Mentorship Compiled by: Shawn Lawrence
cqDM MeNTORSHIP PROGRAM supporting biopharmaceutical research in québec
quéBec
In September 2009, the Québec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM) initiated a mentoring program led by the biopharma industry to support the continuous alignment of its three funded projects from its first competition. The CQDM launched the program (the first of its kind in Canada), with the needs of the biopharmaceutical industry in mind.
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Biotechnology Focus / October 2010
As part of the program, each of the three funded projects announced last year was supported by three mentors appointed by CQDM’s pharma sponsors; AstraZeneca, Merck and Pfizer from their own global organizations. The mentors were chosen for their specific expertise relevant to the field of research and thus paired to off with the three CQDM projects announced last year. These projects included: the Caprion Proteomics project, lead by Eustache Paramithiotis, for the development of new biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes and for prediction of therapeutic response; the Medicago project, lead by LouisPhillippe Vezina, for the development of a novel, high throughput technology (VLP express) to accelerate the discovery and development of new vaccine antigens based on virus-like particles; and the Université de Montréal project, lead by Michel Bouvier, for the devel-
opment of multiplexed biosensors for identifying and monitoring cellular events associated with drugs therapeutic efficacies and side effects. Although the program was started only a year ago, already both the researchers and mentors are seeing very positive and tangible benefits from this unique initiative. “We could see from the start we were onto something. We know how it works and we know that it’s already delivering,” states Diane Gosselin, vice president, Research and Business Development CQDM. “Working with the lead scientists and their teams, the mentors responsibilities include assisting the investigators in understanding the specific needs of the biopharmaceutical industry; ensuring that the projects would bring concrete solutions oriented to the needs of the industry; and lastly providing industrial and scientific support in the successful completion of the project. This includes giving advice to researchers and the right guidance on how to get the project to where they (the pharma sponsors) want them to go,” explains Gosselin. “The mentor’s are not there to evaluate the project; they are there to support the project. They are part of the project and they want it to succeed and as quickly as possible.” According to Gosselin, the mentors also aid in providing resources for the project when possible, such as clinical samples or access to specific databases. The mentors have their own great networks to turn to and they will provide whenever possible to their protégé’s access to these networks, whether it’s social or scientific.
