PhD student Lucas Porras show that PR detection imperfectly reflects ERα activity and identify a new, more reliable co-marker.

A bone marrow transplant has united Dr. Claude Perreault and Dr. Robert Patenaude for 40 years now

November 2022 marks the 40^th anniversary of a key encounter that allowed Robert Patenaude to become one of the first recipients of a bone marrow transplant in Canada. Here is a look back at the story that has united Robert Patenaude and Claude Perreault for four decades.

Identification of CDK12 as a new target of the RAS/MAPK pathway: implications for the treatment of melanoma

The laboratory of Professor Philippe P. Roux, Director of the Cell Signalling and Proteomics Research Unit, focused on the mechanisms associated with this resistance. To discover more effective anti-cancer targets, the team sought to identify the key effectors of the RAS/MAPK pathway, a signaling pathway that is overactivated in melanoma. The work carried out identified the CDK12 protein as a direct target of this pathway and highlighted its important role in melanoma cells. The project was led by postdoctoral fellow Thibault Houles and is the subject of a publication in the journal Nature Communications.

Brian Wilhelm and partners received over $2 million for pediatric leukemia research project

An unprecedented partnership bringing together the Conseil québécois sur la découverte du médicament (CQDM), the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), the Cole Foundation, the Oncopole, philanthropists and Quebec companies has awarded $8,485,132 to four teams Montreal-based for their research projects on pediatric cancers. Among them is the team of Brian Wilhelm, director of the High Throughput Genomics Research Unit at IRIC and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal.

Objectives met for sporting events benefiting IRIC

This fall, our community had the opportunity to join three renowned sports initiatives by participating in various competitions and/or supporting IRIC’s cause. In total, $21,325 was donated to the Institute thanks to the generosity and determination of our sports enthusiasts! A look back at these events.

A young researcher who has the wind in his sails

David Knapp, director of the Cellular Engineering Research Unit at IRIC and assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Cellular Biology of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal, has amassed successes, just two years after the establishment of his research group. As one of the most recent recipients of the Cancer Research Society’s annual grant competition, David Knapp and his team also collaborated on two studies published this summer. Here is a look back at their accomplishments.

Postdoctoral researcher Juliette Humeau obtains a salary grant

As part of its most recent Salary Awards Competition for Postdoctoral Fellows, held this fall, IRIC awarded a postdoctoral scholarship thanks to the Power Corporation Canada fund for Next Generation Scientists. Juliette Humeau, a postdoctoral fellow in Claude Perreault’s laboratory, was granted this funding because of the quality of her academic and scientific record.

The Grandes Retrouvailles at IRIC: when the doors of the laboratories open to the general public

The Université de Montréal held its first Grandes Retrouvailles on its various campuses, from September 28 to October 2. As part of the event, which included some 50 activities, 17 people were able to visit IRIC’s facilities and discover its cancer research model.

Major breakthrough from international collaboration paves the way for pain relief

The project is the result of an international collaboration between research groups from different fields: Brian Shoichet and Allan Basbaum, both researchers at the University of California San Francisco, Peter Gmeiner from Freidrichs Alexander University in Germany, Yang Du from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Michel Bouvier, IRIC’s Director General and Director of the Molecular Pharmacology Research Unit. This work is published in the journal Science.

Two IRIC projects selected in the Cancer Research Society’s most recent annual competition

The Cancer Research Society (CRS) has announced the recipients of 90 new research grants. Two teams from IRIC have been selected.

Two new recipients are awarded Power Corporation of Canada Next Generation of Scientists Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Power Corporation of Canada Next Generation of Scientists Postdoctoral Fellowships competition, held this summer, awarded funding to two IRIC postdoctoral fellows based on the quality of their research work.

Four IRIC students obtain funding to present their research results outside Quebec

As part of its most recent Travel Awards competition, IRIC awarded scholarships to four doctoral students. This financial support will enable them to present their research results at scientific conferences held outside Quebec.

The Exceptional Commitment of the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association

IRIC wishes to highlight the great generosity of the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, which has been supporting the work of Dr. Claude Perreault’s team for 15 years. In 2022, a donation of $10,000 was made and to date, $90,000 has been donated to the Perreault laboratory to further research into hematopoietic cell transplantation and leukemia treatment.

