Research Assets

McGill University

www.mcgill.ca

 

McGill University has a proud heritage of award-winning, cutting-edge scholarship and discovery. It ranks high as a research-intensive university, in both the Canadian and the North American context. It is a member of the American Association of Universities, a select group of North American universities that includes only McGill and the University of Toronto as non-US members.

 

 

Cancer has long been a research focus for the University and a dedicated research center has been established:

 

The McGill Cancer Center

 

The McGill Cancer Center (MCC) conducts and coordinates internationally renowned independent basic cancer research programs at McGill University and its affiliated hospitals. The MCC focuses its activities on developing and implementing programs that integrate fast-tracking fundamental research, training for students, postdoctoral fellows, professionals and employees, as well as the promotion of cancer information to the general public.

 

Some of its most prominent scientists include:

 

Dr. Michel L. Tremblay

http://www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/department/faculty/tremblay/ michel.tremblay@mcgill.ca

Director, McGill Cancer Center

 

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPases) have been implicated in a variety of cellular processes such as cell growth, differentiation, and cancer. The nature of these enzymes suggests that they may be involved in cancer by acting either as anti-oncogenes or as oncogenes themselves.

 

Dr Tremblay’s research interest has focused on three recently cloned enzymes and their relationship to mouse development and cancer. One of these PTPases, termed MPTP, is a ubiquitously expressed PTPase which localizes to the cell nucleus and may play a role in cell cycle events. MPTP-PEST is a ubiquitously expressed cytosolic enzyme which has been implicated in intracellular signal transduction. PTP NU-3 is a cneuronal-cell specific PTPase which belongs to the receptor-type family of enzymes and is thought to play a role in neurogenesis by interacting with the extracellular matrix.

 

Dr. Philip Branton

http://www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/department/faculty/branton/

philip.branton@mcgill.ca

 

Dr. Branton’s independent research career over the past 30 years has focused largely on the human adenoviruses, which he has used as an experimental system to uncover basic mechanisms of oncogenesis, tumour suppressors, and regulation of cell proliferation and cell death. He is Canada’s leader in the study of DNA tumour viruses and is known internationally as a researcher, organizer and expert in this area of cancer research.

 

The organization of the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) is another of Dr. Branton’s significant achievements. He led a year-long process to bring together all of the major Canadian funders of cancer research through the CCRA to provide the cancer control community with a single organization that can oversee cancer research, look for gaps in cancer research efforts, and develop partnerships for new targeted initiatives.

 

Currently, Dr. Branton is the Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Cancer Research. Through this position, he has become one of the most influential cancer research strategists in Canada.

 

 

Dr. Nahum Sonenberg

http://www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/department/faculty/sonenberg// nahum.sonenberg@mcgill.ca

 

Professor Sonenberg is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Society of London, Howard Hughes International Scholar, recipient of the Killam Prize for Health Sciences and recipient of the Robert L. Noble Prize, Canada’s most prestigious cancer research award.

 

His main research interests are the identification and characterization of the various translation factors involved in translation initiation, the elucidation of the signalling pathways impinging upon translation and the discovery of physiological consequences of translational control.

 

Sonenberg researches how changes, in the way proteins are made in the cell, can sometimes cause it to grow or transform into a cancer cell. His work has led to the development of new treatments, including gene therapies and new anti-cancer drugs.

 

Dr. Moshe Szyf

http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/pharma/mszyflab/Main.htm

mszyf@pharma.mcgill.ca

 

Dr. Szyf is a pioneer in the study of epigenetics, described as the second genetic code. He is interested in understanding the links between chromatin, DNA methylation and cancer therapy. He wants to understand what mechanisms define the DNA methylation pattern and why is the DNA methylation pattern tightly correlated with chromatin structure.

 

It is well known now that in most tumours the DNA methylation pattern is defective. Vast regions of the genome lose their methylation while specific regions are heavily methylated. Dr. Szyf’ working hypothesis is that both the DNA methylation and demethylation machineries are directed by chromatin structure and that both are defective in cancer. He wants to understand how chromatin directs DNA methyltransferase and demethylase and why they are involved in cancer and metastasis.

 

The Molecular Oncology Group

 

In 1994, the Molecular Oncology Group (MOG) was formed as an independent research division committed to better understand the molecular mechanisms of cancer. It contains 6 separate laboratories employing over 100 dedicated students and research associates. Members of the MOG hold various academic appointments in the Departments of Biochemistry, Neurology and Experimental Medicine of the McGill University Faculty of Medicine.

 

Dr. Morag Park

http://www.mcgill.ca/mog/research/park/

morag.park@mcgill.ca

 

Dr. Park is the director of the Molecular Oncology Group.
Her main research interest lies in the deregulated activation of growth factor receptors. More particularly, she has been working deciphering the molecular mechanisms of oncogenic activation of receptor tyrosine kinases and mechanisms for cell transformation using the Met, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and oncoprotein as a model.

 

Many of her research goals for the next five years are aimed at identifying the critical molecular signals regulated by the HGF/SF receptor and receptor tyrosine kinases in general, those contribute to tumour progression, and are suitable targets for therapeutic intervention.

 

In addition to receiving the Barbara Bourne Tiffin Cancer Research Award in 2000, Dr. Park is a designated William Dawson Scholar and MRC Senior Scientist. She holds the Guerrera Chair on cancer genetics.

 

The Seagal Cancer Center

 

Located at the Jewish General Hospital, the Seagal Cancer Center opened its doors in 2006. It is a state-of-the-art facility providing patients with clinical, educational and support services along with clinical and fundamental research in cancer.

 

Dr. Gerald Batist

http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/oncology/displayoncology.asp?Oncology_ID=94

gerald.batist@mcgill.ca

 

Dr. Batist is the Chairman of Oncology at McGill University, Director of the McGill Center for Translational Research in Cancer  and Director of the Seagal Cancer Center.

