Associate professor
Department of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine

Dr. Éric Vigneault is a radiation oncologist at the Department of Radiation Oncology at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, and a researcher at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Oncology Axis, affiliated with the Laval University Cancer Research Center.

He is also an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Laval University. Dr. Vigneault has been actively involved in the development of the first iodine-125 prostate brachytherapy program in Canada and is a pioneer in high-dose-rate brachytherapy, non-permanent in the country. He is the principal investigator of phase II CCTG randomized studies, comparing HDR brachytherapy to conventional radiotherapy in the treatment of intermediate-risk prostate cancers (PR15), and comparing HDR and LDR brachytherapy as monotherapy (PR19).

Dr. Vigneault is highly involved at the national level, notably as a former president of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists and a member of the steering committee of the Canadian Uro-Oncology Group, as well as internationally as an associate editor of the Brachytherapy journal.

Since 2015, he has held the research chair in imaging-guided brachytherapy, which aims to integrate technological advances in imaging, computing, dosimetric optimization, radioactive source implantation systems, and clinical expertise to improve brachytherapy treatments for solid tumors and thus promote a better therapeutic ratio, i.e., increased tumor control and decreased toxicity.

The objectives of the chair are to :

  • Improve the integration of real-time imaging, implantation, and dosimetry systems to enhance the quality and precision of radioactive material implantation in cancers.
  • Develop treatment protocols for tumor sites using brachytherapy.
  • Promote clinical research to evaluate and compare tumor control, toxicities, and quality of life assessment compared to conventional treatment, including disseminating results and transferring knowledge.
  • Promote education and training of graduate students and fellows in the field of brachytherapy.
  • Develop clinical databases linked to tissue banks to promote translational research, including the discovery of biomarkers for prostate cancer.