A breath of hope : Dr Jean Paul Praud, pioneer of neonatal respiratory research

Dr. Jean Paul Praud has devoted his career to the study of one of the most essential phenomena for survival: breathing. Holder of the Canada Research Chair in Neonatal Respiratory Physiology, Dr. Praud has made major advances in the understanding of respiratory control in newborns and infants. His work, combining scientific rigor and passion, has not only enriched the medical field, but also had a direct impact on newborn babies, the most vulnerable of children. Having spent almost 35 years as a professor and clinical researcher at the Université de Sherbrooke’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, he has shed light on fundamental aspects of respiratory development, offering new perspectives for improving the health of our children from the very first moments of life.

In addition to his many honours, Dr Praud has been a loyal collaborator of the Pediatric Research Foundation. To this day, he remains a source of inspiration, recognized for his altruism and the excellence of his research initiatives.

A unique path, marked by innovation

His first contact with the PRF was in 1999, when he received the Researcher of the Year award from the organization formerly known as the Foundation of Stars. At the time, Dr Praud was the first to insist that the CHUS Pediatric Research Center be recognized by the Foundation. His dedication and passion, already overflowing at the time, were the basis of a fruitful collaboration that persists to this day.

Over the years, Jean Paul Praud has continued his commitment to the Foundation on many fronts. Involved with the Telethon of Stars for many editions, Dr. Praud was also a member of the FRP’s Board of directors, as well as its Scientific advisory board. In this role, he was able to review research projects from the four corners of Quebec. It’s always interesting to see what’s being done across the province,” he says, ”and it’s a great way to create collaborations between pediatric research centers.

Alongside the Foundation, Dr. Praud has shown great creativity, initiating several major events that have endured and continue to enable the PRF to support pediatric research. In particular, he was behind the Congrès provincial de la recherche mère-enfant, now in its 9th year. Dr. Praud is also proud to have co-founded the Sherbrooke Wine Auction, a flagship event of the PRF which, to date, has raised over $1.4 million, the proceeds of which have been donated to research into childhood illnesses.

United for and by research

A collaboration spanning almost two decades is difficult to recount in a few paragraphs, especially when it is as rich and meaningful as the one between the Foundation and Dr. Praud. The FRP is very proud to have supported the funding of his research program, which focuses, among other things, on the major respiratory problems of premature babies and small infants.

This program is aimed at better understanding, prevention and treatment of apnea in premature infants, cradle death and the development of non-invasive respiratory support techniques for newborns. Dr Praud maintains that the funding provided by the Foundation “has been decisive on several occasions, enabling me in particular to have preliminary results to seek more substantial funding from the major research granting agencies”. In his view, this collaboration has also been a major asset in the recognition of a Centre of Excellence in Mother and Child Research by the CHUS research center and the Université de Sherbrooke.

In harmony with the Foundation’s core values, and with the health of the very young at heart, Dr Praud adds: “For me, being a clinical researcher is the best of both worlds: you can make a difference both by treating children directly, and by trying to find better ways of caring for them and their families in the research laboratory. How lucky are we to have this ‘power’? What more can I wish for?

“Looking ahead, keeping the passion”

As Dr Praud cuts back considerably on his activities as a clinical researcher and prepares for retirement, he leaves young doctors and researchers with a message: nothing compares to the passion and sense of recognition of having a career that can make a real difference to many people’s lives.