IRIC - Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer

Biasing the conformation of ELMO2 reveals that myoblast fusion can be exploited to improve muscle regeneration.

Tran V, Nahlé S, Robert A, Desanlis I, Killoran R, Ehresmann S, Thibault MP, Barford D, Ravichandran KS, Sauvageau M, Smith M, Kmita M, Côté JF
Nat Commun 2022-11-18 ;13( 1 ):7077

The adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor Gpr116 is essential to maintain the skeletal muscle stem cell pool.

Sénéchal C, Fujita R, Jamet S, Maiga A, Dort J, Orfi Z, Dumont NA, Bouvier M, Crist C
Cell Rep 2022-11-15 ;41( 7 ):111645

Computationally designed GPCR quaternary structures bias signaling pathway activation.

Paradis JS, Feng X, Murat B, Jefferson RE, Sokrat B, Szpakowska M, Hogue M, Bergkamp ND, Heydenreich FM, Smit MJ, Chevigné A, Bouvier M, Barth P
Nat Commun 2022-11-11 ;13( 1 ):6826

Pierre Thibault’s team shares its knowledge on mass spectrometry-based proteomic strategies used to study UBL like modifications

The group of Pierre Thibault, Principal Investigator at IRIC and professor in the Department of Chemistry of UdeM, with a colleague from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, recently published an exhaustive review article in Nature Reviews Methods Primers to educate researchers of all levels on the variety of mass spectrometry-based proteomic strategies used to study ubiquitin-like (UBL) modifications and the type of information that can be generated through these approaches.

IRIC salutes the Quebec government for its commitment: $13M invested to bring together the players in the drug discovery and production field

IRIC is delighted by the creation of “Médicament Québec”, a major strategic hub whose mission is to promote greater autonomy and increase Quebec’s drive with respect to drug discovery, development and production.

Trang Hoang is the recipient of the 2021 CSMB Jeanne Manery Fisher Award

Trang Hoang, Principal Investigator at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) and Full Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal is the recipient of the 2021 Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) Jeanne Manery Fisher Award.

Lecture by Dr. Roger D. Kornberg – Nobel Prize in Chemistry

On May 20th, IRIC and the Université de Montréal will have the honour of welcoming Dr. Roger D. Kornberg, Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2006.  He will present a lecture titled “Chromosome Structure and Transcription”.

Genome-wide screens identify a novel gene that tapers the DNA damage response in human cells with eroded telomeres

Telomeres are DNA sequences that serve as critical caps to protect the ends of chromosomes against degradation, fraying, and fusion with other chromosomes. They play an important role in maintaining genome integrity but in most cells in our body, telomeres become shorter with each cell division as the activity of the telomere maintenance enzyme (TERT) is repressed. After sufficient telomere shortening, the protective telomere structure is lost, activating the tumor-suppressor gene p53 and the DNA damage response. This leads to a non-proliferative state in normal cells called senescence, or to cell death in cancer cells. These inhibitory effects upon cell proliferation are thought to be an important mechanism to prevent the proliferation of damaged cells and the formation of tumors.

A pathogenic yeast has many tricks up its sleeve

Infections with the yeast Candida albicans are a significant public health problem and a common complication in immunocompromised individuals such as people with AIDS, chemotherapy patients, and organ transplant patients. Although there are some treatments, their effectiveness can be compromised by the emergence of resistant strains and the identification of new antifungals is highly desirable. A few years ago, an IRIC team identified nicotinamide (NAM), a form of vitamin B3, as a potential antifungal treatment.

Talk from Guy Sauvageau at the CCMM

Leveraging innovation and collaboration to accelerate scientific discoveries in oncology

Spatiotemporal coordination: a key aspect allowing cells to divide correctly

Enzymes that regulate cell division must be subjected to spatiotemporal control, allowing them to access the cellular structures they control only at the appropriate time. The segregation of chromosomes during mitosis is the most crucial event of cell division. Spatiotemporal coordination is therefore fundamental to the good progress of mitosis but it remains poorly understood.

TMEM16F: a protein with a key role in the regulation of T cell activity

By Fatéma Dodat

Understanding the regulation of T cell activity is crucial for the development of immunity against infections, but also in cancer. A study conducted by the team of Etienne Gagnon reveals that TMEM16F, a molecule that promotes the exchange of components between the lipid bilayer of a cell membrane, is involved in this activation.

