91˿Ƶ

News & Stories

91˿Ƶ

This section highlights recent activities, programs, and milestones from across the D2R Indigenous research community. These stories reflect ongoing work to support culturally grounded research, training, and partnership.

collage of group of students involved in various activities as a groupBuilding the Future of Indigenous Genomics: D2R, Kahnawà:ke and SING Canada 2026

In partnership with SING Canada and the Kahnawà:ke Environment Protection Office (KEPO), D2R welcomed Indigenous students, researchers, and community fellows to Montréal and Kahnawà:ke for a week of laboratory training, environmental DNA fieldwork, and discussions on Indigenous knowledge, ethics, environmental stewardship, and community-led genomics research.


blonde woman talking to an audience from a podiumNew Indigenous Health Research Project Awarded to Prof Geneviève Bernard to Study a Rare Childhood Brain Disease

A new D2R-funded research project, led by Prof. Geneviève Bernard through the Indigenous Health Program, is investigating Cree Leukoencephalopathy (CLE), a rare and fatal childhood brain disease affecting Cree communities in Northern Quebec. Researchers are testing fosigotifator, an experimental oral medication, in personalized trials with two infants diagnosed before birth to assess whether very early treatment can safely slow or prevent brain damage. If successful, the study could advance future treatments for CLE while supporting Indigenous-led, community-engaged genomic research.


Award in Genomic Medicine and Indigenous Health

Professor Treena Wasonti Delormier getting awarded at an event. In the picture also Amélie Quesnel-Vallee, Mcgill Professor. To mark Genome Quebec’s 25th anniversary, D2R created a $25,000 award recognizing excellence in Genomic Medicine and Indigenous Health and supporting ongoing research. The award was presented to Treena Wasonti:io Delormier for the project “From Guidelines to Practice – assessing the translation of the Cultural Safety Roundtable guidelines in research practices in Quebec,” which examines how cultural safety guidelines can inform more inclusive and community‑grounded research practices.


Indigenous Mentorship and Paid Research Experience for Summer Students (IMPRESS)

Olivia Maracle Hill presenting her poster at a scientific eventThe IMPRESS program at 91˿Ƶ offers Indigenous undergraduate students the opportunity to explore research, connect with mentors, and gain experience that supports their academic and career goals. In Summer 2025, psychology student Olivia Maracle‑Hill completed an internship on a D2R‑funded project examining the ethical, legal, and social implications of RNA technologies in medicine—a project well aligned with her interdisciplinary interests in science, policy, and social issues.


Celebrating Research, Community and Cultural Empowerment: IMPRESS Research Day

The IMPRESS (Indigenous Mentorship and Paid Research Experience for Summer Students) team, alongside the year’s cohort of students, gathered to mark the end of a summer of growth, learning, and connection. The closing event was not just a showcase; it was a celebration of achievements. In addition to the 24 IMPRESS students, the event brought together 91˿Ƶ professors, students, and the families of the mentees, creating a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere.


Have a question or want to know more?

D2R.comms [at] mcgill.ca (Get in touch with our Comms Team!)

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