Kaplan Award

Award-Winner 2025

Marie Trudel, Ph.D., a professor in the Université de Montréal’s the Department of Medicine, was awarded the 2025 Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize for Advancement in the Understanding of Polycystic Kidney Disease for the comprehensive research program she established on autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

In 1982, Dr. Trudel obtained her doctorate in biochemistry from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie. She did post-doctoral trainingsat the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (London) and with Dr. Frank Costantini at Columbia University (New York). Over the years, Dr. Trudel received several studentships and fellowships from Foreign Government Affairs – France, Medical Research Foundation, Institut de Recherche en Santé et Sécurité du travail, American Leukemia Society, and the Centennial Fellowship of the Medical Research Council of Canada.

Today, Dr. Trudel’s laboratory is working on deciphering the cellular and physiological mechanisms responsible for PKD by developing relevant mouse models that closely reproduce human renal and extrarenal ADPKD manifestations. Studies from her team advanced the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of ADPKD and identified potential therapeutic targets for PKD treatment toward preclinical and clinical investigation.

Commenting on the award, she says, “I am deeply honored and highly grateful to receive the 2025 Lilian Jean Kaplan Award. I am also indebted to my marvelous co-workers, particularly Dr. A. Kurbegovic whose unwavering dedication and tireless efforts have, over the years become an invaluable colleague. I am also profoundly thankful to my exceptional collaborators Dr. V. D’Agati, Dr. Seth Alper, Dr. Feng Qian, and to the PKD colleagues for their invaluable support and enthusiasm.”