Thomas Gervais, faculty lecturer in the Department of Engineering Physics at Polytechnique Montréal and journalist with the Télé-Québec television network science show Le Code Chastenay, took an award in the Audio/video report/interview/profile category. 

Our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Gervais!

The award-winning report is titled Pénétrer la barrière sang-cerveau (crossing the blood-brain barrier).

Brain cancers are very difficult to treat because the “noble organ” is protected by an almost impenetrable obstacle: the blood-brain barrier. A Montréal researcher has discovered the secret code for crossing that barrier. The researcher is Richard Béliveau, a doctor of biochemistry, best-selling author and television host. The secret code is called Angiopep. It's a tiny bit of protein to which an anti-cancer medication can be attached. Since the complex goes directly to cancer cells, the injected doses are much smaller than in traditional chemotherapy. The Montréal company Angiochem, co-founded by Mr. Béliveau, is now turning its attention to other illnesses that are rooted in the brain, such as Parkinson's, obesity and chronic pain. (Source: Le Code Chastenay, Télé-Québec.)

Online:
To see the report by Thomas Gervais, click here (in French only).

To see the list of Grands prix du journalisme indépendant winners, click here (in French only).

To read about Thomas Gervais's expertise, click here.