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Laboratory

Stéphane Richard's Laboratory

The laboratory of Stéphane Richard is located at the McGill University affiliated-Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec.

Stéphane Richard’s research focuses on elucidating the molecular signaling mechanisms in normal and diseased cells. His research has implications for cancer, multiple sclerosis, and osteoporosis.
 
We are currently recruiting PhD students and Post-Doctoral Fellows

Meet the Team

Stéphane Richard 1

Left to right: Zhenbao Yu, Helen Han, Sarah Khan, Ting Cai, Samantha Daley, Jeesan Lee, Nivine Srour, Claudia Dominici and Stéphane Richard.

Research

Epigenetics

Epigenetic refers to the study of heritable changes that occur without a modification in DNA sequence of the genes. It is caused mostly by histone modifications and DNA methylation upon gene expression. Epigenetic defects have been found to be major factors in cancer, genetic disorders as well as in autoimmune diseases and aging.

Cells manage gene expression by wrapping DNA around clusters of globular histone proteins to form nucleosomes. These nucleosomes of DNA and histones are organized into chromatin. Changes to the structure of chromatin influence gene expression. For example, genes are inactivated when the chromatin is condensed, and they are expressed when chromatin is open. These chromatin states are controlled by DNA methylation and histone modifications.

Several proteins involved in epigenetics interact with histone modifying enzymes like histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Disturbing their relationship will almost have severe consequences on the epigenome and chromatin organization. The histone N-terminal sequences are crucial to maintain chromatin stability and they are subject to numerous modifications. Most modifications such as acetylation, methylation and phosphorylation have some role to play in transcriptional regulation and have the potential to be oncogenic if result, for example, to loss of expression of a tumour suppressor gene.

Projects:

The Laboratory now has projects related to biochemical and genetic characterization of the enzymes that catalyze arginine methylation.

 

Stéphane Richard 2

DNA Damage

Double strand breakThe stability of the genome is essential for the proper function and survival of all organisms. DNA damage is very frequent and appears to be a fundamental problem for life. DNA damage can trigger the development of cancer and accelerate aging. Most DNA damage is removed by DNA repair enzymes, but these repair processes are not completely efficient. DNA damage, if not repaired, causes errors during DNA synthesis leading to mutations that can give rise to cancer. Cell cycle checkpoints are regulatory pathways that govern the order and timing of cell cycle transitions to ensure completion of one cellular event prior to another. Upon sensing DNA damage, cell cycle checkpoints are activated to arrest cell cycle progression to allow time for repair before the damage is passed on to the cells. In addition to checkpoint activation, the DNA damage response leads to induction of transcriptional programs, enhancement of DNA repair pathways, and when the level of damage is severe, to initiation of apoptosis. The key regulators of the checkpoint pathways in the DNA damage response are the ATM (ataxia telangiectasia, mutated) and ATR (ATM and Rad3-related) protein kinases. These proteins are central to the entire DNA damage response. Both of these proteins belong to an unique family of serine-threonine kinases characterized by a C-terminal catalytic motif containing a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase domain. Although ATM and ATR appear to phosphorylate many of the same cellular substrates, they generally respond to distinct types of DNA damage. For example, ATM is the primary mediator of the response to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) that can arise by exposure to ionizing radiation (IR). Cells lacking ATM have major problems in repairing DSBs and sustain major chromosome instability. On the other hand, ATR directs the principal response to UV damage. Downstream of these proteins are two families of checkpoint kinases (CHK), the Chk1 and Chk2 kinases, and their homologues. These kinases carry out subsets of the DNA damage response and are targets of regulation by ATM and ATR kinases. Depending on the type of cells, amount, and location, DNA damage has been shown to be involved in a variety of disorders in aging, and in carcinogenesis. The development of cancer and the process of aging can be delayed by reducing the load of DNA.
Projects:
The laboratory is currently studying projects that implicate protein methylation in the DNA damage response.
Stéphane Richard 3

RNA binding proteins

Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are derived from the DNA and program the cells to make proteins. There are many types of RNAs in the cells such as transfer RNAs (tRNAs), ribosomal RNAs ( rRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs). They all have their respective functions to carry on within the cells.

RNAs in cells are associated with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to form ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. RBPs function in multiple cellular processes. For example, RBPs are involved in DNA replication, expression of histone genes, R-loop regulation, regulation of transcription, and translational control. Many RBPs have been identified as essential factors during the development of somatic tissues, including neurons and muscles. Genetic information stored in chromosomal DNA is translated into proteins through mRNAs. This allows for post-transcriptional control of gene expression conferring a crucial role to the mRNA-binding proteins in this regulation. Post-transcriptional control can occur at many different steps in RNA metabolism, including splicing, polyadenylation, mRNA stability, mRNA localization and translation.

RBPs are associated with a large number of human diseases including neurodegeneration and cancers. Proper functioning of these networks is essential for the coordination of post-transcriptional events, and their perturbation can lead to diseases.

