A Canadian first: Jonathan Richard receives a fellowship from amfAR for HIV/AIDS research

The aim of the Krim Fellowship program is to support bright young scientists in their search for innovative solutions in the field of HIV/AIDS. A few Canadian scientists working in research centres and universities abroad have received this fellowship in the past. But for the first time, one of the three fellowships awarded this year was given to a Canadian affiliated with a Canadian research centre and university, confirmed amfAR. 

This $150,000 fellowship, covering a two-year period, is a springboard for the career of Richard, a postdoctoral student working in the laboratory of researcher Andrés Finzi. “With this fellowship, my goal is to develop my own research program and operate as an independent university researcher in the near future,” stated Richard. 

Richard is pursuing his postdoctoral training under the direction of CRCHUM researcher and Université de Montréal professor Andrés Finzi, who received the same fellowship in 2010 as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School’s Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In only four years of postdoctoral work, Richard has coauthored 23 publications and collaborated with leaders in the vaccine field thanks to his participation in CHAVI-ID, a large consortium working to develop an effective HIV vaccine.