Principal Investigator

Julie Lessard

Chromatin Structure and Stem Cell Biology

Subscribe to the newsletter

Julie Lessard obtained her PhD in molecular biology in 2003 following research supervised by Dr. Guy Sauvageau at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM). She then left for California to do a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University in Gerald R. Crabtree’s laboratory.

She became familiar with the proteomic approach and perfected her knowledge of the epigenetic mechanisms that control stem cell function. She joined the IRIC team in 2007.

Principal Investigator, Chromatin Structure and Stem Cell Biology Research Unit, IRIC
Manager of the In Vivo Biology Core Facility

Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal

Research unit on chromatin structure and stem cell biology

Marcelle-Coutu Pavilion, 1306-13

Phone (office)
(514) 343-6111, ext. 0309
Fax
(514) 343-7780
Email
j.lessard.1@umontreal.ca
Apply for a M.Sc. or a Ph.D.

Chromatin Structure and Stem Cell Biology

Julie Lessard and her team are studying the role of the SWI/SNF gene family in the maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, both normal and leukemic. Their work aims in particular to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying leukemia and to contribute to the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for patients with these diseases.

Discover the research unit View the research team

Research topics

Publications

  • April 3, 2025

    Bcl7b and Bcl7c Subunits of BAF Chromatin Remodeling Complexes are Largely Dispensable for Hematopoiesis.

    Priam P, Krasteva V, Polsinelli A, Côté L, Dilauro F, Poinsignon TM, Thibault P, Lessard J
    Exp Hematol 2025-04-03 ;104769

  • October 2, 2024

    ZIC2 and ZIC3 promote SWI/SNF recruitment to safeguard progression towards human primed pluripotency.

    Hossain I, Priam P, Reynoso SC, Sahni S, Zhang XX, Côté L, Doumat J, Chik C, Fu T, Lessard J, Pastor WA
    Nat Commun 2024-10-02 ;15( 1 ):8539

  • September 3, 2024

    Smarcd1 subunit of SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complexes collaborates with E2a to promote murine lymphoid specification.

    Priam P, Krasteva V, Rousseau P, Polsinelli A, Côté L, Desanlis I, Farah A, Lavallée VP, Kmita M, Lessard J
    Dev Cell 2024-09-03 ;59( 23 ):3124-3140.e8

  • June 3, 2021

    Intrinsically disordered Meningioma-1 stabilizes the BAF complex to cause AML.

    Riedel SS, Lu C, Xie HM, Nestler K, Vermunt MW, Lenard A, Bennett L, Speck NA, Hanamura I, Lessard J, Blobel GA, Garcia BA, Bernt KM
    Mol Cell 2021-06-03 ;81( 11 ):2332-2348.e9

  • See all publications

Awards and distinctions

  • Canada Research Chair Tier 2, Canada Research Chair Program, 2007-2017

  • Human Frontier in Science Program Career Development Award, Human Frontier in Science Program Organization, 2008-2012

  • Canada Top 40 Under 40 Award, The Caldwell Partners International, 2009

  • Personality of the Week La Presse/ Radio-Canada, La Presse/ Radio-Canada, 2009

  • Allan Munck Prize 2008, Darmouth Medical School, 2008

  • Award of Excellence for Best Ph.D. Thesis, L’Association des Doyens des Etudes Supérieures au Québec, 2004

  • Award of Excellence for Best Ph.D. Thesis The Academy of Great Montrealers, 2004

  • Award for Excellence in Research-Hemato/Oncology Berlex Canada Inc, 2002

  • Doctoral scholarship, The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 1997-2001

  • Award of Excellence for Best Baccalaureate Thesis University of Ottawa, Faculty of Sciences, 1997

    • See all awards