Projects:

The laboratory is currently studying projects that implicate arginine methylation of RGG/RG motif RNA binding proteins DDX5, AVEN, RBMX, QKI in cancer. We also have projects identifying ways that inhibition of arginine methylation can enhance immune checkpoint inhibitors and thus ameliorate cancer immunotherapy.

Stéphane Richard 4
Stéphane Richard 5

Titre

Contemporary research has uncovered a role for environmental copper in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Previous research implicated non-ceruloplasmin bound copper in the aggravation of neurodegenerative phenotypes. Our research explores the role of copper in ALS progression through monitoring of copper biomarkers and analyses of copper metabolism gene expression.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia. Quo neque error repudiandae fuga? Ipsa laudantium molestias eos sapiente officiis modi at sunt excepturi expedita sint? Sed quibusdam recusandae alias error harum maxime adipisci amet laborum. Perspiciatis minima nesciunt dolorem! Officiis iure rerum voluptates a cumque velit quibusdam sed amet tempora. Sit laborum ab, eius fugit doloribus tenetur fugiat, temporibus enim commodi iusto libero magni deleniti quod quam consequuntur! 

Team

Stephane Richard

Stéphane Richard

Principal Investigator

Stéphane Richard, PhD, FRSQ Chercheur National, is a James McGill Professor of Medicine and Oncology at McGill University and an Associate Director of Research at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.
 
Stéphane  Richard obtained his PhD at McGill University in 1991 studying molecular neuroendrocrinology. He performed four years of half industrial/half academic post-doctoral studies at Pfizer Inc (Groton, CT) and Washington University (St. Louis, MO) with Drs. Patricia Connelly and Andrey S. Shaw, respectively. As a post-doctoral fellow, Stéphane Richard studied the molecular mechanisms of cell signaling in normal and cancer cells. He started his independent career at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research – McGill University in 1995.
 
Stéphane Richard is a scientific expert in molecular biology research in the fields of cancer and neuroscience. His research is aimed at understanding the roles of protein arginine methylation and RNA binding proteins in diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Stéphane Richard’s group is actively pursing the molecular roles of protein methylation and RNA binding proteins in epigenetics, RNA metabolism, and DNA damage signaling.

Research Associates

Stéphane Richard 6

Zhenbao Yu, PhD

Research Associate

I received a BSc in Molecular Biology & Genetics from McMaster University in 2017. I am currently studying how mutations of dyskerin, a telomerase-associated protein, affect its interaction with other proteins, subcellular localization, and telomerase RNA abundance.

Stéphane Richard 7

Luca Cavallone, PhD

ddPCR expert

I am a Belizean pursuing a PhD in Anatomy and Cell biology at McGill University in Montreal. I completed my BSc in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology and my MSc in Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland Canada. My research interest involves increased understanding stem and cancer cell dynamics and redox biology to be applied to therapeutics for health span extension.

Stéphane Richard 7

Catherine Chabot, PhD

Laboratory Manager

I am a Belizean pursuing a PhD in Anatomy and Cell biology at McGill University in Montreal. I completed my BSc in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology and my MSc in Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland Canada. My research interest involves increased understanding stem and cancer cell dynamics and redox biology to be applied to therapeutics for health span extension.

Stéphane Richard 7

Cedric Darini

Metabolism and drug resistance

I am a Belizean pursuing a PhD in Anatomy and Cell biology at McGill University in Montreal. I completed my BSc in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology and my MSc in Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland Canada. My research interest involves increased understanding stem and cancer cell dynamics and redox biology to be applied to therapeutics for health span extension.

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Stéphane Richard 10

Nivine Srour, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

I am a Belizean pursuing a PhD in Anatomy and Cell biology at McGill University in Montreal. I completed my BSc in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology and my MSc in Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland Canada. My research interest involves increased understanding stem and cancer cell dynamics and redox biology to be applied to therapeutics for health span extension.

Stéphane Richard 7

Josiane Lafleur, MSc

Clinical Research Assistant/Biobank manager

I am a Belizean pursuing a PhD in Anatomy and Cell biology at McGill University in Montreal. I completed my BSc in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology and my MSc in Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland Canada. My research interest involves increased understanding stem and cancer cell dynamics and redox biology to be applied to therapeutics for health span extension.

Stéphane Richard 7

Cathy Lan

Biospecimen handling

I am a Belizean pursuing a PhD in Anatomy and Cell biology at McGill University in Montreal. I completed my BSc in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology and my MSc in Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland Canada. My research interest involves increased understanding stem and cancer cell dynamics and redox biology to be applied to therapeutics for health span extension.

PhD Students

Stéphane Richard 13

Ting Cai

PhD Candidate

I come from Brazil, where I graduated in Biochemical Engineering at the Federal University of Paraná. I have more than four years of professional experience in manufacturing and quality assurance of reagents for molecular diagnostics. Now I’m interested in better understanding the role of the protein dyskerin and H/ACA ribonucleoprotein complexes in regulating telomere biology and cellular aging.

