Competition and Funding / FOCUS Competition

Previous Competitions

2010-2011 Competition

Following this year's competition, 4 innovative research projects have been selected. These projects received a total investment of $6 million and involve the participation of 52 researchers from 3 universities and 3 private companies. The technologies and tools that will be developed within the next three years will have an impact on the crucial challenges faced by the biopharmaceutical research industry.

  • Selectomics to monitor and predict the emergence of resistance to antibiotics. Michel Bergeron (Université Laval), Marc Ouellette (Université Laval), Jacques Corbeil (Université Laval), Paul Roy (Université Laval), Sylvie Trottier (Université Laval), Marc-Christian Domingo (Laboratoire de santé public du Québec) et Maurice Boissinot (GenePoc). This new approach will use the human gut microbiome to predict the emergence of resistance genes to antibiotics.

  • Integrated tumour-microenvironment biomarkers for improved targeting of breast cancer therapy. Morag Park (McGill University), Michael Hallett (McGill University), Atila Omeroglu (McGill University) et Patrice Hugo (Consultant). The aim of this project is to develop enabling tools for better stratification of breast cancer patients by integrating information from tumor and the surrounding stromal tissu. This will allow the development of personalized therapies relevant to specific tumor subtypes.

  • Magnetically guided drug delivery platform based on bio-carriers for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Sylvain Martel (École polytechnique de Montréal), Te Vuong (McGill University), Gérald Batist (McGill University), Maryam Tabrizian (McGill University), Louis Gaboury (Université de Montréal), Michel Lafleur (Université de Montréal), Nicole Beauchemin (McGill University), Danuta Radzioch (McGill University) et Michael Atkin (Syzent Partners). This innovative approach, based on special bacteria that can be directed by a magnetic field, will enable targeted therapeutic intervention at the tumor site. The proof-of-concept of this new technology will be performed using SN-38 encapsulated in liposomes in colorectal cancer models.

  • PulmoBind: A new non-invasive marker for the early diagnosis of patients with pulmonary hypertension. Jocelyn Dupuis (Montreal Heart Institute), François Harel (Montreal Heart Institute) and Alain Fournier (INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier). This project is aimed at evaluating in human subjects PulmoBind, a novel marker that can detect early abnormalities of the pulmonary blood circulation. This non-invasive test will allow to establish an early and effective diagnosis of subjects suffering from pulmonary hypertension and to evaluate the disease progression.

2009-2010 Competition

During its second competition, CQDM received 32 letters of intent. Twelve projects were selected and invited to submit a full application. Finally, four outstanding research projects have been initiated on September 1st, 2010. These projects receive a total investment of $5.8 million and involve the participation of 54 researchers from 4 universities and 3 private companies. The technologies that will be developed within the next three years will address crucial challenges faced by the biopharmaceutical research industry.

  • Emanuel Escher (Université de Sherbrooke). A new biosensor paradigm for continuous detection of multiple analytes. This new generation of miniature biosensors will be designed to monitor in real time several analytes simultaneously in living animals. A first application will be developed for glucose and insulin measurements. This technology will then be applied to numerous therapeutic fields.
  • Matthias Götte (McGill University). A novel phage-based screening technology for antivirals.  This approach will bring a new highly sensitive assay platform to reduce time and costs associated with screening of antiherpetic compounds. The technology could eventually be translated to other viruses.

Information Session on the 2009-2010 Competition

 

2008-2009 Competition

During its first competition, CQDM received 78 letters of intent. Twelve projects were selected and invited to submit a full application. Finally, three outstanding research projects have been initiated on September 1st, 2009. These projects receive a total investment of $6 million and involve the participation of 71 researchers from 4 universities and 3 private companies. These projects aimed at developing new enabling technologies that can significantly facilitate the drug discovery process.