CLINICAL RESEARCH GAINS IN IMPORTANCE
Beyond the work he accomplishes in his department, Dr. Genest commits to bringing young researchers together by creating the Club de recherches cliniques du Québec, an extremely valuable forum designed to promote exchanges among francophone researchers and stimulate the quality of their work. The club also increases the visibility of medical research in the eyes of both the general public and politicians. Today, the club is recognized as an important association for francophone researchers in health sciences.
In 1964, Dr. Genest continues to work on the advancement of medical research in Quebec. After much lobbying, he succeeds in convincing the government to set up a Quebec medical research council funded by the provincial Department of Health, to support researchers and simulate medical research in Quebec. The council has since become the well-known Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ).
A TURNING POINT
The year 1964, a year of many milestones, also marks a turning point in the history of medical research in Quebec. It is, in fact, the year McGill University makes offers the position of Dean of Medicine to Jacques Genest. In collaboration with Marcel Piché, founding member and president of the corporation of the Centre médical Claude-Bernard, Dr. Genest uses the proposal to push forward his project for an institute.
Finally, on March 4, 1964, the provincial Minister of Health frees up the necessary funding for a clinical research institute. He allocates $1.2 million for construction and for the purchase of equipment and furnishings, as well as $100,000 per year (for eight years) to cover research, administrative and maintenance costs for the future institute.
In 1965, the Centre médical Claude-Bernard becomes the Institut de diagnostic et de recherches cliniques de Montréal. In 1986, the official name changes to the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM).