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August 6, 2020 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.
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July 29, 2020 Targeting cell surface proteins and copper in the fight against colorectal cancer
In some cases, taking the direct path is not the most effective. A study led by the team of Philippe Roux, in collaboration with the teams of Louis Gaboury and Sylvain Meloche of IRIC, indeed reveals that the oncogenic protein KRAS could be targeted indirectly. Recently published in Nature Communications, their results demonstrate that mutation of this oncogene modifies the expression of proteins at the surface of the cells that cover the internal villi of the intestine. This study offers new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
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July 22, 2020 The project carried out by Sylvie Mader and her team receives the LeadAction|Breast Cancer du Sein grant
While the pandemic has highlighted the importance of supporting scientific research, IRICoR and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (QBCF) have joined forces through their joint LeadAction|Breast Cancer Competition to accelerate breast cancer research work and develop additional therapeutic options for those affected by this cancer.
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July 2, 2020 The lockdown related to COVID-19 severely affected early-career investigators and clinical trials
The research sectors particularly impacted by the pandemic are beginning to be identified. David Knapp, Principal Investigator at IRIC, in collaboration with David G. Kent (University of York) and Nagarajan Kannan (Mayo Clinic), highlight the consequences of the health crisis on early-career investigators and clinical trials. The analysis stems from data collected by a survey shared by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) among its members. Carried out between April 6 and April 15, 2020, 762 investigators from 52 countries responded. Here is a look back at this analysis published in Stem Cell Reports and on the main issues that were raised.
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June 30, 2020 Céline Laumont, IRIC Ph.D. graduate, is awarded a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
Following the 2019-2020 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Competition, Céline Laumont, IRIC Ph.D. graduate, received a prestigious award for her project “B cell-mediated immunity in high-grade serous ovarian cancer”.
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June 23, 2020 IRIC is pleased to mark more than 10 years of partnership with Pomerleau and acknowledges its outstanding support
On June 1, 2020, Pomerleau, one of Canada’s most innovative construction leaders and a pioneer in sustainable buildings and renewable energy, launched its “Love is an essential service” initiative to support efforts to fight COVID-19. As part of that initiative, philanthropic donations were distributed to 14 community organizations across the country working in three major sectors of activity related to the current health crisis, namely: health, research and food. As a result, IRIC has been allocated a substantial amount, deposited into the Institute’s Emergency Fund, to allow its investigators to continue their research activities in a bold and unique way, despite the constraints stemming from the pandemic.
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June 4, 2020 IRIC broadens its ranks by recruiting David Knapp and Geneviève Deblois as new Principal Investigators
The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal is proud to announce that David Knapp and Geneviève Deblois have been recruited as new Principal Investigators. They are in charge, respectively, of the Cellular Engineering Research Unit and the Metabolic and Epigenetic Alterations in Cancer Research Unit.
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June 1, 2020 IRIC’s Emergency Fund: Thank you to all of our allies!
A few weeks ago, IRIC launched an Emergency Fund in response to the health crisis created by the pandemic, in order to support research efforts to fight cancer and, exceptionally, to fight COVID-19. While the initial phases of deconfinement have been announced, and economic activity is slowly beginning to start up again and we can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel, IRIC is also beginning to gather its thoughts on an optimistic note.
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May 21, 2020 Major donation of $500,000 for a cancer vaccine
The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal would like to highlight the extraordinary donation made by the Fondation Famille Diane et Léon Gosselin. As a result of their generosity, the substantial amount of $500,000 will be donated to the Fonds vaccin thérapeutique contre le cancer and will allow the research teams headed by Dr. Claude Perreault, Sébastien Lemieux and Pierre Thibault to complete the crucial final steps that will lead to the clinical trials of a cancer vaccine. Mr. and Mrs. Gosselin have been supporting IRIC’s activities for over 10 years.
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May 14, 2020 A disruptive method for developing cancer vaccines, put forward by the team headed by IRIC’s Dr. Claude Perreault, is voted 2019 Scientific Discovery of the Year by Québec Science!
IRIC announces that the project carried out by the teams led by Dr. Claude Perreault, Sébastien Lemieux and Pierre Thibault has been named 2019 Scientific Discovery of the Year by the readers of Québec Science. Choosing from the 10 most impressive Quebec discoveries of the past year, the public voted for the potential therapeutic cancer vaccine, which garnered 40% of the votes cast.
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April 27, 2020 Support our Emergency Fund
The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has created upheaval in our lives and has impacted our activities as well as those of the entire country.
Our Institute is not immune to the situation. We too are deeply affected by the forced stoppage of part of our activities. Many of our laboratories are on hold and the future of our young investigators, along with the completion of several promising projects, are therefore greatly jeopardized.
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March 24, 2020 Context COVID-19: IRIC puts its research expertise to good use
In this context of an exceptional crisis, IRIC wishes to advise its community that we are carefully monitoring the latest developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic and complying with all of the policies that our governments have implemented to stop the virus from spreading. Because our priority is the health of our students, employees and of course our partners and collaborators, we are systematically applying each one of the measures indicated for the good of our entire society.
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July 30, 2020 2020 IRIC Next Generation Awards Competition: a successful edition in the midst of a pandemic
As always, IRIC is actively involved in training the next generation of scientists. That’s why, since 2011, the Institute has made it possible for Canadian undergraduate students to carry out a summer internship in one of its laboratories as part of the IRIC Next Generation Awards Competition. This summer, however, the unique health context and teleworking have upended the training of these research interns.
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July 27, 2020 IRCM and IRIC researchers collaborate with the University of Cambridge to reveal a mechanism involved in the formation of metastases
In an article recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, researchers from the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) and the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of Université de Montréal collaborated with eminent researcher David Barford of the University of Cambridge to shed light on the 3D structure of the ELMO / DOCK2 complex.
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June 17, 2020 Race for the discovery of COVID-19 medications: A multidisciplinary project takes shape!
Génome Québec, in partnership with IRIC, Université de Montréal, Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute and McMaster University, is proud to announce funding for a new research project intended to accelerate the discovery of antiviral COVID-19 medications. Spearheaded by professors Michael Tyers (IRIC / Université de Montréal), Yoshua Bengio (Mila / Université de Montréal) and Anne Marinier (IRIC / Université de Montréal), the $1 million project was launched in fast-track mode on June 1, 2020.
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June 10, 2020 IRIC thanks Mr. Sauvé for his testamentary donation
IRIC is very grateful to announce the philanthropic support of donor Pierre Sauvé, Engr., a 1966 graduate of Polytechnique Montréal. Extensively involved with the Université de Montréal over the past few years, particularly with l’Association des diplômés, Mr. Sauvé has shown tremendous generosity towards our academic institution on many occasions.
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June 5, 2020 IRIC is delighted by the renewed funding from the Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation in support of cancer research
IRIC would like to offer its heartfelt thanks for the commitment made by the Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation, which is renewing its support for 2 promising cancer research projects.
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May 5, 2020 Giving Tuesday Now: Support IRIC’s Emergency Fund
Exceptionally, May 5, 2020, is devoted to a global day of Giving Tuesday Now. In a show of solidarity towards organizations that are suffering from the repercussions of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the Giving Tuesday Now day was set up to create a surge of generosity and civic commitment.
Proud partner of this initiative, IRIC is joining the movement and making an appeal to its community!
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April 24, 2020 Cancellation of Audacious: IRIC’s annual flagship benefit event
Out of respect for the policies implemented by our governments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to help eradicate the crisis, IRIC made the difficult decision to cancel the event. Nonetheless, the Institute would like to take the time to thank all those who worked so hard, before the crisis, to make the Audacious 2020 event a success.
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April 24, 2020 COVID-19: The IRIC community comes together thanks to IVADO’s support
IRIC proudly announces the commitment of several of its team in this health crisis, as a result of a spontaneous call for proposals initiated by IVADO, aimed at supporting digital intelligence data science initiatives. The projects retained will be able to rely on funding, scientific support and access to various resources.
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April 24, 2020 Collection of medical supplies for the healthcare system
Several Université de Montréal units came together recently, following an appeal from the government, to collect medical supplies. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose of the initiative is to reduce the risk of shortages in the healthcare system.
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March 19, 2020 COVID-19: IRIC adapts its activities and salutes all of the research efforts made
Given the exceptional circumstances currently surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and out of respect for the policies implemented by our governments, which have declared a state of health emergency, all IRIC staff members are continuing with their activities remotely whenever possible. In this context of a major crisis…
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February 25, 2020 Vimentin, SUMO’s new friend; together they have an impact on the motility of cancer cells
The research teams of Pierre Thibault and Gregory Emery from IRIC have just opened up a new avenue to better understand how cancer cells migrate and move. They published an article in Nature Communications detailing their discovery, where they leveraged mass spectrometry and cell motility assays.
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February 25, 2020 The double life of Kif2C
Among the arsenal of drugs used in chemotherapy, those that damage DNA or disrupt the formation of microtubules, a major cellular protein filament, prove to be among the most effective, especially if they are used in combination. Why? This is a question that has remained unclear until now…But IRIC researchers and collaborators believe they have identified part of the answer.
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February 17, 2020 Marie-Josée Coutu appointed honorary member of IRIC’s Board of Directors
IRIC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Marie-Josée Coutu as an honorary member of its Board of Directors. The appointment underscores Mrs. Coutu’s unwavering commitment, exceptional support to the cause and longstanding contribution to the success of IRIC’s activities. It is the first acknowledgement of its kind bestowed by the Institute. Mrs. Coutu’s last mandate as an IRIC Board member ended in December of 2019.
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February 17, 2020 Appointment of Sylvain Fortier to the Board of Directors of IRIC
IRIC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Sylvain Fortier as a new member of its Board of Directors following a session of the Executive Committee of the Université de Montréal held on November 12, 2019. Mr. Fortier’s first mandate became effective December 1, 2019, for a period of three years.
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February 4, 2020 World Cancer Day
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 emphasize this Day, the progress that we have made and the progress left to be made.
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January 23, 2020 Renewal of the Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation’s commitment
IRIC is extremely grateful for the second donation, this time of $ 50,000, from Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation, specifically dedicated to the Pediatric Leukemia Project of IRIC Principal Investigator, Brian Wilhelm, and Dr. Sonia Cellot, Pediatric Hematologist at CHU Saint-Justine.
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January 23, 2020 Appointment of Mr. Richard Martin as Assistant General Director – Operations and Finance
IRIC is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Martin, Director of Administration of the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Université de Montréal since 2011, to the position of Assistant General Director – Operations and Finance.