Full professor
Department of Molecular Medicine
Faculty of Medicine

Arnaud Droit is a full professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine (MMO, FMED) in the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval. He is recognized for his interdisciplinary expertise in computational biology, where computer science, statistics and mathematics are applied to biological questions to elucidate human health problems.

Following training in biochemistry and a master’s degree in bioinformatics obtained in 2002 at Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse (France), Professor Droit pursued his doctoral studies at Université Laval in molecular medicine.

At the heart of his achievements, Professor Droit leads one of the largest teams at the Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval (CRCHU), and is at the helm of state-of-the-art computational infrastructures and latest-generation mass spectrometry equipment. He is also director of the CRCHU’s bioinformatics and proteomics platforms, offering advanced services in omics data production and analysis. Since 2011, his involvement in a multitude of international research projects testifies to his commitment and significant contribution to the scientific community.

Professor Droit’s expertise in developing statistical and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches to deciphering biological mechanisms from omics data is significant. He has facilitated the publication of innovative bioinformatics tools for data analysis, management and visualization. These tools include the creation of predictive AI models, based on the identification of biomarkers, to anticipate the clinical trajectories of patients suffering from various diseases.

These methodologies have been applied to numerous collaborative studies focused on human health, covering diverse fields such as cancer (pediatrics, leukemia, prostate, breast), the skin microbiome, autoimmune diseases, osteoarthritis, pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, the evolution of aortic stenosis, the rapid detection and identification of bacteria in urinary tract infections and mastitis, etc.

Through his research, Professor Droit not only contributes to science, he also plays a key role in the education and training of the next generation of scientists by teaching bioinformatics courses at several universities. His career illustrates the importance of interdisciplinarity in contemporary research, demonstrating how the fusion of skills in biology, computer science, statistics and mathematics can lead to significant advances in the understanding and treatment of disease.