Pr. Fradette has been a regular researcher at the CRCHU de Québec-Laval University since 2005, and a full professor of the Department of Surgery of the Laval University School of Medicine. After a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry (1991-1994, U Laval) and a PhD in cellular and molecular biology focused on the study of skin epithelial stem cells (1994-1999, U Laval, with L. Germain, LOEX), she acquired a specialization in gene therapy during her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh (1999-2004, with J. Glorioso III, U Pittsburgh, PA, USA). Her current research program is based on the use of human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells in regenerative medicine. Since September of 2015, she has been the director of the ThéCell network, the province of Quebec network for cell and tissue therapy supported by the FRQS. 

Development of human reconstructed tissues as 3D discovery models and for clinical applications

Pr. Fradette’s current research program is based on the use of a new and abundant source of multipotential cells: the adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs). Using tissue-engineering techniques, her team uses ASCs to recreate human tissue which is needed in reconstructive surgery, such as skin, adipose, and bone-like tissue. For example, human adipose substitutes recreating the 3D tissular context in vitro are useful discovery tools for pharmaco-toxicological studies on the metabolic regulation of human adipocytes. Moreover, adipose tissues are reconstructed with the important goal of being used in the clinic as soft-tissue fillers to repair tissue loss, in cases of deep burns or tumor removal (including mastectomy). The resulting tissues are all human, and devoid of exogenous biomaterials. 

Her research interests include a better understanding of the cellular interactions between adipocytes and endothelial cells, the effects of inflammatory conditions on blood capillaries and adipocyte metabolism, the impact of human ECM components on the adipogenic differentiation of ASCs, and how MMPs can influence tissue remodeling, under normal and inflammatory conditions. Current studies performed in her laboratory aim at promoting the vascularisation of thick reconstructed tissues produced under xenogenic-free culture conditions for clinical applications. Ongoing preclinical studies assess the efficacy of tissue-engineered biological dressings to accelerate the healing of skin wounds.

In collaboration with D.r M. Fortin and Dr. FA. Auger, her team also produces bone-like substitutes from ASCs.

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Jann J, Gascon S, Drevelle O, Fradette J, Auclair-Gilbert M, Soucy G, Fortier LC, Faucheux N

Assessment of antibacterial properties and skin irritation potential of anodized aluminum impregnated with various quaternary ammonium

Journal Article

Biomater Adv, 150 , 2023.

Abstract | Links:

Drucker AM, Kleiner O, Manion R, Philip A, Dutz J, Barnard K, Fradette J, Germain L, Gniadecki R, Litvinov I, Logsetty S, Manolson M, Mydlarski PR, Piguet V, Ward D, Zhou Y, Chan AW,

Top Ten Research Priorities for Psoriasis, Atopic Dermatitis and Hidradenitis Suppurativa: The SkIN Canada Priority Setting Initiative

Journal Article

J Cutan Med Surg, 27 (2), 2023.

Abstract | Links:

Leon-Chaviano S, Kiseleva M, Legros P, Collin S, Lescot T, Henoumont C, Gossuin Y, Laurent S, Mayrand D, Fradette J, Bégin-Drolet A, Ruel J, Fortin MA

A Nanoparticle Ink Allowing the High Precision Visualization of Tissue Engineered Scaffolds by MRI

Journal Article

Small, 2023.

Abstract | Links:

Ghio SC, Barbier MA, Doucet EJ, Debbah I, Safoine M, Le-Bel G, Cartier A, Jolibois E, Morissette A, Larouche D, Fradette J, Guérin SL, Garnier A, Germain L

A Newly Developed Chemically Defined Serum-Free Medium Suitable for Human Primary Keratinocyte Culture and Tissue Engineering Applications

Journal Article

Int J Mol Sci, 24 (3), 2023.

Abstract | Links:

Brooks SG, Pawluk MA, Litvinov IV, Fradette J, Chan AW, Philip A, Croitoru D, Richardson KC

Informing a Canadian Skin Science Trainee Program Based on the State of Trainee Programs Offered by International Academic Societies

Journal Article

J Cutan Med Surg, 27 (1), 2023.

Abstract | Links:

Caneparo C, Chabaud S, Fradette J, Bolduc S

Engineered human organ-specific urethra as a functional substitute

Journal Article

Sci Rep, 12 (1), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Caneparo C, Chabaud S, Fradette J, Bolduc S

Evaluation of a Serum-Free Medium for Human Epithelial and Stromal Cell Culture

Journal Article

Int J Mol Sci, 23 (17), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Rioux Y, Fradette J, Maciel Y, Bégin-Drolet A, Ruel J

Biofabrication of Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Scaffolds for Heart Valve Tissue Engineering

Journal Article

Int J Mol Sci, 23 (15), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Safoine M, Côté A, Leloup R, Hayward CJ, Plourde Campagna MA, Ruel J, Fradette J

Engineering naturally-derived human connective tissues for clinical applications using a serum-free production system

Journal Article

Biomed Mater, 17 (5), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Muthu ML, Tiedemann K, Fradette J, Komarova S, Reinhardt DP

Fibrillin-1 regulates white adipose tissue development, homeostasis, and function

Journal Article

Matrix Biol, 110 , 2022.

Abstract | Links:

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Active projects

  • Engineering bioactive dressings from mesenchymal cells to enhance healing of irradiated skin wounds, from 2022-04-01 to 2027-03-31
  • Réseau de thérapie cellulaire, tissulaire et génique du Québec, from 2019-04-01 to 2024-03-31
  • Roles of matricryptins (bioactive extracellular matrix fragments) in adipose tissue, from 2020-04-01 to 2025-03-31

Recently finished projects

  • Design and testing of a next-generation tissue-engineered living human heart valve, from 2020-03-31 to 2023-03-31
  • Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada), from 2020-01-01 to 2022-12-31
  • Tissue Engineering of a functional Urethra for Autologous Reconstruction, from 2018-04-01 to 2022-03-31
Data provided by the Université Laval research projects registery