6 May 2013

Thirty research teams working in synergy to develop new cancer-fighting strategies is what the new Université de Sherbrooke Applied Cancer Research Building (PRAC – Pavillon de recherche appliquée sur le cancer) brings together under the same roof on the university’s Health Campus.

This new state-of-the-art infrastructure offers an optimal research framework that promotes multidisciplinary projects to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The various Sherbrooke research groups have expertise in areas including functional genomics, the RNomique platform, proteomics, molecular oncology, and cellular biology.

The dedication took place in the presence of Réjean Hébert, the Minister of Health and Social Services; Pierre Duchesne, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology; and Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs.

“PRAC brings together all the factors for success needed for Université de Sherbrooke to stand out in this field, nationally and internationally,” confirmed the university’s rector, Luce Samoisette, at the dedication.

The approximately 250 researchers previously housed at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke University Hospital Centre), Centre de recherche clinique Étienne-Le Bel (CRCELB – Clinical Research Centre) and the former Sherbrooke Biotechnology Development Centre moved to the PRAC premises in the spring of 2012.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Quebec. Every 11 minutes, a Quebecker learns that he or she has cancer and, every 26 minutes, a Quebecker dies of cancer.

Source: Université de Sherbrooke
Photo credit: Robert Dumont