The D2R Clinical Research and Development (CRD) funding program supports research that strategically leverages the context of existing or ongoing clinical trials involving RNA therapeutic. The goal is to accelerate the development, validation, knowledge translation, and regulatory approval of new diagnostic tools, treatments, and processes — including those that help stratify patient sub-groups or address the needs of vulnerable populations.
The review and selection process for the Clinical Research and Development program follows two stages:
- Letter of Intent review: This initial step ensures that proposed projects are in alignment with D2R’s mission. Approved projects are invited to submit a full application.
- Full application review: Projects proceed to detailed evaluation and external scientific merit review. D2R Strategic Alignment Review Committee (SARC) reviews the reviewer evaluations, the project's relevance to D2R's strategic goals and the program budget in its funding decisions.
| Principal Investigator | Title |
|---|---|
| David Langlais | From RNA to personalized lung disease treatment |
| Ian Watson | Development of a new blood test to track treatment success and to detect melanoma returning early |
From RNA to personalized lung disease treatment
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a serious complication of autoimmune diseases that causes lung scarring, breathing problems, and reduced lifespan. Current treatments are often ineffective because ILD is rare and highly variable between patients. Our research aims to identify simple blood-based markers that can help diagnose ILD earlier and guide more personalized treatments. We are testing whether a specific immune cell marker can predict which patients will benefit from a medication called rituximab. By combining clinical data with advanced genetic and protein analysis, we aim to improve care for people with ILD and develop better, individualized therapies.
Principal Investigator: David Langlais (McGill University)
Co-Investigator: Deborah Assayag (McGill University), Marie Hudson (McGill University), Anastasia Nijnik (McGill University), Ines Colmegna (McGill University)
Collaborators: Mathieu Mancini (McGill University)
Project duration: 3 years
Relevant D2R Axes: Clinical Research, Acceleration, and Implementation (A4)
Priority Disease Areas: Rare Diseases
Development of a new blood test to track treatment success and to detect melanoma returning early
This project aims to improve care for melanoma patients by developing advanced blood-based tests to track cancer more accurately and less invasively. Using advances in DNA and RNA technology, we will create tools to detect very small amounts of cancer that remain after treatment and monitor how tumors respond to therapy. Our approach could guide personalized therapies, including anti-cancer vaccines, and help doctors adjust treatment in real time. Designed to be inclusive and effective across all melanoma types, this work will support better and more accessible cancer care, especially for underrepresented populations and those in remote communities.
Principal Investigator: Ian Watson (McGill University)
Co-Investigators: Simon Roy (McGill University)
Collaborators: Alison Weppler (UBC), Kerry Savage (UBC), Janet Dancey (Queens University), Yasser Riazalhosseini (McGill University), Julia Burnier (McGill University)
Project duration: 3 years
Relevant D2R Axes: Clinical Research, Acceleration, and Implementation (A4)
Priority Disease Areas: Oncology