Stéphane Richard 14

Claudia Dominici

PhD Candidate

I come from Brazil, where I graduated in Biochemical Engineering at the Federal University of Paraná. I have more than four years of professional experience in manufacturing and quality assurance of reagents for molecular diagnostics. Now I’m interested in better understanding the role of the protein dyskerin and H/ACA ribonucleoprotein complexes in regulating telomere biology and cellular aging.

Stéphane Richard 15

Jeesan Jee

PhD Candidate

Linda completed her BSc in Biology at the University of Waterloo. During her undergraduate degree, she worked as a co-op student in the lab of Dr. Paul Mains where her project used C. elegans to describe gene variants that cause drug resistance in parasitic nematodes. After graduating, she worked for a year in the lab of Dr. Ryan Yuen at SickKids in Toronto investigating short tandem repeat expansions using Nanopore and Sanger sequencing. She is now pursuing her MSc in the Autexier lab and is interested in how a region of telomerase, known as the insertions in fingers domain (IFD), is involved in its localization and activity at the telomeres. When not in lab, Linda enjoys listening to music or watching movies while she knits.

Stéphane Richard 7

Madelyn Abraham

Team Lymphoma

Madelyn is a PhD student in the department of Experimental Medicine. She uses mouse modelling to study Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. In particular, she has found that mutations in the transcription factor STAT6 are enriched at disease relapse, and I study how this contributes to remodeling of the tumour microenvironment.

Stéphane Richard 7

Rowa Bakadlag

Team Tungsten

Rowa is a PhD candidate in the department of Experimental Medicine. She completed her BSc in Microbiology and Immunology in Saudi Arabia, then completed two MScs in Genetics and Parasitology at McGill University. Her work investigates tungsten toxicity focusing on SLC2A2 as a transporter and the effects on mature B lymphocytes.

MSc Students

Stéphane Richard 18

Sarah Khan

MSc Candidate

Vincenza is an MSc. Student in the Department of Pharmacology. She completed her BSc. in Pharmacology at McGill University. Her project aims to elucidate the role of e-cigarette use on the murine cardiopulmonary system. Specifically, she is focusing on metal deposition in the lungs, and the progression of atherosclerosis due to these exposures.

Stéphane Richard 7

Ayse Nazli Zengin

Team Arsenic

Nazli Zengin is an MSc. student in the Department of Pharmacology. She has a background in pharmacology and environment. Her work currently focuses on elucidating how sex and diet modulate arsenic toxicity and its immunological and cardiovascular consequences.

Stéphane Richard 7

Andrew Little

Team Arsenic

Andrew is an MSc. student in the Department of Pharmacology who graduated from the B.Sc. program in Biochemistry at McGill in 2021. He works on a proteomics project centred around Arsenic 3-Methyltransferase and the question about whether it serves an additional function.

Stéphane Richard 7

Raymond Tu

Team Tungsten

Raymond is an MSc. Student in the Department of Pharmacology who completed his BSc. in Environmental Health Sciences from the UNC Chapel Hill as a as a Morehead-Cain Scholar. He received the McCall MacBain Scholarship in 2021. His project studies the mechanism of tungsten on mTORC1, a major regulator of cell growth and proliferation.

Stéphane Richard 7

Nikola Kukolj

Team Arsenic

Nikola is an incoming MSc Student who completed his undergraduate degree in
Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University. He is currently working on an NSERC
summer project that assesses the functional characterization of macrophages exposed to arsenic using murine bone marrow-derived macrophages.

Undergraduate Students

Stéphane Richard 7

Roni Juran

Team Vaping

Roni is a second-year BSc student in Chemistry at McGill. As an undergraduate student, she works on various projects across the lab, but is currently focused elucidating the correlation between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and vaping.

Past team members

Lab group 2021

Stéphane Richard 24

Left to right: Jeesan Lee, Ting Cai, Zhenbao Yu, Nivine Srour, Stéphane Richard, Claudia Dominici and Sarah Khan.

Lab group 2020

Stéphane Richard 25
Left to right: Oscar David Villarreal Escamilla, Zhenbao Yu, Xiaoru Chen, Ting Cai, Martin Karam, Nivine Srour, Claudia Dominici, Jeesan Lee, and Stéphane Richard.

Lab group 2019

Stéphane Richard 26

Left to right: Sofiane Mersaoui, Zhenbao Yu, Ting Cai, Claudia Dominici, Jeesan Lee, Xiaoru Chen, Martin Karam, Nivine Srour, Bo Ren Long, Sarah Khan, Stéphane Richard.

Lab group 2018

Stéphane Richard 27

Left to right: Zhenbao Yu, Ying Cai, Sofiane Mersaoui, Sara Calabretta, Nykan Mirchi, Sarah Kassis, Claudia Dominici, Nivine Srour, Stéphane Richard.

