Lucie Germain is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Director of the LOEX Tissue Engineering Research Center, and Tier One Canada Research Chair in Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering at Université Laval. Germain is recognized as a world leader in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and for translating her discoveries to the clinic.
Her fundamental research focuses on developing therapies to heal serious wounds. Her research is dedicated to post-natal stem cells and the reconstruction of human tissues for experimental and clinical applications.
The LOEX discovery of a new method of tissue engineering, the self-assembly approach, led to the development of a bilayered self-assembled skin substitute (SASS), which is very similar to native skin and allows the preservation of stem cells after grafting. The results provide human models for studying the effects of visible light and UV radiation on skin and exceeded expectations after autologous SASS grafting on severely burned patients. This technique has transformed skin grafting, enabling larger, more elastic skin, better integration and no hypertrophic scarring. These advancements have greatly improved the lives of burn patients and in pediatric cases, it has decreased the need for reconstructive surgeries.
Germain’s expertise also extends to ophthalmology, where she pioneered the reconstruction of the first fully biological human cornea using normal human cells. The autologous corneal epithelial cell cultures (CECA) produced at LOEX promote faster healing and show promising results to improve visual outcomes.
Germain’s commitment to science and to the well-being of the population is evident in the path she has blazed in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
On March 12th, CBC Daybreak Montreal conducted live radio interview with Lucie Germain: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-15-daybreak-montreal/clip/16202664-killam-prize-winner-dr.-lucie-germain
