Les travaux de recherche de Dr Francine M. Ducharme portent sur l'amélioration du traitement, de la prise en charge et de la morbidité de l'asthme pédiatrique. Ceci s’est fait par le biais du développement d’instruments cliniques et de recherche spécifiques aux enfants, des études testant des interventions éducatives et médicamenteuses, les revues systématiques d’essais randomisés, la dissémination des lignes directrices basées sur les preuves scientifiques et le développement d’interventions visant à améliorer l’adhérence des professionnels de la santé, les patients et leur famille aux lignes directrices. 

Intérêts de recherche

• Asthme pédiatrique
• Efficacité et profil de tolérance des interventions pour l’asthme pédiatrique
• Élaboration d’instruments pour les enfants asthmatiques d’âge préscolaire
• Revues systématiques des essais contrôlés randomisés
• Épidémiologie clinique (plan et méthodes)
• Transfert des connaissances

M.Sc. 1990 Epidemiology and Biostatistics

McGill University, Montréal (Canada)

Supervisor: Dr. Michael S. Kramer

Thesis topic: Predictive factors of relapse following an emergency

department visit for acute pediatric asthma.

Specialist June 1982 Residence in paediatrics

Ste-Justine Hospital

University of Montreal, Montreal (Canada)

M.D. 1982

University of Montreal, Montreal (Canada)

Dr. Ducharme is a full professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Montreal. She is a pediatrician, clinical epidemiologist and head of the asthma clinic at the Center Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine. She has a productive career as a physician caring for children with asthma, as a teacher, research mentor and researcher.

Expert member - Scientific committee of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)

Co-Author and expert member - International recommendations on childhood asthma

Expert member - Respiratory Effectiveness Group (REG) 

Chair of the coordinating Committee for Asthma treatment - CHU Sainte-Justine

Chair, Research Committee of the Department of paediatrics

Director, Asthma Clinic - CHU Sainte-Justine

Head of Quebec's inter-hospital network of pediatric asthma clinics

1. PROJECT TITLE : Applying machine learning techniques to validate a novel pediatric lung function test. 
STUDENT POSITION : Funded postdoctoral fellowship in biostatistics, machine learning and clinical epidemiology, applied to lung function and pediatric asthma.

WEB DESCRIPTION: Applying machine learning techniques to validate a novel pediatric lung function test

3. PROJECT TITLE : Biomarker-centred clinical prediction modelling of asthma attacks in pediatric asthma​ 
STUDENT POSITION : Funded PhD position in clinical epidemiology applied to paediatric asthma..

WEB DESCRIPTION: Biomarker-centred clinical prediction modelling of asthma attacks in pediatric asthma

3.  PROJECT TITLE : Applying machine learning techniques to validate a novel pediatric lung function test. 
STUDENT POSITION : Funded postdoctoral fellowship in biostatistics, machine learning and clinical epidemiology, applied to lung function and pediatric asthma.

WEB DESCRIPTION: Applying machine learning techniques to validate a novel pediatric lung function test

4. PROJECT TITLE : Clinical and pharmacoepidemiological studies on pediatric asthma​
STUDENT POSITION : Funded postdoctoral position in clinical epidemiology applied to pediatric asthma.

WEB DESCRIPTION: Clinical and pharmacoepidemiological studies on pediatric asthma

• 2020-2022: Banafsheh Hossein.  

  1. Prevention of COVID with Oral Vitamin D Supplemental Therapy.

  2. Vitamin D In the prevention of Viral-induced in preschoolers: a randomized controlled multicenter trial (DIVA trial).

• 2019 Nicoleta Cutumisu: Investigating the influence of neighbourhood characteristics on asthma outcomes in a cohort of children and adolescents diagnosed with asthma
• 2018 Cristina Longo: Impact of asthma control in preschoolers on long-term asthma control and health care resource utilisation.
• 2017 Imane Jroudi : Interdevice agreement in respiratory resistance values by oscillometry in asthmatic children..
• 2015 Megan E. Jensen: Vitamin D vs. placebo in the prevention of viral-induced exacerbations in preschool aged children with asthma – a pilot RCT.
• 2012 Annie Gauthier: Exploring barriers to optimal asthma management by physicians.
• 2013 Bhupendrasinh F. Chauhan: Determinants of the response to oral corticosteroid in children with acute asthma.
• 2009 Samir Gupta: Online Collaboration Tool for Asthma Action Plan with Usability (OCTAPUS)

