Researcher

Title

• Full Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal (2004)
• Polytechnique Montréal Research Chair in Orthopedic Engineering (2024)
• Special Advisor for Innovation - Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine (2023)
• Researcher, Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine (1996)
• Executive and Scientific Director, TransMedTech Institute (2016)
• Adjunct Professor, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal (2000)

• Honorary doctorate (ScD (h.c.)), Université Aix-Marseille, Sciences, 2018.
• Post-doctoral fellowship, biomechanics, Department of Orthopedics-Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Vermont, USA, 1996.
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, 1995. (Thesis: Role of the rib cage in the treatment of scoliosis).
• Bachelor's of Engineering-Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, 1991.

Professor Carl-Éric Aubin specializes in biomechanical modeling of the spine, with a particular focus on pathologies such as scoliosis and spondylolisthesis. His work focuses on the evaluation, design and optimization of orthopedic treatments, including braces and surgical instrumentation, with the aim of making them more effective and less invasive. Professor Aubin is also Executive and Scientific Director of the TransMedTech Institute, an initiative he founded to accelerate the development of next-generation medical technologies. This institute adopts a transdisciplinary, cross-sector living lab approach, fostering collaboration between engineers, scientists, clinicians, patients and industrial partners. 

• Biomedical engineering
• Biomedical technologies
• Biomechanics
• Scoliosis
• Biomechanical modeling
• Orthopedic engineering
• Biomechanics of orthopedic treatment
• Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
• Innovation in healthcare technologies

Career Summary

Professor Carl-Éric Aubin is a leading expert in biomedical engineering and spine biomechanics. He is a full professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, a researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine and an adjunct professor in the Department of Surgery at Université de Montréal. He is also Executive and Scientific Director of the TransMedTech Institute, which he founded to accelerate the development of innovative medical technologies. His research focuses on the biomechanical modeling of spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, and on the optimization of orthopedic treatments. Pr Aubin has published over 320 scientific papers and articles in edited books, over 700 abstracts in scientific journals and conference proceedings, and is co-author of 9 patents.  He has received numerous honours, including Officer of the Order of Canada in 2021, Officer of the Ordre National du Québec (2024) and Knight of the Order of Montreal in 2023. Pr Aubin is a member of several professional associations, including the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and of the Scoliosis Research Society, and Scientific Director of the Quebec Scoliosis Society. He also received an Honorary Doctorate from Aix-Marseille University (2018).

Awards and Distinctions

• 2024 Officer, Ordre national du Québec
• 2023 Doug Burton Award (Scoliosis Research Society)
• 2023 Lambertois Professional Life Award
• 2022 Knight, Order of Montreal
• 2021 Officer, Order of Canada
• 2021 Honoris Genius Research or Teaching Award, Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec
• 2020 Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering.
• 2020 SOSORT 2020 Research Paper Award, Virtual 2020 International Society for Scoliosis Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Treatment.
• 2020 Best Clinical Award Paper, Virtual 2020 POSNA Annual Meeting.
• 2019 Technological Innovation Award, Fondation et Alumni de Polytechnique Montréal
• 2018 Doctorat Honoris Causa, Université Aix-Marseille, France, November 2018
• 2017 Excellence in Innovation Award, CHU Sainte-Justine, June 2017
• 2016 Excellence in Research and Innovation Award 2016, Polytechnique Montréal
• 2015 Jacques-Rousseau Multidisciplinarity Award - ACFAS (Association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences) / Fonds Recherche Québec
• 2012 Morris-Duhaime Award in Orthopaedic Engineering
• 2010 Fondation des étoiles - Young Investigator Recognition Award
• 2004 Honorary Professor, Sichuan University, China
• 2004 Pierre Labelle Award - Best Clinical Research Presentation, Quebec Scoliosis Society
• 2003 Prix de la reconnaissance (Research) - CHU Sainte-Justine
• 1998 Acromed Award, Best Presentation, International Research Society of Spinal Deformities, Burlington VT, USA
• 1996 Roger Simoneau Award, Best Presentation, Quebec Scoliosis Society
• 1995 Howmedica Award, Fundamental Research, Édouard-Samson Orthopedics Program
• 1992 Desjardins Prize for Student-Researcher Excellence, ACFAS
• 1991 Gold Medal, Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering

Presentations

• Gay M, Cobetto N, Caouette C, Larson AN, Villemure I, Hoernschemeyer D, Boeyer M, El-Hawary R, Alanay A, AUBIN CE. Biomechanical Analysis of the Impact of Presenting Sanders Maturity Scale Score and Cord Tension on Growth Modulation Correction in Lumbar Vertebral Body Tethering, International Research Society of Spinal Deformities, Hong Kong (June 2024).
• Guy A, Coulombe M, Barchi S, Labelle H, AUBIN CE. A New Human-Free Brace Design Approach Using Global Shape Optimization to Treat Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, International Research Society of Spinal Deformities, Hong Kong (June 2024).
• AUBIN CE. Biomechanical Modeling and Analytics to Optimize Brace Treatment of AIS. SOSORT Boston (May 2024).
• Guy A, Coulombe M, Labelle H, Barchi S, AUBIN CE. Automated design of braces for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using a shape optimization algorithm. SOSORT Boston (May 2024).
• AUBIN CE, Wang X, Chayer M, Polly DW, Bellefleur C, Caouette C, Parent S, Larson AN. Does screw density influence transverse plane correction in AIS? A comprehensive 3D biomechanical study complementary to the MIMO Clinical Trial. Scoliosis Research Society. Seattle WA (Sept. 2023)

Publications

1. Chayer M, Phan P, Arnoux PJ, AUBIN CE.  Biomechanical modelling of indirect decompression in oblique lumbar intervertebral fusions – A finite element study. Clinical Biomechanics. 2024 Sep 20;120:106352.
2. Qiao N, Villemure I, Wang Z, Petit Y, AUBIN CE. Optimization of S2-alar-iliac screw (S2AI) fixation in adult spine deformity using a comprehensive genetic algorithm and finite element model personalized to patient geometry and bone mechanical properties. Spine Deform. 2024 May;12(3):595-602.
3. Guy A, Coulombe M, Labelle H, Barchi S, AUBIN CE. Automated design of nighttime braces for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with global shape optimization using a patient-specific finite element model. Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 8;14(1):3300.
4. Coulombe M, Guy A, Barchi S, Labelle H, AUBIN CE. Optimized braces for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A study protocol of a prospective randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2024 Feb 7;19(2):e0292069.
5. Lopez Poncelas M, La Barbera L, Rawlinson J, Crandall D, AUBIN CE. Influence of spinal lordosis correction location on proximal junctionalfailure: a biomechanical study. Spine Deformity. 2023 Jan;11(1):49-58. [winner of the Doug Burton Award from the Scoliosis Research Society; best 2023 article of the Spine Deformity Journal]
6. Tremblay N, Cohendet P, Cyr G, Simon L, Faure MP, AUBIN CE. Living labs and innovation commons in healthcare ecosystems: the case of the TransMedTech Institute in Montreal. Open Labs and innovation management. Routledge studies in innovation, organizations and technology. 2023, 187-208.
7. Martin S, Cobetto N, Larson AN, AUBIN CE. Biomechanical modeling and assessment of lumbar vertebral body tethering configurations. Spine Deformity. 2023 Sep;11(5):1041-1048. 
8. Solarzano Barrera C, Villemure I, AUBIN CE. A novel methodology to estimate bone mechanical properties using dual-energy imaging to improve pedicle screw fixation J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2023 Sep 1;23(3):316-327.
9. Constant C, AUBIN CE, Kremers HM, Garcia DV, Wyles C, Rouzrokh P, Larson AN.  The use of deep learning in medical imaging to improve spine care: a scoping review of current literature and clinical applications. N Am Spine Soc J. 2023 Jun 19;15:100236.
10. Guy A, Coulombe M, Labelle H, Rigo M, Wong MS, Beygi BH, Wynne J, Hresko MT, Ebermeyer E, Vedreine P, Liu XC, Thometz JG, Bissonnette B, Sapaly C, Barchi S, AUBIN CE. Biomechanical effects of thoracolumbosacral orthosis design features on 3D Correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a comprehensive multicenter study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2022 Aug 1;47(15):1103-1110.