2014-2015 Value: $5,000

Georgette LeMoyne (1884-1975) was one of the first women to receive a university degree in French Canada. She devoted her life to the promotion of education and employment for women. It is for graduate study in any field at a Canadian university. The candidate must be studying in French and write the Statement of Intent (Section I) of the application in French.

2013-2014 Winner: JOËLLE LAVOIE

B.Sc. Medical Biology, 2008, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)
M.Sc. Neurobiology, 2009, Laval University
Ph.D. Neurobioloby, 2009-2014, Laval University


Since the human brain cannot be directly accessed for investigation, one of the research priorities in psychiatry is the discovery of new biomarkers of brain disorders, in other words, measurable physiological characteristics that can predict the presence or absence of a pathology.  This research focuses on the retina, since, along with the brain, it too is part of the central nervous system, and because anomalies in retinal function measured by an electroretinogram (ERG) have been reported in patients with psychiatric disorders.  The goal of the study is to better understand the origin of these anomalies in order to eventually use the ERG as a biomarker for brain disorders.