Four teams from the University of Montreal received financial support from Génome Québec as part of the fifth cycle of the Genomics Integration Program – Human Health. In total, 12 Quebec projects are supported, for a total investment – including the contribution of public and private partners – of more than $4.3 million.
These projects aim to accelerate the integration of genomics into clinical and operational settings. By focusing in particular on precision medicine approaches and technologies based on RNA, the selected projects aim to develop innovative solutions in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, among others for cancer and rare diseases.
Génome Québec underlines that these projects demonstrate the capacity of Quebec research to answer complex health questions through bold and rigorous approaches. By supporting proofs of concept ready for integration or commercialization, the organization intends to maximize the reach of public funds and strengthen Quebec’s scientific autonomy.
Expertise mobilized around priority challenges
At UdeM, the funded projects bring together researchers and partners from the hospital, philanthropic and industrial sectors.
- Sonia Cellot, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, in partnership with CHU Sainte-Justine, will lead a plasma protein profiling project to improve the diagnosis and non-invasive monitoring of children with leukemia.
- Soren Gantt, professor in the Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, in collaboration with Merck, will evaluate a test measuring the antibody response to a vaccine to determine its effectiveness and better protect infants against brain damage.
- Eric Lécuyer, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, in partnership with RNA Technologies and Therapeutics, will explore the potential of circular RNAs as treatments against cancer.
- John D. Rioux, professor in the Department of Medicine, in partnership with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, will focus on response to therapy (R2T) in inflammatory bowel diseases.
By bringing together university expertise and strategic partners, these projects are at the heart of advances in genomics and contribute to the development of innovations likely to concretely improve the management of complex diseases.
