Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Research Chair in Autism Cognitive Neuroscience
An internationally renowned autism expert has received major support to advance research and insight into the developmental disorder, thanks to a $3 million gift from the Marcel & Rolande Gosselin Foundation.
Dr. Laurent Mottron will head the new Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Research Chair in Autism Cognitive Neuroscience of the Université de Montréal. The chair will oversee a multidisciplinary team of scientists based at the Centre d'excellence en Troubles envahissants du développement de l'Université de Montréal (CETEDUM), associated with the Faculty of Medicine, and two affiliated institutions, the Rivière-des-Prairies Hospital and Sainte Justine University Hospital Research Center.
Dr. Mottron, full professor at the Université de Montréal's Department of Psychiatry, and researcher at the Fernand-Seguin Research Center, thanked the Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Foundation for supporting this innovative research. "The generosity of this private foundation will allow us to launch pilot studies on early intervention, education support and job access, based on scientific results," explained Dr. Mottron. "We can investigate whether autistic children can use their proficiency for written language and transfer this knowledge to improve their skills in oral expression. The Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Research chair in Autism Cognitive Neuroscience of the Université de Montréal will support cutting-edge investigations that are difficult to finance via external sources.”
Mr. Paul Jutras, of the Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Foundation, said that the new chair would encourage scientists from the three institutions to further collaborate, shedding more light on a complex disorder. “By financing this new chair, the Marcel and Rolande Gosselin foundation hopes to bolster public awareness and medical understanding of autism,” he stated. “This chair will serve as a nucleus for autism discovery and knowledge, for the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine, Rivière-des-Prairies Hospital and the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center.”
A Gift to Benefit Society
Mr. Donat Taddeo, vice-rector, Development and Alumni Relations at the Université de Montréal, said that this generous endowment would further the quality of care for autism and strengthen the University’s international collaborations, as well as their partners’. "The University, as well as its affiliated hospitals, extend their heartfelt thanks for the Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Foundation for this generous gift that will benefit society and improve healthcare," added Mr. Taddeo. "The Marcel & Rolande Gosselin Research Chair in Autism Cognitive Neuroscience of the Université de Montréal will serve as a platform to push scientific knowledge of autism into new areas and help people with this deficiency lead more fulfilling lives.”
Mr. Michel Lapointe, director-general at Rivière-des-Prairies Hospital, said that the chair is a welcome addition to the institution. "In addition to its mission of care and education, the Rivière-des-Prairies hospital prioritizes research into pervasive developmental disorders," he said. "Dr. Laurent Mottron has dedicated his career to autism research, and as head of the Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Research Chair in Autism Cognitive Neuroscience of the Université de Montréal, he will bring knowledge of the disorder to new levels."
Mrs. Lucie Bertrand, vice-president of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center board added, "This chair will allow the Université de Montréal, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center and Rivière-des-Prairies Hospital to help scientific research in the field of autism as well as tighten links between clinical and fundamental results. The ultimate result, which is the core mission of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, will be improved care for children by healthcare professionals in partnership with the education and research sectors."
About Laurent Mottron
About Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism is a common neurodevelopmental disability characterized by profound differences in information processing and analysis. Autism is diagnosed according to anomalies in social interaction, communications, motor mannerisms and strong focused interests. These neurological and cognitive differences can result in great success or great difficulties. Even with early diagnosis, it is very difficult to predict the outcome of this pervasive developmental disorder.
About the Foundation
The Marcel and Rolande Gosselin Foundation was created to advance research into heart disease, cancer and pediatric illnesses. The foundation was named after two Montrealers, Marcel Gosselin, who died in 1981, and his wife, Rolande Gosselin (born Dubreuil), who died in 2002. Until now, endowments have been used to create an art therapy program at the Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, a special asthma fund at the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation, and the Marcel & Rolande Gosselin Research Chair in Autism Cognitive Neuroscience of the Université de Montréal.