A Successful 16th Edition of Research Day!
June 10, 2009 – Held annually, Research Day provides the HMR’s research teams with an opportunity to share their most recent study findings by way of oral or poster presentations. The event, which took place on June 5, gathered more than 150 participants, research investigators, graduate and post-graduate students, research assistants and residents.
Renowned guest: Dr. Polly Matzinger
Participants had the chance to attend some fascinating presentations as well as a conference delivered by guest investigator Dr. Polly Matzinger, Head of the T-Cell Tolerance and Memory Section-The Ghost Lab of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Maryland.
Dr. Matzinger presented findings from studies she has been conducting on what is called “the danger model”, a new theory regarding determinism in the immune system to which she has been contributing since the late 90s. Supported by experiment-based evidence, her theory, which has sparked much enthusiasm as well as controversy throughout the scientific community, challenges the previous hypothesis that recognition of the non-self forms the basis for an immune response.
Award Ceremony
At the end of the day’s events, Dr. Denis Claude Roy, Director of Research, proceeded with an award ceremony during which prizes determined by a selection committee composed of 15 research investigators and clinicians from the CRHMR, and from fellow research centres and institutes, were distributed. The winners were awarded conference bursaries worth $1 500 each.
- In the category for best oral presentation, an award from the Caisse d’Économie Desjardins des Employés du Réseau de la Santé was given to Sabrina Facchino, a student in Dr. Gilbert Bernier’s research laboratory, for her project, “Malignant human stem cells in glioblastoma multiform”.
- In the category for best poster presentation by a Master’s student, two prizes were awarded. Renaud Manuguerra-Gagné, a student under the shared supervision of Dr. Denis Claude Roy and Dr. Mark Lesk, was given a prize from the Department of Medicine of the University of Montreal for his project, “The effect of mesenchymatous stromal cells on intraocular pressure in glaucoma”. Mélissa Mathieu, a student in Dr. Nathalie Labrecque’s research laboratory, was awarded a prize from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec for her study, “Manipulating B lymphocytes for their use in vaccination”.
- In the category for best poster presentation by a Ph.D. student, two prizes were awarded thanks to financial support from the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine and sponsors. The first prize was given to Nicolas Tétreault, a student of Dr. Gilbert Bernier, for his findings in the study, “Characterizing the role of LHK2 in the proliferation and self-renewal of embryonic retinal stem cells”. The second prize was given to Erin E. Fortier, a student under Dr. Nathalie Labrecque’s supervision, for her study, “T cell proliferation is controlled by the circadian clock”.
- Natacha Cotta-Grand, a postdoctorate in Dr. Nathalie Labrecque’s research laboratory, was awarded the prize for best poster presentation by a post-doctorate student/research assistant/resident, for her project titled, “Notch signaling influences CD8 T cell function”. The prize was offered by the Conseil des Médecins, Dentistes et Pharmaciens of the HMR.
Carole Deschambault is named honorary investigator.
On behalf of the HMR’s research investigators assembly and research staff, Dr. Denis Claude Roy acknowledged Carole Deschambault, Executive Director of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital since 2002, for her involvement in research development at the HMR. She was named honorary investigator.
Acknowledgements
Very pleased with the day’s events, Dr. Euridice Carmona, Chair of the Organizing Committee, would like to thank the following companies for sponsoring this event: Amgen, Bayer, Bio-Rad, Cedarlane, Hoffmann-La Roche, ESBE scientifique and Sarstedt.
In the photo: Carole Deschambault surrounded by several CRHMR research investigators.