Tarik Möröy, President and Scientific Director of the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), announced the appointment of Dr. Hugo Chapdelaine as Director of the Research Centre on Rare and Genetic Diseases in Adults’ new Primary immunodeficiency clinic.
“The IRCM is proud to count on the expertise of Dr. Chapdelaine to launch its new Primary immunodeficiency clinic,” said Dr. Möröy. “At the IRCM, Dr. Chapdelaine will evaluate and treat patients with primary immunodeficiencies, in particular those who are about to leave pediatric hospitals, in order to facilitate their transition and integration into the adult healthcare system.”
Indeed, in the context of its clinical research activities, this new IRCM clinic will develop a model for clinical follow-up and transition from pediatric to adult care. This initiative is supported through partnerships with the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine and the Regroupement québécois des maladies orphelines. Dr. Chapdelaine will work in close collaboration with clinical and translational researchers from the IRCM’s Immunity and viral infections research division to better understand the evolution of primary immunodeficiencies and identify treatments tailored to the particular conditions of his patients.
A step forward for research on rare and genetic diseases in adults
Dr. Chapdelaine’s appointment and the opening of the Primary immunodeficiency clinic are an integral part of the IRCM’s new Research Centre on Rare and Genetic Diseases in Adults.
“There is currently no specialized service for adult patients with rare genetic diseases, including primary immunodeficiency. Therefore, they often do not receive the care and quality follow-up that is needed,” explained Dr. Yves Berthiaume and Dr. André Veillette, who are leading the IRCM’s initiative on rare diseases. “With this new Research Centre, the IRCM intends to develop a model for clinical follow-up to ensure the transition from pediatric to adult care.”
The Research Centre on Rare and Genetic Diseases in Adults will also be an essential element in better understanding the molecular mechanisms of these diseases and developing innovative treatments. These studies will benefit greatly from the contribution of IRCM researchers who are internationally recognized for their work on diseases that affect the immune system. This initiative was established through a grant from the Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation. In the coming months, other clinics specialized in the field of rare and genetic diseases in adults will open their doors at the IRCM.
What is primary immunodeficiency?
Primary immunodeficiencies are often hereditary disorders characterized by a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease is compromised or entirely absent. Immunocompromised persons are therefore more likely to suffer from infections and sometimes also cancers.
The first symptoms usually appear during childhood, although more severe signs occur in adults in their 20s or 30s. In Canada, it is estimated that 13,000 people are affected.
About Hugo Chapdelaine
An expert in clinical immunology and allergies, Dr. Hugo Chapdelaine is a member of CHUM’s Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy as well as an associate clinician in the Department of Immunology, Rheumatology and Allergy at the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine and the Department of Internal Medicine at Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal. He is the author of several scientific publications. Dr. Chapdelaine completed his medical studies at the University de Montréal, where he obtained his specialization in clinical immunology and allergy. He also completed additional training in internal medicine and immunology at Necker Hospital, in Paris.
About the IRCM
Founded in 1967, the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) is a non-profit organization that conducts fundamental and clinical biomedical research in addition to training high-level young scientists. With its cutting-edge technology facilities, the institute brings together 33 research teams, which work in cancer, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, systems biology and medicinal chemistry. The IRCM also operates a research clinic specialized in hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and cystic fibrosis, as well as a research centre on rare and genetic diseases in adults. The IRCM is affiliated with the Université de Montréal and associated with McGill University. Its clinic is affiliated with the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). The IRCM is supported by the Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l’Innovation (Quebec ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation).
Source:
Anne-Marie Beauregard, Communications Officer
Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM)
514 987-5555 | anne-marie.beauregard@ircm.qc.ca
