As part of the Rencontre Alternée of the Prime Ministers of Quebec and France, Rémi Quirion, Chief Scientist of Quebec met Olivier Exertier, Secretary General of CLARA and Véronique Trillet-Lenoir, President of CLARA’s Executive Board at Hôtel de Matignon, Paris on March 8, 2018.

On this occasion, an agreement was signed between CLARA and Oncopole du Québec, which brings together key players in cancer research, including the Universities of Montreal, McGill, Sherbrooke, Laval, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Grenoble and Clermont-Ferrand.. By marking a more formal collaboration between the two centers of excellence, this partnership aims to mutually enrich the areas of common interest, such as genomics and precision medicine, cell therapy and the organization of cancer care. This announcement builds on the productive scientific cooperation that has linked CLARA and Canada since 2000, with over 1,300 co-publications.

Véronique Trillet-Lenoir is delighted with this “joint mobilization, which will encourage exchanges between the two regions and contribute to the attractiveness of cancer research”.

The establishment of joint research programs and joint investment in the form of student mobility grants will illustrate this international collaboration. Also focusing on knowledge sharing between the two structures, the partnership will also serve to organize scientific symposia to bring together experts from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and Quebec. A first event is planned for November 2018 as part of the Entretiens Jacques Cartier, which will take place in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Rémi Quirion said he was delighted to see this collaboration come to fruition, which promises to be “a source of mutual enrichment that will enable us to extend our international reach through joint research projects and the exchange of best practices”.

About Oncopole

L’Oncopole is a Quebec research, development and investment cluster dedicated to accelerating the fight against cancer. Created in February 2017, it is the result of a unique co-creation process by the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) made possible by an initial investment of $15 million from Merck Canada. Oncopole’s mission is to act as a catalyst for the actions of Quebec’s oncology research and innovation ecosystem. The aim is to position the province as a leader in this field. Its priorities for action – research, entrepreneurship, the valorization and integration of innovation, and clinical relevance – are orchestrated to foster the mobilization of stakeholders, the discovery of innovative approaches to the fight against cancer and, ultimately, positive spin-offs for the benefit of patients. For more information, visit: oncopole.ca

About Cancéropôle Lyon Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (CLARA)

The Cancéropôle Lyon Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (CLARA) is an initiative launched and financed by the public authorities (Institut National du Cancer, local authorities and the European Regional Development Fund). It is part of the national Cancer Plans and aims to develop oncology research in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Since 2003, CLARA has been federating academic, clinical and industrial players throughout the region, in the service of a regional, national and international strategy in the fight against cancer, with a dual objective: the rapid transfer of discoveries to patients and the economic valorization of research. In addition to its commitment to working with all research players to encourage them to break down barriers and collaborate, the Cancéropôle supports projects with a structured range of services tailored to their needs. CLARA is also developing initiatives to open up research to the human and social sciences and public health issues, putting the patient at the heart of research.

CLARA is placed under the aegis of the Fondation Léa et Napoléon Bullukian, a public interest foundation. For more information: www.canceropole-clara.com @canceroCLARA