Jean-Pierre Després
Degrees, Title/Position:
C.Q., Ph.D., FAHA, FIAS
Professor - Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval
Director of Research in Cardiology - Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre
Director of Science and Innovation, Alliance santé Québec
Scientific Director - International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk
Goal Groups/Integration Themes:
Co-Scientific Lead - Diabetes Action Canada
Research Description:
Over the last 30 years, Dr. Després and his team have studied obesity and adiposity and how they relate to health outcomes, with a strong focus on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Through series of cardiometabolic imaging studies, his group has shown that visceral/ectopic fat depots are key drivers of complications that had, in the past, been associated with excess body fat. The team has also documented how excess visceral adiposity/ectopic fat is associated with a constellation of atherogenic and diabetogenic abnormalities often referred to as the metabolic syndrome. The group is also active in the study of etiologic factors responsible for the selective accumulation of visceral/ectopic fat and is currently focussing on the contribution of nutritional and other lifestyle factors including physical activity/exercise. Finally, the team is heavily involved in the development of simple tools to assess and target lifestyle risk factors in clinical practice.
PubMed Link:
Home Page/Departmental Page:
Note biographique: Dr Jean-Pierre Després – Alliance santé Québec