Repository of researchers
Find therapeutic RNA experts in Quebec
| First name | Last name | Affiliation | Expertise | Hyperlink | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Éric | A. Cohen | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. Éric A. Cohen directs the Human Retrovirology Research Unit at IRCM and is a Professor at Université de Montréal. He investigates HIV–host interactions, innate antiviral responses and the roles of viral accessory proteins, including studies linking microRNAs and RNA‑regulated pathways to macrophage susceptibility. His program informs RNA‑targeted and RNA‑based strategies for HIV persistence and cure research. | Learn more | eric.cohen@ircm.qc.ca |
| Taha | Azad | Université de Sherbrooke | Dr. Taha Azad is an Assistant Professor at Université de Sherbrooke whose lab pioneers RNA therapeutics, oncolytic viruses and biosensors. He develops self‑amplifying RNA (saRNA) platforms and combinatorial strategies with oncolytic virotherapy to drive anti‑cancer immunity. His RNA work spans vaccine design, mRNA stabilization and bioinformatic pipelines for RNA‑based cancer treatments. | Learn more | Taha.Azad@usherbrooke.ca |
| Xavier | Banquy | Université de Montréal | Prof. Xavier Banquy is a Professor at Université de Montréal whose lab engineers biomaterials and nanoformulations for drug and gene delivery. He designs polymeric and lipid-based carriers and has demonstrated siRNA complexation and delivery using bile acid–based mixed micelles, while leading a funded initiative to scale industrial nanosuspension manufacturing for RNA therapeutics. His work advances LNP-like vectors and high‑penetration nanoformulations that improve RNA stability, tissue uptake, and translational manufacturability. | Learn more | xavier.banquy@umontreal.ca |
| Marcel | Behr | McGill University | Dr. Marcel A. Behr is a Professor of Medicine at McGill and Senior Scientist at the RI‑MUHC whose lab applies genomics to mycobacterial diseases. He employs RNA and genome analyses to study pathogenesis and host responses, informing vaccine and diagnostic development. His work relies on transcriptomics to understand the epidemiology and pathogenesis of tuberculosis, and to investigate the possible link between mycobacterial infection and Crohn's disease. | Learn more | marcel.behr@mcgill.ca |
| Geneviève | Bernard | McGill University | Dr. Geneviève Bernard is a professor in the Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at McGill University, and a clinician-scientist specializing in leukodystrophies at the Research Institute of the MUHC. Her team is advancing RNA-based therapies for POLR3-related hypomyelinating leukodystrophy and deploying transcriptomic tools to define its pathophysiological mechanisms. She leads a translational program funded by D2R that brings RNA-based therapies into clinical trials. | Learn more | genevieve.bernard@mcgill.ca |
| Nicolas | Bertrand | Université Laval | Prof. Nicolas Bertrand (Université Laval; CHU de Québec Research Centre) develops nanomedicine platforms and pharmacokinetic tools. His group engineers polymer and lipid nanoparticles to deliver RNA cargos and studies their in vivo fate, protein corona and immune interactions. These contributions optimize LNP design, targeting and safety for mRNA, siRNA and ASO therapeutics. | Learn more | nicolas.bertrand@pha.ulaval.ca |
| Davide | Brambilla | Université de Montréal | Prof. Davide Brambilla (Université de Montréal, Faculty of Pharmacy) designs micro‑/nanotechnology platforms for biotherapeutic delivery. His group develops polymeric microneedles and organic nanoparticles to deliver genetic cargos, advancing tissue‑targeted RNA and oligonucleotide therapeutics. He also studies distribution and safety of RNA nanocarriers and wearable diagnostics that complement RNA‑based care. | Learn more | davide.brambilla@umontreal.ca |
| Danilo | Bzdok | McGill University | Prof. Danilo Bzdok is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at McGill and a Canada CIFAR AI Chair at Mila. His lab builds machine‑learning frameworks for large biomedical datasets and collaborates on transcriptomics projects, using RNA‑seq and single‑cell data to model brain and disease phenotypes. These AI tools enhance RNA‑driven discovery and biomarker development across neuroscience and medicine. | Learn more | danilo.bzdok@mcgill.ca |
| Philippe | Campeau | Université de Montréal- CHU Sainte?Justine | Dr. Philippe Campeau is a Medical Geneticist at CHU Sainte-Justine and Associate Professor at Université de Montréal, specializing in Mendelian genetics and skeletal dysplasias. His group applies exome/genome sequencing and functional models to define disease mechanisms, including disorders with RNA splicing and expression defects relevant to RNA therapeutics. He collaborates on gene- and RNA-based strategies for metabolic and musculoskeletal diseases, informing translational pipelines. | Learn more | p.campeau@umontreal.ca |
| Michel | Cayouette | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. Michel Cayouette directs the Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit at the IRCM and is Professor at Université de Montréal and McGill. He investigates neural stem cell fate decisions and retinal development using live imaging, genetics, and multi-omics, including transcriptomic readouts of RNA programs. By decoding lineage and differentiation pathways, his work guides RNA-based strategies (e.g., mRNA and ASO approaches) for neuro-regeneration and vision disorders. | Learn more | michel.cayouette@ircm.qc.ca |
| Igor | Cestari | McGill University | Dr. Igor Cestari is an Associate Professor at McGill’s Institute of Parasitology, studying immune evasion by kinetoplastids and the regulation of antigenic variation. His team dissects transcriptional control at telomeric expression sites and chromatin organization in trypanosomes, and develops yeast-display and genomic approaches for vaccine epitope discovery. By mapping RNA- and chromatin based mechanisms that enable surface antigen switching, he informs RNA targeted strategies and vaccines for neglected parasitic diseases. | Learn more | igor.cestari@mcgill.ca |
| Benoit | Chabot | Université de Sherbrooke | Prof. Benoit Chabot is a Professor at Université de Sherbrooke and a leading authority on alternative RNA splicing and its roles in cancer, apoptosis, and aging. His laboratory uncovered fundamental principles of splice-site regulation, SR protein enhancers, and hnRNP‑mediated splicing control, and advances RNA therapeutics via splicing reprogramming. He co‑founded the RiboClub and has provided international leadership to the RNA Society, translating splicing biology toward disease-modifying interventions. | Learn more | benoit.chabot@usherbrooke.ca |
| Guojun | Chen | McGill University | Dr. Guojun Chen leads a biomaterials & delivery lab at McGill’s Goodman Cancer Institute focusing on gene/drug delivery, immunotherapy, and genome editing. His group engineers nanoparticles and nanocapsules for in vivo RNA (mRNA/siRNA) delivery and CRISPR RNPs, optimizing endosomal escape and immune modulation. Applications include LNP alternatives and targeted RNA therapeutics for cancer and immune diseases. | Learn more | guojun.chen@mcgill.ca |
| Karine | Choquet | Université de Sherbrooke | Dr. Karine Choquet is an Assistant Professor at Université de Sherbrooke specializing in RNA biology and transcriptomics. Her lab uses nanopore direct RNA sequencing to map pre-mRNA splicing and other RNA maturation steps across long transcripts and in disease contexts. This work informs design of splicing modulating therapies, and identification of disease mechanisms underlying rare genetic diseases and aging. | Learn more | karine.choquet@usherbrooke.ca |
| Jean-François | Côté | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. Jean‑François Côté is President & Scientific Director of the IRCM and leads the Cytoskeletal Organization and Cell Migration Unit. He dissects metastasis mechanisms via DOCK/ELMO‑Rac signaling, AXL trafficking, and myoblast fusion using molecular and genomic tools with RNA readouts. These insights provide RNA‑addressable targets and transcriptomic biomarkers to curb cancer invasion and dormancy. | Learn more | jean-francois.cote@ircm.qc.ca |
| Raquel | Cuella Martin | McGill University | Raquel Cuella Martin, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Human Genetics at McGill University, applying precision genome editing to the study of DNA damage response. She was the first to develop base-editing screens for systematic protein characterization and to functionalize clinical variants. Her platform enables allele-level annotation that complements RNA-based therapies and CRISPR-based correction strategies. | Learn more | raquel.cuella@mcgill.ca |
| Vincent | De Guire | Université de Montréal - Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont | Dr. Vincent De Guire is a Clinical Biochemist at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Université de Montréal, specializing in diagnostics through microRNA quantification. He co-led editorial work on miRNAs in laboratory medicine and established specific profiles to facilitate the diagnosis of certain pathologies, notably in ophthalmology. In addition to his involvement in the development of new technologies and validation of novel biomarkers, his expertise advances the clinical application of miRNAs as biomarkers and companion diagnostics for RNA-guided care. | Learn more | vdeguire.hmr@ssss.gouv.qc.ca |
| Javier | Di Noia | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. Javier M. Di Noia directs the Molecular Biology of the B Cell Unit at the IRCM, elucidating AID‑driven somatic hypermutation and class‑switch recombination. His work defines RNA–PROTEIN-DNA interfaces (e.g., uracil processing, Pol II coupling, RNA binding proteins) that govern antibody diversification and genome integrity. These mechanisms guide RNA‑centric vaccine adjuvants and genome‑editing safety in lymphocytes. | Learn more | javier.marcelo.di.noia@ircm.qc.ca |
| Jun | Ding | McGill University | Dr. Jun Ding is an Assistant Professor at McGill University and a Scientist at the RI-MUHC who develops deep generative AI models to decode cellular dynamics from single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. His laboratory builds probabilistic and generative frameworks to construct computational cell representations—virtual models that simulate disease progression and therapeutic responses. These approaches accelerate RNA biomarker discovery and enable in-silico screening of RNA-based therapeutics in complex diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis and muscular dystrophy. | Learn more | jun.ding@mcgill.ca |
| Nicolas | Doucet | INRS | Prof. Nicolas Doucet is a Full Professor at INRS whose lab integrates protein NMR, biophysics, and enzyme engineering to link conformational dynamics to function. He investigates ribonucleases and RNA‑interacting enzymes among model systems, illuminating how motions modulate catalysis and RNA processing at atomic resolution. These insights inform the design of biomolecular tools and inhibitors that intersect RNA structure–function relationships and therapeutic mechanism. | Learn more | nicolas.doucet@inrs.ca |