One step closer to developing a cancer vaccine

Claude Perreault and his team published an important article related to the development of a therapeutic cancer vaccine for a type of blood cancer.

A new way beckons to treat severe obesity

By Mathieu-Robert Sauvé, UdeM Nouvelles

Michel Bouvier, unveils research that could someday lead to treatment for early morbid familial obesity.

Michel Bouvier is the laureate of the 2021 Killam Prize in Health Sciences

Michel Bouvier, CEO of IRIC and Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal, is the laureate of the 2021 Killam Prize in Health Sciences.

UM171: the molecule that keeps on giving

In a study published in Cell Stem Cell, a research team of 15 scientists led by UdeM hematologist Guy Sauvageau demonstrates the cancer-fighting molecule’s mechanism of action.

Nanotechnologies: the Bouilly lab reveals important principles in the design of biocaptors

In the past decades, advances in the field of nanotechnology, especially through the discovery and production of new nanomaterials, have catalyzed remarkable innovation in the creation of different biosensors, which are analytical devices used to detect and study the properties of many biological molecules. There are many types of biosensors and it is often difficult to compare their performance and identify the most promising approaches.

Sébastien Lemieux and his team’s project is a recipient of the ODAC Competition

Génome Québec, IVADO and Oncopole have come together to organize the “Omics Data Against Cancer” (ODAC) Competition. This initiative aims to support projects developing applications and artificial intelligence tools used to better exploit the datasets generated by genomics and the study of cancer.

The project of Sébastien Lemieux, Principal Investigator at IRIC and his team is one of the 5 recipient projects of the program.

Exploring uncharted territories in RAS signaling leads to many surprises

There are over 160 small GTPase proteins in human cells that can fluctuate between an active state (“on”) and an inactive state (“off”). These work as switches to control whether intracellular signaling pathways are turned on or off. Of particular interest are GTPases of the RAS family. Mutations in these GTPases are among the main causes of human cancers, yet there are currently no therapeutics targeting RAS proteins themselves.

Breaking the RNA capping paradigm

This discovery by a team of IRIC researchers could soon be taught in molecular biology courses. Katherine Borden’s laboratory recently published a study in the journal PNAS that demonstrated that the activity of RNAs can be regulated in a new way: by modulating a RNA modification known as capping.

Three IRIC researchers receive substantial support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation

On August 18, 2020, the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced the selected research projects that will benefit from its financial support. This substantial support allows researchers to acquire highly specialized avant-garde equipment and infrastructure, and to recruit and retain internationally renowned scientists.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lecture by Dr. Tomas Lindahl - Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015

IRIC welcomed Dr. Tomas Lindahl, Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015, on Monday, November 29, 2021.

The online lecture, titled “Mutagenic Causes of Cancer”, was be followed by a meeting with Dr. Lindahl.

Distinguished Scientist Lecture Series - Fall 2021

IRIC presents the 32nd edition of its Distinguished Scientist Lecture Series, with a full ten part program.

Join us on Mondays at 11:30 am, to learn about the latest findings in cancer research with leading biomedical investigators from Canada, USA and Europe.

GPCRs in Oncology & Immuno-oncology

GPCRs represent the largest human membrane protein family and play a critical role in essential physiological and pathological processes.

Chaired by IRIC CEO Michel Bouvier, this virtual symposium showcased some of the latest discoveries and techniques leveraging the potential of GPCRs in these crucial fields.

To relive the Symposium and catch up on the presentations, head up to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr0WirF2NPI&t=251s 

Ciné-conférence: Le cancer, une nouvelle difficile pour le patient et son entourage

Offered in French only.

9th IRIC Scientific Day

This day, filled with oral and poster presentations, enabled the Institute’s members to monitor the projects underway as well as the scientific activities conducted by our various teams.

Distinguished scientist lecture series

IRIC presents the thirty first edition of its Distinguished Scientist Lecture Series, with a full 15 part program. Join us on Mondays at 11:30 am, to learn about the latest findings in cancer research with leading biomedical investigators from Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.