Ongoing Research
Cell engineering
Our team develops and takes advantage of cutting edge gene modification technologies (CRISPR, RNAi, chemical-induced degrons or gene expression circuits, reporter genes) and 2D or 3D cellular models in order to study regulatory pathways that inform us about disease outcomes and drug resistance. In addition, we seek to optimize the cellular delivery and gene editing tool sets (including synthetic mRNA, transposons, lenti/retrovirus, and AAV) to create more effective cell, gene, or nucleic acid therapies.
Functional genomics
Alterations in gene sequence or expression underlie a vast number of diseases or differential sensitivities to therapeutics. We apply customized genetic engineering platforms and analytical methods for genome-scale loss-, gain-, and modification-of-function screens, with the goal of identifying therapeutically-relevant genes, gene variants, or genetic pathways.
Therapeutic applications
Direct application of genome engineering, ex vivo or in vivo, now presents a viable therapeutic strategy for a host of diseases. We aim to work with clinicians to establish molecular technologies and methods for potential cell, gene, and nucleic acid therapies. In addition, we anticipate that discoveries made through our functional genomic screening campaigns may one day translate into therapeutic targets or could be used as biomarkers to separate patient populations most likely to benefit from existing treatments.
Département d'ophtalmologie, Université de Montréal Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont
Pavillon Claudine D'Amours
5415 Boul. de l'Assomption
Montréal, QC, Canada H1T 2M4