Lab group 2017

Stéphane Richard 28

Left to right: Lama Darbelli, Zhenbao Yu, Ying Cai, Nykan Mirchi, Minh Nguyen, Sofiane Mersaoui, Sarah Kassis, Claudia Dominici, Sara Calabretta, Stéphane Richard.

Lab group 2014

Stéphane Richard 29
Back row (left to right): Zhenbao Yu, Arthur Jacob, Roméo Blanc, Murilo Bueno; Front Row (left to right): Naomi Li, Gaya Gurunathan, Lama Darbelli, Jingwen Song, Gillian Vogel, Palaniraja Thandapani, Mathieu Neault, Stéphane Richard.

Lab group 2012

Stéphane Richard 30
Back Row (left to right): Murilo Bueno, Yannick Auclair, Zhenbao Yu, Gillian Vogel, Magalie Tardiff, Mathieu Neault; Front Row (left to right): Lama Darbelli, Po Hien Ear, Palaniraja Thandapani, Jingwen Song, Gaya Gurunathan.

Lab group 2011

Stéphane Richard 31
Back Row (left to right): Yannick Auclair, Murilo Bueno, Olivier Binda, Zhenbao Yu; Front Row (left to right): Mathieu Neault, Palaniraja Thandapani, Gillian Vogel, Stéphane Richard, Frédérick-Antoine Mallette, Christina Gavino, Dr.Yunling Wang, Chau Tuan Anh Ng.
  • Isabelle Sirois, PhD
    Research Associate/Metabolism and proteomics
  • Urszula Krmzeien
    Clinical Research Assistant/PMT agent
  • Frederic Charbonneau
    Clinical research assistant/PMT agent
  • Emma Fowler
    Msc student
  • Yirui Gui, PhD
    Post-Doctoral Fellow
Stéphane Richard 5

Titre

Contemporary research has uncovered a role for environmental copper in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Previous research implicated non-ceruloplasmin bound copper in the aggravation of neurodegenerative phenotypes. Our research explores the role of copper in ALS progression through monitoring of copper biomarkers and analyses of copper metabolism gene expression.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia. Quo neque error repudiandae fuga? Ipsa laudantium molestias eos sapiente officiis modi at sunt excepturi expedita sint? Sed quibusdam recusandae alias error harum maxime adipisci amet laborum. Perspiciatis minima nesciunt dolorem! Officiis iure rerum voluptates a cumque velit quibusdam sed amet tempora. Sit laborum ab, eius fugit doloribus tenetur fugiat, temporibus enim commodi iusto libero magni deleniti quod quam consequuntur! 

Resources

Our laboratory possesses the equipment for the process of histology and histochemistry and has access to the LDI Cell Imaging Facility under the supervision of Dr Christian Young (confocal microscope and LSM800 Airyscan). RT-qPCR for the quantitation of RNA and microRNAs is carried out at the SEGAL Cancer Center and we have developed CrisprCas9 expertise for genomic edition. More traditional techniques are also present in our laboratory, immunoblotting, RTPCR, primary cell cultures… We possess two organ baths allowing measurements of bladder strip contractility (2 machines in total). We have developed several models of bladder dysfunction in rats (partial bladder obstruction) and mice (streptozotocin induced type 1 diabetes, TallyHo) and the animal quarters of the LDI provide support and expertise on animal handling and surgeries.

For prostate cancer research, we have access to immune-histochemistry CODEX apparatus and SOMAscan for sensitive proteomic analysis inside the LDI.

Stéphane Richard 5

Titre

Contemporary research has uncovered a role for environmental copper in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Previous research implicated non-ceruloplasmin bound copper in the aggravation of neurodegenerative phenotypes. Our research explores the role of copper in ALS progression through monitoring of copper biomarkers and analyses of copper metabolism gene expression.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia. Quo neque error repudiandae fuga? Ipsa laudantium molestias eos sapiente officiis modi at sunt excepturi expedita sint? Sed quibusdam recusandae alias error harum maxime adipisci amet laborum. Perspiciatis minima nesciunt dolorem! Officiis iure rerum voluptates a cumque velit quibusdam sed amet tempora. Sit laborum ab, eius fugit doloribus tenetur fugiat, temporibus enim commodi iusto libero magni deleniti quod quam consequuntur! 

Publications

  • On-Treatment Levels and Dynamic Changes of Genomic Instability in Circulating Tumor DNA Predict Response to Treatment and Outcome in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients.
    Aguilar-Mahecha A, Lafleur J, Brousse S, Savichtcheva O, Holden KA, Faulkner N, McLennan G, Jensen TJ, Basik M. Early, Cancers (Basel). 2021 Mar 16;13(6):1331.

