Dr Mélanie Henderson
Service d’endocrinologie et de diabète
Université de Montréal/Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine
Biographical Sketch
Mélanie Henderson is a Pediatric Endocrinologist and researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics (Faculty of Medicine) at the Université de Montréal. She obtained her MD degree from McGill University. In addition to her specialization in pediatrics and endocrinology (Toronto’s Sick Kids and CHU Sainte-Justine), she completed a M.Sc. degree in Clinical Epidemiology at University of Toronto and a Ph.D in Epidemiology from the McGill University. Her research focuses on childhood obesity, its metabolic complications and pediatric cardiovascular disease, with a focus on etiology and prevention. She is particularly interested in the influence of lifestyle habits (physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet and sleep) on metabolic health in various population, including healthy children and those living with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, in order to identify the best preventive strategies. She is co-director of the “Centre CIRCUIT” (Centre pédiatrique d’intervention en prévention et en réadaptation cardiovasculaires), that proposes novel strategies for the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease risk in children. She is also adjunct director of the “Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health” research axis at the CHU Sainte-Justine. Dr Henderson has obtained major research grants from various funding agencies, such as CIHR, FRQS and HSFC. She has received several awards, including Research Scholars from the FRQS (Junior 1 & 2), the «Career Enhancement Program Award» from the CCHCSP (Canadian Child Health Clinical Scientist Program), and the «Young Investigator Award» from the CSEM (Canadian Society for Endocrinology and Metabolism).
Selected Scientific Contributions
Dr Henderson has shown the important associations of physical activity, fitness, and sedentary behavior with insulin sensitivity (Diabetes Care 2012) and insulin secretion (Obesity 2014) in youth (JAMA Pediatr 2016); dietary associations with insulin dynamics in young children (Br J Nutr 2014, J Nutr 2018); and the effects of early growth trajectories on cardiometabolic outcomes (JAHA 2017).
Research Interests
Three major projects are currently ongoing in the laboratory.
QUALITY Cohort
The QUALITY cohort is a unique infrastructure designed to investigate the natural history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes in youth. In this study, 630 children (8-10 years at recruitment) and their parents are followed over time, with recent funding to characterize the emerging associations between lifestyle behaviors, oral/gut microbiota, and cardiometabolic health from childhood to early adulthood.
CARDEA study
The CARDEA study seeks to gain a better understanding of clinical cardiovascular disease in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), by using novel technology to identify the earliest detectable abnormalities, and relating them to lifestyle habits and inflammation.
CIRCUIT PROGRAM
The CIRCUIT program is a multidisciplinary, personalized intervention for children with cardiovascular risk. This program uses technology to evaluate and empower participants to improve their lifestyle habits (sedentary behaviours, physical activity). The intervention also includes group workshops focusing on nutrition and psychosocial well-being. CIRCUIT provides an exceptional opportunity to translate knowledge acquired through our etiological studies into innovative strategies, whose effectiveness can then be evaluated.