| Arnaud | Droit | Université Laval | Professor Arnaud Droit is a full professor of computational biology at Laval University's Faculty of Medicine. He heads the bioinformatics and proteomics platforms at the CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research Center, as well as a research group dedicated to developing statistical and artificial intelligence approaches for the integrated analysis of multi-omic data, including RNA-seq and miR-seq. His work aims to extract information relevant to medical research from large biological datasets. By combining omics, imaging, and clinical data, his team seeks to identify new biomarkers and support the development of precision medicine. Through numerous international collaborations, his projects contribute to translating molecular signatures, particularly those derived from RNA, into knowledge useful for diagnosis and clinical research. | Learn more | arnaud.droit@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca |
| Thomas | Durcan | McGill University | Dr. Thomas M. Durcan is an Associate Professor at McGill’s Neuro and Director of the Early Drug Discovery Unit. He deploys iPSC‑derived neuronal models, CRISPR editing, organoids, and single‑cell RNA‑seq to study neurodegeneration and enable phenotypic screening. The platform accelerates discovery of RNA targets and evaluation of RNA therapeutics for CNS disorders. | Learn more | thomas.durcan@mcgill.ca |
| Paul | Dutchak | Université Laval | Dr. Paul Dutchak is an Assistant Professor at the CERVO Brain Research Centre (Université Laval) studying neurometabolic pathways in brain health and disease. He examines how GATOR1‑mTORC1 amino‑acid sensing and translation control shape neuronal function and neurodevelopmental disorders, using using biochemical, molecular and pharmacological approaches to map pathway dysregulation. He applies these insights to therapeutic strategies for epilepsy, autism, and ALS, including work on lipid metabolism in FUS‑linked ALS. | Learn more | paul.dutchak.1@ulaval.ca |
| Amin | Emad | McGill University | Dr. Amin Emad is an Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at McGill and Mila, and leads the COMBINE Lab. He develops machine learning methods for transcriptomics and multi omics (RNA seq, single cell and spatially resolved transcriptomics, etc.) to infer gene regulatory networks, predict drug response, and model RNA mediated mechanisms in disease. His work spans graph neural networks, generative models, and causal AI to accelerate precision medicine and RNA targeted therapy discovery. | Learn more | amin.emad@mcgill.ca |
| Sebastien | Faucher | McGill University | Dr. Sébastien P. Faucher is an Associate Professor at McGill University (Natural Resource Sciences) and studies waterborne pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila. He dissects the post-transcriptional regulation of virulence by small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), including RsmY, RsmZ, and 6S RNAs, using transcriptomics and experimental evolution. His research sheds light on strategies for monitoring and controlling pathogens in water systems. | Learn more | sebastien.faucher2@mcgill.ca |
| Gerardo | Ferbeyre | Université de Montréal - CRCHUM | Dr. Gerardo Ferbeyre is a Professor at Université de Montréal and scientist at CRCHUM, recognized for work on tumor suppression and cellular senescence. His group uses RNA interference/CRISPR screening and has elucidated RNA‑mediated regulation of cell‑cycle networks, including the E2F/miR‑20a feedback loop, and ribosome biogenesis defects that interface with gene expression programs. These RNA‑linked mechanisms inform strategies to modulate senescence and anti‑tumor immunity, with translational implications for oncology. | Learn more | g.ferbeyre@umontreal.ca |
| Andrés | Finzi | Université de Montréal - CRCHUM | Prof. Andrés Finzi's lab defines structural and functional determinants of HIV‑1 Env and SARS‑CoV‑2 Spike. He maps conformational states that expose RNA virus vulnerabilities to neutralization and Fc‑effector responses, guiding antibody and vector designs. By connecting viral envelope dynamics to immune control, he informs RNA‑based vaccine strategies and advanced immunotherapies. | Learn more | andres.finzi@umontreal.ca |
| Ziv | Gan-Or | McGill University | Dr. Ziv Gan Or is an Associate Professor at The Neuro (McGill) leading the Neurogenomics and Precision Medicine Lab, and the Executive Director of the Clinical Research Unit (CRU). He applies multi omic profiling—including transcriptomics—to uncover RNA linked pathways (lysosomal, immune) that modify risk and progression in Parkinson’s disease and REM sleep behavior disorder. His D2R collaborations connect genetic discovery to RNA targetable mechanisms and biomarkers for precision neurology. He also manages at the CRU multiple clinical trials using RNA therapeutics. | Learn more | ziv.gan-or@mcgill.ca |
| Paul | Goodyer | McGill University | Dr. Paul Goodyer is a Senior Scientist at the RI MUHC and Professor of Pediatrics at McGill focused on hereditary kidney diseases. In recent years, an important goal for his laboratory has been to develop lipid nanoparticle/mRNA-based therapy for rare genetic renal diseases such as cystinosis. | Learn more | paul.goodyer@mcgill.ca |
| Simon | Gravel | McGill University | Dr. Simon Gravel is an Associate Professor of Human Genetics at McGill University and a researcher at the Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine. He develops statistical genomics methods that integrate transcriptomic and population data to model selection, mutation, and disease risk in populations of diverse ancestries. His group’s frameworks improve the interpretation of RNA-seq and eQTL signals to inform precision medicine across populations. | Learn more | simon.gravel@mcgill.ca |
| Celia | Greenwood | McGill University | Dr. Celia M. T. Greenwood is James McGill Professor and Senior Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute, specializing in statistical genetics. She designs and validates methods for analyzing high‑dimensional RNA data (RNA‑seq, epigenomics), rare‑variant effects, and integrative multi‑omics. Her work underpins robust discovery of RNA biomarkers and regulatory networks, enabling reproducible transcriptomic analyses in oncology and complex disease. | Learn more | celia.greenwood@mcgill.ca |
| Philippe | Gros | McGill University | Dr. Philippe Gros is Professor of Biochemistry at McGill and a leader in host–pathogen genetics and immunology. He connects RNA‑regulated innate immune pathways to susceptibility and treatment responses in infections and cancer, and now serves as Chief Scientific Officer of McGill’s DNA‑to‑RNA (D2R) initiative. His program catalyzes the translation of RNA biology into RNA‑based precision medicines across diverse diseases. | Learn more | philippe.gros@mcgill.ca |
| Elie | Haddad | Université de Montréal- CHU Sainte?Justine | Dr. Élie Haddad is a Full Professor at Université de Montréal and clinician‑scientist at CHU Sainte‑Justine focusing on immune diseases and gene therapy. He engineers cytotoxic immune cells and explores nucleic‑acid‑based therapies, recently leading a world‑first clinical application of prime‑editing gene therapy for chronic granulomatous disease. His translational work bridges RNA‑guided genome editing and cellular therapy to treat rare immunodeficiencies. | Learn more | elie.haddad@umontreal.ca |
| Benjamin | Haley | Université de Montréal - CIUSSS EST | Dr. Benjamin Haley is Full Professor at the Université de Montréal and FRQ Chair in Genomic Engineering, where he leads the Functional Genomics and Genome Engineering Unit. A pioneer in elucidating the biochemical mechanisms of RNA interference, he now develops scalable CRISPR and RNA-based platforms for precision genome and transcriptome engineering. His lab integrates CRISPR knockout, activation, epigenetic, and base-editing technologies with RNAi and single-cell analytics to uncover gene-function networks and accelerate RNA- and gene-based therapeutic discovery across oncology, immunology, and ocular disease models. | Learn more | benjamin.haley@umontreal.ca |
| John | Hanrahan | McGill University | Dr. John W. Hanrahan is Professor of Physiology at McGill and Associate Investigator at the RI‑MUHC, specializing in airway epithelial transport and CFTR biology. He uses transcriptomic and molecular approaches to study host defense and epithelial responses in cystic fibrosis and COPD, including interactions with viral RNA pathogens such as SARS‑CoV‑2. His research informs targets and delivery contexts relevant to emerging mRNA and oligonucleotide therapies for airway disease. | Learn more | John.hanrahan@mcgill.ca |
| Terence | Hébert | McGill University | Prof. Terence (Terry) Hébert is a Professor of Pharmacology whose lab dissects G‑protein–coupled receptor signaling using advanced biosensors, iPSC models, and in vivo systems. He maps GPCR architectures, G‑protein activation, and allosteric modulation to understand cardiovascular and inflammatory pathways that interface with nucleic acid–encoded therapeutics. These platforms support functional evaluation of responses to RNA‑based medicines in relevant human cellular contexts. | Learn more | terence.hebert@mcgill.ca |
| Corinne | Hoesli | McGill University | Dr. Corinne A. Hoesli is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at McGill and Canada Research Chair in Cellular Therapy Bioprocess Engineering, focusing on biomanufacturing of therapeutic cells. Her lab engineers encapsulation, vascularized tissues, and bioreactors, using transcriptomic assays to characterize islet biology and cell‑therapy products relevant to mRNA and RNA‑seq analytics. She advances scalable processes that enable RNA‑informed quality control and translational cell therapies for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. | Learn more | corinne.hoesli@mcgill.ca |
| Samer | Hussein | Université Laval | Dr. Samer M. I. Hussein is a Professor at Université Laval and researcher at the CRCHU de Québec whose lab studies the fate of stem cells, reprogramming, and cancer. He specializes in long non-coding RNAs. He specializes in long non‑coding RNAs and RNA isoform diversity, leveraging long‑read RNA sequencing and functional genomics to map RNA‑driven regulatory circuits in pluripotency and glioma models. These efforts inform RNA‑based biomarkers and mechanisms that could be exploited for RNA‑targeted interventions in developmental disorders and oncology. | Learn more | samer.hussein@fmed.ulaval.ca |
| Loydie | Jerome-Majewska | McGill University | Dr. Loydie A. Jerome‑Majewska is a Professor of Pediatrics at McGill and Senior Scientist at the RI‑MUHC who studies the genetic basis of congenital malformations. Her group models spliceosomopathies (e.g., EFTUD2, SF3B4, SNRPB) and uses RNA‑seq to define splicing defects underlying craniofacial and placental development. She aims to identify RNA‑mediated pathways for prevention and targeted interventions in developmental disorders. | Learn more | Loydie.Majewska@mcgill.ca |
| Jean-Sébastien | Joyal | Université de Montréal- CHU Sainte?Justine | Dr. Jean‑Sébastien Joyal is a pediatric intensivist and Associate Professor (UdeM; adjunct at McGill) whose lab links neuronal energy metabolism to angiogenesis. He operates an FRQS‑funded single‑cell transcriptomics platform and uses genomic readouts to map vascular drivers in retinal disease models. These RNA‑resolved pathways reveal metabolic cues that can be targeted to prevent pathological neovascularization. | Learn more | js.joyal@umontreal.ca |
