Latest News from the Ecosystem – Camélia: Accelerating Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Clinical Innovation

In this Ecosystem News section, discover organizations that are helping advance and promote clinical research across Quebec.

Infection-associated chronic conditions (IACCs), including Long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis, and persistent symptoms following Lyme disease, pose significant challenges for patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems. Despite their major impact on quality of life, these conditions remain difficult to diagnose and treat because of their clinical heterogeneity and the lack of validated biomarkers and treatments.

To address this need, Camélia, the Province of Quebec Clinical Research Network on Infection-Associated Chronic Conditions, was established by two professor-researchers from the Université de Sherbrooke and the CHUS Research Centre, Simon Décary, PhD, and Alain Piché, MD. Its mission is to provide Province of Quebec with an integrated clinical research infrastructure that accelerates the development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and clinical solutions in this emerging field.

Camélia’s strength lies in a clear value proposition: harmonizing clinical data across the province through a standardized registry, improving patient characterization, facilitating cohort identification, and accelerating recruitment for research projects. The network also supports the advancement of personalized medicine by helping identify patient subgroups and evaluate solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Building on Province of Quebec’s existing post-infectious clinics and recognized expertise in clinical research, Camélia also facilitates the planning, activation, and coordination of multicentre clinical trials in real-world healthcare and research settings.

Beyond data generation, the network plays an important role in knowledge mobilization among clinicians, patients, decision-makers, and partners. Its goal is to accelerate the translation of research findings into tools and solutions that have a meaningful impact on care.

Camélia is currently seeking partners interested in helping advance this strategic field. Collaboration opportunities include the development and validation of diagnostic tools, personalized medicine initiatives, clinical trials, real-world data generation, and projects that promote diversity and inclusion in clinical research.

Partners interested in learning more about the Network or discussing opportunities aligned with their areas of interest are invited to contact: Christine Rioux-Perreault – Coordinator, Province of Quebec Clinical Research Network on Infection-Associated Chronic Conditions – (819) 346-1110 poste 13875 – christine.rioux-perreault.ciussse-chus@ssss.gouv.qc.ca