Faculty profile

Michael Pollak

ResearcherOncologyMcGill University

This profile is built from public research funding records (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) and PubMed. We have not imported them from a McGill University directory, so their courses may be missing. Find their university profile.

Michael Pollak

Researcher

Oncology

Health Sciences

McGill University

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Supervision signals

Has led research grants, which requires an independent research appointment. Ask their department whether they supervise graduate students.
23 publications in the last five years, latest in 2026.
Senior (last) author on 1 recent paper, a sign of leading a research group.
Principal investigator on 3 research grants (3 CIHR), most recently in 2025.
Supervised 3 trainees who won CIHR awards, most recently in 2019.

These signals come from public records, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

Academic metrics

125

Publications

Citations

h-index

Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the works listed on the university profile; citation counts come from Dimensions.

Profiles and links

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Signals and details

Research

Biomarkers Cancer Prevention Mechanisms Obesity Pharmacoepidemiology Semaglutide Tirzepatide Elf4a

Latest papers

ASO Visual Abstract: Adherence to Endocrine Prevention in Patients with Atypical Hyperplasia and Lobular Carcinoma In Situ: Promising Trends from Real-World Use of Low-Dose Tamoxifen.
Annals of surgical oncology · 2026
Adherence to Endocrine Prevention in Patients with Atypical Hyperplasia and Lobular Carcinoma In Situ: Promising Trends from Real-World Use of Low-Dose Tamoxifen.
Annals of surgical oncology · 2026
Systematic assessment of obesity-related risk factors in renal cancer etiology: A longitudinal risk and Mendelian randomization analysis.
PLoS medicine · 2026

All 125 publications

Latest funding

Incretin-mimetic drugs for cancer prevention: Mechanisms and clinical potential
CIHR · 2025 · Nominated PI
Targeting lipid metabolism in chemoresistant breast cancer
CIHR · 2021 · Co-investigator
$1,009,800
INTERCEPTORs: engINeered ThERapeutiC dEfensive Particles TO SARS-CoV-2
CIHR · 2020 · Co-investigator
$745,124

All 16 grants and awards

125 publications.

ASO Visual Abstract: Adherence to Endocrine Prevention in Patients with Atypical Hyperplasia and Lobular Carcinoma In Situ: Promising Trends from Real-World Use of Low-Dose Tamoxifen.

Cuillerier NJS, Almarzooqi H, Corpuz VV, Saboobheh S, Prakash I, Basik M, Boileau JF, Martel K, Meterissian S, Pollak M, Wong SM

Annals of surgical oncology2026

DOI: 10.1245/s10434-026-19288-8 PMID: 41824212

Adherence to Endocrine Prevention in Patients with Atypical Hyperplasia and Lobular Carcinoma In Situ: Promising Trends from Real-World Use of Low-Dose Tamoxifen.

Cuillerier NJS, Almarzooqi H, Villareal-Corpuz V, Sabboobeh S, Prakash I, Basik M, Boileau JF, Martel K, Meterissian S, Pollak M, Wong SM

Annals of surgical oncology2026

DOI: 10.1245/s10434-026-19100-7 PMID: 41654661

Systematic assessment of obesity-related risk factors in renal cancer etiology: A longitudinal risk and Mendelian randomization analysis.

Alcala K, Mariosa D, Jacobson S, Coscia-Requena C, Dimou N, Franklin O, Martin RM, Smith GD, Gunter MJ, Brennan P, Pollak M, Langdon R, Johansson M

PLoS medicine2026

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004906 PMID: 41666231

Mitochondrial ETF insufficiency drives neoplastic growth by selectively optimizing cancer bioenergetics.

Papadopoli D, Palia R, Jovanovic P, Tabariès S, Ciccolini E, Sabourin V, Igelmann S, McLaughlan S, Zhan L, Kim H, Chekkal N, Szkop KJ, Bertomeu T, Zeng J, Vassalakis J, Afzali F, Mzoughi S, Guccione E, Tyers M, Avizonis D, Larsson O, Postovit LM, Djuranovic S, Ursini-Siegel J, Siegel PM, Pollak M, Topisirovic I

eLife2026

DOI: 10.7554/elife.106587 PMID: 42085321

Diet-microbiome synergy underlies obesity-associated immunotherapy efficacy.

