MUHC Foundation celebrates $200M Dream Big campaign milestone
MUHC Foundation celebrates $200M Dream Big campaign milestone
MONTREAL, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation is proud to announce the successful completion of its ambitious Dream Big campaign, which has surpassed its $200 million fundraising goal. Launched in 2020 during a time of global uncertainty, the campaign has served as a catalyst for innovation, excellence in patient care, and transformative medical research.
'We know that dreaming big is the first step to creating meaningful change, and those who have generously contributed to this campaign—whether it's $20 or $200K—have helped turn these big dreams into reality. Despite the unique challenges of launching a campaign of this size in 2020—amidst a historic global pandemic—Quebecers mobilized in great numbers and rallied for change. It is a privilege to be a part of this community that cares so much.'
—Marie-Hélène Laramée, President & CEO of the MUHC Foundation.
From fighting cancer and fixing broken hearts to combating global pandemics and recruiting world-class talent, Dream Big has fueled cutting-edge advances at the MUHC, one of Canada's most prestigious academic health centres.
'Quebecers believe in giving back, and that's why we're celebrating this monumental moment for health care in our province. It's been an honour to be a part of the MUHC Foundation's Dream Big campaign, which is fueling groundbreaking innovation at the MUHC and benefits every single one of us.'
—Jean Charest, Former Premier of Quebec & Dream Big Campaign Co-Chair.
Among the major initiatives supported by the campaign is the Dream Big: End Cancer initiative, which funds early detection and precision medicine through pioneering projects like the liquid biopsy and DOvEEgene test. These innovations are already improving survival rates and patient outcomes.
'The Research Institute of the MUHC (The Institute) is home to one of the largest adult cancer research programs in the country. Donations to the MUHC Foundation are directly funding innovative clinical trials that are offering patients more chances and extending lives. Our big dream is to convert cancer into a treatable disease, and philanthropy fuels this vital research.'
—Dr. Rhian Touyz, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, The Institute.
The campaign has also powered the growth of the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4), a global leader in the fight against microbial threats, antimicrobial resistance, and future pandemics.
'When we first began to dream big together, in 2020, we were on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, thanks to our donors, MI4 is growing, evolving, and making a real impact on the world stage. With our renewed focus on pandemic threats, antimicrobial resistance, and microbial threats to human health, we're ready to tackle the challenges ahead.'
—Dr. Marcel Behr, Director of MI4.
In the field of cardiology, the Fix Broken Hearts initiative is advancing personalized, preventive, and regenerative heart care, positioning the MUHC as a leader in cardiovascular health.
'Donations to the MUHC Foundation have helped position the MUHC as a global leader in heart health. This type of support is critical because it enables our specialists to focus on what matters most: cutting-edge research and raising the standard of care for Canada's #1 killer—heart disease.'
—Dr. Atul Verma, Director of Cardiology at the MUHC
Dream Big has also made a profound impact in attracting and retaining world-class medical talent. Dozens of top-tier specialists have been recruited to the MUHC thanks to donor support, helping to expand the institution's reputation for research and clinical excellence.
'Attracting top talent to the MUHC means we not only provide the best care but also advance groundbreaking research to solve tomorrow's challenges today. Together with our generous community of donors, we're driving all aspects of health care forward and making sure we have the very best and brightest minds to do that.'
—Dr. Marc Rodger, Chair of the MUHC's Department of Medicine.
One of the campaign's signature achievements includes the Dream Big: Lachine Hospital initiative, a joint effort between the MUHC Foundation and the Lachine Hospital Foundation to support the modernization and expansion of the hospital. The $5M campaign complements the government's $220M revitalization project and enhances care for patients in the West Island.
The success of Dream Big would not have been possible without the leadership of campaign co-chairs Suzanne Legge Orr, Jean Charest, and Marc Parent, who each played a vital role in making this campaign a reality.
'To our supporters, thank you. Every breakthrough is made possible by donors who have shown up over the past 5 years to remind us of what we have always known: our community cares about the future of health care.'
—Marc Parent, Dream Big Campaign Co-Chair & President and CEO of CAE.
'Serving as co-chair for this historic campaign has been an incredible honour. Quebecers rallied and showed us that they want to take part in building our healthier future, right here at the MUHC.'
—Suzanne Legge-Orr, Dream Big Campaign Co-Chair & Community Leader.