IRIC on the road: the academic affairs team embarks on a recruitment tour

As part of its IRIC on the road student recruitment tour, the Institute’s academic affairs team will participate this fall in several graduate studies fairs organized by Canadian universities.

Katherine Borden elected to the Royal Society of Canada

Professor Katherine Borden, Director of the Structure and Function of the Cell Nucleus Research Unit at IRIC and Full Professor in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology in the Faculty of Medicine at the Université de Montréal, has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).

A chemical molecule designed at IRIC has been named “Molecule of the Month” in June 2022 by the Drug Hunter platform

Clinical candidate designed and synthesized at IRIC by the Drug Discovery Unit led by Principal Investigator Anne Marinier, the molecule BMS-986120 (UDM-002985) has been named “Molecule of the Month” by the Drug Hunter Platform.

IRIC Intern Day Conference: a great experience to learn how to communicate research results

The fourth edition of the IRIC Intern Day Conference was held on Thursday, August 11, 2022. The event, organized by the IRIC Academic Affairs Office together with the summer interns, enabled 10 interns to learn about scientific communication.

Discovery of a new therapeutic avenue targeting the cell cycle in a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia

The project, led by research officer Céline Moison, was published in the journal Blood Advances. The work was carried out in collaboration with the teams of Guy Sauvageau and Anne Marinier at IRIC, Josée Hébert at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont and Vincent-Philippe Lavallée at CHU Sainte-Justine.

Four IRIC researchers obtain funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Resulting from the most recent research grant competition of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), four IRIC researchers obtained funds via the Project grant program.

Five IRIC graduates named to the Honor List of the Rector of the Université de Montréal

IRIC is proud to count five of its graduates among the most recent appointments to the Rector’s Honor List.

Three IRIC researchers receive funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) recently announced the results of its 2022 Research Grant Competition. More than $430 million will be awarded to researchers across the country to their research programs well. Three IRIC investigators were awarded grants.

IRIC recruits Dr. Vincent Q. Trinh to be a Principal Investigator

The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal is proud to welcome aboard a new Principal Investigator in the Digital Histology and Advanced Pathology Research Unit, Dr. Vincent Q. Trinh, who will take up his position on July 1^st, 2022.

Meet Vincent Q. Trinh, new Principal Investigator at IRIC

The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal is proud to welcome aboard a new Principal Investigator in the Digital Histology and Advanced Pathology Research Unit, Dr. Vincent Q. Trinh, who will take up his position on July 1^st, 2022. Dr. Trinh enthusiastically agreed to answer a few questions.

Hyperactivation of the NOTCH1 pathway in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: two recent publications bring new insights

The team of Trang Hoang, director of the Hematopoiesis and Leukemia Research Unit at IRIC, focused on the hyperactivation of NOTCH1 in T-ALL. The work of Diogo Veiga, postdoctoral fellow now professor of Genomics and Bioinformatics at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Brazil, and Mathieu Tremblay, research advisor, has led to the publication of two articles.

Michel Bouvier appointed Knight of the Ordre national du Québec

On June 22, 2022, Michel Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer of IRIC, Principal Investigator of the Molecular Pharmacology Research Unit and Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal, is appointed Knight of the Ordre national du Québec.

2022 IRIC Next Generation Awards : twelve interns will train at IRIC this summer

Twelve students have the opportunity to complete a research internship for 12 or 16 weeks at IRIC, and to receive a scholarship of excellence of respectively $4,800 or $6,400.

A 2022 edition in person for the IRIC Student Recruitment Event

The 2022 edition took place from June 1 to 3 and welcomed 29 participants from 18 universities around the world. 153 interviews were scheduled this year between participants and the 14 Institute researchers present at the event.

Nine next generation scientists from IRIC receive a training award from the Fonds de recherche du Québec

The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) awarded $39.3 million in training grants for its 2022-2023 competitions. IRIC is proud to count nine scientists from its next generation among the recipients of these competitions.

Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault, founders of Epitopea, a company that offers hope for the treatment of cancer

Founded in 2021, the transatlantic biotechnology company Epitopea is the result of collaborations between the teams of Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault, both principal investigators at IRIC. The mission of Epitopea is to develop immunotherapies to treat different types of cancers by targeting a new class of antigens.

