Two Research Professionals from NeuroQuébec Honoured by the Fonds de recherche du Québec

2025-06-12

This prestigious recognition highlights outstanding contributions to scientific research and the training of the next generation

1st Prize – Health Sector
Manon Le Bel (Dr. Caroline Ménard)
CERVO Research Centre
CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale

Holding a PhD in cellular and molecular biology, Manon Le Bel has worked as a research professional for over 13 years, including the past 7 years in the laboratory of Professor Caroline Ménard at the Faculty of Medicine. Her unwavering support for more than 40 students and her involvement in research published in prestigious journals such as Nature Neuroscience and PNAS reflect her scientific impact. She contributed to two discoveries ranked among Québec Science‘s top breakthroughs.

1st Prize – Nature and Technology Sector
Erik Bélanger (Dr. P. Marquet)
Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neurophotonics
CERVO Research Centre

A physicist engineer with a PhD in physics, Erik Bélanger is recognized for developing cutting-edge microscopy instruments and his interdisciplinary work in neurophotonics. He is co-author of 25 scientific publications, a patented inventor, and has played a central role in training numerous young researchers. His innovative method for measuring refractive index has even been adopted by a spin-off company.

Read the article on ULAVAL nouvelles

Recent News

Gloves to “hear” through touch

2026-04-10

By transmitting sound to the fingers, this technology could help people with hearing loss and support musicians in their daily practice.

Listening to music with your hands may sound like science fiction, but a team at Université Laval is working on some very special gloves. They are capable of transmitting sounds as vibrations directly to the fingers using small speakers. “You could put the piano on the thumb and the flute on the little finger,” explains Andréanne Sharp, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and researcher at the CERVO Research Center, who leads the project.

The technology, developed in collaboration with Professor Jérémie Voix from the École de technologie supérieure (ETS), relies on activating brain areas associated with each finger to add a “tactile cue” to hearing. The musical experience is not the same as listening with our ears, the professor notes. She compares the sensation of the gloves to placing your hands on a speaker and feeling vibrations through your body.

The gloves could be used by people with hearing loss as a complement to hearing aids or cochlear implants. “It can sometimes be difficult for them to clearly understand speech or music in noisy environments, even with their devices,” says Professor Sharp, an audiologist by training and a musician by passion.

Read the full article on Ulaval Nouvelles.

Psychotic Disorders and Video Game Addiction: A Duo That Complicates Recovery

2026-03-25

Read the article (French) on Ulaval Nouvelles

A study conducted at Université Laval highlights how compulsive video game use can exacerbate certain symptoms of psychosis and interfere with treatment.

In individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis—such as hallucinations or social withdrawal—co-occurring conditions may emerge and hinder recovery. Video game addiction is one such factor. The research underscores its prevalence in this population and emphasizes the importance of systematic screening to ensure appropriate, tailored interventions.

The study was led by Maxime Huot-Lavoie under the supervision of Marc-André Roy and Marie-France Demers, both affiliated with the Centre de recherche CERVO and the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec.

Promising blood biomarkers for much earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease

2026-02-10

The level of these molecules in the blood is linked to cognitive decline in people who have not yet received a diagnosis.

Once the diagnosis is made, it is too late to reverse Alzheimer’s disease. That is why identifying the earliest signs of cognitive decline is crucial. A team from Université Laval examined blood-based biomarkers and identified two promising molecules, according to a study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

Exploring the metabolic pathway

The scientists studied molecules associated with metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension, which are linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. “We wanted to see how these metabolic biomarkers behaved in relation to cognitive changes,” explains Frédéric Calon, explains professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and researcher at the Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Université Laval, who led the study

read the article: Ulaval Nouvelles

The protein DKK1: a new target for reducing stroke severity

2026-01-27

A research team has revealed how this protein worsens the damage caused by a stroke—a discovery that could improve brain recovery.

High levels of the protein DKK1 (Dickkopf-1) in the bloodstream of people who have suffered a stroke are associated with a poor short- and long-term prognosis. A team from Université Laval has uncovered the protein’s mechanism of action and its role in stroke severity. The study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, thus opens the door to new therapeutic approaches.

The protein DKK1 blocks specialized brain mechanisms that help regulate vascular stability and inflammation. “It really sits at the intersection of inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and brain function, which is why we were interested in studying it,” explains Ayman ElAli, professor in the Faculty of Medicine and researcher at the CHU de Québec–Université Laval Research Centre, who led the study

read the article on Ulaval Nouvelles

Exercise and a supportive environment may strengthen the integrity of the brain’s protective barrier

2026-01-23

A study reveals how physical activity and a favorable living environment stimulate the production of a protein essential to vascular health, reducing the harmful effects of stress and preventing depression.

A research team at Université Laval may have identified why physical exercise and living under favorable socioeconomic conditions reduce the risk of depression. In laboratory animals exposed to chronic social stress—one of the main causes of depression—physical activity and an enriched environment helped maintain the integrity of the blood–brain barrier in brain regions associated with mood and emotional regulation. The findings, recently published in Nature Communications, highlight the key role played by a brain protein, Fgf2, in this protective mechanism and its potential as a biomarker for mood disorders.

“The blood–brain barrier has multiple lines of defense made up of different types of cells that are not tightly joined together. What seals the gaps between the cells in the first line is the protein claudin-5. Without it, the barrier loses its impermeability,” explains the study’s lead author, Caroline Ménard, rofessor at the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval and researcher at the CERVO Research Centre.

Read the article in French at Ulaval Nouvelles