The transdisciplinary field of microbiome research combines computer science, data analytics and biology to decipher the complex interplay between the microbial communities in a given environment. New technologies are being used to generate complex data that provide information about genes, functions and metabolites in microbial communities, also referred to as ‘omics’ data. A common way to translate these omics data into meaningful biological information is through the use of visualization tools.

L’hépatite B est une affection hépatique causée par le virus de l'hépatite B (VHB) qui peut évoluer sous une forme chronique et exposer les malades à un risque important de cirrhose et/ou de cancer hépatique. Malgré un vaccin efficace, le VHB affecte de façon chronique plus de 270 millions de personnes et cause plus de 800 000 décès par année. Récemment, l’entreprise montréalaise Replicor a procédé à l’élaboration d’un traitement novateur basé sur l’utilisation de « polymère d’acides nucléiques » (NAPs).

Les équipes de travail sont omniprésentes dans le milieu de la santé. Des acteurs souvent dotés d’expertises distinctes et complémentaires doivent collaborer afin d’innover, d’offrir des soins de qualité ou d’implanter des changements organisationnels. Toutefois, leur succès n’est pas garanti et les conséquences sur la santé des patients peuvent être néfastes. Étant donné la complexité de leurs tâches et le rythme effréné auquel se multiplient les connaissances scientifiques et techniques, ces équipes doivent être capables d’apprendre.

Understanding how brain processes information is the one of the most intriguing questions that modern neuroscience faces. This project is aimed to characterize how the lateral hypothalamus process information to downstream brain targets to guide proper behavioral responses. This brain area is well-known to regulate key aspects of the behavior. But how does it process information to control behavior? To answer this question, we use and develop a state-of-the-art technique called fiber photometry.

Une bonne compréhension de la biologie derrière le développement du diabète de type II est indispensable à son traitement. Malheureusement, c'est une maladie complexe dans laquelle de multiples protéines sont impliquées dans le maintien du taux de sucre dans le sang, débalancé lors du diabète.Il existe différentes approches, dites « multiplex », pour mesurer la concentration de plusieurs de ces protéines simultanément. C'est une façon d'obtenir un portrait plus large et de mieux comprendre les dérèglements biologiques en cause.

Adoptive cell therapy using transferred tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is limited by the physical barrier created by a restrictive tumour microenvironment (TME) and by T-cell inactivation within the TME. Thus, minimizing the immunosuppressive effects of the TME and overcoming T-cell inactivation is crucial. AVID200 is a potent TGF-beta inhibitor designed by Forbius that selectively neutralizes TGF-beta1 & -beta3 with picomolar potency that reverses immunosupression, fibrosis & renders tumors sensitive to checkpoint blockade.

Small surgical instruments can be used multiple times if cleaned properly after each surgery. At the end of the cleaning process, a visual inspection of each instrument is performed in order to detect any traces of soil such as blood, tissue or any other biological materials. However, the human eye is not a flawless sensor and soils that are not visible to the naked can be present.

This project will provide software tools to predict where a gene modifying system will make changes in the DNA of a living cell or animal. This is particularly important to investigate since this new system called CRISPR-Cas may one day be use for human gene therapy. We will test our system in animal models and develop a predictive platform to determine if the therapy will be safe for human by predicting with CRISPR-cas system should be use for specific diseases. Our work will hopefully pave the way for gene therapy applied in an ethical fashion in human.

The project will help Optina validate and further develope a novel technology to predict the presence of significant amyloid (A?) deposition in the brain from a simple, non-invasive hyperspectral retina scan in combination with an artificial intelligence algorithm. Accumulation of A? plaques in the brain is a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but current methods to evaluate its presence in vivo (A? positron emission tomography imaging and quantification of A?

The progression of pain research has been limited because of the overreliance on nociceptive assessment tools. These nociceptive assessment tools only assess the sensory component of pain and neglect its emotional component. It has been suggested that behavioural tools, such as the grimace scales, can assess the emotional component of pain. The use of various molecular markers are also promising new avenues to assess pain in various experimental models. The concurrent use of all three types of assessment methods will build a more accurate and complete picture of pain.