Desharnais L, Swaby A, Messaoudene M, Doré S, Yu MW, Fiset B, Breton V, Ponce M, Hu Y, Wilson L, Sorin M, Wang Y, Dewar K, Pollak M, Elkrief A, Routy B, Walsh LA, Quail DF

Nature2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10750-x PMID: 42420462

Inflammation and insulin profiles in men assigned to exercise vs. usual care for prostate cancer: results from the active surveillance exercise (ASX) randomized controlled trial.

Pace WA, Olshen A, Wang Y, Kenfield SA, Van Blarigan EL, Graff RE, Cowan J, Wang L, Tenggara I, Lopez K, Encabo K, Jones LW, Panchal N, Cooperberg MR, Carroll PR, Luke A, Pollak M, Chan JM

Cancer causes & control : CCC2026

DOI: 10.1007/s10552-025-02102-3 PMID: 41546786

Reply by Authors.

Eigl BJ, Elangovan A, Ghosh S, Kim JO, Thoms J, Bouchard M, Peacock M, Fleshner N, Campbell H, Vigneault E, Vincent F, So A, Cury F, Quon H, Carlson R, Lambert C, Klotz L, Chi K, Brundage M, Pollak M, Rebane L, Chiu L, Courneya KS, Usmani N

The Journal of urology2025

DOI: 10.1097/ju.0000000000004731 PMID: 40928018

A Randomized Phase 3 Trial of Metformin in Patients Initiating Androgen Deprivation Therapy as Prevention and Intervention of Metabolic Syndrome: The PRIME Study.

The Journal of urology2025

DOI: 10.1097/ju.0000000000004695 PMID: 40711960

Incretin-Based Drugs and the Incidence of Endometrial Cancer Among People with Type 2 Diabetes: Active Comparator New-User Design.

Rothman SM, Yin H, Yu OHY, Pollak M, Azoulay L

Drug safety2025

DOI: 10.1007/s40264-025-01551-8 PMID: 40347221

Nonnutritive Sweetener Consumption, Metabolic Risk Factors, and Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Adults in the Cancer Prevention Study-3 Diet Assessment Sub-Study.

Sylvetsky AC, Wang Y, Reddy AG, Um CY, Hodge RA, Lichtman C, Mitchell D, Nanavati A, Pollak M, Wang Y, Patel AV, McCullough ML

The Journal of nutrition2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.03.020 PMID: 40127735

Incretin-mimetic drugs for cancer prevention: Mechanisms and clinical potential

Nominated PICIHR2025Team Grant: Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention - General Pool

Principal investigators: Pollak, Michael N; Ammendolea, Cathy; Azoulay, Laurent; Muller, William J

Keywords: Biomarkers; Cancer Prevention; Mechanisms; Obesity; Pharmacoepidemiology; Semaglutide; Tirzepatide

Targeting lipid metabolism in chemoresistant breast cancer

Co-investigatorCIHR2021Project Grant

Principal investigators: Basik, Mark

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Chemotherapy; Drug Resistance; Lipid Droplets; Lipid Metabolism; Patient Derived Xenografts; Transcriptomics

$1,009,800

INTERCEPTORs: engINeered ThERapeutiC dEfensive Particles TO SARS-CoV-2

Co-investigatorCIHR2020Operating Grant: COVID-19 Rapid Research Funding Opportunity - Therapeutics

Principal investigators: Sonenberg, Nahum; Pelletier, Jerry M

Keywords: Biotherapeutic; Coronavirus; Covid-19; Defective Interfering Particles; Recombination; Reverse Genetics; Sars-Cov-2; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

$745,124

Characterizing the role of ETFDH on cancer biology

SupervisorCIHR2019CIHR Fellowship

Principal investigators: Papadopoli, David

Keywords: Cancer; Electron Transport Chain; Metabolism; Mrna Translation; Mtor

$135,000

Targeting mRNA translation to effectively treat metastatic breast cancer

Co-investigatorCIHR2018Operating Grant: SU2C Canada - Metastatic Breast Cancer Dream Team

Principal investigators: Sonenberg, Nahum

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Cancer Immunology; Clinical Trials; Metastasis; Mrna Translation; Patient-Derived Xenografts; Predictive Biomarkers; Sygneneic In Vivo Models; Targeted Therapies; Translatomics

$2,500,000

Direct inhibition of mRNA translation for treatment of pancreatic cancer

Nominated PICIHR2016Operating Grant: CCSRI Innovation Grants

Principal investigators: Pollak, Michael N

Keywords: Elf4a; Genetically Engineered Murine Model; Mrna Translation; Pancreatic; Pharmacodynamic Marker; Silvestrol

$96,040

Direct targeting of translation machinery in cancer treatment

Nominated PICIHR2016Project Grant

Principal investigators: Pollak, Michael N

Keywords: Cancer; Energy; Preclinical Models; Protein Synthesis

$100,000

Defining the role of the stromal-epithelial interaction on prostate cancer development

SupervisorCIHR2015CIHR Fellowship

Principal investigators: Cargnello, Marie

Keywords: Bioengineered Scaffolds; Metabolomics; Microenvironment; Prostate Cancer; Systems Biology; Translatomics

$135,000

Cancer pharmacoepidemiology: a population-based assessment of the risks of prescription drugs in vulnerable populations

Co-investigatorCIHR2014Foundation Grant

Principal investigators: Azoulay, Laurent

Keywords: Cancer; Drug Safety; Electronic Patient Databases; Epidemiology; Pharmacoepidemiology; Population Based; Public Health

$852,701

Metformin: A radio- and chemo- sensitizer in prostate cancer

Co-investigatorCIHR2013Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Venkateswaran, Vasundara

Keywords: Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer; Docetaxel; Hyperinsulinemia; Insulin/Igf Signaling; Ionizing Radiation; Metformin; Obesity; Prostate Cancer; Prostate Cancer Stem Cells; Xenograft

$50,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

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Michael Pollak

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

ASO Visual Abstract: Adherence to Endocrine Prevention in Patients with Atypical Hyperplasia and Lobular Carcinoma In Situ: Promising Trends from Real-World Use of Low-Dose Tamoxifen.

Adherence to Endocrine Prevention in Patients with Atypical Hyperplasia and Lobular Carcinoma In Situ: Promising Trends from Real-World Use of Low-Dose Tamoxifen.

Systematic assessment of obesity-related risk factors in renal cancer etiology: A longitudinal risk and Mendelian randomization analysis.

Mitochondrial ETF insufficiency drives neoplastic growth by selectively optimizing cancer bioenergetics.

Diet-microbiome synergy underlies obesity-associated immunotherapy efficacy.

Inflammation and insulin profiles in men assigned to exercise vs. usual care for prostate cancer: results from the active surveillance exercise (ASX) randomized controlled trial.

Reply by Authors.

A Randomized Phase 3 Trial of Metformin in Patients Initiating Androgen Deprivation Therapy as Prevention and Intervention of Metabolic Syndrome: The PRIME Study.

Incretin-Based Drugs and the Incidence of Endometrial Cancer Among People with Type 2 Diabetes: Active Comparator New-User Design.

Nonnutritive Sweetener Consumption, Metabolic Risk Factors, and Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Adults in the Cancer Prevention Study-3 Diet Assessment Sub-Study.

Frequent collaborators

Ivan Topisirovic

Ivan Topisirovic

Julie St-Pierre

Nahum Sonenberg

Laurent Azoulay

Simon-Pierre Gravel

Laurent Azoulay

Laura Hulea

Mark Basik

Julie St-Pierre

Neil Fleshner

Caroline Diorio

Ipshita Prakash

Kim Chi

Michael Brundage

Eric Vigneault

Sarkis Meterissian

Michael Peacock

Constantin Polychronakos

Nawaid Usmani

Samy Suissa

Jerry Pelletier

Lawrence Panasci

Alan So

Sonia Del Rincon

Peter Metrakos

Marc Afilalo

Arielle Elkrief

Lynne-Marie Postovit

Mohan Malleshaiah

Vincent Mooser

Morag Park

Michael Witcher

Jonathan Afilalo

Gerald Batist

Gerald Batist

William Muller

Thibault Mayor

Nathalie Johnson

Rongtuan Lin