MONTREAL, Oct. 31, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The IRCM Foundation gives $1,400,494 to the IRCM to support its scientific projects, its training activities and the recruitment of new researchers. At the annual dinner held Tuesday, October 30, the Foundation's Director, Hélène Véronneau, announced this contribution given to the IRCM for the year 2012.
"I would like to thank all our volunteers for their remarkable work, which allowed the Foundation to give the IRCM an exceptional amount this year," said Hélène Véronneau. "Thanks to the funds collected, innovative projects on diabetes and other cardiovascular and metabolic diseases were made possible, thereby contributing to the well-being of our society."
Results from the 2012 annual dinner were unveiled during the event, which was presided by Isabelle Hudon, President of Sun Life Financial, Quebec. A net amount of $216,150 was collected. In addition to supporting diabetes research, this sum will serve to grant scholarships to IRCM students and postdoctoral fellows.
"Action we take today can have a very real impact on our quality of life over the long term, and this reality underpins Sun Life Financial's investment in preventive health care," said Isabelle Hudon. "We have elected to focus on type-2 diabetes as this is an illness where we have significant power to influence outcomes. In 50% of cases, type-2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed through lifestyle improvements. We are excited to be supporting the IRCM's research into diabetes prevention, which is a natural fit for our organization."
"I want to sincerely thank Mrs Hudon and Sun Life Financial for supporting our dinner," added Alain Mayrand, President of the IRCM Foundation. "Your contribution is greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank all other volunteers for their excellent work."
During the event, the IRCM awarded the 2012 Marcel-Piché Prize to one of its researchers, Dr. Éric A. Cohen, Director of the Human Retrovirology research unit and Director of the Immunity and Viral Infections research program.
"By presenting this award to Dr. Cohen, the IRCM wishes to recognize his important contribution to HIV/AIDS research, as well as his notable contribution to the institute's development and visibility," mentioned the IRCM's President and Scientific Director, Dr. Tarik Möröy.
The event, which brought together nearly 400 people from the business, academic and philanthropic sectors, was hosted by Normand Brathwaite, and ended with a show by the very talented Marc Hervieux.
About the IRCM Foundation
The IRCM Foundation supports the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal by raising funds to directly support the IRCM researchers' scientific projects and the institute's training activities by awarding scholarships to its graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. These funds also help with the creation and installation of new technologies, which are necessary for the advancement of research. Thus, the IRCM Foundation is a privileged partner for the institute.
About the IRCM
Founded in 1967, the IRCM (www.ircm.qc.ca) is currently comprised of 37 research units, specialized in a variety of fields such as immunity and viral infections, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (diabetes), cancer, neurobiology and development, systems biology and medicinal chemistry, and clinical research. It also houses three specialized research clinics, eight core facilities and three research platforms with state-of-the-art equipment. The IRCM employs 425 people. It is an independent institution affiliated with the Université de Montréal, and the IRCM clinic is associated with the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM). The IRCM also maintains a long-standing association with McGill University.
About Éric A. Cohen
Éric A. Cohen is a biochemistry graduate from McGill University and holds a PhD in molecular biology from the Université de Montréal. For over 25 years, Dr. Cohen has been a very active researcher in the field of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Before arriving at the IRCM in 2004, Dr. Cohen supervised a laboratory in HIV molecular biology in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Université de Montréal. He is now Director of the Human Retrovirology research unit and Director of the Immunity and Viral Infections research program at the IRCM. He also holds the Canada Research Chair in Human Retrovirology and is a professor at the Université de Montréal and McGill University. Dr. Cohen's expertise and scientific vision in the field of HIV/AIDS biomedical research is well renowned here and on the international scene.
About Sun Life Financial
A leading international financial services organization, Sun Life Financial has been working to bring financial security to Quebecers since 1865. The company's 1600 employees and 700 advisors support business relationships with 1.5 million Quebec clients, within communities right across the province. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2012, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of CDN$496 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol "SLF".
SOURCE: Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal
Source:
Lucette Thériault
Communications Director, IRCM
514-987-5535 | [email protected]
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