Lionel Budry is a Ph.D. student in the Molecular Genetics Research Unit, under the supervision of Dr. Jacques Drouin.

He was granted the IRCM Alumni Association Award for the quality of his oral presentation entitled “Developmental expression arrays: A successful screen for PMC cell-restricted transcription factor.”

“I thank the Association for this support,” said Lionel.

Lionel’s research project focuses on pituitary development. At the moment it comprises three different components within the areas of molecular biology, bioinformatics and 3D imaging.

It was while completing his bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences at the Université de Montréal that Lionel came to realize that science really was for him. "It confirmed a propensity for science that I had been cultivating for a long time," he said.

Lionel began his Ph.D. in August 2003 with Dr. Jacques Drouin. He chose the IRCM due to the various research projects being carried out in Dr. Drouin’s laboratory, some of which had great clinical significance. “Initially, I wanted to work on dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson's disease,” added Lionel. The IRCM’s reputation, the technical facilities available there to researchers and students, and being able to enrol at McGill University were critical elements in Lionel’s choice.

Lionel Budry was born in Switzerland, where he lived for 16 years. Once having completed his doctorate, he would like to move back to his native country, be it temporarily or otherwise. The pharmaceutical industry has become very well developed and a postdoctoral fellowship in this sector is an option he is considering more and more seriously.

And aside from science? “I try to stay as active as possible outside of my academic life. I regularly take a little bit of time for climbing or other sports, or even make music," said Lionel.

He also loves to travel and really enjoys grabbing any opportunity he can to combine travel and science, and participate in conventions.