  • Prognostic and predictive value of circulating tumor DNA during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for triple negative breast cancer.
    Cavallone L, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Lafleur J, Brousse S, Aldamry M, Roseshter T, Lan C, Alirezaie N, Bareke E, Majewski J, Ferrario C, Hassan S, Discepola F, Seguin C, Mihalcioiu C, Marcus EA, Robidoux A, Roy JA, Pelmus M, Basik M. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 7;10(1):14704.

  • A Unique Morphological Phenotype in Chemoresistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Reveals Metabolic Reprogramming and PLIN4 Expression as a Molecular Vulnerability.
    Sirois I, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Lafleur J, Fowler E, Vu V, Scriver M, Buchanan M, Chabot C, Ramanathan A, Balachandran B, Légaré S, Przybytkowski E, Lan C, Krzemien U, Cavallone L, Aleynikova O, Ferrario C, Guilbert MC, Benlimame N, Saad A, Alaoui-Jamali M, Saragovi HU, Josephy S, O’Flanagan C, Hursting SD, Richard VR, Zahedi RP, Borchers CH, Bareke E, Nabavi S, Tonellato P, Roy JA, Robidoux A, Marcus EA, Mihalcioiu C, Majewski J, Basik M. Mol Cancer Res. 2019 Dec;17(12):2492-2507.

  • Metastatic breast carcinoma-associated fibroblasts have enhanced pro-tumorigenic properties related to increased IGF2 expression.
    Gui Y, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Krzemien U, Hosein A, Buchanan M, Lafleur J, Pollak MN, Ferrario C, Basik M. Clin Cancer Res. 2019 Dec 1;25(23):7229-7242. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-1268. PMID:31515454.

  • Precision Medicine Tools to Guide Therapy and Monitor Response to Treatment in a HER-2+ Gastric Cancer Patient: Case Report.
    Aguilar-Mahecha A, Joseph S, Cavallone L, Buchanan M, Krzemien U, Batist G, Basik M. Front Oncol. 2019 Aug 6;9:698.

  • An integrated stress response via PKR suppresses HER2+ cancers and improves trastuzumab therapy.
    Darini C, Ghaddar N, Chabot C, Assaker G, Sabri S, Wang S, Krishnamoorthy J, Buchanan M, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Abdulkarim B, Deschenes J, Torres J, Ursini-Siegel J, Basik M, Koromilas AE. Nat Commun. 2019 May 13;10(1):2139.

  • A study of pre-analytical variables and optimization of extraction method for circulating tumor DNA measurements by digital droplet PCR.
    Cavallone L, Al-Damry M, Lafleur J, Lan C, Gonzalez-Ginestet P, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Basik M. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2019 Mar 1. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-18-0586. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 30824523.

  • The identification of challenges in tissue collection for biomarker studies: the Q-CROC-03 neoadjuvant breast cancer translational trial experience.
    Aguilar-Mahecha A, Lafleur J, Pelmus M, Seguin C, Lan C, Discepola F, Kovacina B, Christodoulopoulos R, Salvucci O, Mihalcioiu C, Roy JA, Robidoux A, Marcus EA, Batist G, Basik M. Mod Pathol. 2017 Jul 28. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2017.82. [Epub ahead of print].

  • SPEN, a new player in primary cilia formation and cell migration in breast cancer.
    Légaré S, Chabot C, Basik M. Breast Cancer Res. 2017 Sep 6;19(1):104.

  • Targeted error-suppressed quantification of circulating tumor DNA using semi-degenerate barcoded adapters and biotinylated baits.
    Alcaide M, Yu S, Davidson J, Albuquerque M, Bushell K, Fornika D, Arthur S, Grande BM, McNamara S, Tertre MCD, Batist G, Huntsman DG, Cavallone L, Aguilar A, Basik M, Johnson NA, Deyell RJ, Rassekh SR, Morin RD.
    Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 5;7(1):10574.

  • Immuno-Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Assays for Quantifying AKT1 and AKT2 in Breast and Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines and Tumors.
    Popp R, Li H, LeBlanc A, Mohammed Y, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Chambers AG, Lan C, Poetz O, Basik M, Batist G, Borchers CH. Anal Chem. 2017 Oct 3;89(19):10592-10600.

  • Nonoperative Management for Invasive Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy: Conceptual Basis and Fundamental International Feasibility Clinical Trials. Kuerer HM, Vrancken Peeters MTFD, Rea DW, Basik M, De Los Santos J, Heil J. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Aug 1.

  • The identification of challenges in tissue collection for biomarker studies: the Q-CROC-03 neoadjuvant breast cancer translational trial experience.
    Aguilar-Mahecha A, Lafleur J, Pelmus M, Seguin C, Lan C, Discepola F, Kovacina B, Christodoulopoulos R, Salvucci O, Mihalcioiu C, Roy JA, Robidoux A, Marcus EA, Batist G, Basik M. Mod Pathol. 2017 Jul 28. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2017.82.