| Amine | Kamen | McGill University | Prof. Amine Kamen is Canada Research Chair in Bioprocessing of Viral Vectors and Vaccines and leads manufacturing science for biologics, including RNA modalities. His research optimizes cell‑based production, analytics, and continuous processing for viral vectors and mRNA vaccines to enable clinical‑grade supply. By integrating process analytical technologies and data sciences, he advances scalable, quality‑by‑design platforms for RNA therapeutics. | Learn more | amine.kamen@mcgill.ca |
| Timothy | Kennedy | McGill University | Prof. Timothy E. Kennedy is a neuroscientist at The Neuro (McGill) whose lab investigates molecular mechanisms of axon guidance, myelination, and synaptic plasticity. He employs single cell RNA sequencing, assays of neural cell signal trasduction, and cell type specific transcriptomics to map development and age-related neural degenerative disease mechanisms. His RNA resolved datasets illuminate targets for remyelination and circuit repair in neurodevelopmental and demyelinating disorders. | Learn more | timothy.kennedy@mcgill.ca |
| Lara | Khoury | McGill University | Professor Lara Khoury is a Full Professor of Law at McGill University and holds the Canada Research Chair in Responsibility, Health Governance, and Social Change. She analyzes risk management through law and judicial decisions, and responsibilities in public health and biomedical innovation, providing legal frameworks and reflections for RNA-based diagnostics, vaccines, and gene-editing therapies. Her work informs governance and accountability standards that support the responsible translation of RNA technologies. | Learn more | lara.khoury@mcgill.ca |
| John | Kildea | McGill University | John Kildea is an Associate Professor of Oncology and medical physicist at McGill University who leads the Opal Health Informatics Group. His research spans patient centred data platforms, NLP/radiomics, and biophysics; a current axis of which employs single cell whole-genome DNA sequencing to dissect radiation induced carcinogenesis. In collaboration with the McGill Genome Centre, the Kildea lab was the first to explore the use of single-cell DNA sequencing to examine radiation-induced mutations and published RadiSeq, the first post-irradiation DNA sequencing simulation software toolkit, which is available on Github under an open-source license. | Learn more | john.kildea@mcgill.ca |
| Joseph | Kinsella | McGill University | Dr. Joseph M. Kinsella is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at McGill whose lab develops biomaterials, 3D bioprinting, patient-derived organoids, and imaging guided nanoparticle-based therapeutics. His platforms enable evaluation of cellular responses and gene expression readouts in engineered tissues, complementing RNA assays used to assess delivery and therapeutic effects. These enabling technologies support preclinical testing where RNA measurements inform design of nanomedicine and regenerative strategies. Additionally, his lab is active in nanoparticle design and measurements of in vivo pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, drug delivery, and tissue targeting. | Learn more | joseph.kinsella@mcgill.ca |
| Claudia | Kleinman | McGill University | Dr. Claudia Kleinman is an Associate Professor of Human Genetics at McGill, Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute, and co‑Director of the Ludmer Centre. Her lab uses single‑cell transcriptomics and epigenomics to map brain development and to identify RNA programs driving pediatric brain tumors. She builds computational methods to integrate RNA expression with chromatin state, enabling mechanism‑based diagnostics and targets. | Learn more | claudia.kleinman@mcgill.ca |
| Jasna | Kriz | Université Laval | Dr. Jasna Kriz is a Professor at Université Laval’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences and a principal investigator at the CERVO Brain Research Centre, with expertise in neuroinflammation and real‑time gene expression imaging in vivo. Kriz develops transgenic bioluminescent/fluorescent reporter models to map transcriptional programs and glial responses in neurodegeneration and ischemic injury—approaches that complement RNA‑seq and spatial transcriptomics and cell specific proteomics for pathway discovery. These models enable preclinical assessment of interventions that modulate gene expression programs relevant to RNA‑regulated neuroimmune pathways. | Learn more | jasna.kriz@fmed.ulaval.ca |
| Larry | Lands | McGill University | Dr. Larry Lands is Professor of Pediatrics at McGill University and Director of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. His translational program develops lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of RNA therapeutics and vaccines. Current programs include development of inhalable and intravenous injectable lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of Prime Editing for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, inhalable lipid nanoparticles for delivery of mRNA replacement therapy for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, nasally delivered lipid nanoparticles for delivery of vaccines, and intraocular lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of Prime Editing for familial glaucoma. Clinical research complements bench work by advancing non invasive lung function endpoints for trials of nucleic acid therapies. | Learn more | larry.lands@mcgill.ca |
| David | Langlais | McGill University | Prof. David Langlais is an Associate Professor in Human Genetics and Microbiology & Immunology whose lab decodes transcriptional and epigenetic programs of immunity. Using functional genomics, single‑cell multi‑omics, and genome editing, he charts RNA expression and regulatory networks driving inflammatory disease and host defense. These maps reveal targets and signatures for RNA‑guided modulation of immune pathways. | Learn more | david.langlais@mcgill.ca |
| Benoit | Laurent | Université de Sherbrooke | Dr. Benoit Laurent is a professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, where his laboratory studies RNA biology and neuroepigenetics in the context of brain aging. His team investigates how alternative RNA splicing and chromatin structure regulation coordinate cellular differentiation and plasticity. Using RNA sequencing, the knowledge generated enables the identification of RNA-centered biomarkers and targets for neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. | Learn more | benoit.laurent@usherbrooke.ca |
| Denis | Leclerc | Université Laval | Prof. Denis Leclerc is a virologist developing nanoparticle‑based vaccines and adjuvants against influenza and SARS‑CoV‑2. His team harnesses virus‑like particles and TLR7/8 agonists that engage innate sensors and elicit protective cellular and humoral responses relevant to RNA vaccine platforms. These immuno‑nanotechnologies support broad protection and translational manufacturing for pandemic preparedness. | Learn more | denis.leclerc@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca |
| Philippe | Lefrancois | McGill University | Dr. Philippe Lefrançois is an Assistant Professor and Director of Research in Dermatology at McGill who leads a translational genomics program in skin cancers. He applies RNA‑seq and multi‑omics to profile tumor biology, immune microenvironments, and therapy response in basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. His work identifies actionable pathways and biomarkers that inform precision interventions and RNA‑based diagnostic signatures. | Learn more | philippe.lefrancois2@mcgill.ca |
| Pascale | Legault | Université de Montréal | Prof. Pascale Legault is a structural and RNA biologist whose lab dissects RNA structure–function through integrative approaches that combine biophysics (cryo-EM, NMR, SAXS), biochemistry, proteomics, cell biology, and bioinformatics. The lab focuses on miRNA biogenesis, particularly Dicer–Ago regulation by host and viral factors, with projects centered on let-7 and miRNAs that modulate α-synuclein; these studies inform RNA-targeted therapeutics in oncology, virology, and neurodegeneration. | Learn more | pascale.legault@umontreal.ca |
| Jean-François | Lemay | CNETE - Cegep de Shawinigan | Jean-François Lemay is affiliated with CNETE (National Center for Electrochemistry and Environmental Technologies), the CCTT (College Center for the Transfer of Technology) of Cégep de Shawinigan. The center has the expertise and equipment required to produce and formulate the proteins/enzymes related to RNA (e.g., RNA polymerase, DNase, pyrophosphatase, Cas9, Cas12, etc.) at small and medium scales (1 to 500 L). In addition, Mr. Lemay and his team are capable of producing RNA for various preclinical trials and in vitro laboratory tests. His team is focused on applied research and collaborates with both industrial and academic partners. | Learn more | jflemay@cnete.qc.ca |
| Martin | Lévesque | Université Laval | Dr. Martin Lévesque is a professor at Université Laval and Director of the Integrative Neuroscience and Experimental Therapies axis at the CERVO Center. His lab develops gene and cell therapy approaches for Parkinson’s disease. He designs AAV vectors and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to express single-chain antibody fragments (scFv) targeting pathological proteins such as alpha-synuclein, aiming to limit aggregation and promote neuroprotection. He also works on cell therapies involving transplantation of dopaminergic progenitors derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In parallel, his team studies the development and plasticity of dopaminergic neural circuits using mRNA profiling and local translation analysis in axons, with the goal of identifying new RNA-regulated therapeutic targets. | Learn more | martin.levesque@cervo.ulaval.ca |
| Chen | Liang | McGill University | Dr. Chen Liang is Professor of Medicine at McGill and investigator at the Lady Davis Institute studying host–virus interfaces in HIV and coronaviruses. The lab has defined restriction factors (e.g., MxB, IFITMs), HIV genomic RNA packaging mechanisms, and CRISPR strategies that impact viral RNA replication. These RNA‑centric pathways guide antiviral target discovery and gene‑editing approaches. | Learn more | chen.liang@mcgill.ca |
| Leo | Liu | McGill University | Dr. GuanQun (Leo) Liu is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Immunology at McGill whose lab investigates pattern recognition receptors and RNA virus biology. Projects integrate genome‑scale screens and reverse genetics to map RNA‑sensing and viral‑evasion mechanisms, and to engineer RNA virus vectors and vaccines. The program bridges basic RNA immunology with translational vaccine design. | Learn more | Leo.liu@mcgill.ca |
| Jacek | Majewski | McGill University | Dr. Jacek Majewski is Professor of Human Genetics at McGill whose lab develops analytical frameworks for whole‑genome, exome and RNA‑seq data in Mendelian disease, cancer and epigenomics. The group’s work includes discovering oncohistone drivers and using transcriptomics to connect epigenetic lesions to downstream RNA programs. These pipelines underpin RNA biomarker discovery and target validation across precision‑medicine cohorts. | Learn more | Jacek.majewski@mcgill.ca |
| Mohan | Malleshaiah | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. Mohan Malleshaiah is an Associate Research Professor at IRCM whose lab studies cell-fate decision making using pluripotent stem cells and cancer models. He maps signalling and transcriptional networks with single-cell transcriptomics and computational modeling to understand gene-regulatory programs. His expertise informs RNA-centric analyses of transcriptional states and supports the design of reprogramming strategies relevant to RNA-based therapies. | Learn more | mohan.malleshaiah@ircm.qc.ca |
