Dr. Lucie Germain, Ph.D., is a full professor at the Department of Surgery and Vice Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at Laval University. Within the CHU de Québec-Laval University Research Center, she was Director of the Regenerative Medicine Division until 2014. Her work, dedicated to postnatal stem cells and human tissue reconstruction, led to three clinical trials involving engineered tissues produced in vitro applied to the treatment of venous ulcers, severely burned patients and limbal stem cell deficiency of the cornea. Dr. Germain has published more than 155 peer-reviewed articles, 67 book chapters and reviews and given more than 135 invited seminars and conferences. Her sustainable contribution as health research was recognized by the Foundation scheme of Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which allowed her a financial support for seven years in 2015. The Canada research chair program also recognized Dr. Germain as a leader in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine by granting her a junior Tier-2 chair in 2001 and a senior Tier 1 chair in 2015. In 2013, she was nominated Member of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and was appointed Vice-Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at the Faculty of Medicine of Laval University in 2014.

Improving patients care through the application of her research is at the heart of her motivations. She holds the Research Chair on tissue-engineered organs and translational medicine from the Foundation of Laval University. Her research is dedicated to the reconstruction of human tissues, mainly skin, cornea, blood vessels and heart valves for experimental and clinical applications. The tissue-engineered models developed by Dr. Germain are designed for physiological, pathophysiological or pharmacotoxicological studies. Her research aims to better define molecular signaling pathways involved in stem cell regulation and differentiation. Her work also focuses on improving functionality of reconstructed tissues, for example by adding melanocytes to skin substitutes to improve their pigmentation and UV protection. An important part of her research aims to shorten the time required to produce skin substitutes and to develop a serum-free culture medium for cell and tissue culture. Finally, Dr. Germain actively works on strategies aimed at integrating tissue engineering and gene therapy to find new treatments for genetic skin disorders such as epidermolysis bullosa.

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Latest news

198 entries « ‹ 1 of 20 › »

Meng S, Mao J, Rouse EN, Le-Bel G, Bourget JM, Reed RR, Philippe E, How D, Zhang Z, Germain L, Guidoin R

The Red Kangaroo pericardium as a material source for the manufacture of percutaneous heart valves.

Journal Article

Morphologie, 103 (341), pp. 37-47, 2019, ISSN: 1286-0115.

Abstract | Links:

Le-Bel G, Ghio SC, Larouche D, Germain L, Guerin SL

Qualitatively Monitoring Binding and Expression of the Transcription Factors Sp1 and NFI as a Useful Tool to Evaluate the Quality of Primary Cultured Epithelial Stem Cells in Tissue Reconstruction.

Journal Article

Methods Mol Biol, 1879 , pp. 43-73, 2019, ISSN: 1064-3745.

Abstract | Links:

Cantin-Warren L, Guignard R, Cortez Ghio S, Larouche D, Auger FA, Germain L

Specialized Living Wound Dressing Based on the Self-Assembly Approach of Tissue Engineering.

Journal Article

J Funct Biomater, 9 (3), 2018, ISSN: 2079-4983.

Abstract | Links:

Germain L, Larouche D, Nedelec B, Perreault I, Duranceau L, Bortoluzzi P, Beaudoin Cloutier C, Genest H, Caouette-Laberge L, Dumas A, Bussiere A, Boghossian E, Kanevsky J, Leclerc Y, Lee J, Nguyen MT, Bernier V, Knoppers BM, Moulin VJ, Auger FA

Autologous bilayered self-assembled skin substitutes (SASSs) as permanent grafts: a case series of 14 severely burned patients indicating clinical effectiveness.

Journal Article

Eur Cell Mater, 36 , pp. 128-141, 2018.

Abstract | Links:

Cortez Ghio S, Cantin-Warren L, Guignard R, Larouche D, Germain L

Are the Effects of the Cholera Toxin and Isoproterenol on Human Keratinocytes' Proliferative Potential Dependent on Whether They Are Co-Cultured with Human or Murine Fibroblast Feeder Layers?

Journal Article

Int J Mol Sci, 19 (8), 2018.

Abstract | Links:

Dakiw Piaceski A, Larouche D, Ghani K, Bisson F, Cortez Ghio S, Larochelle S, Moulin MJ, Caruso M, Germain L

Translating the combination of gene therapy and tissue engineering for treating recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Journal Article

Eur Cell Mater, 35 , pp. 73-86, 2018.

Abstract | Links:

Couture C, Desjardins P, Zaniolo K, Germain L, Guerin SL

Enhanced wound healing of tissue-engineered human corneas through altered phosphorylation of the CREB and AKT signal transduction pathways.

Journal Article

Acta Biomater, 73 , pp. 312-325, 2018, ISSN: 1742-7061.

Abstract | Links:

Le-Bel G, Giasson CJ, Deschambeault A, Carrier P, Germain L, Guerin SL

The presence of a feeder layer improves human corneal endothelial cell proliferation by altering the expression of the transcription factors Sp1 and NFI.

Journal Article

Exp Eye Res, 176 , pp. 161-173, 2018, ISSN: 0014-4835.

Abstract | Links:

Mao J, Wang Y, Philippe E, Cianciulli T, Vesely I, How D, Bourget JM, Germain L, Zhang Z, Guidoin R

Microstructural alterations owing to handling of bovine pericardium to manufacture bioprosthetic heart valves: A potential risk for cusp dehiscence.

Journal Article

Morphologie, 101 (333), pp. 77-87, 2017, ISSN: 1286-0115.

Abstract | Links:

Bourget JM, Zegdi R, Lin J, Wawryko P, Merhi Y, Convelbo C, Mao J, Fu Y, Xu T, Merkel NO, Wang L, Germain L, Zhang Z, Guidoin R

Correlation between structural changes and acute thrombogenicity in transcatheter pericardium valves after crimping and balloon deployment.

Journal Article

Morphologie, 101 (332), pp. 19-32, 2017, ISSN: 1286-0115.

Abstract | Links:

198 entries « ‹ 1 of 20 › »
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Active projects

  • Centre de recherche en organogenèse expérimentale, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, BDR - Centres de recherche reconnus, from 2011-05-01 to 2020-09-22
  • Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Subvention, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Centres de recherche affiliés, from 2017-01-01 to 2099-12-31
  • Chaire de recherche du Canada EN CELLULES SOUCHES ET GÉNIE TISSULAIRE, Subvention, Secrétariat des Chaires de recherche du Canada, Chaires de recherche du Canada - Fonctionnement, from 2015-01-01 to 2021-12-31
  • Chaire de recherche sur les organes reconstruits en laboratoire et leurs applications cliniques, Subvention, Fondation de l'Université Laval, Chaires de recherche sans organismes subventionnaires, from 2013-05-01 to 2023-08-12
  • Corneal transplantation: The traditional paradigm revisited, Subvention, Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, Subvention de fonctionnement, from 2013-04-01 to 2019-03-31
  • Development of skin-humanized mouse model for psoriasis, Partenariat, MITACS Inc., Bourse de recherche Mitacs Globalink, from 2019-01-07 to 2019-08-23
  • Feasability stuy on the production of skin substitutes from revertant gene corrected cells from DEB patients, Subvention, Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation, from 2018-04-25 to 2019-04-24
  • Gene therapy for junctional epidermolysis bullosa, Subvention, Le Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, Subvention pour projet de recherche sur une maladie héréditaire orpheline, from 2018-10-01 to 2019-09-30
  • Journée de la recherche de la Faculté de médecine, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, Fonds général de recherche du CRSNG, from 2010-11-24 to 2019-03-31
  • Les cellules souches épithéliales et le génie tissulaire : de la recherche fondamentale à la recherche clinique., Subvention, Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, Subventions Fondation, from 2015-07-01 to 2022-06-30
  • Soutien à la recherche dans le domaine des maladies auto-immunes et de la cicatrisation, Subvention, Fondation de l'Université Laval, from 2016-04-01 to 2021-03-31

Recently finished projects

  • Cérémonie d'investiture - Temple de la renommée médicale canadienne, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, BDR - Cas spéciaux et obligations institutionnelles, from 2015-11-01 to 2017-04-30
  • Monitoring expression of the transcription factors Sp1 and NFI as markers of cell quality in human corneal epithelial cells cultured on amniotic membranes, Subvention, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé, Réseaux thématiques de recherche, from 2017-10-26 to 2018-03-31
  • Production standardisée de peau reconstruite bilamellaire (PRB), Partenariat, Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et des Exportations, Programme de soutien à la valorisation et au transfert (PSVT) - Volet 2 : Soutien à l'innovation sociale et aux projets structurants en valorisation et transfert, from 2015-03-16 to 2017-05-16
  • The Canadian National Transplant Research Program : Increasing Donation and Improving Transplantation Outcomes, Subvention, Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, Autre : Recherche sur la transplantation, from 2013-04-01 to 2018-03-31
  • Treatment of patients with corneal limbal stem cell deficiencies using epithelial grafts, Subvention, Secrétariat Inter-Conseils (Canada) (CRSH, CRSNG, IRSC), Réseau de centres d'excellence (RCE), from 2016-09-01 to 2017-08-31
Data provided by the Université Laval research projects registery