As the MUHC Foundation closes the chapter on Dream Big, the journey continues. The Foundation remains committed to supporting world-class care and life-saving research for all Quebecers, today and for generations to come.
'Philanthropy has been a lifeline for the MUHC, empowering us to remain global leaders in patient care, research, and education. This campaign was about dreaming big, and we have—but now, we will dream even bigger, as the needs of our patients continue to evolve. With every new discovery, every innovative treatment, and every patient we care for, we are building a future where health care knows no limits.'
—Dr. Lucie Opatrny, President and Executive Director of the MUHC.
The MUHC Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to every donor, partner, and volunteer who helped make this milestone possible. Together, we have achieved something extraordinary—just imagine what we will do next.
About the McGill University Health Centre FoundationThe McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation raises funds to support excellence in patient care, research and teaching at the McGill University Health Centre, one of the top university hospitals in Canada. Our Dream Big Campaign to change the course of lives and medicine is raising millions of dollars to solve humanity's deadliest puzzles: infectious diseases; end cancer as a life-threatening illness; fix broken hearts through innovative cardiac care; detect the silent killers—ovarian and endometrial cancers—early; create the best skilled health care teams in Canada; and much more. We are rallying our entire community to solve the world's most complex health care challenges. https://muhcfoundation.com
Tarah SchwartzVice-President, Communications & MarketingMcGill University Health Centre Foundationtarah.schwartz@muhc.mcgill.ca
Vanessa AngellSocial Media ManagerMcGill University Health Centre Foundationvanessa.angell@muhc.mcgill.ca
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a37fd10b-d309-447c-8e28-7ffbac26fc73Sign in to access your portfolio
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Augustine Therapeutics appoints Rie Schultz Hansen, PhD as Chief Scientific Officer and establishes Copenhagen-based subsidiary
New recruit expands senior team capabilities as the business progresses its lead HDAC6 inhibitor program, AGT-100216, into the clinic for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and continues building its pipeline in neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases Subsidiary Augustine Therapeutics Denmark ApS, located in Copenhagen, Denmark to serve as hub for the company's research work in cardio-metabolic medicine LEUVEN, Belgium – 21 May 2025 – Augustine Therapeutics NV ('Augustine' or 'the Company'), a biotechnology company focused on developing new therapies for neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases through the inhibition of the cytosolic Histone DeACetylase 6 (HDAC6) enzyme, today announced the appointment of Rie Schultz Hansen, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer, effective immediately. With more than 20 years' experience in drug discovery and early-stage drug development, Rie is an experienced executive with a strong background in cardio-metabolic and inflammation-driven diseases as well as peptide therapeutics. Prior to joining Augustine, she served as the Chief Scientific Officer at Aelin Therapeutics, where she played a key role in developing a degrader platform based on induced protein aggregation to neutralize disease-causing proteins. Later, she spearheaded an entrepreneurial initiative advancing AI/ML-based solutions derived from Aelin Therapeutics technology, securing initial funding and forging a collaboration for assay development and high-throughput screening capabilities. Rie spent the majority of her career at the peptide development specialist Zealand Pharma (CPH: ZEAL) where she worked across multiple functional areas, mainly focused on cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Roles at Zealand Pharma included Innovation Officer, Vice President, Head of Discovery and Innovation, and Interim Chief Scientific Officer, governing the preclinical portfolio until CTA/IND submission and developing and implementing the strategy for research and chemistry for pre-clinical projects. Throughout her career Rie has maintained a strong connection with academia and has served for several years as a member of the Danish Cardiovascular Academy Grant committee. In addition, Augustine today announced the founding of a Copenhagen, Denmark based subsidiary, Augustine Therapeutics Denmark ApS, which will serve as the company's hub for research related to cardio-metabolic diseases. Gerhard Koenig, PhD, CEO of Augustine Therapeutics commented: 'Following the latest appointments of Virginie Cartage as Chief Financial Officer and Dr. Andy Hu as Chief Business Officer, I am pleased to further bolster our executive team. Rie's expertise will be instrumental in advancing Augustine's lead candidate, AGT-100216, through a Phase I/II proof-of-concept clinical trial in CMT and the Company's two other programs in discovery targeting peripherally-restricted and blood-brain barrier-penetrant HDAC6i for undisclosed neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic indications. Rie's deep knowledge around the biology of cardio-metabolic diseases will provide critical leadership as we as we grow into our next stage as a clinical stage company with a deep HDAC6i pipeline pursuing a range of clinical applications.' Rie Schultz Hansen, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Augustine Therapeutics added: 'Augustine is at a significant juncture in its development. With the Company's novel and next generation approach to selectively inhibit HDAC6 and successful Series A fundraise, I am eager to leverage my experience in early-stage drug development and maximise the potential of the Company's highly differentiated pipeline as we proceed into the clinic. Furthermore, the establishment of our Danish subsidiary will drive the for the expansion of our efforts in applying HDAC6i in cardio-metabolic diseases and allow us to tap into the unique depth of cardio-metabolic R&D capabilities in the Danish region.' Rie received her Master's in Biology and PhD at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Copenhagen. She is also a board member of the Peptide Therapeutics Foundation and a member of the DCAcademy Grant Committee (University of Copenhagen) and obtained her post doctorate in cardiovascular research. Media Contacts: Augustine TherapeuticsGerhard Koenig, CEOE-mail: info@ ICR Healthcare Amber Fennell E-mail: augustinetx@ About Augustine TherapeuticsAugustine Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the treatment of neuromuscular, neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases through its next-generation approach to selectively inhibit HDAC6. Augustine's HDAC6 inhibitors have been purposefully designed to selectively inhibit HDAC6 while preserving its beneficial non-catalytic functions. Augustine's lead program, AGT-100216, is the first selective HDAC6 inhibitor for long-term treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. With its novel non-hydroxamate, non-hydrazide producing chemotype, Augustine's HDAC6 approach is selective, avoids the limitations of other chemotypes, and built for chronic diseases. With this novel approach, the Company will also be targeting diseases beyond CMT, including neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases. Augustine Therapeutics was founded on the ground-breaking research of Prof. Ludo Van Den Bosch from the VIB-KU Leuven in Belgium. The Company raised an oversubscribed EUR 78 million / USD 85 million Series A financing round in March 2025, led by Novo Holdings and Jeito Capital and supported by existing investors Asabys Partners, Eli Lilly and Company, AdBio partners, V-Bio Ventures, PMV, VIB, Gemma Frisius Fund, the US-based Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Research Foundation and Newton Biocapital. For more information visit in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Powering the Future of Brain Research, One Platform at a Time
QUÉBEC, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ - Brain Canada is pleased to announce that Dr. Marie-Eve Paquet, Director of the COVF, researcher at the CERVO Center, and professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, and Dr. Yves De Koninck, Director of Research, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale and Scientific Director, Brain Research Centre CERVO, have been awarded a 2024 Platform Support Grant (PSG) in recognition of their leadership of the Canadian Optogenetics and Vectorology Foundry. Their work is part of a national initiative to transform how brain research is conducted in Canada. "Université Laval is proud of the financial support it has received from Brain Canada for this platform. In addition to highlighting the expertise of our professors, this grant is in line with our research vision, which aims to support and promote diversified and innovative research approaches and methods. Brain Canada's contribution catalyzes an already highly successful platform, which will undoubtedly be transformative and have a lasting impact on neuroscience research and, ultimately, on society." — Frédéric Picard, Associate Vice-Rector, Research, Creation and Innovation, Université Laval About the Platform Support Grants ProgramBrain Canada's signature PSG program accelerates innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration by strengthening Canada's technical and research capabilities. These shared tools — including facilities, equipment, databases, and biobanks — are essential for bold scientific discovery across neuroscience and mental health. "Unlocking the brain's complexities requires robust platforms and shared scientific resources," said Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada. "With this funding, we are supporting the infrastructure that allows researchers to ask — and answer — the big questions, while advancing a culture of Open Science that promotes transparency, collaboration, and real-world impact." The PSG program fills a critical gap by expanding access to state-of-the-art technology and expertise that individual labs could not sustain on their own. Funding helps researchers collaborate, share data, and generate insights into the most complex organ in the human body — the brain. Through the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF) — a public-private partnership with the Government of Canada (Health Canada) — Brain Canada is investing over $18 million, matched by recipient-secured contributions for a total of more than $36 million. The full list of 14 funded platforms will be announced in the coming weeks — a major step forward in Canada's capacity to support brain research and improve outcomes for those affected by brain-related conditions. About the Canadian Optogenetics and Vectorology Foundry Dr. Marie-Eve Paquet, and Dr. Yves De Koninck, University of Laval Total grant amount: $4.75M Optogenetics is a technique where light-sensitive genes are introduced into brain