| Bruce | Mazer | McGill University | Dr. Bruce Mazer is a Professor of Pediatrics (McGill) and Senior Scientist at the RI MUHC. His work focuses on allergy and immunology, B cell biology, and immune tolerance. His research addresses mucosal immunity and regulatory pathways in asthma and food allergy, particularly focused on B-lymphocytes. His current work is addressing extracellular vesicles produced by Th2 stimulated B-cells. These EVs are enriched for several specific miRNAs which may target allergic inflammation. They are addressing how these natural regulatory constructs may be able to be harnessed to be used as RNA based therapy for severe allergic asthma. | Learn more | bruce.mazer@mcgill.ca |
| Maureen | McKeague | McGill University | Prof. Maureen McKeague is an Associate Professor (Chemistry; Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill) specializing in nucleic acid chemistry. Her lab engineers RNA/DNA **aptamers**, ribozymes and encodable RNA switches, and develops **oligonucleotide** therapeutics and biosensors for hematologic diseases. She co‑leads initiatives on targeted RNA delivery platforms and high‑throughput aptamer discovery, advancing translational RNA diagnostics and therapeutics. | Learn more | maureen.mckeague@mcgill.ca |
| Sylvain | Moineau | Université Laval | Prof. Sylvain Moineau (Université Laval) is a world leader in bacteriophages and **CRISPR‑Cas** adaptive immunity. His lab defined RNA‑guided defense mechanisms and phage–host interactions that underpin genome editing and RNA‑guided technologies. This foundational RNA‑guided biology informs therapeutic CRISPR applications and industrial microbiology. | Learn more | sylvain.moineau@bcm.ulaval.ca |
| Christopher | Moraes | McGill University | Prof. Christopher Moraes (McGill Chemical Engineering; BBME) designs organ‑on‑chip and microenvironment engineering tools to study mechanobiology. He builds high‑content microphysiological systems for disease modeling and therapeutic screening. While not centered on RNA technologies, these platforms can be coupled with RNA readouts and delivery studies to evaluate RNA therapeutics in realistic tissues. | Learn more | chris.moraes@mcgill.ca |
| Alain | Moreau | Université de Montréal- CHU Sainte?Justine | Professor Alain Moreau (UdeM; CHU Sainte-Justine) leads the Viscogliosi Laboratory in Molecular Genetics of Musculoskeletal Diseases, a recognized hub for translational research. His team leverages integrated multi-omic approaches, including the analysis of circulating microRNAs, to design innovative diagnostic, prognostic, and theranostic tools. This unique expertise in RNA biomarker discovery drives the development of precision medicine solutions and novel ASO/mRNA-based therapeutic strategies targeting high-impact conditions — from pediatric disorders (idiopathic scoliosis) to chronic adult diseases (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia) and post-viral syndromes such as myalgic encephalomyelitis and Long COVID. | Learn more | alain.moreau@recherche-ste-justine.qc.ca |
| Tarik | Möröy | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Prof. Tarik Möröy (IRCM; UdeM; adjunct at McGill) studies transcriptional and epigenetic control of hematopoiesis and leukemia. His lab dissects GFI1/GFI1B, MIZ‑1/c‑MYC pathways, and integrates RNA‑centric regulators such as **DDX3X** helicase and long non‑coding RNAs. This mechanistic focus links RNA metabolism to leukemogenesis and highlights RNA‑targetable vulnerabilities. | Learn more | tarik.moroy@ircm.qc.ca |
| Andrew | Mouland | McGill University | Prof. Andrew J. Mouland (McGill; Lady Davis Institute) leads the HIV‑1 **RNA trafficking** laboratory. He maps host RNA‑binding proteins and nuclear‑to‑viral RNA routing, including phase‑separated RNP condensates that control viral translation and assembly. This deep RNA virology expertise advances RNA‑targeted antiviral strategies. | Learn more | andrew.mouland@McGill.ca |
| Ken | Myers | McGill University | Dr. Kenneth A. Myers is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology & Neurosurgery (McGill) and pediatric neurologist/epileptologist. His clinician scientist program emphasizes genetics of epilepsy and rare disease clinical trials, some of which involve RNA-based precision medicine therapies. Dedicated RNA technology expertise is limited in current sources, but clinical neurogenetics and rare disease clinical trial design are strengths. | Learn more | kenneth.myers@mcgill.ca |
| Bhushan | Nagar | McGill University | Prof. Bhushan Nagar (Biochemistry, McGill) is a structural biologist whose work focuses on RNA binding proteins in innate immunity. He solved structures of human IFIT proteins in complex with viral RNA mimics. His lab applies X ray/cryo EM to RNA–protein assemblies central to host defense against viral infections. | Learn more | bhushan.nagar@mcgill.ca |
| Anastasia | Nijnik | McGill University | Prof. Anastasia Nijnik is Canada Research Chair whose lab studies hematopoietic stem cells, chromatin regulation, and immune defense. She defines how deubiquitinase MYSM1 and transcriptional networks shape gene expression programs that govern lymphocyte development and trained immunity. Her work reveals regulatory nodes that can be modulated—potentially by RNA‑guided technologies—to restore immune function. | Learn more | anastasiya.nyzhnyk@mcgill.ca |
| Marlene | Oeffinger | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Prof. Marlene Oeffinger is an Associate Professor at IRCM/Université de Montréal and Associate Professor in McGill Experimental Medicine, specializing in ribonucleoprotein biochemistry. Her lab investigates the regulation and dynamics of RNA maturation and ribosome biogenesis, combining proteomics, RNomics and biochemical approaches in yeast and human systems. By mapping RNA–protein assembly pathways and nucleolar stress responses, she advances mechanistic targets for RNA therapies and neurodegenerative disease models. | Learn more | marlene.oeffinger@ircm.qc.ca |
| Barbara | Papadopoulou | Université Laval | Prof. Barbara Papadopoulou is a world-renowned leader in the field of molecular parasitology who has pioneered the field of RNA regulation in the parasite Leishmania. Her laboratory has made major contributions on the mechanisms regulating mRNA decay and translation during the parasite development and identified key RNA binding proteins and 3′UTR regulatory elements that control developmental gene expression and virulence in these parasites. These insights would enable new vaccine and therapeutic RNA based strategies for better control of leishmaniasis. | Learn more | barbara.papadopoulou@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca |
| Claude | Perreault | Université de Montréal - IRIC | Dr. Claude Perreault is Principal Investigator at IRIC (Université de Montréal) and Professor of Medicine, leading an immunobiology lab focused on T‑cell biology and cancer immunology. His team pioneers immunopeptidomics to map HLA‑presented peptides, revealing tumor‑specific antigens arising from intron retention and other RNA‑processing events. These insights underpin next‑generation TCR therapies and vaccines that target RNA‑derived neoantigens across malignancies. | Learn more | claude.perreault@umontreal.ca |
| Mathieu | Quesnel-Vallières | Université de Sherbrooke | Dr. Mathieu Quesnel‑Vallières is an Assistant Professor whose group interrogates the transcriptome to uncover mechanisms and targets in cancer and hematopoiesis. He specializes in alternative splicing, deep‑learning interpretation of RNA signatures, and the discovery of tumor‑specific splice neoantigens for immunotherapy. His lab combines computational pipelines with experimental validation to translate RNA processing into therapeutic opportunities. | Learn more | mathieu.quesnel-vallieres@usherbrooke.ca |
| Ioannis | Ragoussis | McGill University | Prof. Ioannis (Jiannis) Ragoussis is Head of Genome Sciences at the McGill Genome Centre, lead of the High Throughput Biology Division at The Victor Phillip Dahadaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, and Professor of Human Genetics/Bioengineering at McGilland Professor of Human Genetics/Bioengineering. He leads deployment of single‑cell and spatial transcriptomics, long‑read sequencing and RNA‑QC platforms for RNA therapeutics. His core facilities enable end‑to‑end sequencing, quality control and analytics crucial to the design, manufacturing and evaluation of RNA‑based medicines. | Learn more | ioannis.ragoussis@mcgill.ca |
| Janusz | Rak | McGill University | Prof. Janusz Rak is a cancer biologist who uncovered roles for extracellular vesicles (oncosomes) in intercellular communication, angiogenesis, coagulopathy, and metastasis. His work shows that EV cargo includes oncogenic transcripts and microRNAs, enabling liquid biopsy and novel therapeutic strategies. He integrates EV biology with nanomedicine to develop diagnostics and RNA‑based interventions in oncology. | Learn more | janusz.rak@mcgill.ca |
| Charles | Ramassamy | INRS | Prof. Charles Ramassamy is a Full Professor at INRS–Armand‑Frappier and holder of the Louise & André Charron Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease, focusing on oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. His group explores extracellular‑vesicle cargo, including RNA and protein biomarkers, and develops nanoneuropharmacological delivery approaches. These efforts advance RNA‑based biomarker discovery and support nucleic‑acid therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. | Learn more | charles.ramassamy@inrs.ca |
| Vincent | Raymond | Université Laval | Dr. Vincent Raymond is a Professor at Université Laval (Department of Molecular Medicine) and Director of the Sanger Sequencing Platform at CHU de Québec–Université Laval. His core facility delivers high‑throughput Sanger sequencing and genotyping for research programs across disciplines. While not RNA‑focused, these services support nucleic‑acid assay development (e.g., cDNA sequencing) and validation for RNA therapy research. | Learn more | vincent.raymond@fmed.ulaval.ca |
| Stéphane | Richard | McGill University | Prof. Stéphane Richard is a James McGill Distinguished Professor at McGill and Senior Investigator and Research Associate Director at the Lady Davis Institute internationally recognized for work on RNA binding proteins and protein arginine methylation. His lab delineates how the methylation of RNA binding proteins regulates RNA processes, such as mRNA translation, intron lariat stability, pre mRNA splicing including alternative splicing and trans-splicing, R loops formation and their link to the DNA damage response. These mechanisms are studies using biochemical methods and clinical animal models and translated to human samples. | Learn more | stephane.richard@mcgill.ca |
| Maya | Saleh | INRS | Dr. Maya Saleh is a Full Professor at INRS whose research centers on innate immunity, inflammasomes and immuno‑oncology. Her program elucidates how innate pathways sense danger and shape inflammatory responses in infection and cancer—knowledge that interfaces with host defense against RNA viruses and the RNA‑sensing axes (e.g., RIG‑I/MDA5/TLR7/8). She translates immune‑metabolic mechanisms into therapeutic strategies for glioblastoma, liver cancer and inflammatory disease. | Learn more | maya.saleh@inrs.ca |