3 million in support from the Stem Cell Network to study new ways to use blood stem cells in the treatment of leukemia

Guy Sauvageau, principal investigator at IRIC, hematologist and full professor in the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal, is the recipient of major funding worth $3 million over three years. The project led by Dr. Sauvageau is composed of eight research groups, including those of Philippe Roux and Étienne Gagnon, both researchers at IRIC.

Vincent Archambault appointed Full Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the Université de Montréal

IRIC is proud to announce the promotion of Vincent Archambault, Principal Investigator and Director of the Cell Cycle Regulation Research Unit, as Full Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the Université de Montréal.

Les Rendez-vous Audace 2022: Dr. Eralda Kina answers your questions

Les Rendez-vous Audace of the IRIC, held on April 27, brought together André Robitaille and three inspiring speakers around the theme “A world in transformation, a next generation in action”. Eralda Kina, oncologist and doctoral student at IRIC in the laboratory of Claude Perreault, discussed her experience as a clinician and the great hopes she has in immunology and cancer research. Dr. Kina generously agreed to answer the questions received from the public during the broadcast of Les Rendez-vous Audace.

Geneviève Deblois Honoured by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Geneviève Deblois, Principal Investigator at IRIC and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Université de Montréal, is the recipient of the Early Career Investigator in Cancer Award 2022. This award, presented by the Institute of Cancer Research of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), recognizes excellence in research conducted in Canada. It is awarded to the top-ranked new investigators in the CIHR fall competition, Project Scheme.

Identification of a new key role for interphase microtubules at mitosis entry

At the beginning of cell division, cells round-up through different mechanisms, notably the reorganization of their cortex. Among the proteins involved in this cell morphogenesis, there is the family of ERM proteins (ezrin, radixin and moesin). The team of Professor Sébastien Carréno, Director of the Cellular Mechanisms of Morphogenesis during Mitosis and Cell Motility Research Unit, wanted to identify the molecular cue activating these proteins at mitotic entry. Their work has shed light on a novel mechanism involving interphase microtubules in the regulation of cell rounding at mitotic onset. The project, led by PhD student Kévin Leguay, is the subject of a publication in the Journal of Cell Biology.

New agreement for an international research collaboration in drug discovery

IRIC is pleased to announce the signing of a collaboration agreement between Ono Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd., one of the largest clinical stage pharmaceutical companies in Japan, Domain Therapeutics S.A. and the Université de Montréal to discover novel small molecules targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Publication of two studies characterizing the selectivity of G protein-coupled receptors’ coupling

Two-thirds of human hormones and one-third of clinical drugs target and activates the G protein-coupled receptors. For a given receptor, different ligands can selectively engage different subsets of signaling pathways. Mapping the effectors that can be engaged by a given receptor is essential for understanding physiological processes as well as for designing safer drugs. The team of Professor Michel Bouvier, Director of the Molecular Pharmacology Research Unit and Chief Executive Officer of IRIC, worked on characterizing the coupling selectivity of GPCRs.

IRIC celebrates International Women’s Day

IRIC is taking advantage of International Women’s Rights Day to recognize and highlight the exceptional contribution of all its scientists who work to make a difference.

Assya Trofimov, Ph.D. student at IRIC, is the recipient of the prestigious Mahan postdoctoral fellowship.

Assya Trofimov, a Ph.D. student being co-directed in the laboratories headed by Dr. Claude Perreault and by Sébastien Lemieux, was awarded the prestigious Mahan postdoctoral fellowship. The competition, held annually by the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch) in Seattle, awards outstanding candidates by providing a 21-month stipend to carry out a research project in one of its Computational Biology laboratories.

Three sporting events for the benefit of IRIC

In 2022, IRIC community will have the opportunity to participate in three renowned sporting events: Les Défis du Parc national de la Mauricie, The Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal, and the Marathon Beneva de Montréal.

IRIC marks the 2022 International Day of Women and Girls in Science

On this symbolic day, IRIC is proud to mark the exceptional contribution to cancer research made by all of its women members.

Four IRIC researchers receive Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants

In the Fall 2021 competition, four IRIC research teams were awarded prestigious grants.

