Announcement
Montreal, July 7, 2026 – CQDM and IVADO are proud to announce the funding of a collaborative research project aimed at developing a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) system in oncology, powered by cutting-edge phenotypic data. Valued at over $2.2 million, the project is supported by a $1,101,390 grant from the Government of Québec. This funding is awarded by CQDM under the Partenar-IA Entreprise program, in partnership with IVADO.
The development of tools capable of predicting treatment efficacy prior to clinical trials represents a major challenge for the pharmaceutical industry, where new drug development remains lengthy, risky, and costly. Simmunome, a company specializing in mechanistic modeling and AI, and MISO Chip, which develops microfluidic devices for precision medicine, are joining forces to create TME Predict, a tool designed to assess the likelihood that a cancer treatment will be effective.
In collaboration with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, the project will combine experiments on human tumours with the development of digital simulations of tumour biology. The objective is to generate a predictive model capable of anticipating treatment responses, thereby reducing clinical failures and accelerating the development of safer and more effective therapies. For Simmunome, the availability of high-quality experimental data will strengthen the reliability of its simulations and improve the management of biological uncertainty. MISO Chip, for its part, will be able to validate its technology across a broader range of treatment modalities and demonstrate the value of its data, which are now essential for accurate AI-driven modeling.
Overall, the project will enable both companies to expand their respective markets, strengthen their competitive positioning, and enhance their recruitment capacity, while creating highly specialized jobs that will benefit Québec’s economy. In the longer term, these advances will help reinforce Québec’s competitiveness in biotechnology and artificial intelligence, while fostering scientific autonomy and the development of innovative solutions for the benefit of patients living with cancer.
“The Government of Québec is proud to support this initiative, which was selected during the latest round of funding for projects in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. This project is a testament to Quebec’s leadership in both AI and biopharmaceutical research. By bringing these two cutting-edge fields together, we can pave the way for more effective treatments for cancer patients. We welcome the partnership between CQDM, IVADO, Simmunome, and MISO Chip, as it will leverage each organization’s expertise and help showcase Quebec’s know-how both at home and abroad.” – Jean Boulet, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Minister of Labour, Minister Responsible for Maritime Strategy and Minister Responsible for the Mauricie Region
“We are excited to work with Simmunome on a solution that integrates data generated from ex vivo testing on patient tumour samples with artificial intelligence systems in oncology. This project will enable MISO Chip to showcase both the quality and the depth of data produced by its technology, and to demonstrate their value in the development of predictive models in oncology. The collaboration with Simmunome will allow MISO Chip to significantly amplify the value of its data and address the pressing need of pharmaceutical companies to better understand the impact of new therapies on the tumor microenvironment.” – Etienne Laurent, President of MISO Chip
“Cancer biology remains difficult to predict, which is one of the reasons why promising therapies fail late in development. This project allows us to bring together realistic experimental models and disease-specific simulations to better anticipate how tumours will respond to treatment. By shifting learning earlier and grounding AI in biological mechanisms, we hope to reduce risk, speed up development, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients.” – Armstrong Murira, Chief Executive Officer of Simmunome.
“By derisking clinical development through TME Predict — an innovation led by Simmunome and MISO Chip, we are accelerating patient access to more effective therapies while strengthening Canada’s competitiveness. This project demonstrates the strength of our ecosystem and our commitment to building solutions here that will shine nationwide, while affirming Quebec’s leadership at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biotechnology.” – Véronique Dugas, President and Chief Executive Officer of CQDM.
“We believe that critical decisions in oncology must be better informed, as early as possible. That is why TME Predict embodies the excellence of collaborative research in Quebec: by combining biological data and artificial intelligence, IVADO, alongside Simmunome, MISO Chip and the CQDM, contributes to the development of practical tools that improve the prediction of treatment effectiveness and accelerate the development of therapies that benefit patients.” – Nancy Laramée, Director of Partnerships at IVADO..
About CQDM
Facilitator of Biopharma Innovation
CQDM is a non-profit biopharmaceutical research consortium whose mission is to support and facilitate collaborative, multi-party research and development aimed at accelerating the translation or transformation of innovative technologies into solutions that address unmet medical needs, while generating significant benefits for the Quebec and Canadian economies. For more information, visit www.cqdm.org and join us on LinkedIn.
About MISO Chip
MISO Chip is a company developing lab-on-a-chip platforms designed to test anticancer treatments on patient-derived tumour samples. Building on more than 12 years of publicly funded research, MISO Chip’s technology enables the evaluation of treatment efficacy in a highly representative human biology context and supports the discovery of biomarkers that cannot be detected through genomics alone. The company provides research services and collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to identify the most promising therapies to advance into clinical trials and to accelerate therapy development through functional precision medicine.
About Simmunome
Simmunome is a Montreal-based techbio company developing disease-specific computational simulations that integrate mechanistic biology with AI to improve prediction, stratification, and therapeutic decision-making in complex diseases. By combining experimental and clinical data with advanced modeling, Simmunome aims to reduce uncertainty in drug development and accelerate the discovery of more effective therapies.
About IVADO
IVADO is an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral research and knowledge mobilization consortium whose mission is to develop and promote a robust, reasoning and responsible AI. Led by Université de Montréal with four university partners (Polytechnique Montréal, HEC Montréal, Université Laval and McGill University), IVADO brings together research centers, government bodies and industry members to co-build ambitious cross-sectoral initiatives with the goal of fostering a paradigm shift for AI and its adoption.
About the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), one of Canada’s top learning and research hospitals where we are guided by our vision to provide the world-class and compassionate care we would all want for our loved ones. Our multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, is home to the Regional Trauma Centre and Cancer Centre, and to discoveries that are adopted globally. Backed by generous support from the community, we are focused on reshaping the future of health care to improve the health of our diverse population of patients from Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Nunavut.
Media Contact:
Julia Serafino
Marketing & Communications Director
CQDM
438-543-9498
[email protected]