PhD

• 2020-present. Asmae El Abd. Impact of vitamin D supplementation in preschool children with repeated asthma attacks on various intermediate response biomarkers
• 2018 Cristina Longo: Treatment Considerations and Prescribing Issues for Obese Children with Asthma.
• 2017 François Després: Development and validation of a pharmaco-epidemiology asthma control score specific to children.
• 2010 Sanjit Kaur Bhogal: Adherence to clinical pratice guidelines for acute asthma in the Emergency Department (Co-supervision with Jean Bourbeau).

MSc

• 2023-present  Harika Dasari - Feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a novel device for self-collecting capillary blood samples in clinical trials in the context of the pandemic and beyond
• 2022 Wael Abdelmageed - Development of asthma severity thresholds in children using the oscillometric technique (4 month internship)
• 2022 Andrea Trevisan. Elaboration of severity cut-off values for oscillometry in asthmatic children.  (8 month internship)
• 2018 Christiane Lawson: A Multifaceted Intervention to Improve Asthma Control via Self-Monitoring and Referral to Guided Management in Children with Repeated Emergency Department Visits for Asthma .
• 2020 Bennet Desormeau: Clinical Utility of Respiratory Oscillometry Tests as an Addition to clinical assessment in preschool children with asthma.
• 2018 Pamela Mondragon: Impact of referral of children with acute asthma to the Asthma Education Centre and/or to the Asthma Centre on health care resources and drug utilization..
• 2017 Joanna Trees-Merckx: Asthma and risk of Emergency Department management failure: burden and impact of variousrespiratory pathogens in a pediatric population.
• 2017 Roba Bairakdar: Vitamin D intervention in preschoolers with viral-induced asthma (DIVA).
• 2015 Alexandrine J. Lamontagne: Exploring barriers to optimal asthma management by physicians.
• 2015 Gladys Osien: The Effect of Excess Weight on Asthma Control among Children.
• 2008 Maala Bhatt: Validation of an appendicitis score.
• 2010 Anne-Marie Parent: Determinants of adherence to physician’s recommendations in childhood asthma.

Her research program, which has received uninterrupted research grants of more than $30,000,000 since 1990, aims to improve the quality of life of children with asthma by improving their diagnosis, management, and long-term outcome. She has developed multiple child-specific instruments, educational and pharmacological interventions, systematic reviews and has been instrumental in disseminating evidence-based guidelines. She has published over 225 peer-reviewed articles (including NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, BMJ) and numerous editorials and given over 225 guest presentations in North America, Europe, Middle East and Australia. She has educated many scientists and physicians, many of whom hold academic positions around the world. She has received numerous career awards for her outstanding contribution to improving the care of children with asthma. Indeed, Dr. Ducharme's research findings have helped change guidelines around the world.

Having been co-author of the Canadian guidelines for the treatment of asthma in children and adults in the last 20 years and several other provincial, national and international guidelines, she currently sits on the Scientific Committee of the international group Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Having been co-author of the Canadian guidelines for the treatment of asthma in children and adults in the last 20 years and several other provincial, national and international guidelines, she currently sits on the Scientific Committee of the international group Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).

Dre Ducharme a publié plus de 230 articles revus par des comités de pairs (incluant le NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, BMJ) dont 65 dans les cinq dernières années), 3 rapports ont été revu par les pairs de même que 9 pamphlets, 12 lettres à l’éditeur et 4 livres ou chapitres de livres.

Dre Ducharme a donné plus de 225 présentations à titre d’experte invitée en Amérique du Nord, en Europe, Moyen Orient et Australie.