A historic five-year investment will strengthen collaborations among Quebec's pediatric oncology centres and bring new hope to children and families affected by cancer
SOURCE: The Charles-Bruneau Foundation and The Institute
November 4, 2025
The Charles-Bruneau Foundation has announced a historic five-year, $50 million commitment (2025–2030) to support pediatric hematology-oncology research across Quebec's four university hospital centres — including the Montreal Children's Hospital.
This unprecedented investment will fund collaborative projects that advance personalized medicine, psychosocial oncology and the training of the next generation of scientists, all aimed at achieving one shared goal: a childhood without cancer and a recovery without after-effects.
"This commitment allows us to go further — to develop targeted therapies for children with few treatment options, to improve outcomes for resistant cancers, and to enhance quality of life for survivors and their families," said Nada Jabado, OC, MD, PhD, Senior Scientist in Child Health and Human Development Program the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute) and Pediatric Hemato-Oncologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital, in the Foundation announcement. "It brings us closer to a world where no child has to face cancer."
Funding for major research initiatives
The funds will be distributed among the four Quebec pediatric oncology centres, with $17.2 million directed to the Montreal Children's Hospital, where scientists and researchers from The Institute are contributing to several cornerstone projects, including:
- Signature Québec, an extension of the genomic "Signature" project led by clinician-researchers at CHU Sainte-Justine and the Montreal Children's Hospital. It aims to refine diagnostics, identify genetic anomalies at the origin of cancers, and enable access to personalized therapies for every child.
- The Quebec Platform in Psychosocial Oncology, coordinated by CHU Sainte-Justine, which will develop strategies to mitigate the emotional and psychological impact of cancer on families, with participation from specialists at all four sites.
- The Charles-Bruneau Awards Program, designed to attract and support emerging scientists and clinicians, including trainees and fellows at The Institute, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for pediatric oncology research in Quebec.
Advancing research and a cancer-free future
This new investment will drive research at every stage of childhood cancer — from prevention to survivorship — while fostering innovation, regional equity, and collaboration among Quebec's pediatric oncology centres.
"The unwavering support of the Charles-Bruneau Foundation has allowed us to build a bridge between innovation and patient care," said Sonia Cellot, MD, pediatric hematologist and clinician-researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine, also quoted in the Foundation's announcement. "Thanks to rapid scientific progress, precision medicine is becoming a reality in pediatric hemato-oncology, here and across Quebec."
Building on 35 years of dedication, the Foundation remains committed to giving every child with cancer the best possible chance of recovery — and to one day achieving a childhood free of cancer.
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