| Ramy | Saleh | McGill University | Dr. Ramy R. Saleh is a medical oncologist at the MUHC and Associate Professor whose research focuses on early‑phase oncology trials, GU malignancies and care quality. While not primarily RNA‑focused, his clinical trial portfolio provides a pathway to evaluate emerging RNA therapeutics (e.g., siRNA/ASO or mRNA‑based agents) in solid tumors when applicable. He also leads platform innovations that streamline trial operations and evidence generation in oncology. | Learn more | ramy.saleh@mcgill.ca |
| Martin | Sauvageau | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr Martin Sauvageau is the Director of the Noncoding RNA & Therapeutics research unit and Scientific Director of the DePTAQ RNA Therapeutics Core Facility at IRCM. He is also an Associate Member of the McGill Center for RNA Sciences (MCRS) and holds appointments in the Biochemistry departments of both the University of Montreal and McGill University. His research program focuses on the structure-function of long noncoding RNAs to uncover their molecular grammar and roles in disease, aiming to harness them for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. In addition to his expertise in noncoding RNA biology and nucleic acid chemistry, he has extensive experience in the design, synthesis, screening, and preclinical validation of RNA therapeutics. Outside of Academia, Dr Sauvageau is a co-founder of RNA Logic, a Quebec startup company specializing in artificial intelligence and high-throughput approaches to improve RNA therapeutic designs. He has several ongoing industrial collaborations and is a Scientific Advisor at SilenGenics, a company developing RNA therapeutics for metabolic disease and immuno-oncology. | Learn more | martin.sauvageau@ircm.qc.ca |
| Martin | Schmeing | McGill University | Pr. T. Martin Schmeing is a James McGill Professor of the McGill Biochemistry Department who investigates macromolecular machines, notably the ribosome and non‑ribosomal peptide synthetases. His structural and mechanistic work on translation illuminates RNA‑based catalysis at the peptidyl transferase center and ribosome–factor interactions. He applies X‑ray crystallography and cryo‑EM to reveal principles of RNA‑guided protein synthesis and to inspire antibiotic design. | Learn more | martin.schmeing@mcgill.ca |
| Erwin | Schurr | McGill University | Dr. Erwin Schurr is a Professor and RI‑MUHC senior scientist studying host genetics of tuberculosis and leprosy. His team integrates genomics, transcriptomics and systems biology to discover variants and transcriptional programs that modulate mycobacterial infection outcomes. These RNA‑level readouts inform vaccine efficacy, innate immune training and precision public health for TB and related diseases. | Learn more | Erwin.schurr@mcgill.ca |
| Nabil | Seidah | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. Nabil G. Seidah leads the Biochemical Neuroendocrinology Unit at the IRCM and is renowned for discovering several proprotein convertases, including PCSK9 and PCSK7. While his main field is proteolysis, his group has recently advanced RNA-targeted therapies by developing an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) approach against PCSK7 in preclinical models of steatohepatitis. He continues to translate convertase biology into precision therapies for cardiovascular, inflammatory, and viral diseases. | Learn more | nabil.seidah@ircm.qc.ca |
| Chantelle F. | Sephton | Université Laval | Dr. Chantelle F. Sephton is an Associate Professor at Université Laval whose lab studies RNA‑binding proteins TDP‑43 and FUS in ALS and FTD. She defines how these RBPs regulate synaptic translation and neuronal connectivity, and how their mis‑localization or aggregation disrupts RNA metabolism. Her work nominates RNA‑centric targets and strategies to restore proteostasis and synaptic function in neurodegeneration. | Learn more | chantelle.sephton.1@ulaval.ca |
| Reza | Sharif Naeini | McGill University | Dr. Reza Sharif-Naeini is a professor of Physiology at McGill University who investigates the molecular basis of mechanotransduction and pain. His group identifies novel molecular targets and circuits governing pain, aiming to discover new therapeutic approaches for its treatment. Although not RNA-focused, his models can interface with RNA-based perturbations (e.g., ASO/siRNA) to modulate channel expression and pain pathways. Additionally, his lab has a platform to directly test these discoveries on native human neurons. | Learn more | reza.sharif@mcgill.ca |
| Martin | Simard | Université Laval | Professor Martin Simard is an RNA biologist who has helped establish the foundations of RNA interference and microRNA function in animals. His team studies the composition of the miRISC effector complex, the regulation of Argonaute proteins, and their implications in cancer, with the goal of developing strategies to harness siRNA/miRNA pathways for therapeutic purposes. These advances inform disease mechanisms and the design of RNA-based therapies. | Learn more | Martin.Simard@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca |
| Marie-Claude | Sincennes | INRS | Dr. Marie-Claude Sincennes is an Assistant Professor at INRS, where her lab studies muscle stem cell biology and neuromuscular diseases. She uses functional genomics and transcriptomics to define how transcription factors and epigenetic regulators govern myogenesis and how their dysregulation leads to muscular dystrophies and rhabdomyosarcoma. Among other topics, she investigates RNA-binding proteins and their role in muscle stem cell biology and their involvement in the pathogenesis of muscle-related diseases. | Learn more | marie-claude.sincennes@inrs.ca |
| Hanadi | Sleiman | McGill University | Dr. Hanadi Sleiman is a Professor of Chemistry at McGill University and a Canada Research Chair in DNA nanoscience, specializing in nucleic acid supramolecular chemistry and nanostructures. Her group engineers DNA/RNA cages, nanotubes and sequence-defined polymers to load oligonucleotides and drugs, and explores LNP-compatible designs, aptamers and responsive assemblies for targeted delivery. She applies nucleic-acid materials to oncology and precision medicine, advancing smart carriers and molecular machines that enable RNA therapeutics and diagnostics. | Learn more | hanadi.sleiman@mcgill.ca |
| Jo Anne | Stratton | McGill University | Dr. Jo Anne Stratton is an Assistant Professor at McGill whose lab uses human iPSC‑derived glial models and single‑cell approaches to study neuro‑immune interactions in disease. Within McGill’s DNA‑to‑RNA (D2R) program, she leads projects on RNA therapies for a rare leukodystrophy, linking delivery platforms (e.g., nanoparticles) to RNA cargo design. Her work bridges mechanistic glia biology with translational RNA medicine. | Learn more | jo.stratton@mcgill.ca |
| Erin | Strumpf | McGill University | Dr. Erin Strumpf is a Professor of Economics and Epidemiology at McGill specializing in causal inference for health policy. Her research is not RNA‑focused; rather, she evaluates real‑world impacts of clinical and system interventions and can assess access, value and equity considerations as RNA therapies enter care pathways. She collaborates with decision‑makers to translate evidence into population‑level policy. | Learn more | erin.strumpf@mcgill.ca |
| Maryam | Tabrizian | McGill University | Dr. Maryam Tabrizian is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at McGill University and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine. She is the Director of Biomat’X, a multidisciplinary research lab that designs advanced biomaterials such as nanofilms, nanoplexes, and lab-on-chip systems for the targeted delivery of biologically active agents, particularly nucleic acids, and for studying their therapeutic and immunomodulatory efficacy. She contributes to the RNA ecosystem of D2R and to Médicament Québec by translating innovations in nanomaterials and surface engineering that enhance the stability, targeting, and analysis of therapeutic RNAs. | Learn more | maryam.tabrizian@mcgill.ca |
| Ivan | Topisirovic | McGill University | Dr. Ivan Topisirovic is a Professor at McGill (Biochemistry/Oncology) and Canada Research Chair whose expertise is the regulation of mRNA translation and its coupling to cellular metabolism in health and cancer. His laboratory dissects eIF4F/mTORC1 pathways, 5′UTR features, and translation reprogramming to understand oncogenic plasticity and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Applications include targeting the translation machinery and defining translational biomarkers that guide RNA‐centric and small‑molecule interventions in oncology. | Learn more | ivan.topisirovic@mcgill.ca |
| Jacques P. | Tremblay | Université Laval | Professor Jacques P. Tremblay (Université Laval; CRCHU de Québec) is a pioneer in gene and cell therapies for hereditary neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases. His group develops CRISPR/Prime editing strategies and explores delivery systems using extracellular vesicles and lipid nanovesicles. Applications include corrective editing of point mutations responsible for rare hereditary diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, dysferlinopathies, cystic fibrosis, glaucoma, and Alzheimer’s disease. | Learn more | jacques-p.tremblay@fmed.ulaval.ca |
| Lucienne | Tritten | McGill University | Dr. Lucienne Tritten is an Assistant Professor of Parasitology at McGill University, where she studies host-parasite molecular crosstalk. Her research focuses on extracellular vesicles and non-coding RNAs (especially microRNAs) released by helminths, defining their roles in immunomodulation and infection outcomes. By mapping the RNA cargo and mechanisms of vesicles, she advances RNA biomarkers and RNA-based interventions for parasitic diseases. | Learn more | lucienne.tritten@mcgill.ca |
| Gustavo | Turecki | McGill University | Dr. Gustavo Turecki is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Depression and Suicide at the Douglas Institute, McGill University, where he integrates functional genomics and epigenetics to study depression and suicide. His group uses RNA profiling, including microRNAs and extracellular vesicle cargo derived from neurons, to discover biomarkers and mechanisms of antidepressant response. These RNA-centered approaches inform precision psychiatry and the development of translational biomarkers. | Learn more | gustavo.turecki@mcgill.ca |
| Christine | Vande Velde | Université de Montréal - CRCHUM | Dr. Christine Vande Velde (UdeM; CRCHUM) studies ALS and FTD with emphasis on RNA‑binding proteins (TDP‑43, hnRNP A1) and stress‑granule biology. Her team dissects how TDP‑43 loss‑of‑function alters RNA granules and microRNA networks, linking RNA dysregulation to neurodegeneration. The lab’s goal is to translate these RNA mechanisms into biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for ALS/FTD. | Learn more | c.vande.velde@umontreal.ca |
| Maria | Vera Ugalde | McGill University | Dr. Maria Vera Ugalde is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at McGill whose lab visualizes single mRNA molecules to decode the heat‑shock response. She investigates localized translation and the life‑cycle regulation of HSP mRNAs in neurons and other cells using advanced single‑molecule imaging. These RNA mechanisms illuminate proteostasis and neurodegeneration and nominate RNA targets and delivery contexts for therapy. | Learn more | maria.veraugalde@mcgill.ca |