  • Inhibition of EGFR, HER2, and HER3 signaling with AZD8931 in combination with anastrozole as an anticancer approach: Phase II randomized study in women with endocrine-therapy-naïve advanced breast cancer.
    Johnston S, Basik M, Hegg R, Lausoontornsiri W, Grzeda L, Clemons M, Dreosti L, Mann H, Stuart M, Cristofanilli M. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2016 Nov;160(1):91-99.

  • Minireview: The Link Between ERα Corepressors and Histone Deacetylases in Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer.
    Légaré S, Basik M. Mol Endocrinol. 2016 Sep;30(9):965-76. doi: 10.1210/me.2016-1072.

  • PDK1-Dependent Metabolic Reprogramming Dictates Metastatic Potential in Breast Cancer. Dupuy F, Tabariès S, Andrzejewski S, Dong Z, Blagih J, Annis MG, Omeroglu A, Gao D, Leung S, Amir E, Clemons M, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Basik M, Vincent EE, St-Pierre J, Jones RG, Siegel PM. Cell Metab. 2015 Oct 6;22(4):577-89. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.08.007.

  • The Estrogen Receptor Cofactor SPEN Functions as a Tumor Suppressor and Candidate Biomarker of Drug Responsiveness in Hormone-Dependent Breast Cancers. 
    Légaré S, Cavallone L, Mamo A, Chabot C, Sirois I, Magliocco A, Klimowicz A, Tonin PN, Buchanan M, Keilty D, Hassan S, Laperrière D, Mader S, Aleynikova O, Basik M. Cancer Res. 2015 Oct 15;75(20):4351-63. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-3475.

  • A functional in vitro model of heterotypic interactions reveals a role for interferon-positive carcinoma associated fibroblasts in breast cancer.
    Hosein AN, Livingstone J, Buchanan M, Reid JF, Hallett M, Basik M. BMC Cancer. 2015 Mar 15;15:130. doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-1117-0.

  • Glycoproteomic comparison of clinical triple-negative and luminal breast tumors. 
    Hill JJ, Tremblay TL, Fauteux F, Li J, Wang E, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Basik M, O’Connor-McCourt M. J Proteome Res. 2015 Mar 6;14(3):1376-88. doi: 10.1021/pr500987r.

  • Sentinel node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in biopsy-proven node-positive breast cancer: the SN FNAC study.
    Boileau JF, Poirier B, Basik M, Holloway CM, Gaboury L, Sideris L, Meterissian S, Arnaout A, Brackstone M, McCready DR, Karp SE, Trop I, Lisbona A, Wright FC, Younan RJ, Provencher L, Patocskai E, Omeroglu A, Robidoux A. J Clin Oncol. 2015 Jan 20;33(3):258-64. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2014.55.7827. Epub 2014 Dec 1.

  • Chromosome-breakage genomic instability and chromothripsis in breast cancer.
    Przybytkowski E, Lenkiewicz E, Barrett MT, Klein K, Nabavi S, Greenwood CM, Basik M. BMC Genomics. 2014 Jul 9;15:579. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-579.

  • Testing devices or experimental systems? Cancer clinical trials take the genomic turn. 
    Nelson NC, Keating P, Cambrosio A, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Basik M. Soc Sci Med. 2014 Jun;111:74-83. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.04.008.

  • Imiquimod in the treatment of breast cancer skin metastasis.
    Henriques L, Palumbo M, Guay MP, Bahoric B, Basik M, Kavan P, Batist G. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Mar 10;32(8):e22-5. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2012.46.4883.

  • RSF1 and not cyclin D1 gene amplification may predict lack of benefit from adjuvant tamoxifen in high-risk pre-menopausal women in the MA.12 randomized clinical trial.
    Keilty D, Buchanan M, Ntapolias K, Aleynikova O, Tu D, Li X, Shepherd L, Bramwell V, Basik M. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 19;8(12):e81740. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081740.

  • Biopsies: next-generation biospecimens for tailoring therapy.
    Basik M, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Rousseau C, Diaz Z, Tejpar S, Spatz A, Greenwood CM, Batist G. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2013 Aug;10(8):437-50.

  • Next-generation biobanking of metastases to enable multidimensional molecular profiling in personalized medicine. 
    Diaz Z, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Paquet ER, Basik M, Orain M, Camlioglu E, Constantin A, Benlimame N, Bachvarov D, Jannot G, Simard MJ, Chabot B, Gologan A, Klinck R, Gagnon-Kugler T, Lespérance B, Samson B, Kavan P, Alcindor T, Dalfen R, Lan C, Chabot C, Buchanan M, Przybytkowski E, Qureshi S, Rousseau C, Spatz A, Têtu B, Batist G. Mod Pathol. 2013 Nov;26(11):1413-24. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2013.81.

  • Ultradense array CGH and discovery of micro-copy number alterations and gene fusions in the cancer genome. 
    Przybytkowski E, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Nabavi S, Tonellato PJ, Basik M. Methods Mol Biol. 2013;973:15-38.

