Quebec Sciences: Top 10 discoveries of 2018. Award for the publication (PNAS, 2018) of a novel dual-targeting molecule against cerebral malaria.

Products derived from plants offer potential as dual-targeting agents for experimental cerebral malaria
(Philippe Gros and Jerry Pelletier, Biochemistry; and David Langlais, Human Genetics)
A recent study conducted as a collaboration between the labs of Dr. Philippe Gros, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Vice-Dean, Life Science, and Dr. Jerry Pelletier, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, shows that rocaglates – a class of naturally-derived products from plants of the Aglaia species – effectively block blood-stage parasite replication in several mouse models as well as in infected human red blood cells.

At the National Assemblée du Québec, the Premier of Quebéc, Francois Legault inducted Dr. Philippe Gros has a Chevalier on June 20, 2019 within the Ordre National du Québec.

Dr. Philippe Gros is widely acknowledged as an expert in genetic studies using mouse models, and has greatly contributed to knowledge about the fundamental causes of human illnesses, including genetic susceptibility to infections, predisposition to neural tube defects, and carcinogen-induced cancer. Dr. Gros obtained his Ph.D. From McGill in 1983. Under his leadership, a research team identified the gene that causes spina bifida, the second-most common birth defect in humans. He has also advanced knowledge regarding genes that give rise to susceptibility to malaria, which affects over 200 million people annually worldwide (WHO). Prof. Gros’s laboratory continues to use genetic models to assist in the development of more effective anti-microbial drugs.

In 2003, he became a fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Life Science Division, of the Royal Society of Canada. In 2008, he received the Wilder Penfield Prize for Health Sciences (Prix du Québec) and in 2009 Prof. Gros was awarded the Killam Prize for distinguished Canadian scholars in the field of health sciences. He is a member of the International Tuberculosis Centre and the Goodman Cancer Research Centre. He also serves as Director of the Complex Traits Program at McGill. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada from the The Governor General of Canada in 2013.

The MRCCT is please to inform you that Dr Samantha Gruenheid was named Interim Chair of the department of Microbiology and Immunology (November 2021)!

Congratulations to Sam,  first woman to be named Chair of MIMM!
Read her inspirational message describing her vision and work.

Martin won the Hardy Cinader award which is the highest honor given by the Canadian Society for Immunology!

Here is the link to the Québec Science article: www.quebecscience.qc.ca/sciences/les-10-decouvertes-de-2019/parkinson-systeme-immunitaire/

The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSP) has awarded Dr Judith Mandl, Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, and her collaborators a prestigious HFSP 2020 Program Grant for their research into the properties of T-cells and their movements.The grant is worth $1 million USD over three years, and is the result of an extremely competitive selection process.

Click HERE to view the article in the McGill Reporter