Title:
Full Professor

Institute:
Université de Sherbrooke

Department:
Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics

Province:
Quebec

Training:
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA 
PhD, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
MD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Specialty in Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, and Alfigen/The Genetics Institute, Pasadena, California, USA

Research interests:
Genetic anomalies in brain tumors; Photocarcinogenesis and skin cancer; Tumor suppressor gene p53

Recognitions and awards:
Holder of a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Genetics, Mutagenesis and Cancer (2003-2010)

Career highlights:
Associate editor of the international journal Photochemistry and Photobiology.
Co-editor of a book in Comprehensive series in Photochemistry and Photobiology.
Demonstrated that the sunscreen agent 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid photosensitizes the formation of oxidized guanines in cellulo (in living cells) after UV-A or UV-B exposure.

Research Projects

Project title:
Nuclear telomere architecture as biomarker in glioblastomas

Funding period: 
2011-2013

Program:
Operating Grant (Basic Research)

Summary:
Human malignant gliomas represent the most common aggressive malignant brain tumors in adults.  They rank amongst the most deadly cancers affecting humans. Malignant glial tumor cells display marked resistance to treatment, whether by radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of both. Therefore, the prognosis of these patients remains dismal, with a median survival of 9 to 15 months. Based on our preliminary results, we hypothesize that that the three-dimensional nuclear-organization of telomeres, the ends of chromosomes, is a biomarker that can predict the survival and patient outcome. Therefore, 3D telomere signatures could be a new prognostic, predictive, and potentially pharmacodynamic biomarker in glioblastomas.