Jacques Thibodeau

Jacques Thibodeau is a Full Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal. He maintains his laboratory in the Roger-Gaudry building (room S-644) and serves as Director of the Flow Cytometry Department. Dr. Thibodeau holds the prestigious Saputo Chair in Biomedical Valorization of Dairy Products and is a co-founder of Immunologie-Montréal, a non-profit organization promoting immunology research.

Dr. Thibodeau's research focuses on molecular mechanisms regulating antigen presentation in tumor cells, with particular emphasis on the role of the non-classical class II molecule HLA-DO. His laboratory investigates how E3 ubiquitin ligases of the MARCH family modulate immune responses and tolerance, with applications in cancer immunotherapy. His work bridges fundamental immunology with clinical applications, particularly in understanding how tumor cells evade immune surveillance.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on MARCH1 ubiquitin ligase, antigen presentation pathways, and tumor immunology. The research demonstrates how ubiquitination regulates MHC class II molecules and impacts immune responses in cancer and autoimmune diseases. His team has made significant contributions to understanding how di-arginine motifs control protein trafficking and how these mechanisms can be exploited for therapeutic interventions.

• Saputo Chair in Biomedical Valorization of Dairy Products

Dr. Thibodeau has supervised over 25 graduate students to completion and currently mentors a diverse team including postdoctoral fellows, PhD and Master's students. His laboratory staff includes researchers specializing in molecular immunology, protein biochemistry, and cancer biology. He has secured continuous funding from major Canadian research agencies including CIHR, NSERC, and the Cancer Research Society for over 15 years, with current projects extending through 2027. His research has direct implications for developing novel immunotherapies targeting ubiquitin-mediated regulation of antigen presentation.