  • Exosomes mediate stromal mobilization of autocrine Wnt-PCP signaling in breast cancer cell migration. 
    Luga V, Zhang L, Viloria-Petit AM, Ogunjimi AA, Inanlou MR, Chiu E, Buchanan M, Hosein AN, Basik M, Wrana JL. Cell. 2012 Dec 21;151(7):1542-56.

  • The effect of pre-analytical variability on the measurement of MRM-MS-based mid- to high-abundance plasma protein biomarkers and a panel of cytokines.
    Aguilar-Mahecha A, Kuzyk MA, Domanski D, Borchers CH, Basik M. PLoS One. 2012;7(6).

  • An integrated genomic approach identifies ARID1A as a candidate tumor-suppressor gene in breast cancer. 
    Mamo A, Cavallone L, Tuzmen S, Chabot C, Ferrario C, Hassan S, Edgren H, Kallioniemi O, Aleynikova O, Przybytkowski E, Malcolm K, Mousses S, Tonin PN, Basik M. Oncogene. 2012 Apr 19;31(16):2090-100.

  • The use of ultra-dense array CGH analysis for the discovery of micro-copy number alterations and gene fusions in the cancer genome. 
    Przybytkowski E, Ferrario C, Basik M. BMC Med Genomics. 2011 Jan 27;4:16. doi: 10.1186/1755-8794-4-16.

  • CXCR4 peptide antagonist inhibits primary breast tumor growth, metastasis and enhances the efficacy of anti-VEGF treatment or docetaxel in a transgenic mouse model. 
    Hassan S, Buchanan M, Jahan K, Aguilar-Mahecha A, Gaboury L, Muller WJ, Alsawafi Y, Mourskaia AA, Siegel PM, Salvucci O, Basik M. Int J Cancer. 2011 Jul 1;129(1):225-32.

  • Breast carcinoma-associated fibroblasts rarely contain p53 mutations or chromosomal aberrations. 
    Hosein AN, Wu M, Arcand SL, Lavallée S, Hébert J, Tonin PN, Basik M. Cancer Res. 2010 Jul 15;70(14):5770-7. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-0673.

  • The influence of tumor-host interactions in the stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXCR4 ligand/receptor axis in determining metastatic risk in breast cancer. 
    Hassan S, Ferrario C, Saragovi U, Quenneville L, Gaboury L, Baccarelli A, Salvucci O, Basik M. Am J Pathol. 2009 Jul;175(1):66-73. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2009.080948.

Collaborations

Uri Saragovi, McGill University, Montreal Canada

Indra Gupta, McGill University, Montreal Canada

Jeremy Burton, Western University, London Canada

Stephane Bolduc, Université Laval, Québec Canada

Lori Lerner, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA

Gilles Karsenty, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille France

Dr. Brandon Pearson, Columbia University, New York

Dr. John Wise, University of Louisville, Kentucky

News/Milestones

Dr. Wilson Miller, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Sonia del Rincon, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Carolyn Baglole, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Jun Ding, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Susan Gaskin, Dep’t of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Bernard Robaire, Dep’t of Pharmacology McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Brandon Pearson, Columbia University, New York

Dr. John Wise, University of Louisville, Kentucky

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia. Quo neque error repudiandae fuga? Ipsa laudantium molestias eos sapiente officiis modi at sunt excepturi expedita sint? Sed quibusdam recusandae alias error harum maxime adipisci amet laborum. Perspiciatis minima nesciunt dolorem! Officiis iure rerum voluptates a cumque velit quibusdam sed amet tempora. Sit laborum ab, eius fugit doloribus tenetur fugiat, temporibus enim commodi iusto libero magni deleniti quod quam consequuntur! 

  1. How iMALDI can improve clinical diagnostics. Popp, R., Basik, M., Spatz, A., Batist, G., Zahedi, R.P., Borchers, C.H., 2018. Analyst Clin. Chem. 64, 1271–1272. 143, 2197–2203.
  2. Immuno-MALDI-TOF-MS in the Clinic. Zahedi, R.P., Parker, C.E., Borchers, C.H., 2018.

Awards

Dr. Lysanne Campeau

Dr. Lysanne Campeau

Career Awards

2023

  • Kathryn Rolph Award: In recognition of her outstanding achievements and leadership, contributing to the advancement of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University

2019

  • Young Urologist of the year Award: American Urological Association – Young Urologist Committee

Jian Qin

  • FRQS Doctoral Award, McGill University Faculty of Medicine Internal Studentship

Deanna MacNeil

  • CIHR CGS-M, CIHR Doctoral Award, Cole Foundation Studentship

Tsz Wai (Josephine) Chu 

  • FRQS Doctoral Award, McGill University Faculty of Medicine Internal Studentship
  • CIHR McGill Cancer Center Consortium/McGill Integrated Cancer Research Training Program Studentship

