Groundbreaking Sensors Aimed at Analyzing Cell Signals in Cancer Will Be Developed at IRCUS!

The Université de Sherbrooke Cancer Research Institute (IRCUS) is pleased to welcome in its institution a new professor and researcher: Kian Jafari. He undertakes the development of micro/nano ultrasensitive sensors to detect biomolecules associated with cancers to facilitate diagnosis and early screening. His expertise reinforces the IRCUS interdisciplinarity, a driver for innovation meeting the most complex challenges of cancer.

Pr. Jafari multidisciplinary research program focuses on designing, making and assessing micro/nano systems, including microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). These systems are designed to be used in biomedical applications, such as point of care tests, early diagnosis and cancer targeted therapies. This program is conducted in close collaboration with clinicians and industrial partners in a resolutely interdisciplinary approach.

Together, we design interdisciplinary solutions to meet actual biomedical challenges, such as the early detection of cancer and the follow-up of minimally invasive therapies. These collaborations not only strengthened the clinical scope and impact of my research, but they also deepened my commitment towards an applied, innovative, and human-centred approach.

Kian Jafari, Professor and Researcher at IRCUS

Pr. Jafari was recently awarded a prestigious grant offered jointly by the Canadian Cancer Society and the Lotte & John Hecht Foundation ($250,000 over 3 years, 2025–2027) to design an ultrasensitive tool to study cancer cell signalling. For this project, Pr. Jafari heads a team that develops an innovative sensor dedicated to the study of the cell signals that enable cancer cells to survive and grow. This innovative project has the potential to lead to new targeted therapies.

Cancer cells behave differently from healthy cells. They often demonstrate an uncontrolled growth and proliferation, or do not respond to signals to stop growing or to die. Through the study of signalling molecules that control these processes, the researchers can identify the dysfunctional ones, which could become interesting treatment targets.

Pr. Jafari and his team plan to use their sensor to find the signals that control the reproduction of cancer cells, allowing the treatment to target specifically these signals and potentially stop or slow down the tumour growth.

This project could lead to new ways to analyze cancer and select a treatment with a higher likelihood of efficacy, a short-term treatment with fewer side effects, and — above all — improved results.

Let us also highlight that Pr. Jafari’s research project has the financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and of the Fonds de recherche du Québec.

About Kian Jafari
- Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Université de Sherbrooke’s Faculty of Engineering
- Professor and Researcher at the Université de Sherbrooke Cancer Research Institute (IRCUS)
- Professor and Researcher at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT)