The Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) / Montreal Clinical Research Institute is pleased to announce it has received a donation of $500,000 from the Œuvres du Docteur Roch Despatis to establish a research chair in the IRCM Cellular Neurobiology research unit, which will be held by Michel Cayouette. The chair will be named the Laboratoire Gaëtane et Roland Pillenière sur la rétine [Gaëtane and Roland Pillenière Retina Laboratory].
Roland Pillenière, Chairman of the Œuvres du Docteur Roch Despatis, stressed the importance of investing in this field: “Retinal diseases are a major cause of visual impairment and blindness. Dr. Despatis would have been very concerned about this major public health issue.”
“We’re very touched that Mr. Pillenière and his family have chosen the IRCM to continue the mission of the Œuvres du Docteur Roch Despatis in the biomedical field. I would like to sincerely thank them for this wonderful gesture,” said André J.P. Couillard, President of the IRCM Foundation.
Tarik Möröy, IRCM President and Scientific Director, acknowledged the innovative research conducted at Dr. Cayouette’s laboratory and “the IRCM’s commitment to contributing to advances in retinal diseases.” He also thanked the Pillenière family for supporting the IRCM, saying that their donation will certainly contribute to future discoveries.
The evening was also an opportunity to present 22 IRCM student scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships, as well as 5 excellence awards. The IRCM Foundation scholarships, which amount to $208,000 this year, are made possible through the generosity of IRCM clinic patients, partners and those who participate in our annual fundraising activities, as well as foundations, businesses and individuals who have helped create scholarships.
About the IRCM Foundation
The Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) / Montreal Clinical Research Institute Foundation is one of the Institute’s key partners. Through the tremendous efforts of people committed to IRCM’s present and future, the Foundation can fulfill its mission of supporting IRCM’s research, technological development and training activities, promoting its growth.
About the IRCM
Founded in 1967, the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) / Montreal Clinical Research Institute is a non-profit organization that conducts fundamental and clinical biomedical research in addition to training high-level young scientists. With its cutting-edge technology facilities, the institute brings together 33 research teams, which work in cancer, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, systems biology and medicinal chemistry. The IRCM also operates a research clinic specialized in hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and cystic fibrosis, as well as a research centre on rare and genetic diseases in adults. The IRCM is affiliated with the Université de Montréal and associated with McGill University. Its clinic is affiliated with the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). The IRCM is supported by the Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation (Quebec ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation).
Source :
Anne-Marie Beauregard, Communications Officer
Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) / Montreal Clinical Research Institute
514-987-5555 | anne-marie.beauregard@ircm.qc.ca