New health centre focused on mother-child infectious diseases underway in Quebec

A Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases focused on mother-child patients will be established in Quebec through a collaborative effort between the Université de Montréal and CHU Sainte-Justine.

This research centre will concentrate on preventing and treating infectious diseases in pregnant women and prematurely born infants, particularly targeting vulnerable groups.

It will be the first specialized facility of its kind in Canada dedicated to this clientele.

The project is expected to cost around $30 million, with an initial $5 million investment from Intact Financial Corporation, enabling the centre to kick-start its activities, such as recruiting researchers and clinicians.

“This is primarily research aimed at transforming hospital service delivery, but it's not a clinic,” explained Intact Financial Corporation CEO Charles Brindamour.

Reflecting on the impact of the pandemic, he emphasized the importance of boosting support, research, and analysis in the field of infectious diseases to enhance societal resilience.

Intact Canada CEO Louis Gagnon highlighted the joint collaboration between university researchers and hospital practitioners to better understand the effects of infectious diseases on the population.

He noted that the centre is designed as a specialized research hub to bolster the health system’s preparedness for future pandemics, especially in communities that are more vulnerable to infections.

Isabelle Demers, President and CEO of CHU Sainte-Justine, stated that despite advancements in medicine and public health, challenges related to infectious diseases continue to grow.

She emphasized that the new Centre of Excellence will enhance support for all populations, including the most vulnerable, by improving approaches to research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ultimately transforming lives across generations.

Brindamour, who also co-chairs the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation’s “Voir grand” fundraising campaign, highlighted the unique risks for mother-child patients due to higher transmission rates.

He emphasized the need for targeted research to address these risks while also integrating support for other vulnerable groups, such as disadvantaged populations, Indigenous communities, and immigrants.

Gagnon, co-chair of the Université de Montréal’s “L’heure est brave” fundraising campaign, shared that the $5 million contribution from Intact Financial Corporation—bolstered by a personal donation of $1 million from both him and Brindamour—remains the sole investment so far.

He expressed hope that their commitment will inspire further contributions to the centre.