Full program (PDF)
Plenary Session 1 Genome Expression and Maintenance
DNA within chromatin regulates gene expression, influences cellular responses and is at the heart of cancer genetics and epigenetics. It is essential to understand how DNA and epigenetic alterations contribute to signaling pathways and impact treatment strategies. It also enables genomics to be exploited for precision medicine and biomarker discovery, making it an essential component of global cancer research.
John Diffley, PhD, FRS, FMedSci
The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
Nada Jabado, MD, PhD, FRSC
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal
Mathieu Lupien, PhD, FRSC
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto
Jacques Côté, PhD, FRSC
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Plenary Session 2 Regulation by Coding and Non-Coding RNAs
RNA molecules, both coding and non-coding, play an essential role in modulating gene expression and influencing cell signaling pathways. Understanding the complex mechanisms by which RNA participates in cancer-related signaling events is essential to unravel the complexities of the disease. This session will explore emerging areas such as the impact of non-coding RNA on oncogenic pathways, potentially revealing new therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers. In addition, RNA-based technologies and therapies, such as mRNA vaccines, are gaining importance in cancer treatment, making it imperative to keep abreast of these advances as part of the symposium.
Nahum Sonenberg, PhD, FRS, FRSC, OC
Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal
Katherine Borden, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS
Institut de Recherche en Immunologie et Cancérologie, Université de Montréal
Katherine L.B. Borden, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS, Professor, Université de Montréal; Investigator Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer and Canada Research Chair in Molecular Biology of the Cell Nucleus. She received her PhD from Yale University in protein biophysics with Fred Richards and postdoctoral training in structural and cancer biology at The Crick Institute (formerly NIMR) and Cancer Research UK (formerly the Imperial Cancer Fund) in London. Her work focusses on understanding the mechanisms and impact of dysregulated RNA metabolism in cancer. She studies the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E as an exemplar. Her studies unearthed novel modes by which cancer cells hijack genetic information, in the form of messenger RNA, and demonstrated new mechanisms by which RNA maturation and RNA export influence cell physiology and support cancer growth. Her molecular snapshots elucidated new mechanisms for regulation and engagement of these steps. These findings drove first-in-class clinical trials demonstrating that targeting eIF4E and relevant RNA processing events represents a highly promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutics. These studies also revealed novel modes of drug resistance and showed these were targetable in patients. These achievements have been recognized by several awards including the Stohlman Scholar award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society USA, 3 term Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Distinguished Scientist of the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation, CSMB Canadian Science Publishing Senior Investigator Award and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences amongst others. She has over 150 publications and given more than 160 invited lectures. She also founded and chairs the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee at her institute.
Ly P Vu, PhD
Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver
Dr. Vu is Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in RNA biology in Hematological Malignancies, a Scientist at the Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer and an Assistant Professor at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of British Columbia (UBC). Dr. Vu is originally from Vietnam with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Vietnam National University. She completed both her PhD and post-doctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NYC, US. At BC Cancer, Dr. Vu’s laboratory aims to understand control of stem cells and pathogenesis of hematological malignancies with a focus on RNA-centric mechanisms including non-coding RNAs and RNA modifications. The ultimate goal is to develop innovative therapeutic approaches for treatment of leukemia and other cancers. The laboratory has received generous funding from NSERC, CIHR, American Society of Hematology (ASH) and Terry Fox Research Institute. In addition, Dr. Vu is the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Damon Runyon-Sohn Pediatric Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Special Fellow award from Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Scholar Award, the Terry Fox New Investigator Award and the V foundation for Cancer Research Scholar Award.
Martin Simard, PhD
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Plenary Session 3 Protein Dynamics and Cell Communications
Understanding the role of proteins and cellular communications in oncogenic pathways is fundamental to identifying therapeutic targets and biomarkers. In addition, targeted therapies often focus on the inhibition or modulation of specific proteins, making this session an integral part of advancing cancer treatment strategies.
Christian Landry, PhD
Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval
Dr Landry obtained his BSc and MSc degrees from Université Laval (1995-2000). He trained as a PhD student at Harvard University (2001-2006) where he worked on the evolution of gene expression networks. Dr Landry did a postdoctoral internship on the organization and evolution of protein interaction networks at Université de Montréal (2007-2009). Since 2009, he has been an independent investigator at Université Laval and holds the CIHR Canada Research Chair in Cellular Systems and Synthetic Biology. He was elected to the inaugural cohort of the College of the Royal Society of Canada. He received the NSERC EWR Steacie Memorial Award for Early Career Researchers in 2017 and the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution Mid-career Award for outstanding contributions in 2020. In 2021, he received the Université Laval Excellence prize for teaching and mentoring graduate students and postdocs. In 2024, he was awarded the Canada Gairdner Momentum Award for exceptional scientific research contributions with continued potential for impact on human health.
Anne-Claude Gingras, PhD, FRSC
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, University of Toronto
Marc Therrien, PhD
Institut de Recherche en Immunologie et Cancérologie, Université de Montréal
Nicolas Bisson, PhD
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval
Elaine Fuchs, PhD, HHMI, NAS, FRS
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York
Panel - The Future in Cell Signaling Research
Panelists : John Diffley, Anne-Claude Gingras, Christian Landry and Nahum Sonenberg
Hosted by Amélie Fradet-Turcotte and Martin Simard
Panel de discussion - Diversité des carrières en recherche (this part will be in French)
10 conférences éclairs suivies de panels de discussion
Panel #1 : Carrière au public et parapublic
Philippe Nadeau - Chef de projets cliniques hemato-onco
Andréanne Auger - Partner, Patent Agent, Member of the Executive Committee at BCF
Mélanie Morneau - Directrice générale adjointe du Programme québécois de cancérologie MSSS
Félix-Antoine Bérubé-Simard - Co-Director — Innovation and Technology Transfer — Mycotechnologies at Biopterre
Daniela Furrer - Conseillère en surveillance de l’état de santé au MSSS
Panel #2 : Carrière au privé et entreprenariat
Émilie Dubois - Fondatrice Agence Impakt Scientifik
Marie-Claude Landry - Global Medical Information at Eli Lilly and Company
Johanne Girard - Associate Direct early writing chez Syneos Health à Québec
François Therriault-Proulx - CEO & Co-Founder - MedScint
Séverine Hervouet - Co-fondatrice de la clinique Psychologie Santé