The life lesson of marathoner Jean Mireault

On this World Cancer Day, IRIC would like to point out the generous contribution to our cause made by Mr. Jean Mireault. On October 11, 2021, Mr. Mireault ran in the Boston Marathon in honor of his mother, who died of cancer at a very young age. Although his race did not unfold as he had hoped because of an unexpected issue at the midway mark, Mr. Mireault drew a very inspiring lesson from the experience for all of us. Speaking very frankly, he describes the state of mind that he was in when he managed to complete, not without struggling, the second part of his marathon.

Renewal of Michel Bouvier’s mandate as Chief Executive Officer of IRIC

Following a meeting of the Executive Committee, held on December 7, the Université de Montréal announced the continuation of Michel Bouvier’s mandate as Chief Executive Officer of IRIC for a third one-year term.

IRIC obtains major funding to develop an intelligent chemolibrary

As part of the initial phase of Médicament Québec, IRIC recently obtained major funding of $3,200,045 for the Expanded Capacity and Quality of Chemolibraries for Drug Discovery Project.

Katherine Borden awarded by the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences

The Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSBM) awarded the prestigious 2022 Canadian Science Publishing Senior Investigator Award to Katherine Borden, Principal Investigator at IRIC and Full Professor in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal.

Significant support from the National Institutes of Health to study new ways to target Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Professor Katherine Borden, Principal Investigator leading the Structure and Function of the Cell Nucleus Research Unit at IRIC, received a grant worth US$1.47 million (C$1.85 million) over five years. This funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research granting agency in the United States, will support her research project aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms of eIF4E-mediated tumor transformation.

Identification of a new oncogenic signaling pathway in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third deadliest cancer in the world. Despite these impressive numbers, the few treatments currently available have only modest effects in affected patients, who are often diagnosed at a late stage of the disease. A better mechanistic understanding of HCC development is required to develop novel targeted therapies that work more efficiently. The team of Professor Sylvain Meloche, Director of the Cell Signaling and Cell Growth Research Unit at IRIC, recently shed light on a previously unknown oncogenic signaling pathway for HCC. Jean-Philippe Guégan and Marjorie Lapouge are the co-first authors of the article published in January in the journal Science Signaling.

IRIC Master’s and Ph.D. Scholarships – Recipients of the Fall 2021 Competition

As part of the IRIC Master’s and Ph.D. Scholarships Competition held this fall, the Institute is proud to announce the 14 recipients of this edition.

The objective of the competition is to support IRIC students with an outstanding academic and research record, but who do not benefit from any other substantial scholarships.

Congratulations to all the recipients!

IRIC, a key player in the Acuité-Québec project: $27M to accelerate the discovery of new drugs

The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal is delighted to be part of the Acuité-Québec project, an initiative aimed at fostering the discovery of new drugs.

Recruitment of IRIC’s Scientific Director

The IRIC invites applications for the position of Scientific Director and Principal Investigator at the Institute. IRIC seeks an established scientist with an exceptional track-record who will oversee the scientific development of the institute while leading his/her own basic and/or translational research program in cancer-relevant areas.

Organize a fundraising activity to support research in cancerology

On this National Philanthropy Day, IRIC is giving access to a new online tool for anyone wishing to organize a fundraising activity to support the Institute.

Trang Hoang receives the prix Mentor scientifique 2021 from the Club de Recherches Cliniques du Québec

Trang Hoang, Principal Investigator at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) and Full Professor in the Department of Pharmacology of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal, has been awarded the prix Mentor scientifique 2021 (2021 Mentor Award) by the Club de Recherches Cliniques du Québec (CRCQ).

A forum for Gender Equality Week in Canada

As an institution, IRIC seeks to promote equity and increase diversity and inclusion, in all of its forms, throughout its programs.

Pierre Thibault’s team shares its knowledge on mass spectrometry-based proteomic strategies used to study UBL like modifications

The group of Pierre Thibault, Principal Investigator at IRIC and professor in the Department of Chemistry of UdeM, with a colleague from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, recently published an exhaustive review article in Nature Reviews Methods Primers to educate researchers of all levels on the variety of mass spectrometry-based proteomic strategies used to study ubiquitin-like (UBL) modifications and the type of information that can be generated through these approaches.

Brian Wilhelm awarded with major funding through the new Genomics Integration Program – Human Health initiated by Génome Québec

Brian Wilhelm, Principal Investigator at IRIC and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal, is the recipient of major funding through the new Genomics Integration Program – Human Health, initiated by Génome Québec in collaboration with the Oncopole.

