Researcher

Title

• Full Time Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal
• Associate Member, Department of Physiology, Université de Montréal
• Chief, Division of Neonatalogy 
• Associate Scientific Director, CARTaGENE, 2015

• Fellow in Development of Cardiovascular Regulation, Collège de France, 1996-1998.
• Fellow in Perinatal Cardiovascular Physiology, Iowa State University, USA, 1993-1996.
• Fellow in Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine, McGill University, 1991-1993.
• Residency in Pediatrics, University of Sherbrooke, 1988-1992.
• MD, University of Sherbrooke, 1984-1988.

Our studies focus on the mechanisms underlying the developmental origins of pathologies appearing in adulthood, including hypertension. More specifically, we plan to uncover how an oxidative stress suffered during the perinatal period can alter the functional and structural development of the cardiovascular system.

Animal Research

Antenatal and neonatal factors may influence the onset of adulthood hypertension. In order to study this process, we use animal models (rats). In one of our models, the female gestating rat's diet is altered, causing a slight growth delay in the offspring, a vascular dysfunction and hypertension in adulthood. In another model, newborn rats are exposed to a high oxygen concentration within the first days of life, which also leads to vascular dysfunction and hypertension in adulthood. Lab studies investigate the mechanisms of this developmental hypertension programming, specifically targeting renal development, structure and vascular function.

Clinical Research

A mother-child cohort is studied to determine the correlation between ante- and perinatal factors, oxidative stress concentrations during pregnancy and the incidence of vascular dysfunction during childhood.

Current research project

Developmental origins of health and diseases (DOHaD) : long term cardiovascular consequences of preterm birth 

Awards and Distinctions

• CHU Sainte-Justine - Research Center Award 2010 (contribution of the academic life) 
• Stars Foundation (Quebec) –Young Researcher Award 2012 
• Canadian Cardiovascular Research Award, Canadian Hypertension Society/Pfizer Canada, 2008-2010
• Senior Research Scholar, Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (FRSQ), 2008-2010
• Merck Frosst New Investigator Award, Société québécoise d’hypertension artérielle, 2008
• Desjardins Sécurité Financière Distinction Excellence Award, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2007-2008 and 2010-2011

Publications

• Risk for preterm and very preterm delivery in women who were born preterm. Boivin A, Luo ZC, Audibert F, Mâsse B, Lefebvre F, Tessier R, Nuyt AM. Obstet Gynecol. 2015 May;125(5):1177-84.
• Comparing Carotid and Brachial Artery Stiffness: A First Step Toward Mechanical Mapping of the Arterial Tree. Maurice RL, Vaujois L, Dahdah N, Nuyt AM, Bigras JL. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2015 Mar 31.
• Preeclampsia: effect on newborn blood pressure in the 3 days following preterm birth: a cohort study. Reveret M, Boivin A, Guigonnis V, Audibert F, Nuyt AM. J Hum Hypertens. 2015 Feb;29(2):115-21. 
• Remodeling of aorta extracellular matrix as a result of transient high oxygen exposure in newborn rats: implication for arterial rigidity and hypertension risk. Huyard F, Yzydorczyk C, Castro MM, Cloutier A, Bertagnolli M, Sartelet H, Germain N, Comte B, Schulz R, DeBlois D, Nuyt AM. PLoS One. 2014 Apr 17;9(4):e92287. 
• Carotid wall elastography to assess midterm vascular dysfunction secondary to intrauterine growth restriction: feasibility and comparison with standardized intima-media thickness. Maurice RL, Vaujois L, Dahdah N, Chibab N, Maurice A, Nuyt AM, Lévy É, Bigras JL. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2014 May;40(5):864-70. 
• Circulating docosahexaenoic acid levels are associated with fetal insulin sensitivity. Zhao JP, Levy E, Fraser WD, Julien P, Delvin E, Montoudis A, Spahis S, Garofalo C, Nuyt AM, Luo ZC. PLoS One. 2014 Jan 13;9(1):e85054. 
• Hyperoxia exposure impairs nephrogenesis in the neonatal rat: role of HIF-1α. Popescu CR, Sutherland MR, Cloutier A, Benoît G, Bertagnolli M, Yzydorczyk C, Germain N, Phan V, Lelièvre-Pegorier M, Sartelet H, Nuyt AM. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 17;8(12):e82421. 
• Transient neonatal high oxygen exposure leads to early adult cardiac dysfunction, remodeling, and activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Bertagnolli M, Huyard F, Cloutier A, Anstey Z, Huot-Marchand JÉ, Fallaha C, Paradis P, Schiffrin EL, Deblois D, Nuyt AM. Hypertension. 2014 Jan;63(1):143-50.