| Donald | Vinh | McGill University | Dr. Donald C. Vinh is Full Professor of Medicine and Senior Clinician-Scientist at the RI-MUHC, whose translational research program focuses on human-based studies that uncover inborn errors of immunity predisposing to severe, recurrent, or refractory infections. By deeply phenotyping patients and integrating clinical genomics, functional immunology, and host–pathogen investigations, his team pinpoints molecular and cellular mechanisms of susceptibility—such as dysregulated interferon and other immune pathways—underlying infectious disease vulnerability. While his discoveries have illuminated mechanisms relevant to RNA viruses, his group also leverages RNA-targeting therapeutic approaches to correct underlying immunodeficiencies, thereby bridging mechanistic insight with precision immunotherapeutic innovation. | Learn more | donald.vinh@mcgill.ca |
| Jacalyn Mari | Vogel | McGill University | Prof. Jacalyn (Jackie) Vogel is a Professor of Biology at McGill who investigates mitosis and cell cycle control using yeast and advanced microscopy. Her lab quantifies molecular assemblies that orchestrate chromosome segregation, including biomolecular condensates such as +TIP bodies and stress granules, intersecting with RNA regulated gene expression programs during mitosis. This foundational biophysical expertise informs how transcriptomic states and RNA binding factors couple to cell division machinery. | Learn more | jackie.vogel@mcgill.ca |
| Darcy | Wagner | McGill University | Dr. Darcy Wagner is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Medicine at McGill and a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Lung Regenerative Medicine. Her lab engineers lung tissues with 3D bioprinting, biomaterials and stem cells to model disease and regeneration. She is involved in translational projects where antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), miRNAs and RNA delivery concepts are applied to organoid and organoypic models to accelerate respiratory RNA therapies. | Learn more | Darcy.wagner@mcgill.ca |
| Yojiro | Yamanaka | McGill University | Prof. Yojiro Yamanaka is a developmental biologist and cancer researcher. His interests encompass the development and evolution of the female reproductive tract, ovarian cancer initiation and progression, and the link between microcirculation and chronic inflammation. He attempts to decipher the connection between the genome, the RNA world, and phenotypes. His research provides insights into the evolution of organisms and cancer, as well as RNA-based manipulation of cells and tissues to address chronic diseases, including cancer. | Learn more | yojiro.yamanaka@mcgill.ca |
| Ma'n | Zawati | McGill University | Ma’n H. Zawati (LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D. (DCL)) is an Associate Professor at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Research Director of the Centre of Genomics and Policy in the Department of Human Genetics. His work is interdisciplinary, drawing together perspectives from law, ethics, genomics, and policy. His research mainly focuses on the legal, ethical and policy dimensions of health research and clinical care, with a special focus on data sharing, governance, professional liability, and the use of novel technologies (e.g., Artificial Intelligence in RNA research, mhealth apps, WGS, WES). Prof. Zawati was instrumental in setting up the ethics governance for multiple initiatives, including the Quebec COVID19 Biobank (BQC19), CGEn’s national HostSeq project and the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force. His work has facilitated access and use of data and samples across jurisdictions. | Learn more | man.zawati@mcgill.ca |
| Benoît | Arsenault | Université Laval | Dr. Benoit Arsenault is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at Université Laval and a researcher at the Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ). His team’s work aims to characterize the genetic and molecular architecture of cardiometabolic diseases, including hepatic steatosis, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. By integrating large-scale DNA and RNA data from population cohorts, they seek to bridge genetics, prevention, and precision medicine to identify promising hepatic therapeutic targets for the prevention or treatment of cardiometabolic diseases. | Learn more | benoit.arsenault@criucpq.ulaval.ca |
| Francois | Bachand | Université de Sherbrooke | Dr. François Bachand is a Professor at Université de Sherbrooke who investigates RNA‑binding proteins and RNA processing in health and disease. His group studies polyadenylation, nuclear RNA surveillance, Drosha‑like RNase III functions and ribosome biogenesis, defining mechanisms that shape coding and noncoding RNA fate. This mechanistic work enables targets and readouts for RNA therapeutics and diagnostics. | Learn more | francois.bachand2@usherbrooke.ca |
| Mathieu | Blanchette | McGill University | Dr. Mathieu Blanchette is Professor of Computer Science at McGill and a core member of McGill’s Centre for RNA Sciences. His lab develops algorithms and machine‑learning methods to model RNA structure, regulatory motifs and transcriptomic programs across species. These computational tools accelerate RNA target discovery and interpretation in health and disease. | Learn more | mathieu.blanchette@mcgill.ca |
| Julia | Burnier | McGill University | Dr. Julia V. Burnier is a Scientist at the RI‑MUHC and Associate Professor (Oncology, Pathology) at McGill University. Her lab develops liquid‑biopsy approaches—ctDNA and extracellular vesicles—to monitor cancer, and synthesizes lipid nanoparticles to study EV behavior and for drug/RNA delivery. These RNA/EV‑focused platforms enable minimally invasive diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring. | Learn more | julia.burnier@mcgill.ca |
| Pascal | Chartrand | Université de Montréal | Dr. Pascal Chartrand is a Professor of Biochemistry at Université de Montréal renowned for live‑cell imaging of RNA, mRNA localization, and telomerase RNA trafficking. His group develops single‑molecule approaches to visualize non‑coding RNAs and studies RNA toxicity in myotonic dystrophy. This expertise enables translation toward antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and RNA imaging platforms relevant to therapeutic RNA. | Learn more | p.chartrand@umontreal.ca |
| Masad | Damha | McGill University | Dr. Masad J. Damha is a Distinguished James McGill Professor of Chemistry known for inventing 2′ F ANA and several other oligonucleotide analogues advancing nucleic acid chemistry. His lab engineers XNAs, modified mRNAs via solid phase synthesis, crisper RNA, antisense oligonucleotides, and RNA structures with splice switching and RNase H competent hybrids. These contributions directly underpin nucleic acid synthesis, and next generation RNA therapeutic platforms. | Learn more | masad.damha@mcgill.ca |
| Sonia Victoria | del Rincón | McGill University | Dr. Sonia V. del Rincón is an Associate Professor in Oncology (McGill), Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute and co-Director of the FRQ-funded RRCancer. Her lab is studying how inhibitors of translational control block metastasis. Her lab interrogates the function of the MNK1/2 eIF4E axis and the RNA helicase eIF4A1 in tumor cells and cells of the tumor microenvironment. This mechanistic focus supports small molecule and RNA targeted strategies that rewire oncogenic translation. | Learn more | soniavictoria.delrincon@mcgill.ca |
| Josee | Dostie | McGill University | Dr. Josée Dostie is a Professor of Biochemistry at McGill investigating 3D genome architecture and gene regulation. Her lab integrates Hi‑C/5C with RNA‑seq and lncRNA biology to link chromatin folding to transcriptional control in health and cancer. This expertise supports lncRNA‑targeted therapeutics and RNA‑guided diagnostics anchored in spatial genomics. | Learn more | josee.dostie@mcgill.ca |
| Yannick | Doyon | Université Laval | Dr. Yannick Doyon is a Full Professor at Université Laval specializing in genome editing from ZFNs to CRISPR‑Cas systems. His group develops in vivo editing strategies for metabolic diseases and immune therapies, integrating mRNA/sgRNA delivery and RNA‑guided HDR. These programs advance therapeutic RNA and genome engineering for rare pediatric disorders. | Learn more | yannick.doyon@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca |
| Sherif Abou | Elela | Université de Sherbrooke | Dr. Sherif Abou Elela is a Professor at Université de Sherbrooke, Canada Research Chair in RNA Biology and Cancer Genomics and President of RNA Canada. His lab investigates how RNA processing, especially splicing and snoRNA-guided regulation, controls cell growth, stress adaptation, and cancer biology. A key focus is the systematic discovery and quantification of splice variants and snoRNA-linked signatures in ovarian cancer. Using yeast and human models, Dr. Abou Elela’s team integrates targeted editing, high-depth RNA sequencing, and proteogenomics to map isoform changes, define snoRNA networks, and identify clinically useful markers. Dr. Abou Elela’s group works to translate these findings into assays for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response. He also directs the Sherbrooke RNomics Platform, which provides advanced RNA sequencing and bioinformatics to academic and clinical partners. | Learn more | sherif.abou.elela@usherbrooke.ca |
| Jennifer | Estall | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. Jennifer L. Estall is Director of the Molecular Mechanisms of Diabetes Research Unit at the IRCM, with academic appointments at Université de Montréal and McGill, specializing in endocrine metabolism. Her lab interrogates transcriptional programs (e.g., PGC‑1α) in liver and islets and employs RNA centric methods, including transcriptomics and RNA-based therapeutic design, to study influences of metabolic stress and inflammatory signaling (e.g., IL 6 trans signaling) on diabetes and fatty liver. She collaborates across clinical and basic teams to translate RNA level readouts into mechanistic insights and uses RNA-based tools to investigate new targets for metabolic disease therapies. | Learn more | jennifer.estall@ircm.qc.ca |
| Bruno | Gaillet | Université Laval | Prof. Bruno Gaillet is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Université Laval working at the interface of bioprocessing and RNA delivery. He develops lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platforms with active endosomal escape to enhance mRNA vaccine efficacy and scalability, alongside AAV quality‑control platforms. His team advances RNA formulation engineering and manufacturability, reducing dose and improving tolerability for next‑generation mRNA vaccines. | Learn more | bruno.gaillet@gch.ulaval.ca |
| Livia | Garzia | McGill University | Dr. Livia Garzia is a Scientist at the RI‑MUHC and Associate Professor (Surgery) at McGill, focused on pediatric solid tumors. She uses RNA‑seq and functional genomics to chart transcriptomic programs that drive metastasis, therapy resistance, and clonal evolution in sarcomas and brain cancers. Her lab translates RNA signatures and RNA‑binding protein pathways into biomarkers and mechanistic targets for precision oncology. | Learn more | livia.garzia@mcgill.ca |
| Anne | Gatignol | McGill University | Professor Anne Gatignol is a virologist whose laboratory studies how HIV interfaces with the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery and develops RNA based therapeutics. She characterized the TRBP protein as a Dicer cofactor in the RNAi mechanism. She also develops aptamers, short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), and U1 interfering RNAs-based strategies to inhibit HIV replication. These anti HIV RNAs are expressed from lentiviral vectors for a gene therapy approach, which will ensue their durable expression in hematopoietic lineages. | Learn more | anne.gatignol@mcgill.ca |
