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Opened project
Project leader: Éric Lécuyer
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 400 000,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2027

The success of RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines has highlighted the great potential of using RNA as a new way to treat or prevent diseases. Some RNA molecules can work like “sponges,” soaking up specific RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and inhibiting their function. Since some RBPs are essential for cancer cell growth but not normal cells, RNA sponges could serve as selective cancer treatments. However, current RNA therapeutics are linear, which means they quickly get eliminated in the(...)
Opened project
Project leader: Olivier Barbier
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 300 000,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 January 2026

User: Trienix Pharma Inc. According to Liver Canada, about 25% of the Canadian population—nearly 8 million people—are affected by hepatic steatosis, commonly known as “fatty liver disease.” This condition, medically referred to as MASLD and MASH, currently has no treatment approved by Health Canada. By 2030, it is expected to become the leading cause of liver transplantation, underscoring the urgent need to develop new therapeutic options. This project aims to study the effect of a(...)
Opened project
Project leader: Émilie Bédard
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 180 386,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2027

Ville de Québec – Service du traitement des eaux This project aims to better protect the health of people working in wastewater treatment plants by reducing their exposure to aerosols generated during treatment processes. These airborne particles can contain bacteria responsible for respiratory and digestive problems. The research team will analyze the air in 15 facilities across Quebec to identify the bacteria present and assess the associated health risks. Simulations will also be used to(...)
Opened project
Project leader: Sonia Cellot
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 400 000,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2027

User: CHU Sainte-Justine This project aims to develop a non-invasive blood test to diagnose and monitor children with leukemia by analyzing proteins in their blood plasma. Current protein-based tests are rarely used in pediatric cancer care, yet they could provide crucial information. About 35% of children with acute myeloid leukemia and 10–15% with acute lymphoblastic leukemia do not survive, and many survivors face long-term side effects. Today, children undergo repeated blood draws and bone marrow(...)
Opened project
Project leader: Alexandre Pellan Cheng
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 654 375,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2027

User: OPTILAB CHUM Cancer cells release fragments of DNA into the blood, carrying unique mutations that can act as precise markers for the disease. This project aims to use whole genome sequencing (WGS) of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) for more efficient cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Unlike current ctDNA testing, which is costly and time-consuming, WGS offers a generalized assay paired with personalized computational analysis, simplifying the process and reducing costs. Establishing this sequencing platform(...)
Opened project
Project leader: Bruno Gaillet
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 240 150,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2027

User: National Research Council Canada This project aims to develop a new tool to better analyze the genetic material inside virus-based therapies, which are used in gene therapy to deliver DNA or RNA into cells. However, the genetic material inside these viruses is not always complete, which can reduce treatment effectiveness or safety. Using advanced long-read DNA/RNA sequencing, the project will improve methods for preparing and analyzing viral samples and study how design and production(...)
Opened project
Project leader: Peter Metrakos
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 258 900,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2027

User: Roche Diagnostics This study aims to improve treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver. About half of colorectal cancer patients develop liver tumors, and surgery is the only option for long-term survival. After surgery, additional chemotherapy is often given, but not all patients need it, and it can cause serious side effects. The team is developing a simple blood test that detects circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)—tiny fragments of(...)
Opened project
Project leader: John D. Rioux
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 403 462,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2027

User: Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are lifelong inflammatory bowel diseases that affect some 300,000 Canadians, a number expected to rise to 400,000 by 2030.  The objective of this project is to develop a new test to personalize existing treatments by selecting the right therapy for each person with CD or UC. For individuals suffering from disease-related symptoms, this will mean less time lost in identifying the most effective(...)
Opened project
Project leader: Rima Slim
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 400 000,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2026

User: OPTILAB MUHC This project aims to show how genetic testing can help diagnose female reproductive issues, such as infertility or recurrent miscarriage. These problems affect about 15% of couples of childbearing ages, with over half caused by factors related to the woman. Often, the underlying cause is unknown, and many women turn to medically assisted reproduction (MAR) clinics—though only about 30% currently receive these services. Recent discoveries of genes linked to infertility mean that(...)
Opened project
Project leader: Paul J. Thomassin
Contest: Genomics Integration Program - Human Health
Sector: Health
Budget: 538 305,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2026 End date: 31 December 2027

User: Public Health Agency of Canada Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major issue with negative health and economic consequences worldwide. In Canada alone, resistant bacterial infections caused over 14,000 deaths and cost the Canadian healthcare system $1.4 billion in 2018. This project will study how antibiotic-resistant bacteria in meats—such as chicken, pork, and beef—affect human health and the economy. Using genomic tools and economic models, the team will track how these bacteria move from farm(...)