El Bachir Affar

El Bachir Affar is a Full Professor in the Department of Medicine and an Accredited Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Medicine. He heads the Cell Signaling and Cancer Research Unit at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital within the Integrated University Health and Social Services Center of East Montreal Island. His work focuses on the intersection of biochemistry, immunology, and oncology, with particular emphasis on molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development.

Dr. Affar's research interests span cell signaling via ubiquitination, processes associated with DNA and chromatin (transcription and DNA repair), and the molecular basis of cancer. His laboratory particularly investigates the BAP1 gene, which is frequently mutated in certain types of cancer. His team employs state-of-the-art biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell culture approaches to characterize deubiquitinases—enzymes that remove ubiquitin from target proteins—which are emerging as central regulators of the ubiquitin system. Their work provides fundamental insights into molecular mechanisms governing the ubiquitin system, transcription regulation, DNA repair, and ultimately aims to identify new therapeutic targets for personalized cancer treatment.

Analysis of Dr. Affar's recent publications reveals a strong focus on deubiquitinases, particularly BAP1, and their role in cancer mechanisms. His work spans multiple areas including chromatin modification, DNA repair mechanisms, protein-protein interactions, and cellular stress responses. The research demonstrates how dysregulation of ubiquitination pathways contributes to cancer development and how targeting these pathways could lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

• 2016 Senior Research Fellow (FRSQ)
• 2011 Young Researcher (CIHR)
• 2011 Junior Research Fellow 2 (FRSQ)
• 2011 Maud Menten New Principal Investigator Finalist Award (Institute of Genetics, CIHR)
• 2007 Junior Research Fellow 1 (FRSQ)
• 2001 Taplin Postdoctoral Fellowship (Harvard University, Boston)
• 1999 Dean's Honor Roll - Doctorate (Laval University, Quebec)
• 1991 Excellence Scholarship for Higher Education (Ministry of Education of Morocco)

Dr. Affar mentors several graduate students and researchers including PhD candidates Ali Boubacar Kalidou, Moustafa Khalil, and Clémence Messmer. His laboratory team comprises Diana Adjaoud (lab manager), Oumaima Ahmed (Research Associate), Louis Masclef (research associate), and interns Mila Gushul-Leclaire and Nay Bashour. His research has been supported by major Canadian funding agencies including CIHR and FRSQ, enabling his investigations into the molecular basis of cancer and the role of deubiquitinases in tumor suppression.

The Cell Signaling and Cancer Research Unit led by Dr. Affar operates at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, where they investigate how ubiquitination processes contribute to cancer development. The laboratory focuses particularly on the BAP1 tumor suppressor and its role in DNA repair, transcription regulation, and cell death mechanisms. Their work bridges basic molecular research with potential clinical applications in cancer treatment.