The Immunology and Hematopoiesis Axis is dedicated to elucidating the fundamental mechanisms that control the development, differentiation and homeostasis of hematolymphoid cells, by integrating advances in genomics, epigenomics and bioinformatics. This work aims to understand the molecular and cellular abnormalities specific to hematological cancers, in order to identify new therapeutic targets and develop innovative treatments. These efforts include the characterization of tumor-specific antigens for the production of cancer vaccines, the use of immunopeptidomics to explore the antigenic repertoire, as well as T-cell engineering and other advanced immunotherapy approaches. The axis also seeks to exploit knowledge of the tumor microenvironment and resistance mechanisms to propose more effective combinatorial therapeutic strategies.

The Immunology and Hematopoiesis Axis is at the heart of IRIC’s mission, aligning its activities with basic, translational and clinical research priorities. It contributes directly to the development of new cancer therapies by leveraging fundamental studies to better understand critical biological processes, while fostering concrete clinical applications through the use of primary tumor specimens and unique technological platforms. This work enables the generation of personalized treatments, such as tumor-specific vaccines and advanced cell therapies, that address unmet medical needs in hematological cancers.

Axis leader: Claude Perreault

Primary affiliations : Etienne Gagnon, Trang Hoang, David Knapp, Julie Lessard, Guy Sauvageau.

Secondary affiliations : Philippe Roux, Pierre Thibault.