Unlocking the mysteries of diabetes
After almost 11 years as Director of Research and Innovation at the CHUM and Scientific Director at the CRCHUM, Dr. Vincent Poitout takes on a new challenge as Vice-Rector of Research and Innovation, succeeding Marie-Josée Hébert as of June 1, 2025. His role is to coordinate and direct all scientific activities at Université de Montréal.
In addition to this important mandate, Dr. Poitout continues to direct his laboratory, which focuses on researching diabetes—the cornerstone of his work since his arrival at the CRCHUM 20 years ago!
Beta cells under the microscope
In his lab, Dr. Poitout's team is investigating the function of pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin, the hormone that controls blood glucose levels. In people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), beta cells are unable to produce enough insulin to regulate glucose.
What causes the dysfunction of these cells in T2D? How do they react in an environment with excess glucose or lipids? How does excess weight affect these cells and worsen diabetes?
“We're trying to understand the mechanisms of action of proteins found in large numbers on the surface of beta cells, which act as receptors for the external environment,” explains Dr. Poitout. “These proteins then transmit information to the cell that modulates insulin secretion. So, we're trying to find out how the cell responds to its environment through these receptors.”
These receptors are easily accessible due to their position on the cell surface, making them prime targets for future drugs. As such, his research will help improve care for diabetics.
A trigger factor
Another question that Dr. Poitout and his team are trying to answer is why type 1 diabetes (T1D) mainly occurs during puberty. In this form of diabetes, the autoimmune destruction of beta cells gradually stops insulin production. One possible explanation is that the accelerated division of beta cells during the growth spurts of puberty makes them more vulnerable to autoimmune attacks.
To test their hypothesis, Dr. Poitout's team is using an experimental model of T1D in rodents. They are also using several CHUM core facilities, including cellular imaging, cellular physiology, CITADEL, small animal phenotyping and imaging, as well as the animal facility. “As a former director of the CRCHUM, I'm really proud of the core facility infrastructure that has been put in place. They are very useful to us on a daily basis,” emphasizes Dr. Poitout.
An innovative and collaborative project
Thanks to $16.4M in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Quebec government and several partners, including the Fondation du CHUM, Dr. Poitout will also study the early detection and treatment of T2D. This project, entitled ImagingT2D: Multimodal Imaging Program for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, brings together CRCHUM researchers with a wide range of expertise: Jean DaSilva, Stéphanie Fulton, Guy Rutter, Dr. An Tang and François Yu, plus Dr. Poitout and collaborators at Université de Sherbrooke.
More specifically, the program aims to develop biomarkers that predict disturbances in the functioning of the liver, brain, adipose tissue and pancreas, which are all organs affected by T2D.
Most of the funding will be used to set up a new cutting-edge imaging core facility that combines magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography and ultrasound.
Cardiometabolic research theme highlights
May 2024
Dr. Nadine Taleb receives a $163,328 grant from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) as part of the research scholars program to characterize and personalize the management of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.
John Chan, Director of the CRCHUM Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology and Endocrinology, receives the 2024 Medal for Research Excellence from the Kidney Foundation, Quebec Division.
August 2024
CRCHUM researcher Dr. Jessica Forcillo installs the first-ever aortic ring on the heart of a Quebec patient. This procedure represents a major breakthrough and opens up new prospects for the treatment of cardiac anomalies.
October 2024
Researcher Ciaran Murphy-Royal is awarded $120,000 over 3 years from the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada to study the role of astrocytes in sleep and wakefulness disorders.
December 2024
Researcher Stephanie Fulton, along with PhD student David Lau and former postdoctoral fellow Stephanie Tobin from her lab, reveal in a study published in Nature Communications that the ABHD6 enzyme in the nucleus accumbens, a region of the brain, represents a potential target against obesity.
March 2025
Researcher Gareth Lim, Canada Research Chair in Adipocyte Development, wins the Emerging Researcher Award as part of the 2024 CRCHUM Awards of Excellence.
This text is taken from our 2024-2025 Activity Report
Unlocking the mysteries of diabetes
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