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CHAL  |  Cardiovascular Health across the Lifespan Program

Themes

The Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan (CHAL) Program brings together scientists on the leading edge of basic, clinical and health outcomes research. These researchers contribute to the advancement of knowledge and development of innovative therapies against cardiac and cardiovascular diseases in children as well as in adults. The program encompasses three major themes, with research underway on (1) vascular health, (2) cardiac health and (3) complex heart health.

Vascular Health

A core of fundamental CHAL scientists investigates the cellular and molecular bases of hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and vascular injury. Their expertise ranges from molecular biology, genetics, microscopy and bioinformatics to proteomics and lipidomics. These researchers seek to better understand the mechanisms of lipid metabolism, systemic vascular diseases, valvular calcification and aortic stenosis, as well as to identify genetic candidates for cardiovascular diseases. All of these fields have a high potential to lead to novel therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Renzo Cecere (cardiomyocytes, human induced-pluripotent stem cells, angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor)

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou (apodinectin, molecular signaling pathways, immunohistochemistry, atherosclerosis, ischemia)

Dr. James Engert (genetics, lipoproteins, hypercholesterolemia, metabolism, biosynthesis)

Dr. Jacques Genest (genetic and metabolic factors, lipoproteins, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease)

Dr. Robert Kiss (cellular and molecular biology, lipoproteins, cholesterol, trafficking, microscopy)

Dr. Louise Pilote (women’s vascularhealth, novel physiological and blood biomarkers of endothelial function)

Dr. Adel Schwertani (aortic valve disease, atherosclerosis, Wnt signaling, stem cell therapy)

Cardiac Health

CHAL researchers grouped in this theme investigate surgical outcomes related to coronary diseases, heart failures, arrhythmias and valve diseases. Their expertise reflects a strong interest in the identification of novel non-invasive imaging tools for myocardial oxygenation measurements as well as microvascular markers of cardiac function. All aspects of pre- and post-operative care are investigated, from cost-effectiveness and risk assessments to clinical outcomes, implementation of new surgical technologies, policies and guidelines for heart diseases.

Dr. Jonathan Afilalo (cardiac surgery trials, risk assessments, clinical outcomes)

Dr. Jean-Pierre Beaudry (myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery)

Dr. Martin Bernier (ventricular arrhythmias, cardiac surgery, 3D mapping, electrocardiology)

Dr. Amal Bessissow (post-surgical outcomes, cardiac surgery, guidelines)

Dr. David Bracco (cardiac surgery, anesthesia, pre-/post-operative care)

Dr. Dominique Chalut (asthma, respiratory assessments, clinical trials)

Dr. Robert Côté (stroke management, prevention, quality of care, clinical trials)

Dr. Vidal Essebag (cardiac surgery, treatment, outcomes, guidelines)

Dr. Matthias Friedrich (cardiology, coronary artery stenosis, myocardial water content, clinical care)

Dr. Nadia Giannetti (clinical trials, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, health policy and guidelines, clinical outcomes)

Dr. Thao Huynh (ethnicity and gender differences in heart disease, guidelines, population health, knowledge translation)

Dr. Kevin Lachapelle (aortic tissue biomechanics, aortic pathology, 3D printing)

Dr. Sheldon Magder (artery occlusion, vascular pressure, blood volume, clinical trials, surgery outcomes)

Dr. Giuseppe Martucci (aortic valve diseases and replacement, surgical outcomes)

Dr. Negareh Mousavi (cardiac surgery, clinical outcomes)

Dr. David Mulder (thoracic injury and surgery, lung cancer, airways)

Dr. Nicolo Piazza (heart valve surgery, clinical trials, outcomes)

Dr. Stéphane Rinfret (vascular occlusion, perfusion therapy, clinical outcomes)

Dr. Dominique Shum-Tim (stem cell therapy, tissue engineering, cardiac injury, ischemia)

Dr. Oren Steinmetz (aortic intervention, endovascular intervention, population outcomes, carotid artery stenosis)

Complex Heart Health

Scientists grouped in this theme aim to establish national and international health networks to build knowledge translation in order to improve drug safety and effectiveness, healthcare policies and the quality of cardiovascular care. CHAL experts in population health outcomes research are creating databases for determinants of cardiovascular diseases (gender-based differences, genes, psychological and environmental factors), as well as for such disorders as congenital heart disease. In addition, some CHAL researchers have an interest in generating new disease models that will help in finding innovative health technology-based interventions.

Dr. Michal Abrahamowicz (biostatistics, mathematical models, multivariable data, analyses of large, multicenter cluster-randomized trials)

Dr. James Brophy (cardiovascular and pharmacoepidemiology, cost-effectiveness analyses, health technology assessments)

Dr. Natalie Dayan (pregnancy outcomes, postpartum vascularhealth, pre-eclampsia)

Dr. Mark Goldberg (environment, air pollution, health outcomes, population health)

Dr. Ariane Marelli (congenital heart disease, health policies and services, incidence/prevalence, population health)

Dr. Louise Pilote (clinical cohorts, gender differences in vascularhealth, stroke/cognitive function, heart disease, hypertension, comparative effectiveness of cardiac drugs and devices, population health)

Dr. Allan Sniderman (meta-analyses, regression analyses, hypercholesterolemia and myocardial infarction)

Dr. George Thanassoulis (genomics, family history, molecular epidemiology, cardiovascular and cardiac diseases)