D2R X Norton Rose Fulbright | Protecting Your Ideas: A Guide for Innovators

“Innovation” is everywhere these days—but beyond the buzzword, what does it really mean for a young company, and how can you turn it into a concrete competitive advantage? This presentation demystifies intellectual property (IP) and shows why it matters far more than many founders think.

D2R X NRC Biomanufacturing Collaboration Event

A half day showcase of D2R and the National Research Council’s shared biomanufacturing and bioengineering research priorities.

McGill University and Moderna Launch Breakthrough RNA Project Through D2R to Advance Made-in-Canada Innovation

Montreal, QC, February 5, 2026 — McGill University researchers, supported by the DNA to RNA (D2R) initiative and Moderna, are launching a pioneering research project that aims to further the fundamentals of ribonucleic acid (RNA) medicines by enhancing our understanding of the three-dimensional structure of full-length messenger RNA (mRNA).

D2R invests over $1.2 million for Postdoctoral Scholars

Montreal, January 21, 2026 – The D2R | DNA to RNA Initiative at McGill University proudly announces the recipients of the inaugural Postdoctoral Scholar Awards. Alongside the Master’s and Doctoral Scholar awards, this funding program recognizes outstanding trainees working on diverse D2R-aligned research projects and brings outstanding postdoctoral researchers from across Canada and abroad to the D2R Initiative.

Interview with Thomas Duchaine: a vaccine that fights COVID-19… and cancer!

D2R's funded-researcher Thomas Duchaine recently sat down with Radio-Canada to discuss emerging research suggesting that RNA vaccines developed for COVID-19 may also enhance the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments. 

Call for expressions of interest | Summer 2026 Internship

D2R is excited to announce this brand new opportunity for internships to Black undergraduate students in summer 2026 in partnership with COUHR. COUHR is a student-run non-profit organization partnering with research institutions across Canada to provide funded summer internships for underrepresented undergraduate students in fields such as neuroscience, biophysics, and genetics.

EDI Workshop: Mental Health in Highly Performant Environments

Mental health in high-performing research environments is a shared responsibility and a growing challenge we must address together.

Every professor, student, research staff, and administrative staff can play a vital role in creating healthy, supportive, and inclusive research spaces. This includes standing by colleagues who disclose their disabilities and ensuring everyone can thrive.

Call for Summer 2026 Internship Supervisors

D2R is excited to announce this brand new opportunity to for internships Black undergraduate students in summer 2026.

Hybrid Event | D2R Investor Series: Venture Capital Demystified - Investment Insights with Inès Holzbaur

Every year, billions of dollars are invested by funding agencies in basic and translational research, yet the path from academic discovery to private investment necessary for the creation of new companies is rarely straightforward. In this seminar, you'll get an inside look at how investors work, what makes a research idea stand out to venture capitalists, and how they evaluate translational value of scientific opportunities.

D2R awards over $5.3 million in Foundational and Research in Motion funding programs

Montreal – November 6, 2025 | The DNA to RNA (D2R) initiative at McGill University is proud to announce the recipients of the second cycle of the Foundational and Research in Motion (RIM) funding programs.

Genomic Medicine and Indigenous Health Award: Celebrating Excellence in Research

On October 23, at the 2025 Rendez-Vous Génome Québec in Montréal, Professor Treena Wasonti:io Delormier was announced as the recipient of the D2R Genomic Medicine and Indigenous Health Award.

Video | Indigenous Engagement at D2R

D2R is deeply committed to fostering Indigenous leadership within the realms of genomic medicine, RNA therapeutics and health inequities. We believe research is strongest when it is guided by respect, collaboration and trust. Our approach both respects and relies on Indigenous governance structures and ethics to guide project development, data management, and dissemination of results, ensuring outcomes are beneficial and aligned with the priorities of Indigenous communities.

EDI Internship Opportunity – Winter 2026

Over the course of the Winter 2026 semester, work with Prof.

Hybrid Event | D2R Investor Series Transform your science into a new Biotech company - Investment Insights with Medicxi

Every year, billions of dollars are invested by funding agencies in basic and translational research, yet the path from academic discovery to private investment necessary for the creation of new companies is rarely straightforward. In this seminar, you’ll get an inside look at how investors work, what makes a research idea stand out to venture capitalists, and how they evaluate translational value of scientific opportunities.

Hybrid Event | Lunch and Learn with CASTL

Join D2R and CASTL for this hybrid Lunch and Learn about biomanufacturing and RNA therapeutics

In this presentation, D2R and CASTL will connect the world of research with industrial applications! This Lunch and Learn will provide a practical way introduce participants to how mRNA-LNP based biotherapeutics are manufactured, and showcase opportunities and career pathways in the biomanufacturing sector.