Mr. Savard is a full professor in the department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry, and Pathology of the Laval University School of Medicine. He teaches molecular genetics, critical analysis of publications, and is in charge of all the research internships in the Biomedical Science Program.
In terms of research, Professor Savard focuses on a TLR7/8 agonist (thereafter indicated by the acronym PAL) able to activate both the innate and adaptive responses of the immune system. Mid-term research objectives are (i) to develop a large-spectrum prophylactic vaccine to influenza viruses, and (ii) to improve the therapeutic antitumoral response induced by a new class of drugs able to release the obstacle that prevents cytotoxic T lymphocytes from attacking tumor cells.
PAL is a nanoparticle that is derived from recombinant DNA technology and mimics the physical properties of the papaya mosaic virus. The product is specifically captured by the cells of the immune system and, once within the endosome, it releases a RNA molecule that activates TLR7/8. This mechanism of action is of great interest for the pharmaceutical industry. PAL has demonstrated that it is well tolerated by humans during a Phase I clinical trial where its administration was combined with a flu vaccine. Other clinical trials are in preparation to assess the clinical benefits of PAL administration in cancer immunotherapy.
Mr. Savard is actively involved in the Québec scientific community. His main contributions are the development of the Human Resources Services and the Health and Safety Program of the Research Center (President of the Société de Gestion du Personnel du CRCHU de Québec and Co-President of the Comité Paritaire de Santé et Sécurité du travail au CRCHU de Québec – Laval University).
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Engineering of the PapMV vaccine platform with a shortened M2e peptide leads to an effective one dose influenza vaccine.
Journal ArticleVaccine, 33 (51), pp. 7245-7253, 2015, ISSN: 0264-410X.
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PapMV nanoparticles improve mucosal immune responses to the trivalent inactivated flu vaccine.
Journal ArticleJ Nanobiotechnology, 12 , pp. 19, 2014.
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Nanoparticle adjuvant sensing by TLR7 enhances CD8+ T cell-mediated protection from Listeria monocytogenes infection.
Journal ArticleJ Immunol, 192 (3), pp. 1071-8, 2014, ISSN: 0022-1767.
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A novel M2e based flu vaccine formulation for dogs.
Journal ArticlePLoS ONE, 8 (10), pp. e77084, 2013.
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Protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition induces anti-tumor activity: evidence of Cdk2/p27 kip1 and Cdk2/SHP-1 complex formation in human ovarian cancer cells.
Journal ArticleCancer Lett, 262 (2), pp. 265-75, 2008, ISSN: 0304-3835.
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Molecular evolution of type VI intermediate filament proteins.
Journal ArticleBMC Evol Biol, 7 , pp. 164, 2007.
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Biochemical and molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in parasites.
Journal ArticleTrop Med Int Health, 6 (11), pp. 874-82, 2001, ISSN: 1360-2276.
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Peroxovanadium compounds as inhibitors of angiogenesis.
Journal ArticleAngiogenesis, 3 (4), pp. 361-9, 1999, ISSN: 0969-6970.
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The developmentally regulated avian protein IFAPa-400 is transitin.
Journal ArticleBrain Res Dev Brain Res, 109 (1), pp. 59-66, 1998, ISSN: 0165-3806.
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Graded expression of Emx-2 in the adult newt limb and its corresponding regeneration blastema.
Journal ArticleJ Mol Biol, 279 (3), pp. 501-11, 1998, ISSN: 0022-2836.
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Active projects
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Subvention, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Centres de recherche affiliés, from 2017-01-01 to 2099-12-31