Since his arrival at CHUM in 2009, Dr. Moishe Liberman, a cancer researcher, has developed clinically recognized expertise in non-invasive thoracic surgery.

Today, he leads the CHUM Endoscopic Tracheobronchial and Oesophageal Centre (CETOC) which he founded in 2009. This endoscopy centre, the only one of its kind in North America, uses minimally invasive techniques to diagnose, stratify and treat diseases involving the trachea, bronchi, lungs, esophagus or stomach.

CETOC’s world-renowned fellowship program has enabled thoracic surgeons from South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile), the United States, Australia, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Canada to train at CHUM and to acquire expertise in interventional thoracic endoscopy.

A prolific researcher, Dr. Liberman has been involved in over 60 clinical trials during his years of practice and has contributed to nearly 170 publications in high-impact journals and some 50 book chapters.

In 2023, his international collaborations appeared in three publications of the prestigious The New England Journal of Medicine. These research works have led to major changes in the management of patients with stage 1, 2 and 3 lung cancer.

Looking to the future

Thanks to his innovation and technological development laboratory, he and his team have a fleet of 3D printers and scanners used to develop prototypes of minimally invasive endoscopic devices. They will be used for future cancer treatments through patients’ natural orifices, to avoid painful surgeries.

In 2019, in the context of lung cancer treatment, he paved the way for the generalized use of the thoracoscopic lobectomy. This video-assisted thoracic surgery technique, combined with ultrasonic sealing of the pulmonary artery, allows the patient undergoing surgery to recover faster.

In March 2023, Dr. Liberman and his team successfully achieved the first endobronchial lung cancer removal without the use of a scalpel. They removed the tumor using a robot designed in Quebec.

This North American first was be followed in December  2023 by the world’s first successful robotic esophagectomy using the OTC (outside the cage) approach, developed two years ago for lung surgery at CHUM.

For all these reasons, the CRCHUM Scientific Council members decided to award him the 2023 Award of Excellence—Career category, in recognition of his exceptional scientific contribution throughout his career.

The official award presentation will take place in May 2024 during the CRCHUM researchers’ retreat.

About the CRCHUM Awards of Excellence in Research

Awarded since 2012, the CRCHUM Awards of Excellence in Research are honorary distinctions recognizing the significant contribution of our researchers to the advancement of health research. Recipients are selected by the Research Centre’s Scientific Committee from our 160 regular researchers.