 

Dr. Batist is a recognized authority in cancer research, he has been engaged in basic and translational cancer research for many years. He has expertise in tumour biology, cancer pharmacology, experimental therapeutics, and cancer target discovery. He coordinates Phase I studies in Oncology throughout the McGill University hospital network and has published extensively in these areas and has been serving on several scientific panels and research committees.

 

He runs a very active research laboratory, which examines the molecular pharmacology of carcinogenesis and of chemotherapy resistance, and novel approaches to gene-targeted pharmacotherapy

 

He has held numerous grants and awards, including from the NIH, NCIC, CIHR, FRSQ, NSERC, the Cancer Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Canada Foundation for Innovation.

 

University of Montreal

 

Founded in 1878, University of Montreal (UdeM) is one of Canada’s leading universities. With 13 faculties, it is the largest institution of higher education in Quebec, the second largest in Canada, and among the most active in North America with CAN$ 430 million in research funding in 2005.

 

UdeM’s health research is divided among various research centers.

 

The Montreal Cancer Institute

http://www.icm.qc.ca/cgi-cs/cs.waframe.content?topic=30629&lang=1

 

Created in 1947, the Institut du cancer de Montréal (Montreal Cancer Institute) is a non-profit organization actively supporting the fight against cancer. Its mission is to foster fundamental and clinical research in cancer and to strengthen the teaching and training of future researchers.

 

Dr. Anne-Marie Mes-Masson, Ph. D.

http://www.icm.qc.ca/cgi-cs/cs.waframe.content?topic=30750&lang=1

anne-marie.mes-masson@umontreal.ca

 

Dr. Mes-Masson is the scientific director of the Montreal Cancer Institute and Director of the Cancer Research network of the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ).

 

Dr. Mes-Masson multidisciplinary research’s themes focus on ovarian and prostate cancer and on the use of model systems to study oncogenesis. Her large research network brings together fundamental researchers and reknown clinicians such as Dr. Diane Provencher, former President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada.

 

Institute for research in immunology and cancer (IRIC)

http://www.iric.ca/index_EN.html

 

IRIC opened its doors at the heart of the Université de Montréal in 2005. It is a fully integrated cross-disciplinary research centre dedicated to immunology and cancer. Led by a group of outstanding scientists from Canada, Europe and the United States, IRIC engages in ambitious collaborations involving complementary disciplines to tackle some of the greatest obstacles to human health.

 

IRIC currently brings together 22 research teams and 10 state-of-the-art core facilities.

 

IRIC distinguishes itself as a reference in systems biology, where chemistry, computer science, medicine, biophysics, engineering, and mathematics are combined with cellular and molecular biology to shed light on complex living systems.

 

Dr. Guy Sauvageau, M.D., Ph. D.

Scientific Director IRIC

http://www.iric.ca/Recherche/Chercheurs/Sauvageau_G_EN.html

guy.sauvageau@umontreal.ca

 

Guy Sauvageau is the Founding Scientific Director of IRIC. He also holds the Canada Research Chair in the Molecular Genetics of Stem Cells and is Full Professor with the Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine.

 

Over the last ten years, Dr. Sauvageau’s work has led to ground-breaking discoveries in understanding the production of hematopoietic stem cells. With his research team, he identified the potential of the HOXB4 and Bmi1 genes which are instrumental in regulating the self-renewal of these cells. Dr. Sauvageau’s research on the Bmi1 gene may lead to new ways to destroy tumour cells.

 

Dr. Sylvain Meloche, Ph.D.

http://www.iric.ca/Recherche/Chercheurs/Meloche_S_EN.html

sylvain.meloche@umontreal.ca

 

Dr. Meloche is a principal investigator and the head of the Signalling and Cell Growth Laboratory at IRIC. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Cellular Signalling and is a full professor at the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal.

 

Dr. Meloche’s research focuses mainly on the signalling mechanisms that control cell proliferation, the processes by which extracellular factors, such as hormones, signal the cells to multiply, differentiate, or commit suicide.

 

Since joining the ranks of IRIC in 2003, Dr. Meloche has helped identify the regulating mechanisms of protein p27 and shown that it is a significant factor in tumour development. He continues to research these mechanisms because of the protein’s great potential prognostic value. He also studies MAP kinase enzymes from a genetic perspective, particularly through the creation of mouse models that are deficient in these enzymes.

 

University of Montreal Hospital (CHUM) Research Center

http://www.chumtl.qc.ca/centre-recherche/who-are-we/cr-histoire.en.html

 

Dr. Jacques Turgeon

Research Director

 

With its 1,300 employees, nearly 750 researchers, students and graduate students, the CHUM Research Center is one of the Montreal’s leading research institutions.

 

Its Oncology Research Axis is led by Dr. Anne-Marie Mes-Masson and brings together clinicians, basic researchers and epidemiologists.

 

The research activities focus on the treatment and chemoprevention, the study of genetic and environmental risk factors, the elucidation of growth, apoptosis and angiogenesis pathways of cells, the biology of tumoural cells, an immuno-oncology approach to melanomas and hormone-dependent cancers and the molecular medicine of cancer.

 

Dr André Robidoux, Ph.D.

http://www.recherche.umontreal.ca/chercheurs_unites/unite_affichage.asp?unite_rech_c=39

andre.robidoux@umontreal.ca

 

Dr. Robidoux holds the Scotia Bank Chair in diagnostic and treatment of breast cancer. His objective is to optimize breast cancer research by coordinating various research approaches and by contributing to the education of women.

 

Dr Robidoux is an internationally renowned clinician who has participated to major clinical trials.

 

This document had been prepared by: Montréal International