Â鶹AV
The Centres and Institutes Support funding program is designed to enhance Â鶹AV research Centres or Institutes impact and research by supporting their activities that are aligned with D2R overarching goals.
In the first funding cycle launched in 2024, five Â鶹AV Centres and Institutes received awards. View a summary of the review and selection process.
| Name of Centre or Institute | SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR |
|---|---|
| Â鶹AV Centre for Translational Research in Cancer |
Gerald Batist
|
| Centre of Genomics and Policy | Yann Joly |
| The Â鶹AV Research Center on Complex Traits | Jörg Fritz |
| Â鶹AV Centre for Viral Diseases | Chen Liang |
| Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute | Morag Park |
Â鶹AV Centre for Translational Research in Cancer
[From left to right;Ìý Dr. Gerald Batist (Director MCTRC), Dr. Miriam Santos (Chief Operating Officer), and Dr Mark Basik (Associate Director)Ìý
Scientific Director: Gerald Batist
Tagline: Â鶹AV Centre For Translational Research
Website: mcgill.ca/translational-research-cancer/
About: Many innovations fail to reach clinical use due to insufficient funding, lack of industry partnerships, and inadequate networking opportunities. The Â鶹AV Centre for Translational Research in Cancer (MCTRC) addresses an unmet need, bridging the gap between academic research and clinical practice, and accelerating the adoption of innovations.
The D2R Initiative will drive innovation that require translation from discovery to patient benefit. The MCTRC will work in synergy with D2R to translate D2R genomic findings for diagnostic and novel therapies to the clinic, by fostering collaborations with industry and academia, conducting clinical trials and organizing knowledge dissemination and training activities.
Funding duration: 3-years
Ìý
Centre of Genomics and Policy
[Standing (left to right; top to bottom): Ma'n H. Zawati, Diya Uberoi, Stanislav Birko, Yann Joly, Aaron (Zhaoping) Ju, Lindsay Dayton, Nadine Thorsen, Nicole Palmour, Meng Wang, Ariel (Yunhe) Xue, Kacey San Diego, Terese Knoppers, Yuan Stevens, Mathilde Cassou, Chiara Spino, Maushumi Bhattacharjee.]
Scientific Director: Yann Joly
Tagline: An interdisciplinary research centre at the crossroads of law, medicine, bioethics, governance and public policy
Website:
About: The Centre of Genomics and Policy (CGP) at Â鶹AV is an interdisciplinary research hub focused on law, medicine, bioethics, governance, and public policy in genomics and health.
It is embedded within the DNA to RNA (D2R) Initiative in order to address ethical, legal, and policy challenges in RNA-based precision medicine. With international partnerships and expertise, CGP aims to advance responsible data-sharing practices, train students, and foster equitable access to RNA therapies. The proposal seeks funding to support the Centre’s knowledge transfer, capacity building and networking initiatives over the next three years to advance D2R’s mandate.
Funding duration: 3-years
Ìý
The Â鶹AV Research Center on Complex Traits
Scientific Director: Jörg Fritz
Website:
About: The Â鶹AV Research Center on Complex Traits (MRCCT) is a multidisciplinary research and education hub that combines genetic and genomic approaches with immunological studies to uncover mechanisms of pathogenesis in infectious and inflammatory diseases, with the societal goal of developing novel innovative treatments and alleviating their global health burden.
The Centers research spans genetic, genomic, and deep immunological analyses of samples from rare disease patients, large cohorts, and biobanks, alongside experimental studies in rodent models of human disease, to enhance mechanistic understanding of disease, identify novel therapeutic targets, and evaluate the efficacy and function of new RNA-based treatments.
Funding duration: 3-years
Ìý
Â鶹AV Centre for Viral Diseases
Scientific Director: Chen Liang
Tagline: The Â鶹AV Centre for Viral Diseases coordinate and promote innovative research and visionary education to provide solutions to life-threatening viral diseases.
Website: mcgill.ca/mcvd/
About: The Â鶹AV Centre for Viral Diseases (MCVD) seeks solutions to life-threatening viral diseases through advancing inter-disciplinary research, enhancing visionary education, and adopting cutting-edge RNA and genomic technology.
The D2R support allows the MCVD to better serve Â鶹AV’s viral diseases research community, foster the development of inter-disciplinary research projects, offer trainees more opportunities for collaborative research within and beyond Â鶹AV labs, and leverage industrial collaborations to boost translation research. These efforts align closely with D2R’s mission to reduce disease burden, including infectious diseases, by fostering the development and implementation of RNA therapeutics through innovative, inter-disciplinary research.
Funding duration: 3-years
Ìý
Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute
Scientific Director: Morag Park
Tagline: We strive to understand what drives cancer in order to better prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. Collaboration is deeply engraved in our DNA. We believe in bringing together the best minds across various disciplines to tackle cancer faster and more effectively.
Website:
About: The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) is committed to alleviating the burden of cancer through pioneering fundamental research and advancing discoveries toward clinical translation. A central hub of the cancer research community at Â鶹AV and beyond, the GCI unites the biomedical sciences with computational biology, AI, engineering, chemistry, and clinical oncology, providing advanced technologies and a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
The GCI is seizing emerging opportunities in precision medicine and immunotherapy (including RNA-based therapies), predictive biomarker development, and early detection and prevention strategies. Breakthroughs in these areas will create opportunities to advance D2R’s mission across all strategic priorities.
Funding duration: 3-years
