Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal
Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal abbreviated as IRCM (also known in English as Clinical Research Institute of Montreal) is a research centre affiliated with Université de Montréal, in Montréal. Its research concentrates mainly in the fields of cellular biology, molecular biology, genetics, developmental biology, proteomicsaiming to understand the causes of illnesses and developing new therapeutic solutions or cures.
History
The institute was established in 1967 by Dr. Jacques Genest who had earlier in 1952 established the first clinical research department at Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal hospital and had become the head of the Faculty of Medecine at McGill University in 1964.
With lawyer Marcel Piché, Genest founded Centre médical Claude-Bernard in 1965, renamed Institut de diagnostic et de recherches cliniques de Montréal and further changed to Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal its present name in 1986. Keeping its links with Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, the Institute signed in December 1964 a contract of affiliation with the hospital for 25 years, stipulating that clinicians-researchers of the institute would be members in the medical staff of Hôtel-Dieu, ensuring they would have access to the hospital's patients and conducting laboratory tests for the hospital.
The construction of the main headquarters for the institute started in January 1966 inaugurated in presence of Quebec Health Minister Eric Kierans and in 1967, IRCM became affiliated to Université de Montréal, providing additional courses and later recruitment to some of the university's graduates.
In 1976, Centre de bioéthique was founded by Dr. David J. Roy. In 1992, a new wing was inaugurated (named bloc Basset) and in 2003, a further expansion and renovation project was launched. On 24 March 2006, the new 26,500 meter square premises and laboratories were inaugurated in the presence of Raymond Bachand, Quebec Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export.
- Directors
- 1967-1984: Jacques Genest (also founder)
- 1984-1994: Michel Chrétien
- 1994-2004: Yvan Guindon
- 2004-2006: Louis-Gilles Durand
- 2006-present: Tarik Möröy
- Financing
IRCM is a non-profit organism has its own La Fondation de l'IRCM. It also gets financing from various sources including Economic Development, Innovation and Exports Ministry of Québec (MDEIE), from Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ) and Canadian national organizations. The centre also gets support from the private sector and companies and individuals. It also organizes annual campaigns and various activities for financing the institute.