Barbara PapadopoulouB. Pharm., Ph.D.

Dr. Barbara Papadopoulou, B.Pharm., M.Sc., Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology-Infectious Disease and Immunology of the Laval University School of Medicine and the Director of the Axis of Infectious Diseases and Immunity of the CHU de Quebec Research Center-Laval University, since 2010. Her areas of expertise are parasitic diseases, regulation of gene expression, microbial pathogenesis, genomics, and vaccinology. Over the years, her laboratory has made remarkable discoveries on the molecular mechanisms controlling the intracellular development of the protozoan parasite Leishmania and on post-transcriptional regulation by novel classes of 3’UTR elements and RNA binding factors that have significantly advanced knowledge in this area. The fascinating concept of coordinated gene regulation by retroposons has revolutionized the landscape of gene expression control in this parasite. Her laboratory has also been a pioneer in the use of reverse genetics and genomics in Leishmania. She has also contributed to original work on the development of promising vaccine strategies against Leishmania infections. Her sustained efforts on vaccine development have led to patents and innovative live vaccine-based strategies that are currently being evaluated in relevant disease models in endemic countries. Dr. Papadopoulou is an internationally recognized leader in the field of Leishmania. She currently holds some very influential roles in international research networks (Leishmania Genome Network, TriTrypDB, The European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research COST B22) and in advisory expert committees (WorldLeish, World Health Organization) and she has established numerous collaborations, internationally. She has been actively involved, as member of the organizing scientific or local committees, in the organization of more than 8 international congresses on leishmaniasis and other parasitic diseases, and has also organized more than 15 symposia in this field.

Dr. Papadopoulou is the author of over 135 scientific publications and of several reviews and book chapters. She has received several prestigious national and international awards and distinctions for excellence in research, including the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Award in Molecular Parasitology for her outstanding contributions to the field of Leishmania research, and the nomination as Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, in 2013. Her leadership role as a woman in biomedical sciences has also been highlighted on several occasions (YWCA Women of Distinction Award Winner 2012, Science and Technology, 50 Successful Women from the Quebec City Region of Chaudière-Appalaches, ’22 Quebecers to watch’ by L’Actualité magazine, etc.). Dr. Papadopoulou is a member of several international consortia, as well as national (CIHR) and international (Burroughs Wellcome Fund Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Program, Faculty of 1000 Biology, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/Brazil, Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency for higher education, etc.) peer review and advisory committees. She is also an elected Faculty member of Greek Universities (APELLA). Until recently, she was until a member and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Santé (FRQS) and the Board of Directors of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.