Arrival of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strike Team for RNA Therapies

In support of a key initiative of the RNA Mobilizing Project announced by the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) in April 2024, Axelys has deployed a new strike team in the RNA-based therapies sector. The mandate of this team, whose members have been selected for their expertise in the world of medical research and business development, is to accelerate the transfer of public scientific research into innovation, as well as the creation of private companies.

The RNA valorization and entrepreneurship team, which began sending invitations in December 2024 to meet with members of Quebec’s RNA research community, is made up of three members. Claude, Sam and Simon have the exciting dual mandate of presenting the toolkit, expertise and support to Quebec’s RNA research community (RNA Quebec, D2R, Riboclub and others), to accompany researchers on a journey to transform their innovative ideas into commercial and societal successes.

The activities of the Axelys team are part of the mobilizing project ARN’s “Valuation and entrepreneurship” initiative, and are supported by AReNA, Quebec’s RNA cluster founded by CQDM, Montréal InVivo and Axelys, whose objectives are to animate and support the academic and industrial RNA community, to stimulate partnerships between these two milieus, and to promote Quebec and its innovation talent internationally.

Write to them personally by visiting our team page below or contact AReNA, Quebec’s RNA hub, with any questions you may have.

 

VISIT THE ARENA TEAM PAGE

Part of AReNA, Quebec’s RNA hub, the strike team’s mandate is to initiate and support the development and commercialization of RNA therapeutic technologies offering the potential for promising applications in industry

Claude Gaumond, BBA – RNA Valorization Director

A visionary and experienced leader, Claude Gaumond has over twenty-five years’ experience in both the private and public sectors. Former CEO and founder of a life sciences company, he and his team developed a revolutionary medical device from idea to market. Throughout his entrepreneurial career, he has collaborated effectively with partners from academia, industry and government.

His mandates at NRC-IRAP enabled him to support numerous innovative companies in the development of cutting-edge technologies. This rich experience has reinforced his reputation as a catalyst for success in complex and competitive environments.

Contact Claude

Simon Fortier, PhD – RNA Valorization Director

Simon holds a PhD from the Université de Montréal’s Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Simon has a background in consulting and research management, notably with the World Anti-Doping Agency, developing expertise in functional genomics and drug development.

His experience in academic research and partnerships with industry grants him a deep understanding of the challenges faced by researchers and the value proposition of their work.

Passionate and well-versed in the research themes covered by the RNA Mobilizing Project, Simon is a front-line contributor to this major initiative and works to bring its full benefit to the researchers involved in RNA-based therapies in Quebec.

Contact Simon

Sam Osseiran , PhD – RNA Entrepreneurship Director

Sam trained as a biomedical engineer at Polytechnique Montréal (B.Eng.) and MIT (PhD). His studies focused on applied biophotonics, cancer research and signal and image processing. Since obtaining his PhD in 2018, he has gained over 5 years of professional experience in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, with varied expertise including experimental design, statistical analysis, scientific literature review, oral and written communication of scientific content, data science, applied AI and project management.

He leverages the R&D skills he has acquired in various technology start-ups, as well as his experience in venture capital development, to contribute to the creation of biotech companies in the field of RNA-based therapies, particularly those emerging from innovations in Quebec’s academic sector.

Contact Sam