The Luc Bélanger Distinction Scholarship, awarded annually as part of the CRC scholarship competition, aims to recognize the involvement and societal commitment of student members, as well as their determination to pursue a research career in graduate studies. This prestigious recognition pays tribute to Dr. Luc Bélanger, a passionate and dedicated research builder in the field of oncology in Québec City. This scholarship is made possible through the Fonds de cancérologie de l'Université Laval.
This year, the CRC awarded this scholarship to Camille Lafront, a PhD student in molecular medicine in Professor Étienne Audet-Walsh's team. Here is her inspiring profile.
Passionate about research, Camille Lafront began her academic journey in life sciences, initially specializing in marine biology and particularly in the taxonomy of Canadian Arctic zooplankton. Eager to learn more about the world of human life and aiming to have a greater impact on society, she redirected her graduate studies by joining the Master’s program in Molecular Medicine under the guidance of Dr. Étienne Audet-Walsh. Her expertise in hormone-dependent cancers and cellular metabolism immediately captured her interest, and the interdisciplinary and stimulating team promised robust training. During her studies, she adapted to common laboratory techniques in molecular biology and delved further into biomedical research. She became deeply involved in her Master’s project and decided to pursue it at the doctoral level, remaining with the same team. She is now working on the impact of estrogens, specifically the estrogen receptor alpha, in prostate cancer. Her work and numerous collaborations with other student-researchers have led to the publication of eight manuscripts, six of which she is the first or co-first author. Notably, her research project was featured in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Investigation, where the estrogen receptor alpha was identified as a potential therapeutic target for treating prostate cancer.
In parallel with her research activities, she has been actively involved in various aspects of student life. Sensitive to the often-challenging situation faced by research students, she was a member of the RÉAGIR network for 4 years, an organization that promotes student mental health. In addition to her role as a sentinel to assist students in need, she contributed to several initiatives of the association, including the publication of a resource guide to support international students as well as setting up a survey to assess the impact of the relationship with research management and financial instability on student mental health. She has also participated in several public outreach events aimed at making science more accessible to everyone and took part in the "Researchers for a Day" activity, which aims to stimulate high school students' curiosity and passion for biomedical research.
Throughout her training, Camille has received numerous awards and scholarships that have recognized the excellence of her academic record and her extracurricular involvement. As she approaches the end of her graduate studies, she hopes to continue advancing knowledge in cancer research while dedicating her time to support the most vulnerable individuals.