McGill's Lasko, Meaney among Prix du Québec winners

“McGill is tremendously proud of Professors Lasko and Meaney and grateful that their remarkable achievements in research are rewarded with the Prix du Québec,” said McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier. “Their contributions have significantly advanced our understanding of gene expression and genetic pathways, processes essential for all life and for improved health outcomes among the most vulnerable.”

Prof. Lasko’s research on how RNA binding proteins and translational control mechanisms drive cellular processes in developmental biology has seeded major new areas of scientific inquiry, including insight on the biology of stem cells. He has produced over 100 publications and has been cited over 11,000 times. Prof. Lasko is the Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Genetics.

“I will be very proud to hold this prize that is named after Armand Frappier, who made such impressive contributions to the growth of medical research in Québec and to the improvement of public health,” said Prof. Lasko.

Prof. Michael Meaney, who is also a researcher at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, is awarded the Wilder-Penfield prize in recognition of his groundbreaking achievements in the biology of child development. Michael Meaney was the first researcher to identify the importance of maternal care in modifying the expression of genes that regulate behaviour and development among children. He is the Scientific Director of the Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics & Mental Health at McGill. Prof. Meaney was also recently awarded the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize for his work.

The Prix du Québec awards ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. today in Québec City.

PHOTOS: MICHAEL MEANEY (L), PAUL LASKO; CREDIT: RÉMY BOILY