The CETC’s Director of Operations and Business Development
November 18, 2008 – The Research Centre is pleased to welcome Dr Marc Lussier as Director of 
Operations and Business Development of the Centre of Excellence for Cellular Therapy (CETC).
Due to open in 2010, the CETC will provide research investigators and clinicians with a cutting-edge facility for developing and improving stem-cell-based therapy. With a strong hematological component right from the start, the CETC will ultimately be able to investigate the enormous potential of stem-cells for treating heart disease, osteoarthritis, neurological diseases, corneal and retinal disorders, cancer, etc.
Many research investigators and clinicians will be using the CETC’s infrastructure to authenticate their research protocols. This will make the CETC an extraordinary point of convergence, conducive to knowledge-pooling and education.
The CETC will be the only establishment of its kind in Quebec and will give Quebec the opportunity to collaborate in clinical research studies with a number of world-renowned scientists so that all Quebecers may benefit from the latest treatment options.
Background
Dr Lussier has recognized expertise in strategic planning, fundraising, finance and human resources management.
He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. He completed a postdoctoral training program with the Department of Biology at McGill University from 1990 to 1995. He was then named Director of the Laboratoire du Génome de la Levure. In 1991, he founded Mycota Biosciences Inc., a company that develops new antifungal agents; where he was Executive Director until 2001. From 2002 to 2005, he was Vice President of Operations of HemaX Génome Inc, and Executive Director of Estracure Inc. Since 2005, he has concurrently held several positions as Scientific Director of Procure Prostate Cancer Biobank; part-time Executive Director of Strida Pharma Inc.; Director of Business Development of Émerillon Therapeutics Inc; President and CEO of Florisys Inc.; and Portfolio Director of AgeChem Financial Inc.
Dr Lussier has published 28 scientific articles and holds two patents.
We welcome him to the team with great pride!