Johanna Mancini

  • FRQS doctoral award, Cole Foundation Studentship

Yasmin D’Souza

  • CIHR Doctoral Award

May Shawi

  • CIHR Doctoral Award, Cole Foundation Studentship

Marie Eve Brault

  • FRQS Doctoral Award, Cole Foundation Studentship

Johans Fakhoury

  • McGill University Faculty of Medicine Internal Studentship

  • CIHR McGill Cancer Center Consortium/McGill Integrated Cancer Research Training Program Studentship

Maria Antonietta Cerone

  • US Army Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Award

Tara Moriarty

  • CIHR Doctoral Award

Sylvain Huard

  • McGill University Faculty of Medicine Internal Studentship

François Bachand

  • CIHR Doctoral Award

Distinctions and Research Awards

2022

  • Best ePoster at the Société Internationale d’Urolgie 42nd Congress November 9-13 2022

2022

  • Best abstract in the Basic Science category at the 7th Annual Multidisciplinary Benign Urology Research Symposium April 30, 2022

2022

  • Best basic science abstract – Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction Annual meeting Annual Meeting 2022

2021

  • Best abstract in the Translational Science category at the 6th Annual Multidisciplinary Benign Urology Research Symposium April 29, 2021

2020

  • Best Reviewer in 2019 Award, Journal of Urology

2018

  • Spinal Cord Best Review Paper Award for papers published in 2017, Spinal Cord (Nature Journal)

2018

  • American Urological Association 2018 Annual Meeting: Best Poster

2017

  • International Continence Society Annual Meeting 2017: Best Abstract in category

2017

  • Honor, Early Career Investigators Showcase Speaker, American Urological Association 2017 Annual Meeting

Johans Fakhoury

  • McGill University Faculty of Medicine Internal Studentship

  • CIHR McGill Cancer Center Consortium/McGill Integrated Cancer Research Training Program Studentship

Undergraduate students

Hannah Chui

  • NSERC USRA recipientCIHR CGS-M Award

Dominique Rinfret

  • NSERC USRA recipient

Michelle Shen

  • NSERC USRA recipient

Ricky Kwan

  • McGill University Faculty of Medicine Internal Studentship

  • Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research/Toronto Dominion Bank Studentship

Yasmin D’Souza

  • CIHR Doctoral Award

May Shawi

  • CIHR Doctoral Award, Cole Foundation Studentship

Marie Eve Brault

  • FRQS Doctoral Award, Cole Foundation Studentship

Johans Fakhoury

  • McGill University Faculty of Medicine Internal Studentship

  • CIHR McGill Cancer Center Consortium/McGill Integrated Cancer Research Training Program Studentship

Events

Dr. Wilson Miller, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Sonia del Rincon, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Carolyn Baglole, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Jun Ding, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Susan Gaskin, Dep’t of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Bernard Robaire, Dep’t of Pharmacology McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Brandon Pearson, Columbia University, New York

Dr. John Wise, University of Louisville, Kentucky

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia. Quo neque error repudiandae fuga? Ipsa laudantium molestias eos sapiente officiis modi at sunt excepturi expedita sint? Sed quibusdam recusandae alias error harum maxime adipisci amet laborum. Perspiciatis minima nesciunt dolorem! Officiis iure rerum voluptates a cumque velit quibusdam sed amet tempora. Sit laborum ab, eius fugit doloribus tenetur fugiat, temporibus enim commodi iusto libero magni deleniti quod quam consequuntur! 

  1. How iMALDI can improve clinical diagnostics. Popp, R., Basik, M., Spatz, A., Batist, G., Zahedi, R.P., Borchers, C.H., 2018. Analyst Clin. Chem. 64, 1271–1272. 143, 2197–2203.
  2. Immuno-MALDI-TOF-MS in the Clinic. Zahedi, R.P., Parker, C.E., Borchers, C.H., 2018.

Support

Dr. Wilson Miller, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Sonia del Rincon, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Carolyn Baglole, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Jun Ding, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Susan Gaskin, Dep’t of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Bernard Robaire, Dep’t of Pharmacology McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Brandon Pearson, Columbia University, New York

Dr. John Wise, University of Louisville, Kentucky

Current research activities have received support from the following sources:

  • Canadian Institutes for Health Research
  • Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation
  • Genome Quebec
  • CSSRI
  • Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec
  • Weekend to End Breast Cancer/JGH Foundation
  • Cancer Research Society
  • McPeak-Sirois Group
  • Pfizer
  • Sequenom
  • Exactis Innovation

Special thanks to all our private donors, thanks to your generosity our laboratory has been able to acquire a digital PCR machine to detect tumor DNA in plasma from cancer patients, establish a patient derived xenograft platform and support several research projects in the laboratory.

Contact

Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital

3755, Côte Ste-Catherine Road
Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2

Location: F-402 / F-502

Email:

stephane.richard@mcgill.ca

Reception:

(514) 340-8260

Office:

(514) 340-8222 ext. 24470

Lab:

(514) 340-8222 ext. 24470