Montreal, June 19, 2026 — McGill University’s DNA to RNA (D2R) initiative has announced two new international research projects aimed at accelerating personalized genomic medicine and RNA-based therapies. Funded through D2R’s International Partnerships Program (IPP), each project receives $600,000 and brings together leading institutions across North America, Europe, and Asia.

The first project, led by Professor Guillaume Bourque at McGill, establishes a global network in partnership with Kyoto University and collaborators in Belgium, Singapore, and Switzerland. The initiative focuses on advancing precision, patient-specific treatments by integrating genome analysis, stem cell models, bioengineering, and RNA therapeutics. It builds on longstanding collaboration between McGill and Kyoto and aims to develop more targeted therapies for conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases.

“This initiative brings together world-leading expertise to accelerate the development of personalized therapies,” said Prof. Bourque, highlighting the network’s role in fostering innovation and training future scientific leaders.

The second project, CAGE4IMDs, is co-led by Professors Mark Lathrop and Yasser Riazalhosseini and partners McGill with top German institutions, including the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoPreCept, coordinated by Charité–Universitätsmedizin (Germany) & Max Delbrück Center (MDC), and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The transatlantic initiative targets immune-mediated disorders such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and chronic inflammation.

Using advanced tools such as single-cell and spatial omics, liquid biopsy technologies, and data science, the project aims to improve diagnosis, early detection, and treatment strategies. By integrating genomic, clinical, and environmental data, researchers hope to better understand disease mechanisms and accelerate the development of RNA-based therapies.

“This partnership will enable us to combine complementary expertise and unique patient resources to better understand complex immune-mediated diseases,” said Professors Lathrop and Riazalhosseini. “By working across institutions and disciplines, we can accelerate the translation of these discoveries into more effective therapies.”

Together, these two initiatives reflect D2R’s strategy to expand global research networks and translate genomic discoveries into clinical applications. Both projects also emphasize responsible data use, privacy, equitable access to therapies, and international regulatory alignment.

The D2R International Partnerships Program supports collaborations that combine complementary expertise and foster multidisciplinary training, positioning McGill as a global hub for innovation in genomic medicine.