IRIC - Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer

Published on February 17, 2021

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.

As part of this important event for the future of drug discovery and production in Canada, Michel Bouvier will present the achievements and capacities of the innovative centre made up of IRIC, IRICoR and their partners. Its research model, unique in Canada, helps provide major breakthroughs that can be effectively transformed into therapeutic solutions for the benefit of patients. At the heart of the Université de Montréal, the centre combines basic research activities, Canada’s largest drug discovery unit in an academic setting and a research maturation team (IRICoR). This integrated model makes it possible to strategically develop every step of the drug discovery process leading to the commercialization of innovative therapeutic solutions that result in several partnerships with the large pharmaceutical industry and the creation of start-ups.

Close collaboration with experts in the fields of artificial intelligence and data science from MILA and IVADO at the Université de Montréal makes it possible to integrate these powerful tools to accelerate the development of a new generation of more effective and safer drugs. A partnership with organic chemistry teams from the Université de Montréal will also allow the implementation of an agile production unit that will increase our autonomy in the event of breakdowns in the drug procurement chains, such as the one that we are experiencing during this COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are very proud to take part in this large-scale event alongside the largest centres in Canada accelerating innovation in biomedical sciences and to present the unique model of our Institute, which plays a leadership role in the national and international biopharmaceutical ecosystem”, pointed out Michel Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer of IRIC.

About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal
An ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the Université de Montréal, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Université de Montréal was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this disease. The IRIC operates according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer.

About IRICoR
Designated as a Centre of Excellence in Research and Commercialization (CECR) by the Canadian government and based at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal, IRICoR is a pan-Canadian leader in the de-risking of early-stage assets in the field of drug discovery. IRICoR’s mandate is to accelerate the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies in cancer and rare diseases. Since 2008, IRICoR has been successfully investing in and supporting selected high-value projects in order to rapidly translate early-stage innovation into potential new therapies, through either co-development partnerships with the biopharmaceutical industry or the creation of spin-off companies. IRICoR seamlessly combines its business-related expertise with access to industry-level drug discovery capabilities, providing selected academic and industry projects with access to its network of experts and cutting-edge infrastructure, including one of the largest academia-based drug discovery unit in Canada. IRICoR’s major funding sources include the federal CECR Program, the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec (MEI), and collaborative partnerships with the biopharmaceutical industry.

About Université de Montréal
Deeply rooted in Montreal and dedicated to its international mission, Université de Montréal is a leading research university. It ranks among the top 100 universities worldwide and among the five best French-language universities. With its affiliated schools, Polytechnique Montréal and HEC Montréal, UdeM attracts over $500 million in research funding every year, making it one of the top three university research hubs in Canada. UdeM has more than 67,000 students, 2,300 professors and researchers, and an active global network of 400,000 alumni.