University of Montreal Collaborative Research Center

ME/CFS Collaborative
Research Center

at the CHU Sainte-Justine/
Université de Montréal

Clinical and scientific studies to understand and discover new treatments for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Science Team

Research

About the research center

The ME / CFS Collaborative Research Center, established in 2020 at CHU Sainte-Justine /Université de Montréal, increases OMF’s international collaborative efforts through the End ME/CFS Project. Directed by Alain Moreau, PhD, the Quebec, Canada-based laboratory has been researching ME / CFS for several years.

Alain Moreau, PhD, is a Full Professor in the Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, at Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Additionally, Dr. Moreau is the Director of Network for Canadian Oral Health Research. He is the Scientific Director of the Viscogliosi Laboratory in Molecular Genetics of Musculoskeletal Diseases, Sainte-Justine University Research Center, Montréal, Québec.

Dr. Moreau’s chief interests of study are pediatric scoliosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Dr. Moreau is a member of the Open Medicine Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Canadian Collaborative Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Research Network, a national research network funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

Active/Ongoing Studies

Raman Spectrometry Based Biomarker Discovery for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (RASPBERRY-ME)

The overarching goal of RASPBERRY-ME project is the characterization of the biomolecular signature of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis using Label-free Raman Spectroscopy (RS) and machine learning models.

Study of COVID-19 survivors’ profiles for detection of ME/CFS (SCOPIMED)

The purpose of this study is to capture a post-COVID-19 infected population willing to participate in phenotyping studies early in the post-COVID-19 illness progression, with an aim of providing targeted effective therapies and preventing the onset and progression of ME/CFS.

Multi-Omics Study of ME/CFS (MAESTRO)

The primary goal of this project is to complete our comprehensive analysis of the genome, methylome, miRnome, and their interactions in order to fill the gaps in our understanding of ME/CFS pathophysiology and to identify clinically useful biomarkers.

Precision Medicine for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Drug Discovery

The REMEDIAL project continues the work commenced with MAESTRO and will lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ME/CFS pathophysiology, the persistence and variability of the symptoms, and will contribute to the identification of targets and therapeutic agents for intervention.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1)

Researchers are actively working to understand the role of Thrombospondin-1, an important biomarker, in those with ME/CFS.

Stress-Activated MicroRNAs

Studying microRNAs could help to bridge the conceptual gap between genetic predisposition and environmental factors causing ME/CFS or exacerbating specific symptoms.

Deep Proteome and Metabolome Profiling

Decode the molecular mechanisms underlying ME/CFS and contributing to specific symptoms with a particular emphasis of post-exertional malaise (PEM). This includes deep phenotyping of ME patients and global proteomic/metabolomics plasma profiling of ME..

Scientific Team

CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center
Université de Montréal

Alain Moreau, PhD , Scientific Director

Anita Franco, MSc, Lab coordinator

Dashen Wang, MD, PhD, Research Associate

Mohamed Elbakry, PhD , Research Associate

Viorica Lascau, MSc , Research coordinator – certification manager

Sophie Perreault, RN , Clinical research nurse

Valerie Tremblay, RN, Clinical research nurse

Hélène Gagnon, RN, Clinical research nurse

Iurie Caraus, PhD , Postdoctoral fellow

Wesam Elremaly, PhD, Postdoctoral fellow

Lynda Chalder, MSc, PhD student

Evguenia Nepotchatykh, BSc, PhD student

Atefeh Moezzi, MSc, PhD student

Corinne Leveau, BSc, MSc student

Bita Rostami, BSc, MSc student

Marie-Yvonne Akoume PhD, Invited professor – ICanCME Research Network Investigator

Valérie Marcil PhD, Associate Professor – ICanCME Research Network Investigator

Emile Levy, MD, PhD ,Full Professor – ICanCME Research Network Investigator

University of Florida Atlantic

Dawei Li, PhD, Associated Professor – ICanCME Research Network Investigator

Jason Kost BSc , Research Assistant – ICanCME Research Network Member

SUPPORT OMF Funded Critical Research

Please help us expand our research efforts across the globe. Every donation brings us closer to a fully-funded research effort and the answers we all seek.