Research
Our lab investigates how proteins work, evolve, and can be redesigned for new molecular functions.
We combine structural biology, AI-guided protein engineering, biophysical characterization, and food & biomolecular chemistry to uncover mechanisms of action and create innovative biotechnological tools.
IMCM / MIMC – Molecular Interactions and Materials Characterization platform
We also manage and perform closely integrated research with the IMCM / MIMC (Molecular Interactions and Materials Characterization) platform at INRS.
This platform provides academic and industrial access to advanced structural biology, biophysics, and analytical tools for probing:
- Protein-ligand and protein–protein interactions
- Conformational dynamics and folding landscapes
- Biomolecular stability, aggregation and self-assembly
We work with the platform to design and execute rigorous experimental pipelines, from biophysical screening to high-resolution structural analysis, in support of both fundamental and applied research in small-molecule, materials, protein, and food/biomolecular chemistry.
Research programs at a glance
Structural biology & protein engineering
We study how conformational dynamics, molecular flexibility, and active-site architecture shape enzyme function.
Our work integrates:
- NMR spectroscopy (multidimensional NMR, relaxation dynamics, titration mapping)
- X-ray crystallography for high-resolution structural snapshots
- Molecular modeling and mutagenesis to probe catalytic determinants
We apply these approaches to biologically important enzymes, including ribonucleases and carbohydrate-binding proteins such as galectins.
SPASE – AI-guided protein design
SPASE (Soluble Protein Analog Selection Engine) is our in-house AI-assisted protein design platform. It integrates:
- ProteinMPNN for sequence redesign
- Stability and solubility predictions (e.g. Protein-Sol, Aggrescan3D)
- Structure prediction using models such as ESMFold or AlphaFold
- Automated ranking and filtering to identify experimentally tractable variants
We use SPASE to design improved protein variants, stabilize difficult scaffolds, explore evolutionary trajectories, and engineer novel molecular functions.
Nanobody engineering & molecular therapeutics
We develop and characterize nanobodies targeting:
- Human RNases – with applications in cancer biology and ribonuclease regulation
- Human Galectins – involved in epithelial homeostasis, cancer progression and immune signaling
Our pipeline includes phage-display nanobody discovery with partners, NMR epitope mapping, biophysical affinity measurements, and structure-guided redesign.
These nanobodies act as inhibitors, conformational traps, and crystallization or NMR chaperones for challenging targets.
Biomolecular & food systems characterization
We apply high-resolution spectroscopy and chemometrics to complex biological matrices.
In collaboration with academic, industrial and municipal partners, we focus on:
- Maple syrup molecular fingerprinting using NMR
- Identification of terroir signatures, quality defects and chemical markers
- Machine-learning models for classification and authenticity assessment
This interdisciplinary program bridges environmental microbiology, analytical chemistry, and biomolecular modeling to understand how ecosystems shape food chemistry.
Tools & infrastructure
Our work is supported by state-of-the-art NMR facilities, crystallography and biophysics platforms, analytical chemistry infrastructure, and high-performance computing resources for AI-driven protein engineering.
We also maintain the SPASE server, which hosts internal pipelines for automated design and analysis.