Immunology-Oncology

Leaders, Immunology-Oncology Research Axis
Immunology / Hematology: Christopher E. Rudd, Ph.D.
Oncology/ Genomic Instability: Éric Milot, Ph.D.

The multidisciplinary activities of the Immunology-Oncology Research Axis primarily deal with cancer research. Owing to its rich history, acquired knowledge, advanced clinical services and the creation of a Centre of Excellence for Cellular Therapy and the new Centre for Commercialization of Cancer - Immunotherapy – C3i, this research axis mainly focuses on diseases of the blood.

Research Areas
Partnerships
Research Chairs
Accomplishments and Recent Achievements
Prospects
University Affiliations

Research Areas

• Cellular stress: DNA repair, oxidative inflammation and stress.
• Transcription/chromatin/regulation: ubiquitination/disubiquitination and regulation of gene expression in progenitor stem cells and upon hematopoiesis.
• Immunology: T lymphocytes differentiation and autoimmune diseases.
• Cellular therapy: stem cell expansion, immunotherapy and immunotolerance.

The Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank is affiliated to the Immunology-Oncology Research Axis. Use the search tool to discover our immunology-oncology research investigators.

Partnerships

A partnership agreement was signed with the University of Montreal’s Immunology and Cancer Research Institute (IRIC). Within the scope of this agreement, both institutions consolidated the establishment of collaborative research and jointly submitted major funding requests, which were granted with great success.

Research Chairs

• Research Chair in leukemia supported by Industrial Alliance: Dr Josée Hébert, M.D.
• Multiple Myeloma Research Chair: Dr. Richard Leblanc, M.D.
  
• Maryse & William Brock Research Chair in Stem Cell Transplantation: Dr. Jean Roy, M.D.
  
• Canada Research Chair in Molecular Oncology, Level 2: Dr. Frédérick Antoine Mallette, Ph.D

Accomplishments and Recent Achievements

• Recruitment of 3 researchers: Dr. Frédérick Antoine Mallette, Ph.D., Dr. Heather Melichar, Ph.D., Dr. Christofer Rudd, Ph.D.
• Major recognition of research investigators on behalf of funding organizations such as the Network of Centers of Excellence of Canada, Genome Canada & Génome Québec, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Quebec Health Research Fund.

Prospects

The development of the Immunology-Oncology Research Axis is being organized around the Centre of Excellence for Cellular Therapy, which complies with industry standards of good manufacturing practice (commonly known as cGMP). This unique platform in Canada allows axis researchers to conduct leading-edge research on hematopoietic stem cells, the immune system and cancer. It will have a major clinical impact, particularly on the establishment of a fellowship program.

In addition, the immunology-oncology arm obtained from the FRSQ a $ 2M grant for the project entitled Cell Therapy for Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine: the bridge between basic and clinical research, led by Dr. Denis Claude Roy. This project facilitates the transfer of technology and accelerates the clinical development of new cell therapies in the areas of hematology-oncology, ophthalmology, cardiology and musculoskeletal.

Finally, the new Centre for Commercialization of Cancer - Immunotherapy – C3i introduces major development prospects.

University Affiliations 

The research investigators of the Immunology-Oncology Research Axis are affiliated and carry out one or more course loads with the following departments and faculties of the University of Montreal:

• Medicine,
• Graduate and Postgraduate Studies,
• Pharmacology,
• Biomedical Sciences,
• Ophthalmology,
• Microbiology and Immunology,
• Molecular Biology,
• Pathology and Cellular Biology,
• Biochemistry.
  

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