IRIC salutes the Quebec government for its commitment: $13M invested to bring together the players in the drug discovery and production field

IRIC is delighted by the creation of “Médicament Québec”, a major strategic hub whose mission is to promote greater autonomy and increase Quebec’s drive with respect to drug discovery, development and production.

Appointment of Clarissa Desjardins and renewal of Robert Paré and Jacques Bernier’s mandate on the IRIC’s Board of Directors

IRIC is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Clarissa Desjardins as a new member of the Board of Directors as well as the renewal of Mtre Robert Paré and Mr. Jacques Bernier’s mandate as a member of the Board by the Executive Committee of the Université de Montréal.

IRIC participates in the next Forum of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal

On Monday, May 31, IRIC will take part in the Strategic Forum Universities, CEGEPs, businesses: Working together for a strong, innovative and socially responsible economy, an initiative co-developed by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and the FRQs.

Trang Hoang is the recipient of the 2021 CSMB Jeanne Manery Fisher Award

Trang Hoang, Principal Investigator at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) and Full Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal is the recipient of the 2021 Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) Jeanne Manery Fisher Award.

Les Rendez-vous Audace 2021: $320,000 raised to support IRIC’s cancer research efforts

Exceptionally this year, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal presented a virtual formula of its traditional Audacious fundraising event: Les Rendez-vous Audace. For the occasion, approximately 615 people from 8 countries attended the three free conferences and close to 20 sponsors supported the event. Thanks to the generosity of our partners and donors, a total of $320,000 was raised to accelerate the discovery of better therapies for the benefit of patients.

Lecture by Dr. Roger D. Kornberg – Nobel Prize in Chemistry

On May 20th, IRIC and the Université de Montréal will have the honour of welcoming Dr. Roger D. Kornberg, Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2006.  He will present a lecture titled “Chromosome Structure and Transcription”.

Genome-wide screens identify a novel gene that tapers the DNA damage response in human cells with eroded telomeres

Telomeres are DNA sequences that serve as critical caps to protect the ends of chromosomes against degradation, fraying, and fusion with other chromosomes. They play an important role in maintaining genome integrity but in most cells in our body, telomeres become shorter with each cell division as the activity of the telomere maintenance enzyme (TERT) is repressed. After sufficient telomere shortening, the protective telomere structure is lost, activating the tumor-suppressor gene p53 and the DNA damage response. This leads to a non-proliferative state in normal cells called senescence, or to cell death in cancer cells. These inhibitory effects upon cell proliferation are thought to be an important mechanism to prevent the proliferation of damaged cells and the formation of tumors.

A pathogenic yeast has many tricks up its sleeve

Infections with the yeast Candida albicans are a significant public health problem and a common complication in immunocompromised individuals such as people with AIDS, chemotherapy patients, and organ transplant patients. Although there are some treatments, their effectiveness can be compromised by the emergence of resistant strains and the identification of new antifungals is highly desirable. A few years ago, an IRIC team identified nicotinamide (NAM), a form of vitamin B3, as a potential antifungal treatment.

Talk from Guy Sauvageau at the CCMM

Leveraging innovation and collaboration to accelerate scientific discoveries in oncology

Spatiotemporal coordination: a key aspect allowing cells to divide correctly

Enzymes that regulate cell division must be subjected to spatiotemporal control, allowing them to access the cellular structures they control only at the appropriate time. The segregation of chromosomes during mitosis is the most crucial event of cell division. Spatiotemporal coordination is therefore fundamental to the good progress of mitosis but it remains poorly understood.

TMEM16F: a protein with a key role in the regulation of T cell activity

By Fatéma Dodat

Understanding the regulation of T cell activity is crucial for the development of immunity against infections, but also in cancer. A study conducted by the team of Etienne Gagnon reveals that TMEM16F, a molecule that promotes the exchange of components between the lipid bilayer of a cell membrane, is involved in this activation.

One step closer to developing a cancer vaccine

Claude Perreault and his team published an important article related to the development of a therapeutic cancer vaccine for a type of blood cancer.

A new way beckons to treat severe obesity

By Mathieu-Robert Sauvé, UdeM Nouvelles

Michel Bouvier, unveils research that could someday lead to treatment for early morbid familial obesity.