| Pierre | Hardy | Université de Montréal- CHU Sainte‑Justine | Dr. Pierre Hardy is a Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology at Université de Montréal and a neonatologist at CHU Sainte‑Justine, working on endothelial biology and cancer‑related angiogenesis. His group studies lymphocyte‑derived microparticles and uses in situ hybridization and molecular assays to probe vascular signaling and proliferation, interfaces that complement RNA‑level readouts. He collaborates on translational strategies where gene‑expression profiling supports therapeutic development relevant to RNA‑guided oncology. | Learn more | pierre.hardy.med@ssss.gouv.qc.ca |
| Yann | Joly | McGill University | Prof. Yann Joly is Director of McGill’s Centre of Genomics and Policy and a James McGill Professor in Human Genetics. He develops legal and ethical frameworks for responsible genomic data sharing and governance, with direct application to registries, trials, and access policies for RNA based diagnostics and therapies. His work shapes international standards that enable equitable, privacy preserving use of RNA data in research and care. | Learn more | yann.joly@mcgill.ca |
| Éric | Lécuyer | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. Éric Lécuyer directs the RNA Biology Research Unit at the IRCM and is Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine (UdeM) and Clinical and Translational Medicine (McGill). His laboratory deciphers subcellular mRNA localization, RNA zip codes, and RBP networks using a variety of strategies, including high throughput imaging, subcellular transcriptomics and bioinformatics. The work reveals how localized translation and RNA trafficking shape cell polarity and disease mechanisms, enabling RNA targeted therapeutics. | Learn more | eric.lecuyer@ircm.qc.ca |
| Rongtuan | Lin | McGill University | Dr. Rongtuan Lin is Associate Professor of Medicine at McGill and an innate‑immunity expert focusing on RIG‑I–mediated sensing of viral RNAs. His group develops synthetic 5′‑triphosphate RNAs (5′pppRNA) as broad‑spectrum adjuvants/antivirals and dissects RNA‑sensing pathways that trigger interferon programs. This work directly advances therapeutic RNA design and nucleic‑acid immunomodulators. | Learn more | rongtuan.lin@mcgill.ca |
| Sara | Mahshid | McGill University | Dr. Sara Mahshid is an Associate Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Nano-Biosensing Devices at McGill Bioengineering. Her lab develops nano-biosensing diagnostic platforms that integrate nature-inspired nanomaterials, microfluidics, and artificial intelligence to enable real-time, ultrasensitive detection of disease-associated biomolecules. These include nanoplasmonic optofluidic and nanostructured electrochemical sensors for RNA diagnostics, single-extracellular-vesicle RNA profiling, and multimeric aptamer generation. Her recent collaborations extend to translating fundamental research into bedside applications for cancer and infectious diseases. | Learn more | sara.mahshid@mcgill.ca |
| François | Major | Université de Montréal - IRIC | François Major est chercheur principal à l’IRIC (Université de Montréal) et professeur d’informatique, reconnu pour son expertise en génie de l’ARN et en bioinformatique structurale. Visionnaire, il développe des algorithmes innovants capables de prédire les structures tridimensionnelles de l’ARN, de modéliser les réseaux complexes de microARN et de concevoir de nouvelles thérapies ARN. Son équipe est à l’avant-garde du pliage moléculaire assisté par IA, des plateformes Web de référence (comme MC-Tools) et de leurs applications translationnelles vers des solutions thérapeutiques de nouvelle génération. | Learn more | francois.major@umontreal.ca |
| Eric | Massé | Université de Sherbrooke | Dr. Eric Massé is a Professor at Université de Sherbrooke who investigates bacterial small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) and RNA-based control of gene expression. His lab dissects sRNA–mRNA interaction networks, RNA chaperones, and ribonucleases that drive iron metabolism, virulence, and antibiotic susceptibility. This foundational expertise in post-transcriptional regulation advances RNA biology and targets for RNA-based antimicrobials. | Learn more | eric.masse@usherbrooke.ca |
| Vincent | Mooser | McGill University | Dr. Vincent Mooser holds the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Genomic Medicine. In this role, he is building large-scale platforms to translate human genetics and proteogenomics into next-generation therapies. His program leverages population cohorts and biobanks to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of diseases, to discover new therapeutic targets, and to identify optimal indications for therapies in development, notably by integrating RNA expression with genomic variation. These resources accelerate the discovery and development of new RNA-based precision therapies. | Learn more | vincent.mooser@mcgill.ca |
| Corina | Nagy | McGill University | Dr. Corina Nagy (Douglas Research Centre; Psychiatry, McGill) profiles human brain disorders using **single cell omics** including RNA, ATAC and methylation profiling, in human postmortem tissue and animal models. Her work at the single-cell level has a strong focus on sex-specific programs. In addition to mapping cell type–specific RNA programs in psychiatric and neurological disorders, she studies extracellular vesicle-mediated RNA communication, providing insights into peripheral to central communication. This expertise advances the understanding of RNA biomarkers and mechanistic targets for neuropsychiatric diseases. | Learn more | corina.nagy@mcgill.ca |
| Hamed Shateri | Najafabadi | McGill University | Dr. Hamed S. Najafabadi (Human Genetics; McGill Genome Centre) develops machine‑learning methods to decode gene regulation by transcription factors and **RNA‑binding proteins**. His group models post‑transcriptional networks (splicing, mRNA stability) in cancer and builds omics‑based diagnostics. This computational RNA expertise supports target discovery and **ASO**/splicing‑modulation strategies. | Learn more | Hamed.najafabadi@mcgill.ca |
| Joaquin | Ortega | McGill University | Prof. Joaquin Ortega is a Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at McGill University whose lab uses cryo‑EM to define mechanisms of ribosome assembly. He resolves atomic‑level structures of immature ribosomal subunits and assembly intermediates to reveal targets that modulate rRNA‑driven biogenesis. These discoveries open avenues for antibiotics and RNA‑targeted therapeutics that disrupt ribosome assembly and translation in pathogens. | Learn more | joaquin.ortega@mcgill.ca |
| Kessen | Patten | INRS | Dr. Kessen Patten is a Professor at INRS–Armand‑Frappier, focusing on genetic mechanisms of neurodegeneration (ALS, SMA) using zebrafish models. His group integrates CRISPR/Cas9, electrophysiology and imaging to study RNA‑binding protein genes (e.g., FUS, SMN1) and disease‑relevant transcriptomics. These models enable high‑throughput testing of RNA‑targeted therapeutics and pathway modulation relevant to motor neuron disease. | Learn more | kessen.patten@inrs.ca |
| Angela | Pearson | INRS | La professeure Angela Pearson est professeure à l’INRS–Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie et étudie la virologie moléculaire et la pathogenèse des virus de l’herpès. Ses travaux interrogent les fonctions des gènes viraux (par exemple, UL24), la transcription dépendante de l’ARN polymérase II, la dynamique des protéines nucléolaires et la régulation des miARN de l’hôte pendant l’infection. Son laboratoire étudie aussi les ARNs glycosylés et leur rôle dans les cellules mammifères. En élucidant les interactions hôte-virus centrées sur l’ARN, elle éclaire le développement de stratégies antivirales et la modulation de la réplication virale basée sur l’ARN. | Learn more | angela.pearson@inrs.ca |
| Jonathan | Perreault | INRS | Prof. Jonathan Perreault is an Associate Professor whose lab focuses on structured noncoding RNAs in bacteria, including ribozymes and riboswitches, and on nucleic‑acid sensors. He develops computational and biochemical methods to discover ncRNAs and designs aptamers and amplification assays for detection. His work bridges fundamental RNA biology and applied diagnostics and therapeutics. | Learn more | jonathan.perreault@inrs.ca |
| Jean-Pierre | Perreault | Université de Sherbrooke | Prof. Jean‑Pierre Perreault is Rector of Université de Sherbrooke and a molecular biologist renowned for RNA enzymology. He has led seminal work on ribozymes (hammerhead, delta), RNA structure–function relationships, G‑quadruplexes and viroids. His research enables RNA‑based gene inactivation strategies and informs design principles for therapeutic oligonucleotides and ribozyme tools. | Learn more | jean-pierre.perreault@usherbrooke.ca |
| Yasser | Riazalhosseini | McGill University | Dr. Yasser Riazalhosseini is an Associate Professor of Human Genetics at McGill and Group Head of Cancer Genomics at the McGill Genome Centre. He integrates multi omics at single cell and spatial resolution with clinical data to uncover new biomarkers and theraoutic targets in renal and other cancers. His lab co leads D2R projects on RNA splicing in tumour heterogeneity and contributes to diagnostic/therapeutic innovations for rare cancers. | Learn more | yasser.riazalhosseini@mcgill.ca |
| Guy | Rouleau | McGill University | Dr. Guy A. Rouleau is Director of The Neuro (McGill) and a clinician‑scientist in human neurogenetics whose discoveries span dozens of disease genes. His work intersects RNA biology through landmark studies on ALS genes encoding RNA‑binding proteins (e.g., TARDBP/TDP‑43 and FUS), linking disrupted RNA metabolism and splicing to neurodegeneration. He leverages large‑scale genomics and transcriptomics in brain disorders to identify mechanisms and therapeutic avenues. | Learn more | guy.rouleau@mcgill.ca |
| Michelle | Scott | Université de Sherbrooke | Dr. Michelle S. Scott is a Professor at Université de Sherbrooke and Canada Research Chair in Bioinformatics of Non‑Coding RNA. She develops computational and machine‑learning methods to characterize snoRNAs and other ncRNAs, their regulation, interactions and evolution, and applies transcriptomic pipelines to disease contexts. Her lab’s tools and datasets advance RNA biology, from snoRNome mapping to RNA–protein interaction networks. | Learn more | michelle.scott@usherbrooke.ca |
| Jean | Tchervenkov | McGill University | Dr. Jean I. Tchervenkov is a Professor of Surgery and transplant surgeon at the MUHC whose research spans immunosuppression and tolerance. His group explores cellular and molecular mechanisms of rejection and has reported extracellular‑vesicle microRNAs (e.g., miR‑218‑5p) as biomarkers in kidney allografts, connecting transplantation to RNA diagnostics. He leads programs in live‑donor kidney and pediatric transplantation that enable clinical validation. He also developed an SiRNA against RORy that has shown activity in Transplantation and Cancer. | Learn more | jean.tchervenkov@mcgill.ca |
