Emilie Roudier

Faculty & School/Dept.

Faculty of Health - School of Kinesiology & Health Science

Degrees

PhD - 2002
Biology and biomedical science
University Grenoble Alpes

Biography

After obtaining a PhD in biomedical sciences from Université Grenoble Alpes, Emilie Roudier has performed postdoctoral studies at the Karolinska Institute within the Institute of Environmental science.

In 2007, Dr. Roudier started to perform research projects related to the determinants of vascular health by studying the impact of chronic diseases (cardiovascular diseases) and physical activity on the microvasculature, our smallest blood vessels, first at the Université de Montréal and then at York University.

Since 2015, she is teaching in the field of chronic diseases within two programs of the faculty of Health: the program of Kinesiology and Health science, and the program of Global health.

Selected Publications

1. Roudier E*, Nwadozi E*, Rullman E, Tharmalingam S, Liu H-S, Gustafsson T $, Haas TL $. Endothelial FoxO proteins impair insulin sensitivity and restrain muscle angiogenesis in response to high fat diet. *,$ these authors contributed equally. FASEB J. 2016 Sep;30(9):3039-52.

2. Roudier E*+, Aiken J*, Ciccone J, Drouin G, Stromberg A, Vojnovic J, Olfert M, Haas TL, Gustafsson T, Grenier G, Birot O. Phosphorylation of Murine Double Minute-2 on Ser166 is downstream of VEGF-A in exercised skeletal muscle and regulates primary endothelial cells migration and FoxO gene expression. FASEB J. 2016 Mar;30(3):1120-34. IF 5.5. Cited 6. *these authors contributes equally, + corresponding author.

3. Pelletier J, Roudier E, Fromy B, Abraham P, Saumet J-L, Birot O, Sigaudo-Roussel D. VEGF-A induced acute pro-angiogenic and late neurotrophic effects to promote nerve regeneration after injury in rats. Molecular Neurobiology 2015 Feb;51(1):240-51.

4. Slopack D, Roudier E, Liu STK, Birot O, Haas TL. Forkhead BoxO transcription factors restrain exercise-induced angiogenesis. Journal of Physiology 2014 Sep 15;592(Pt 18):4069-82.

5. Roudier E, Aiken J; Slopack Da; Gouzi F; Mercier J; Haas T; Gustaffson T; Hayot M; Birot, O. Novel perspective:  Exercise training stimulus triggers the expression of the oncoprotein Human Double Minute-2 in human skeletal muscle. Physiological Reports. 2013 Jul;1(2):e00028.

6. Roudier E, Milkiewicz M, Birot O, Slopack D, Montelius A, Gustafsson T, Paik JH, DePinho RA, Casale GP, Pipinos II, Haas TL. Endothelial FoxO1 is an intrinsic regulator of thrombospondin 1 expression that restrains angiogenesis in ischemic muscle. Angiogenesis. 2013 Oct;16(4):759-72.  

Other Research Outputs

Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of the global health burden. The environment we live in, the air that we breathe, the food that we eat, and the things we do (active versus sedentary living) have a significant impact on our cardiovascular health. These environmental and modifiable risk factors interact with our non-modifiable genetic background to determine our cardiovascular health. Our blood vessels are key components of our cardiovascular system; and the inner layer of these blood vessels, the endothelium, is constantly exposed to these environmental factors. This can modulate the endothelial phenotype, potentially improving or impairing health.

While we start to better understand how environmental factors influence the health of our arteries, the macrovascular bed; it remains unknown how the interaction between environmental factors and genetic background influence the endothelial phenotype of our smallest blood vessels, the microvascular bed.

Using approaches of molecular and integrative physiology, my research program aims to better understand how the interplay between non-modifiable genetic background and modifiable environmental risk factors can influence the microvascular health.

The lab is currently looking for graduate students to perform a project associated to study the impact of physical activity on the epigenetic processes in microvascular endothelial cells.

Supervision

Currently available to supervise graduate students: Yes

Currently taking on work-study students, Graduate Assistants or Volunteers: Yes

Available to supervise undergraduate thesis projects: Yes

Current Research

Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of the global health burden. The environment we live in, the air that we breathe, the food that we eat, and the things we do (active versus sedentary living) have a significant impact on our cardiovascular health. These environmental and modifiable risk factors interact with our non-modifiable genetic background to determine our cardiovascular health. Our blood vessels are key components of our cardiovascular system; and the inner layer of these blood vessels, the endothelium, is constantly exposed to these environmental factors. This can modulate the endothelial phenotype, potentially improving or impairing health.

While we start to better understand how environmental factors influence the health of our arteries, the macrovascular bed; it remains unknown how the interaction between environmental factors and genetic background influence the endothelial phenotype of our smallest blood vessels, the microvascular bed.

Using approaches of molecular and integrative physiology, my research program aims to better understand how the interplay between non-modifiable genetic background and modifiable environmental risk factors can influence the microvascular health.

The lab is currently looking for graduate students to perform a project associated to study the impact of physical activity on the epigenetic processes in microvascular endothelial cells.

Research Projects

Microvascular remodeling of the adipose and muscle tissues in diet-induced obesity: regulation by FoxO proteins
The goal of the project was to understand what are the underlying molecular mechanisms that control the microvascular plasticity in the skeletal muscle and in the adipose tissue in response to high-fat diet.
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Year Funded: 2013
Duration: 4
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Effect of glucose on epigenetic processes
We all feel like having a sweet drink to reward ourselves. However once the sugar passes in the blood stream what is it impact on the endothelial cells. These cells cover the inner wall of all our blood vessels. Is this high level of sugar impacting the capacity of these endothelial cells to maintain healthy functions?
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Funded by: York University