Montréal, January 16, 2002 - At a press conference today, the rector of Université de Montréal, Robert Lacroix, unveiled plans to build an expansive biomedical complex which would consist of two pavilions. Pauline Marois, Deputy Premier, and Minister of State for the Economy and Finance, officially announced the Gouvernement du Québec contribution, accompanied by François Legault, Minister of State for Education and Employment and David Cliche, Minister of Research, Science and Technology. She confirmed that the Gouvernement du Québec would contribute $60 million dollars for these projects. Added to this amount is a major private donation of $12.5 million dollars from Jean Coutu. This is the largest private donation ever made to a French-language university in Quebec. Finally the Université de Montréal will provide an additional amount of $ 5 million.

The first pavilion will house the Faculty of Pharmacy and will be named Pavilion Jean-Coutu, the second pavilion will house the Institute of Immunovirology and Cancer and will be named Pavilion Marcelle-Coutu. This pharmaceutical and biomedical complex represents a total investment of $77.5 million dollars over the next three years. Mr. Lacroix thanked both the Gouvernement du Québec and Mr. Coutu: "They grasped the fundamental importance of this project, in the medium and long term, for the consolidation of the university's strategic positioning as well as Montreal's and Quebec's place in the fields of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences."

The Institute of Immunovirology and Cancer

Université de Montréal excels in the field of immunovirology, and is the host institution of CANVAC, a network of centres of excellence in vaccines and immunotherapeutics that brings together 60 of the top researchers in Canada. The University has also decided to enhance its presence in the field of cancer research by creating a reinforcement strategy combining immunology and cancer research. According to Mr. Lacroix, "the Institute of Immunovirology and Cancer will enable Montreal to play a key role in these areas because of the exceptional pool of researchers found here, Université de Montréal's unique influence, and Montreal's position as a leader in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. There is no doubt that by giving this project its support, the Gouvernement du Québec has taken a strategic step that will significantly help the university, Montreal and all of Quebec in developing these key specialties, which target central health care concerns of today. We wish to thank the Gouvernement du Québec for its generous contribution."

The mission of the Institute of Immunovirology and Cancer will be to maintain and develop research activities at a very high level of excellence, contribute to the advancement of basic and applied knowledge in immunovirology and oncology, and work to develop immunotherapeutics. The Institute will be a centre of excellence, providing training and support to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and interns. The Institute will carry out its mission by developing partnerships with the clinical community and with Canadian and international partners from industry. The Institute will also be an outstanding showcase of Quebec research to the world, establishing international partnerships at the highest level.

Thanks to the Institute, a large pool of professors, researchers and students will have strategic access to high-tech strategic infrastructures.

Pavilion Marcelle-Coutu will boast 16,000 square metres of space and, when completed, accommodate some 325 individuals, including university professors and researchers, research professionals, technical staff, students, interns, management and administrative personnel.

The Faculty of Pharmacy: an outstanding gift

Pavilion Jean-Coutu is to house the Faculty of Pharmacy. The Faculty urgently needs to expand its facilities in order to be able to train more pharmacists. Mr. Lacroix stressed the importance of the donation by Mr. Coutu, which represents the largest private gift ever made to a French-language university in Quebec, and covers one third of the cost of the construction project, estimated at $37.5 million dollars. "Generations of pharmacists and researchers in this field will be trained at Pavilion Jean-Coutu, where they will benefit from Mr. Coutu's generosity and dedication to Université de Montréal." Mr. Lacroix added that "we also wish to thank François Legault, Minister of State for Education and Employment, who has had the foresight to respond to our needs as a teaching institution by making this project possible. Our ability to train pharmacists will help make up the present manpower deficit; according to a recent study, Quebec is in need of at least another 500 pharmacists."

Mr. Coutu indicated that «I am happy to be able to give young people today the chance to pursue their studies in the best possible environment and conditions. They will embark on a career in an exciting field. Demographic, social and technological changes will make the quality of their training, research work and professionalism all the more important as they serve the public.»

Occupying 12,700 square metres, Pavilion Jean-Coutu will house teaching laboratories, research laboratories, classrooms, common and other rooms, as well as administrative and office space.

The Faculty of Pharmacy plans to expand its undergraduate student body by 20 % in the short term, and is considering increasing enrolment in masters and doctoral programs. Undergraduate enrolment could be raised as high as 200 in order to help meet the province's need for pharmacists.

Ever attentive to the needs of society, the Université de Montréal Faculty of Pharmacy has a mission to train pharmacists to provide pharmaceutical care to the public, contribute to research and the advancement of knowledge relating to drugs and their use, train researchers and specialized resources in the field of pharmaceuticals, and share its expertise with various players nationally and internationally.

Université de Montréal ranks second among Canadian universities in terms of grants and research contracts. With its two affiliated schools, École Polytechnique and École des HEC, it offers undergraduate, masters and doctoral level programs of study in almost all areas of knowledge. It has a student body of close to 50,000, and awards 2,500 masters and doctorate degrees every year.

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FOR INFORMATION: Sophie Langlois
Press officer
Université de Montréal
Téléphone : (514) 343-7704 
Téléavertisseur : (514) 423-0651