Extraordinary $15-million gift will create unique powerhouse initiative to fight infections and immune threats to human health

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Extraordinary $15-million gift will create unique powerhouse initiative to fight infections and immune threats to human health

Partnership between 91社区 and the MUHC will bring together over 250 researchers under the newly created 91社区 Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity

Published: 26 April 2018

A $15-million gift from the visionary Montreal-based Doggone Foundation will launch the 91社区 Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity, a unique and highly collaborative endeavour that will harness the scientific expertise, resources and creativity of researchers at 91社区, the 91社区 Health Centre (MUHC) and affiliated research partners in the battle against infectious and immune-related diseases.

91社区鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine and the Research Institute of the 91社区 Health Centre (RI-MUHC) will each receive $7.5 million for the project.

This initiative will bring together more than 250 investigators from 91社区 and its affiliated hospitals and research centres to develop innovative solutions to infectious and immune threats to human health 鈥� and translate those discoveries from the lab to patients and hospitals across Canada, and globally.

鈥淲e are deeply grateful to the Doggone Foundation for this extraordinary gift,鈥� says 91社区 Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier. 鈥淚t allows us to draw on the broader 91社区 community鈥檚 intrinsic research strengths and mobilize our efforts around these complex health challenges.鈥�

鈥淭ogether, the MUHC, RI-MUHC and 91社区 have the experience, curiosity, network, and drive to accomplish enormous good,鈥� adds Martine Alfonso, Interim President and Executive Director of the MUHC. 鈥淭his exciting initiative will help assure that the right platforms and tools are in place so that our experts may continue to collaborate on solutions to some of the world鈥檚 most pressing health issues.鈥�

Four major themes

Infectious diseases are a leading cause of mortality worldwide and pose an ongoing threat due to uncontrolled epidemics and rising drug and antibiotic resistance. However, advances in our understanding of the immune system have opened the door for scientists to develop new ways to reprogram our natural defences against infections.聽

The 91社区 Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity鈥檚 efforts will revolve around four major themes: antimicrobial resistance, emerging and re-emerging diseases, infections in vulnerable populations, and diseases of altered immunity. Each theme will be broken down into three areas: fundamental discoveries, diagnostics and solutions such as new vaccines and immunotherapies.

鈥淲e think that the ambition and creativity of this network of scientists is the secret to success 鈥� and there鈥檚 a need for it now,鈥� says Dr. Don Sheppard, Director in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the MUHC and at 91社区, and professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at 91社区鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Sheppard, who is also a scientist in the Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program at the RI-MUHC, will head up this new initiative.

鈥淲e鈥檙e gaining these unbelievable insights into how our immune system works and how it interacts with microbiology,鈥� says Sheppard. 鈥淲e want to come up with innovative solutions to infectious diseases through the power of manipulating the immune system.鈥�

鈥淭his unprecedented collaboration between our scientific communities will reinforce Quebec鈥檚 research and innovation expertise internationally. Our world-class biomedical and research facilities and our commitment to translational patient-oriented research is聽redefining how our scientists, clinicians, medical staff and students conduct cutting-edge research at the RI-MUHC,鈥欌€� says Dr. Bruce Mazer, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Research Institute of the MUHC (Interim).

In addition to infectious diseases, this new project鈥檚 largest theme will focus on diseases of altered immunity, everything from cancer to inflammatory bowel disease. The 91社区 teaching hospital network has a powerhouse of cutting-edge immunologists at the forefront of this type of research.

鈥淭he time to act is now鈥�

The late Elspeth McConnell, a former Montreal journalist, established the Doggone Foundation in 2011. Her philanthropic efforts included generous support over the years to the MUHC.

