The Faces of IRCUS: Meet Kelly Harper

Kelly Harper, professional member at IRCUS in the laboratory of Professor and Researcher Claire Dubois.
Photo : Mathieu Lanthier - UdeS

In 2026, the Université de Sherbrooke Cancer Research Institute (IRCUS) is celebrating its 5th anniversary by highlighting the richness and commitment of its community. Throughout The Faces of IRCUS series, you will meet the people who are helping to transform hope into tangible progress for people affected by cancer.

Meet Kelly Harper, professional member at IRCUS.

Kelly Harper earned her Master and PhD degrees in the laboratory of Professor Claire Dubois, where she devoted herself to fundamental research on the mechanisms of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship during which she developed an in vivo model capable of predicting patients’ response to therapies.

What led you to your current role at IRCUS, and what does your work involve today?

The development of our new in vivo model and the potential to have a direct impact on patients led me to stay on as a research coordinator in the laboratory of Professor Claire Dubois, where I am working on the CAM‑avatar Glioma Phase 2 project, funded by Medteq+.

Kelly Harper leading a workshop during the 5th edition of IRCUS Open House, on May 3, 2026, an event specially designed for children affected by cancer, in collaboration with Leucan, to mark the 5th anniversary of IRCUS.
Photo : Mathieu Lanthier - UdeS

What role have you played since IRCUS was founded?

I have participated as a volunteer guide at every edition of the IRCUS Open Doors for people affected by cancer. I was also involved in organizing the Cancer Research Symposium—Sherbrooke in 2023 and in 2025. I also enjoy participating in the Cyclo-Walk Sherbrooke Classic to raise funds for cancer research at IRCUS with my lab!

What motivated you to get involved with IRCUS?

My mother is a breast cancer survivor. which drove me to pursue studies in cancer research in the first place and motivated me to get involved with the IRCUS Open House, where I can provide information and hope to cancer patients and their families.

Kelly Harper with her mother, a cancer survivor who profoundly inspired her to pursue cancer research and to become actively involved in activities organized by IRCUS for people affected by cancer.
Photo : provided

What event or person at IRCUS has made a significant impact on you?

Each time I participate in the IRCUS Open Doors, I am touched by the gratitude and kindness of the cancer patients and their loved ones, whom we have the privilege of meeting. I leave the event with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to advance our research and to strive to make a positive impact for patients.

Can you tell us a touching or memorable anecdote from your time at IRCUS?

This year, at the Cyclo-Walk Sherbrooke Classic, after hearing the moving testimony of a cancer survivor, we blew soap bubbles into the air to symbolize our hopes. I was standing near another survivor who was trying to take a photo with all the bubbles, so everyone around her started blowing even more bubbles. She looked so happy and radiant. I hope she managed to capture a beautiful picture.

How do you see IRCUS evolving over the next five years?

I hope for more opportunities for collaboration and building research groups to bridge the gap between fundamental and translational research, and to bring results to patients faster. I also hope to increase our collaborations with patient partners to better orient our research towards what patients need.

What has IRCUS let you express, experience or build?

The IRCUS has allowed me to experience a greater connection with the cancer patients for whom we are doing our research, bringing a new perspective to our work. I hope that, in the future, the IRCUS will allow us to offer our CAM‑avatar model predictions to more patients, to improve their responses to treatment and reduce negative side effects.

Which achievement related to your work at IRCUS would make you the proudest?

The accomplishment I would be most proud of would be seeing the direct impact of our research on patients’ well‑being—knowing that the use of our model could help people with cancer live longer and feel more confident in their personalized treatment choices. That would be the best possible outcome!

The 5th anniversary of IRCUS is not only a time to look back on the path we have taken but also the beginning of a new chapter in which researchers, the community, and partners come together to transform the future of cancer. Together, let’s keep building a world where every discovery brings us closer to a cure and every act of support helps save lives.

To stay up to date with this inspiring year of celebrations, follow IRCUS on:
LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.