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.

1401, 18e Rue
LOEX / CMDGT
R-221
Québec, Québec
Canada G1J 1Z4
+1 418-990-8248+1 418-990-8255, extension 61713
julie.fradette@chg.ulaval... julie.fradette@crchudeque...

Latest news

71 entries « ‹ 1 of 8 › »

Schultz IC, Dos Santos Pereira Andrade AC, Dubuc I, Laroche A, Allaeys I, Doré E, Bertrand N, Vallières L, Fradette J, Flamand L, Wink MR, Boilard E

Targeting Cytokines: Evaluating the Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles in the Management of COVID-19

Journal Article

Stem Cell Rev Rep, 2024.

Abstract | Links:

Bian X, Piipponen M, Liu Z, Luo L, Geara J, Chen Y, Sangsuwan T, Maselli M, Diaz C, Bain CA, Eenjes E, Genander M, Crichton M, Cash JL, Archambault L, Haghdoost S, Fradette J, Sommar P, Halle M, Xu Landén N

Epigenetic memory of radiotherapy in dermal fibroblasts impairs wound repair capacity in cancer survivors

Journal Article

Nat Commun, 15 (1), 2024.

Abstract | Links:

Lefrançois P, Doueidari Z, Kleiner O, Manion R, Dutz J, Philip A, Chan AW,

Top 10 research priorities for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: results of the Skin Investigation Network of Canada Priority Setting Initiative

Journal Article

Br J Dermatol, 190 (3), 2024.

Abstract | Links:

Brodeur A, Roy V, Touzel-Deschênes L, Bianco S, Droit A, Fradette J, Ruel J, Gros-Louis F

Transcriptomic Analysis of Mineralized Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Tissues for Calcific Valve Disease Modelling

Journal Article

Int J Mol Sci, 25 (4), 2024.

Abstract | Links:

Shoimer I, Kleiner O, Manion R, Dutz J, Philip A, Chan AW,

Top 10 research priorities for basal cell carcinoma: results of the Skin Investigation Network of Canada Priority Setting Initiative

Journal Article

Br J Dermatol, 190 (2), 2024.

Abstract | Links:

Safoine M, Paquette C, Gingras GM, Fradette J

Improving Cutaneous Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice Using Naturally Derived Tissue-Engineered Biological Dressings Produced under Serum-Free Conditions

Journal Article

Stem Cells Int, 2024 , 2024.

Abstract | Links:

Bergeron A, Nessim C, Kleiner O, Manion R, Dutz J, Philip A, Chan AW,

Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada) Priority Setting Initiative ranks the top 10 evidence uncertainties for Merkel cell carcinoma

Journal Article

Br J Dermatol, 190 (2), 2024.

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, 19 (30), 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:

71 entries « ‹ 1 of 8 › »
Signaler des ajouts ou des modifications

Active projects

  • Développement de greffons d’épiderme autologue en combinant thérapie génique et génie tissulaire pour traiter l’épidermolyse bulleuse jonctionnelle, from 2024-04-01 to 2025-03-31
  • Engineering bioactive dressings from mesenchymal cells to enhance healing of irradiated skin wounds, from 2022-04-01 to 2027-03-31
  • GMEB-SASS: The first clinical trial phase I/II using a genetically modified epidermolysis bullosa self-assembled skin substitute to treat dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a severe rare skin disease, from 2024-04-01 to 2028-03-31
  • Roles of matricryptins (bioactive extracellular matrix fragments) in adipose tissue, from 2020-04-01 to 2026-03-31
  • Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada), from 2020-01-01 to 2025-04-30
  • Urethral reconstruction using tissue engineering, final steps towards clinical translation, from 2024-10-01 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
  • Projets structurants ThéCell 2023-2024_Greffons d’épiderme autologue en combinant thérapie génique et génie tissulaire pour traiter l’épidermolyse bulleuse jonctionnelle, from 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31
  • Réseau de thérapie cellulaire, tissulaire et génique du Québec, from 2019-04-01 to 2024-03-31
  • Stem cell-instructive hydrogels for intervertebral disc regeneration, from 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31
  • Stimulation biomécanique des cellules primaires du ligament cruciforme antérieur humain pour les applications d'ingénierie tissulaire, from 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31
Data provided by the Université Laval research projects registery