It’s thanks to the support of its many partners that IRIC’s scientists can produce small miracles on a daily basis. Coming from various backgrounds, including the philanthropic milieu, the business community or the governmental sphere, these allies are true visionaries who are changing the cancer research landscape. Pomerleau, which has believed in science’s reach for more than a decade, perfectly represents the fulfillment of a vision leading to a revolution for the Institute.
I discovered IRIC just over 10 years ago, through a stroke of luck, in a business context. I had been given the contract to build the Marcelle-Coutu Pavilion, which would house the Institute’s research activities, and I instantly felt great enthusiasm and curiosity for its mission, which I felt was vital to help cancer patients. As one thing led to another, noticing a nice complicity and several common values shared by Pomerleau and IRIC, such as innovation, collaboration, commitment, taking calculated risks, and a love for people and the profession, I wanted to make a difference for research. Convinced that thinking outside the box is what really leads to different results, I wanted to target an unmet need. Following several meetings and discussions with IRIC management, Pomerleau chose to support strategic projects with great potential, known as high risk-high impact. Those projects, unique to IRIC, struggle to secure financing from traditional funding agencies because of their innovative characteristics. Yet those projects possess the potential to make a significant impact on drug discovery.
Close to a decade later, I’m happy to see that taking that risk has paid off. While Pomerleau’s support gradually helped generate companies, award patents and grants to investigators, and develop promising treatments, I’m even more proud to see the enthusiasm from other donors for these types of specific projects and for all other dimensions of research carried out at IRIC.
Beyond a desire to give back to Quebec society, it’s hope that drives us and motivates us to continue our commitment to IRIC. In the space of just a few years, we have seen the impact of our donations and the giant leaps made in the advancement of knowledge and the discovery of new therapies. On behalf of Pomerleau, I would like to thank the exceptional donors who have made a difference alongside us in the fight against cancer and I invite all those who can to join the cause. More than ever before, research needs our support to accomplish miracles, both large and small.
To date, Pomerleau has provided a contribution totaling over $600,000 to the Institute and has allocated a substantial amount over the last few months to its Emergency Fund to allow its investigators to continue their research activities despite the constraints stemming from the pandemic.