Michel Bouvier, CEO of IRIC, takes part in the Pan-Canadian Showcase on the future of drug discovery and production in Canada

The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal is proud to announce that Michel Bouvier, CEO of the Institute and recent recipient of the Killam Prize in Health Sciences, is taking part in the virtual event “Building Biotech: Science and Talent Accelerating Biomedical Innovation, a Pan-Canadian Showcase and Dialogue”.The Showcase is being held today, February 17, 2021, and is organized by PRiME at the University of Toronto.

2021 World Cancer Day: Help us vanquish cancer!

February 4 is World Cancer Day. Every year, it’s a day that is celebrated all over the world to highlight the incredible advances in cancer research that help save more and more lives and create undeniable hope. In memory of those we love who have left us too soon or in honour of those who are currently fighting the disease, let’s all highlight this Day, the progress that we have made and the progress left to be made.

Michel Bouvier is the laureate of the 2021 Killam Prize in Health Sciences

Michel Bouvier, CEO of IRIC and Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal, is the laureate of the 2021 Killam Prize in Health Sciences.

IRIC Master’s and Ph.D. Scholarships – Recipients of the Fall 2020 Competition

As part of the IRIC Master’s and Ph.D. Scholarships Competition held this fall, the Institute is proud to announce the 17 recipients of this edition.

UM171: the molecule that keeps on giving

In a study published in Cell Stem Cell, a research team of 15 scientists led by UdeM hematologist Guy Sauvageau demonstrates the cancer-fighting molecule’s mechanism of action.

Nanotechnologies: the Bouilly lab reveals important principles in the design of biocaptors

In the past decades, advances in the field of nanotechnology, especially through the discovery and production of new nanomaterials, have catalyzed remarkable innovation in the creation of different biosensors, which are analytical devices used to detect and study the properties of many biological molecules. There are many types of biosensors and it is often difficult to compare their performance and identify the most promising approaches.

Sébastien Lemieux and his team’s project is a recipient of the ODAC Competition

Génome Québec, IVADO and Oncopole have come together to organize the “Omics Data Against Cancer” (ODAC) Competition. This initiative aims to support projects developing applications and artificial intelligence tools used to better exploit the datasets generated by genomics and the study of cancer.

The project of Sébastien Lemieux, Principal Investigator at IRIC and his team is one of the 5 recipient projects of the program.

IRIC’s Academic Affairs team receives the prix d’excellence en enseignement

IRIC is proud to announce that the prix d’excellence en enseignement Catégorie Innovation – Soutien à la réussite étudiante has been awarded to its Academic Affairs team: Sébastien Carréno, Julie Mantovani, Evelyne Muhire, Pascale Le Thérizien. This recognition bestowed by the Vice-Rector of Student and Academic Affairs of the Université de Montréal underscores the outstanding contribution made by the team to student success.

2020 student recruitment tour: a virtual edition this fall

Each fall, the IRIC’s Academic Affairs team launches an “IRIC on the road” student recruitment tour. This year, in the exceptional context caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our representatives are going to meet students virtually. They will participate in several graduate studies fairs organized on the web by various Canadian universities.

A donation benefiting IRIC and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine of the UdeM

As part of a major planned donations campaign, led by the Réseau des diplômés et des donateurs de l’Université de Montréal, Michel Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer of IRIC and his partner, Muriel Aubry, announced their testamentary donation benefiting IRIC and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine of the UdeM, in support of cancer research and the training of the next generation of scientists.

Breaking the RNA capping paradigm

This discovery by a team of IRIC researchers could soon be taught in molecular biology courses. Katherine Borden’s laboratory recently published a study in the journal PNAS that demonstrated that the activity of RNAs can be regulated in a new way: by modulating a RNA modification known as capping.

Three IRIC researchers receive substantial support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation

On August 18, 2020, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced the selected research projects that will benefit from its financial support. This substantial support allows researchers to acquire highly specialized avant-garde equipment and infrastructure, and to recruit and retain internationally renowned scientists.

Genome-wide screens reveal that resveratrol induces replicative stress in human cells

Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural compound found in many plants, including the skin of grapes (and in wine), blueberries, raspberries, mulberries and peanuts. It has attracted considerable research attention due to its reported beneficial properties in experimental models such as yeasts, nematode worms, fruit flies and mice, including lifespan extension under certain conditions. A causal role of RSV in human health has not yet been established.