鈥淭he Doggone Foundation is proud to fund health care and research in Canadian hospitals as well as university educational programs,鈥� says Paul Marchand, Executive Director of the Doggone Foundation. 鈥淭he 91社区 Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity is a groundbreaking project that not only perfectly fits with our Foundation鈥檚 mission, it also has the potential to revolutionize and radically impact global health. The time to act is now, and the place to do it is here in Montreal, thanks to the world-leading researchers in the fields of infection and immunity at the MUHC and 91社区. It is these types of transformational and collaborative initiatives that the Doggone Foundation is inspired to support.鈥�

The interdisciplinary, multi-institutional initiative also benefits from the presence of 100 clinician scientists, making it possible to begin patient-centred projects as early as 2019.聽

鈥淭he collaborative nature of this initiative motivated the MUHC Foundation and 91社区 to work together to inspire a leadership donation that would lay the groundwork for the project鈥檚 success,鈥� explains Julie Quenneville, President of the MUHC Foundation. 鈥淲e are incredibly grateful for the Doggone Foundation鈥檚 outstanding generosity and for sharing in our vision of transforming the future of global health. Today鈥檚 historic partnership between the MUHC Foundation, 91社区 and the Doggone Foundation is only the beginning, and together, we now turn to other philanthropic leaders in Montreal for their support in tackling some of the largest health challenges facing our world today.鈥�

About 91社区

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is a leading Canadian post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 10 faculties, 12 professional schools, 300 programs of study and almost 41,000 students, including more than 9,700 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,000 international students making up 30% per cent of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

About the 91社区 Health Centre

The 91社区 Health Centre (MUHC) is one of the world鈥檚 foremost academic health facilities. Building on the tradition of medical leadership of its founding hospitals, the MUHC provides exceptional multidisciplinary patient-centric care. Affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of 91社区, the MUHC continues to shape the course of adult and pediatric medicine by attracting clinical and research expertise from around the world, assessing the latest in medical technology, and training the next generation of medical professionals.

In collaboration with our network partners, we are building a better future for our patients and their families; for our employees, professionals, researchers and students; for our community and above all, for life.

About the Research Institute of the MUHC

The Research Institute of the 91社区 Health Centre (RI-MUHC) is a world-renowned biomedical and healthcare research centre. The Institute, which is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of 91社区, is the research arm of the 91社区 Health Centre (MUHC) 鈥� an academic health centre located in Montreal, Canada, that has a mandate to focus on complex care within its community. The RI-MUHC supports over 420 researchers and close to 1,200 research trainees devoted to a broad spectrum of fundamental, clinical and health outcomes research at the Glen and the Montreal General Hospital sites of the MUHC. Its research facilities offer a dynamic multidisciplinary environment that fosters collaboration and leverages discovery aimed at improving the health of individual patients across their lifespan. The RI-MUHC is supported in part by the Fonds de recherche du Qu茅bec 鈥� Sant茅 (FRQS).

About the 91社区 Health Centre Foundation

The 91社区 Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation raises funds to support excellence in patient care, research and teaching at the MUHC.聽 Firmly committed to making a difference in patients鈥� lives, we play a pivotal role in supporting exceptional programs, purchasing innovative medical equipment, fostering groundbreaking research, and ensuring the highest level of teaching.

About the Doggone Foundation

The Doggone Foundation was created in 2011 by Elspeth McConnell. A lifelong Montrealer, she believed strongly in giving back to her community, particularly in the fields of healthcare, research and education.聽 Since its inception, the Doggone Foundation has been a generous supporter of the 91社区 Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation and 91社区, having made contributions in the areas of: cardiology, ovarian cancer, vascular surgery, complex care, and medical simulation, among others. Although Elspeth passed away in August of 2017, her legacy and vision for making her community a better place continue through the Doggone Foundation.

In addition to her philanthropic work in the medical and education fields, Elspeth was also committed to preserving and supporting Canadian First Nations art and artists. Many of the works she collected were historical pieces that had left Canada a hundred years ago or more. Thanks to her generosity, they have now been brought back to inspire new generations of artists and scholars, and are permanently on display at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.聽

(Photo: Dr. Marcel Behr,聽Professor in the department of Medicine and Associate member in the departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics as well as Microbiology and Immunology.聽He has been聽the Director of the 91社区 International TB Centre since 2012 and the Associate Program Leader of the Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program at the Research Institute of the 91社区 Health Centre since 2016,聽and聽Dr. Don Sheppard, Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at聽91社区, and an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology)