Richard Larivière

Professor Richard Larivière is a full professor in the Department of Medicine at Laval University and a researcher in the Endocrinology and Nephrology axis of the Research Center of the CHU de Québec–Laval University. After doctoral studies in Clinical Sciences (cardiovascular pharmacology) at the University of Montreal, and postdoctoral studies in molecular endocrinology at McGill University, Professor Larivière established himself as a professor-researcher in nephrology and arterial hypertension at the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec. He is an active member of the Amgen-Laval University Nephrology Research Chair, consisting of a multidisciplinary group of researchers, fundamentalists, clinicians, and clinical researchers.

The main objective of Professor Larivière’s research work is to better define the mechanisms of arterial hypertension, remodeling of the blood vessel wall, and vascular calcification. He particularly studies the role of endothelial dysfunction, that is, factors derived from the vascular endothelium, in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension and vascular and renal damage in cases of chronic kidney disease and aging. Over the years, he has demonstrated that the imbalance in endothelial production of vasoconstrictor and vasodilator factors, as well as pro-inflammatory factors, strongly contributes to the increase in blood pressure and arterial stiffness by stimulating, among other things, hypertrophic remodeling and calcification of the blood vessel wall. He has also shown that endothelial dysfunction can be modulated by various endocrine factors and pharmacological agents, including certain medications. Professor Larivière’s research work employs various experimental models (animal and cellular) and human tissue banks.