| Rhian | Touyz | McGill University | Dr. Rhian M. Touyz is Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the RI‑MUHC and a Professor at McGill, internationally recognized for cardiovascular and hypertension research. Her program dissects vascular signaling, oxidative stress, and vascular smooth‑muscle plasticity, with growing attention to non‑coding RNAs as emerging regulators of vascular function. These mechanistic insights inform translational strategies to mitigate vessel damage and hypertension, while highlighting opportunities where RNA modulators may complement established therapies. | Learn more | rhian.touyz@mcgill.ca |
| Cedric | Yansouni | McGill University | Dr. Cédric P. Yansouni is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Scientist at the RI‑MUHC who develops and validates infectious‑disease diagnostics for low‑resource and remote settings. His group advances laboratory and point‑of‑care methods and advises on policy translation. RNA‑relevant contributions include implementation research on molecular tests and surveillance tools that leverage nucleic‑acid detection for individual patient care as wel as public health. | Learn more | cedric.yansouni@mcgill.ca |
| Satoshi | Yoshiji | McGill University | Dr. Satoshi Yoshiji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics at McGill University and a board-certified endocrinologist who uses multi-omics data to identify drug targets in cardiometabolic diseases. Dr. Yoshiji’s lab integrates biobank-scale human genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics to prioritize causal molecules and pathways and support the development of RNA-based therapeutics and precision medicine. | Learn more | satoshi.yoshiji@mcgill.ca |
| Qihuang | Zhang | McGill University | Dr. Qihuang Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at McGill University who develops statistical and machine‑learning methods for high‑dimensional omics. He creates algorithms for single‑cell and spatial transcriptomics and bulk RNA‑seq deconvolution, enabling robust inference from noisy RNA data. His lab’s tools support RNA‑driven discovery in neurology, cancer and infectious disease. | Learn more | qihuang.zhang@mcgill.ca |
| Yaoyao | Zhao | McGill University | Prof. Yaoyao (Fiona) Zhao is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at McGill and a D2R researcher specializing in additive manufacturing and manufacturing informatics. She co‑develops intelligent screening for next‑generation lipid‑nanoparticle (LNP) design and manufacturing, applying AI to optimize RNA delivery systems. Her broader work on sustainable, data‑driven manufacturing informs scalable production of nucleic‑acid therapeutics. | Learn more | yaoyao.zhao@mcgill.ca |
| Amadou | Barry | INRS | Dr. Amadou Barry is an Assistant Professor at INRS. His research focuses on developing robust statistical learning methods and algorithms for applications in genomics and neuroimaging. He designs innovative approaches for the analysis of RNA sequencing and transcriptomic data, incorporating models that account for measurement error, heteroscedasticity, and high-dimensional inference challenges. His work aims to enhance the reliability and reproducibility of transcriptome-based discoveries, contributing to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying complex biological processes and diseases. | Learn more | amadoudiogo.barry@inrs.ca |
| Guillaume | Bourque | McGill University | Dr. Guillaume Bourque is Professor of Human Genetics at McGill and Director of the Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics (C3G) and the Health Data Science (HeDS) platform, which aims to strengthen the impact of data science in genomics and precision medicine research. He leads comparative genomics and epigenomics programs, including large scale RNA seq and single cell pipelines, to map gene regulation and transposable element impacts. His infrastructure and methods enable population scale RNA analyses and translational studies. He also plays a leading role in the D2R strategic initiative, supporting researchers through analytical tools, FAIR resources, and methodological guidance. | Learn more | guil.bourque@mcgill.ca |
| Thomas | Duchaine | McGill University | Dr. Thomas F. Duchaine is Professor and Chair of Biochemistry at McGill University, Scientific Director of the McGill mRNA Therapeutics Platform, and Founding Director of the McGill Centre for RNA Sciences. A leader in RNA biology for over 30 years, his research has revealed how microRNAs and 3′UTRs control mRNA fate and how these mechanisms impact development and cancer. His discoveries span fundamental and translational RNA research, with publications in the most celebrated journals. Dr. Duchaine has played key roles in shaping national RNA research strategy, namely through the CFREF DNA-to-RNA initiative and the RNA Canada network. He is committed to training the next generation of RNA scientists and advancing RNA-based therapeutics and precision medicine in Canada. | Learn more | thomas.duchaine@mcgill.ca |
| Heather | Durham | McGill University | Dr. Heather D. Durham is Professor Emerita at The Neuro (McGill), specializing in motor neuron diseases and rare neurological disorders. She investigates RNA-linked mechanisms in ALS, focusing on RNA‑binding proteins (FUS, TDP‑43), chromatin remodeling, and stress responses in cellular and transgenic models, integrating transcriptomic and imaging readouts. She also contributes to McGill’s DNA‑to‑RNA (D2R) initiative to translate gene therapy concepts into RNA therapies using nanoparticle delivery for neurogenetic disease. | Learn more | heather.durham@mcgill.ca |
| Anthony | Flamier | Université de Montréal- CHU Sainte‑Justine | Dr. Anthony Flamier is an Assistant Professor at Université de Montréal (CHU Sainte‑Justine) using human pluripotent stem cells to model neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. He applies CRISPR editing, single‑cell RNA‑seq and epigenomic profiling to uncover RNA‑based mechanisms in neuronal pathology. His lab leverages transcriptomic readouts to nominate RNA‑guided therapeutic avenues for autism and Alzheimer’s disease. | Learn more | anthony.flamier.hsj@ssss.gouv.qc.ca |
| Codruta | Ignea | McGill University | Dr. Codruta Ignea is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at McGill whose group engineers metabolic pathways in yeast using synthetic biology. She builds programmable biosystems and leverages transcriptome readouts to optimize pathway flux, connecting genetic circuit design with RNA‑level measurements. Her platforms enable discovery and scalable bioproduction where RNA analysis guides strain engineering and performance. | Learn more | codruta.ignea@mcgill.ca |
| Maritza | Jaramillo | INRS | Dr. Maritza Jaramillo is a Professor at INRS‑CAFSB whose research examines host–pathogen interactions and innate immunity. Her work defines RNA‑level control of inflammation and infection, including selective mTOR/eIF4A‑dependent translation programs and cap‑dependent initiation dynamics in macrophages and other cells. By coupling polysome‑profiling, RNA‑seq, and functional assays, she identifies RNA‑mediated pathways that suggest targets for anti‑infective strategies and immunomodulatory therapies. | Learn more | maritza.jaramillo@inrs.ca |
| David | Juncker | McGill University | Prof. David Juncker is Chair of Biomedical Engineering at McGill and Canada Research Chair in Bioengineering, developing micro /nanobioengineering platforms. His develops capillaric microfluidics and new 3D printing approaches to microfluidics, multiplex immunoassays, single cell secretion assays, as well as new microscopy methods to analyze single extracellular vesicles and single lipid nanoparticles (LNPs, fabricated with home-made microfluidics for delivering RNA). His work is aimed at advancing precision medicine by discovering precision biomarkers and precision medicines in the form of LNPs. | Learn more | david.juncker@mcgill.ca |
| Rees | Kassen | McGill University | Prof. Rees Kassen is Director of the Trottier Institute for Science and Public Policy at McGill and an evolutionary biologist studying microbial adaptation. He leads the Coronavirus in the Urban Environment initiative and uses experimental evolution and genomics to interrogate how RNA viruses and microbes adapt. His insights inform RNA‑virus surveillance, resistance management, and science‑policy responses to emerging pathogens. | Learn more | rees.kassen@mcgill.ca |
| Steven | Laplante | INRS | Professor Steven R. Laplante leads a medicinal chemistry and biophysics laboratory at INRS developing fragment‑based lead discovery workflows powered by affinity NMR. The group designs small molecules against proteins and RNA targets of pathogens and human disease, illustrating RNA‑targeted discovery and antiviral design principles. Methods and case studies inform oligonucleotide–small‑molecule synergies and structure‑enabled optimization for RNA‑adjacent pathways. | Learn more | steven.laplante@inrs.ca |
| Marc | Lavertu | Polytechnique | Marc Lavertu is a professor at Polytechnique Montréal, where he designs and studies nanobiomaterials for nucleic acid delivery, particularly polymeric systems and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). His group focuses on advanced characterization of these systems and on how formulation parameters influence their properties, with the goal of better understanding the structure–property relationships that govern transfection efficiency. He also develops theoretical models to predict the ionization behavior of these nanosystems, a key parameter for overcoming the endosomal barrier. He is also co-founder of RNA Technologies and Therapeutics, a Montréal-based company specializing in the design, optimization, and production of mRNA, as well as its encapsulation in delivery nanosystems, serving both industrial and academic sectors. | Learn more | m.lavertu@polymtl.ca |
| Francois | Robert | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) | Dr. François Robert is a Research Professor at the IRCM and Université de Montréal whose lab investigates gene expression regulation with a focus on transcription by RNA polymerase II in yeast. His group uses functional genomics and proteomics to map factors that shape transcriptional programs, including Mediator, histone chaperones (FACT/Spt6), and the Pol II CTD, thereby directly interrogating RNA synthesis and non coding RNA biogenesis. He applies these RNA centric mechanisms to understand genome regulation and its broader implications for gene expression control. | Learn more | francois.robert@ircm.qc.ca |
| Jose | Teodoro | McGill University | Dr. José G. Teodoro is a Professor of Biochemistry at McGill whose lab uncovers pathways that limit tumor growth, focusing on p53‑mediated anti‑angiogenesis and viral oncolysis. His work intersects RNA biology via viral gene‑expression control, APC/C‑linked regulation, and studies connecting mRNA translational control to cell‑state transitions. He translates mechanistic insights toward RNA‑relevant anti‑cancer strategies and biomarkers. | Learn more | jose.teodoro@mcgill.ca |
| Luc | Vallières | Université Laval | Prof. Luc Vallières (Université Laval; CHU de Québec) is a neuroimmunologist investigating immune–brain interactions in autoimmunity and cancer. His laboratory deploys single‑cell RNA‑seq and lipid‑nanoparticle RNA transfer protocols in mononuclear phagocytes to dissect inflammatory programs and enable RNA delivery for therapeutic purposes. Translational aims include antibody engineering and RNA‑based modulation of immune cells for neurological disease therapy. | Learn more | luc.vallieres@fmed.ulaval.ca |