Jean-François BilodeauPh.D.

Dr. Jean-François Bilodeau, PhD, is a professor in the Laval University School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine and a regular researcher at the CHU of Quebec-Laval University Research Center. His research focuses on the physiological and pathological roles of oxidative stress, at the cellular and tissue levels.

Early detection of hypertension in pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders complicate 5-8% of all pregnancies. Hypertension with proteinuria (preeclampsia) is a complex pathology of the second half of pregnancy, with an estimated prevalence of 3%. Preeclampsia is a major health concern for the newborn and the mother, as it can lead to premature births associated with high perinatal mortality. Currently, there is no effective treatment against it, except for induced childbirth. Our recent work showed that the imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species (oxidative stress) plays a major role. In addition, this oxidative stress can alter the biosynthesis of bioactive lipids affecting vascular tone (hypertension) and inflammatory response. Our research objectives are to understand the physiopathology in relation to oxidative stress, and to develop a method of early detection of this syndrome.

Targeted lipidomics of oxidized derivatives of polyunsaturated fatty acids

Our laboratory has developed a unique expertise in the determination of hundreds of isomers of oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids, by mass spectrometry. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are susceptible to oxidation, and are also the substrate for the eicosanoids involved in inflammation and vascular tone control. Specifically, we use LC-MS /MS and GC /MS methodology, in addition to other complementary methodologies derived from transcriptomics and proteomics.