IRIC - Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer

Published on October 13, 2011

Three IRIC Principal Investigators have their Chairs renewed

On October 12, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) announced the renewal of three Canada Research Chairs from IRIC. Principal Investigators Katherine Borden, Jean-Claude Labbé and Pierre Thibault were awarded a total of $ 3.3 million in grants to pursue their research on cancer.
“The announcement from the Minister confirms IRIC’s place on the national and international stage,” said IRIC Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Dr. Guy Sauvageau, “Thanks to our innovative model that makes our research center unique in its kind, IRIC remains a leader in cancer research.”

Katherine Borden – Canada Research Chair in the Molecular Biology of the Cell Nucleus
Katherine Borden was granted an amount of $1.4M for the renewal of her Canada Research Chair in the Molecular Biology of the Cell Nucleus.
She focuses her research efforts on understanding the molecular basis of cancer to help answer one of the fundamental questions in cancer biology: How do normal cells become cancerous? More specifically her research studies the function and subsequent biochemical underpinnings of the eIF4E nuclear body and how its dysregulation leads to transformation and leukemia. The research will provide a better documenting and understanding of leukemia and help in the development of therapies.

Jean-Claude Labbé – Canada Research Chair in Cell Division and Differentiation
Jean-Claude Labbé has been granted the renewal of the Canada Research Chair in Cell Division and Differentiation. Worth $500,000, the team will continue its scientific research on cell division, a process essential to the birth and death of all living organisms.
For Jean-Claude Labbé the value of research is based on the prospect of discovering new methods to detect and treat cancer, as well as a provide a better understanding of how every person grows from one cell into a fully formed human.  By understanding how cells divide, he also hopes to learn more about how cancer spreads.

Pierre Thibault – Canada Research Chair in Proteomics and Bioanalytical Spectrometry
Pierre Thibault was awarded the amount of $1.4M for the renewal of his Canada Research Chair in Proteomics and Bioanalytical Spectrometry which focuses on understanding the role of proteins in cancer.
Pierre Thibault brings his combined expertise in bioanalytical mass spectrometry and protein chemistry to the development and implementation of new technologies in proteomics and cell biology. In multidisciplinary research, these tools provide a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms and post-translational modifications, which regulate the function and translocation of proteins involved in immunity and signalling in cancer cells.

The three IRIC scientists are not the only ones who will benefit from this announcement. A total of $7.8 million was granted to twelve Canada Research Chairs for the Université de Montréal.