cells to control and monitor their activity with light that allows researchers to precisely control and decode nerve cell communication. The Canadian Optogenetics and Vectrology Foundry (COVF) places Canada at the forefront of this field by accelerating the development of new light-responsive genes and proteins. With renewed Platform Support Grant support from Brain Canada, COVF will expand its capabilities by increasing the diversity and quality of optogenetic tools, enhancing viral vector properties, and scaling up production to meet the growing demand for research and clinical applications. It will ensure that COVF remains a leader in optogenetics, driving the development and democratization of transformative tools for the global neuroscience community. Learn more about the project: About Brain CanadaBrain Canada plays a unique national role in convening and advancing brain research. Better understanding the brain leads to improved prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cures for brain disorders. Visit and follow @BrainCanada to learn more. About the CBRFSince 2011, the Government of Canada has committed $280 million through the CBRF. Matched by Brain Canada, this represents a $560 million total investment in Canadian brain research. CBRF supports high-potential neuroscience projects that deepen our understanding of brain health and accelerate new therapies. SOURCE Brain Canada View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
The Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life: an event to celebrate each step
Quebecers are invited to mobilize on June 7 and 14 to support people living with and beyond cancer MONTREAL, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) invites Quebecers to participate on Saturday, June 7 and 14 in the annual Relay For Life, taking place in 17 communities across Quebec. This fundraising event brings together participants of all ages who take turns walking around a track to symbolize perseverance, hope and collective power to support people living with and beyond cancer. This year, the Relay For Life has a new tagline "Celebrate each step," which highlights small victories as much as major challenges because no action is too small in changing the future of cancer. Every three minutes, a Canadian is diagnosed with cancer, which is why it's important to act now. Cancer is the leading cause of death in the country, accounting for a quarter of all deaths. Since its inception, the Relay For Life has raised more than $615 million to help people living with cancer in Canada. By raising critical funds for cancer research and support programs for the Relay For Life, participants have a tangible impact on the lives of thousands. "When a loved one has cancer, it's a whole family, a whole village that is affected. My younger sister Lisa is currently going through this ordeal and showing great resilience, so it was important for me to get involved this year to honour her. I invite people from across Quebec to join this movement and remind themselves that every action, every step, every donation makes a real difference," says Ingrid Falaise, Relay For Life 2025 ambassador, who will be present at the Relay in Longueuil (in Saint-Hubert) on Saturday, June 7. "The Relay For Life is much more than an event, it's an occasion to show solidarity with people living with and beyond cancer and take concrete action to save and improve lives," says Josianne Béliveau, Director of Signature Programs, CCS. "Thanks to the funds raised, we can fuel innovative research projects on all types of cancers, a network of support programs and services, and advocacy with governments to fill gaps in cancer prevention, screening and care." Each event site will feature a symbolic walk, marked by several powerful highlights. These include the Lap of Hope, the opening walk honouring Participants of Hope, who have either experienced cancer or are at an increased risk of developing the disease. In the evening, the Luminary Ceremony will close the event by paying tribute to people living with and beyond cancer and loved ones lost in a moment of collective silence. How to participate?Sign up, form a team, talk to others about it and raise funds. Every action, even step, every donation counts. To find the location and date of the event in your region and register, visit The 17 cities in Quebec where the Relay For Life 2025 will take place: Alma Pincourt Saint-Georges Shawinigan Chambly Plessisville Saint-Hubert Sherbrooke Drummondville Portneuf Saint-Hyacinthe La Pocatière Quebec City Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mascouche Saint-Apollinaire Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac If there isn't a Relay event planned in your city, you can still join thousands of people who are mobilizing to support people living with and beyond cancer. Organize your own fundraiser and bring together your family and friends at home or in your community. For more information, visit About the Canadian Cancer Society The Canadian Cancer Society works tirelessly to save and improve lives. We raise funds to fuel the brightest minds in cancer research. We provide a compassionate support system for all those affected by cancer, across Canada and for all types of cancer. Together with patients, supporters, donors and volunteers, we work to create a healthier future for everyone. Because to take on cancer, it takes all of us. It takes a society. Help us make a difference. Call 1-888-939-3333 or visit today. SOURCE Canadian Cancer Society (National Office) View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
