IRCM

On this picture you can see the IRCM (Institut de Recherche Cliniques de Montreal) located at the corner of Des Pins and St Urbain Streets. Here is a little bit of history about this building. It begins in 1951 when Jacques Genest, a canadian physician and scientist wanted Quebec's medicine to be a combination of clinical skills and have a knowledge in biochemistry, molecular biology, electronics and nuclear medicine. He thought there were enough hospitals for the city of Montreal, however the city needed a research facility. In 1952, he was offered a research department position of Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Montreal by the director general of the hospital, sister Marie-Louise Allard. This research department, called IRCM was built right across of the Hôtel-Dieu hospital.

In 1967, when the IRCM obtained its affiliation with the Université de Montréal. At the time of the agreement between the Université de Montréal and the Institute, André Barbeau, a French Canadian neurologist, set up his neurobiology lab at the Institute, along with a research team that had established a solid reputation working at the university since 1961. The team would achieve great distinction, mainly for its work on Parkinson’s disease.