From left to right: Marie-Claude Lavallée, Jean-François Côté, Marie-Bénédicte Pretty, André Couillard, Ginette Paquin, Sylvain Corbeil, Luc Rodier and Jean-François Courville.
The 2025 IRCM Foundation's annual gala marked a historic milestone: a record $1,308,514 was raised to support life-saving research.
At the Grand Quay of the Port of Montreal, more than 600 people, including business leaders, celebrated the science of tomorrow and precision medicine – fields where every discovery paves the way towards revolutionary treatments.
Committed leaders
This success is possible thanks to the commitment of honorary co-chairs, who acted as true catalysts of this mobilization:
- Luc Rodier, President and CEO, Guillevin International
- Sylvain Corbeil, Associate, Corporate and Business Development, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
- Jean-François Courville, President, Quebec, Scotiabank
“Their dynamism triggered an exceptional mobilization, enabling us to achieve an unparalleled result. This success represents a major boost for fundamental and clinical research at the IRCM, which is essential for advancing science and improving the health of all,” said André Couillard, Chairman of the IRCM Foundation.
A Tangible Impact
According to Dr. Jean-François Côté, President and Scientific Director of the IRCM:
“The Foundation is an essential partner in advancing the most ambitious projects that bring us closer to innovative therapies capable of transforming the fight against serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. In these difficult times for research funding, its contribution is more valuable than ever.”
The IRCM Foundation would like to extend its warmest thanks to all its partners, sponsors and donors. Their support, alongside that of honorary partners Guillevin International, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and Scotiabank, as well as that of visionary partner RBC, enables the Foundation to pursue sustainable initiatives in line with its mission.
About the IRCM Foundation
Excellence in research, that improves and changes people's lives, requires sustained and concerted efforts. Since 1974, the IRCM Foundation has mobilized the business community, private foundations, major philanthropists, and the general public to contribute to the strategic development of the IRCM. The Foundation thus enables the Institute to advance the understanding of diseases, to uncover new ways to defeat them, to promote these discoveries, to provide personalized care in its Clinic, and to train the next generation of medical researchers.
About the IRCM
The IRCM is an internationally renowned biomedical research institute located in the heart of Montreal's university community. Founded in 1967, the IRCM was the first research centre in Quebec to bring together basic and clinical researchers under one roof. A unique model at the time, the IRCM is now one of the most successful research centres in the country, committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists at the highest level. With 31 laboratories and 7 sub-specialized research clinics ran by world-class researchers, the IRCM stands out in many areas of life sciences, with research work that is at the forefront of precision therapies, such as RNA-based and monoclonal antibody-based therapies. The IRCM also stands out for its research clinics on long COVID and rare diseases in adults.
