Professional background
MEDICAL STUDIES AND POSITIONS
2024 – Present: Pediatrician in level I maternity
Bordeaux-Bagatelle Protestant Health Centre, France
Examination of the full-term newborn, attending outpatient clinics, on-call duty.
2022 – 2024: Staff Neonatologist in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Dr E. PAUQUET – University Hospital of Bordeaux, France
Attending outpatient and inpatient clinics, on-call duty, late prematurity, congenital malformations and vulnerable newborns.
2018-2020: Assistant professor in Neonatal Intensive Care and Resuscitation Unit
Dr O. TANDONNET – University Hospital of Bordeaux, France
2018: Pediatrics specialization –Bordeaux University
2018: Medical Doctor (with highest honors) – Bordeaux University, France
2013-2018: Pediatric residency with 6 months rotation – general pediatrics, pediatric emergencies, pediatric mobile emergency unit, neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit and resuscitation (including 6 months in neonatal intensive care unit and resuscitation of Port Royal – Cochin Hospital, Paris, France)
2007-2013: Medical School of Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 University, France
Specialist registrar – Rank: 484/6000
2006: High school diploma with high honors
SCIENTIFIC AND POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMAS
2024-Present: Physician-researcher – Bordeaux University, France
Laboratory: Bordeaux Cardiothoracic Research Center – INSERM U1045 – Bordeaux University, France
2020-2024: PhD Thesis – Health and Life Sciences Doctoral School – Bordeaux University, France
Laboratory: Bordeaux Cardiothoracic Research Center – INSERM U1045 – Bordeaux University, France
Project title: Role of connexin 43 in pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
2020: Postgraduate diploma of Neonatologist – Bordeaux University, France
2016: Postgraduate diploma of Perinatal Medicine –Paris Descartes University, France
2016-2017: Master’s degree – Biology, Physiology and Pharmacology of Respiration and Sleep (B2PRS) – Paris Diderot University, France
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
2018-Present: Member – French Society of Neonatology
2021-Present: Member – French Society of Cardiology
ACADEMIC PROFILE
The focus of my research is to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of the pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (PH-BPD) in preterm newborns. My two main translational topics are the celastrol as a promising preventive treatment in PH-BPD and the role of connexin 43 in PH-BPD development. Recently, we developed a collaboration with the Hospital-University Institute Liryc, specialized in cardiac rhythmology, to assess both structural and electrophysiogical remodeling of the right ventricle in PH-BPD.
2017-Present: Celastrol, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant molecule, prevents mortality and main hallmarks of pulmonary hypertension in a murine model of PH-BPD. It also decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion and intracellular calcium response to endothelin-1 in human fetal smooth muscle cells exposed to hyperoxia.
2020-Present: During fetal life, connexin 43 (gap junction protein) is involved in alveolarization and right heart development. It also participates to electro-mechanical coupling in heart. In animal models of right heart hypertrophy due to pressure overload as in PH-BPD, connexin 43 expression is decreased and this is associated with a highest rate of arrhythmias or sudden death. We showed that connexin 43 expression is increased in lungs of a murine model of PH-BPD and in human fetal smooth muscle cells exposed to hyperoxia. Therefore, connexin 43 might be a potential therapeutic target to prevent PH-BPD.
2022-Present: Pulmonary hypertension is highly associated with arrhythmias and sudden death due to a structural (hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation) and electrophysiogical (altered expression and function of cardiomyocyte ion channels) remodeling. Therefore, we assessed this remodeling in a murine model of PH-BPD induced by hyperoxia and we demonstrated 1) structural remodeling with hypertrophy, fibrosis and inflammation, and 2) electrophysiological remodeling confirmed with right ventricular optical mapping.
UNIVERSITY TEACHING
2018-2020: Pediatric teaching – Bordeaux University (200 hours/year), France
2008: Cell biology and histology teaching – Galien preparatory school for medical examinations (200 hours/year). Bordeaux, France
CLINICAL TRIAL ACTIVITIES
2023-Present: Local co-investigator, DEPISMA trial (PRI 2021 – HUS N°8121)
2018-2020: Local co-investigator, PROABIS trial (NCT03730636) and MEDLEY trial (D5290C00005)
GRANTS AND AWARDS
PEER-REVIEW GRANTS
2023: Medical research grant – French Society of Neonatology
Principal investigator – « Role of cardiac connexin 43 in pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. » – 18.000 euros
2020: Residency and Assistant Professor Program – Medical Research Foundation
Principal investigator – « Role of connexin 43 in pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. » – 183.000 euros
2020: MD-PhD Program – University Hospital of Bordeaux and Regional Health Agency of Aquitaine
Principal investigator – « Role of connexin 43 in pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. » – 72.000 euros
2017: “Research-Year” Program – University Hospital of Bordeaux and Regional Health Agency of Aquitaine
Principal investigator – « Effects of celastrol in a murine model of pulmonary hypertension associated with hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia. » – 18.000 euros
2017: Breath Foundation Call for Project – French Society of Pulmonology
Principal investigator – « Effects of celastrol in a murine model of pulmonary hypertension associated with hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia. » – 34.200 euros
TRAINEE SALARY SUPPORT
2022: “Research-Year” Program – University Hospital of Bordeaux and Regional Health Agency of Aquitaine. Trainee Name: Justine Leroux. 18.000 euros
PUBLICATIONS
1. Pilard CM, Jalal Z. Embryologie cardiaque des cardiopathies congénitales. Dans : Encyclo
Méd Chir, Cardiologie [Article 11-940-A-10]. 2023.
2. Pilard CM, Jalal Z, Villemain O, et al. Outcomes following closure of secundum atrial septal defect in children ≤ 15 kg in a French Tertiary Centre. J Clin Med. 2023. doi: 10.3390/jcm13010198.
3. Pilard CM, Cardouat G, Gauthereau I, et al. Celastrol has beneficial effects on pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: Preclinical study outcomes. Biomed Pharmacother. 2025 Mar;184:117881. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.117881. Epub 2025 Feb 1. PMID: 39891950.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS AND INVITED LECTURE
2024: Speaker, JFRN, Is the Cx43-specific inhibitor 43Gap26 a relevant therapeutic target in BPD and PH-BPD induced by hyperoxia?, Paris, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2024: Speaker, JFRN, Proarrhythmogenic remodeling of the right ventricle in a murine model of pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Paris, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2023: Speaker, JFRN, Role of connexin 43 in pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Paris, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2023: Speaker, FCPC (French Society of Cardiology), Celastrol: a new potential therapeutic option in pulmonary hypertension associated to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Marseille, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2023: Speaker, JESFC, Celastrol: a new potential therapeutic option in pulmonary hypertension associated to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Paris, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2023: Speaker, Invited Lecture, Neonatology networking days (Chiesi), Management of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm, Nantes, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2022: Speaker, JFRN, Celastrol: a new potential therapeutic option in pulmonary hypertension associated to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Paris, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2022: Speaker, J2R, Celastrol: a new potential therapeutic option in pulmonary hypertension associated to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Reims, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2022: Speaker, Printemps de la Cardiologie, Celastrol: a new potential therapeutic option in pulmonary hypertension associated to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Tours, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2022: Speaker, Invited Lecture, Neonatology networking days (Chiesi), Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: review of the literature, Nantes, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2021: Speaker, JFRN, Qualitative study of parent-managed enteral tube feeding in a neonatal intensive care unit, Paris, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2021: Speaker, Invited Lecture, Neoprat, Enteral feeding: practical arrangements and integration of parents, Paris, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
2018: Speaker, JFRN, Effects of celastrol in a murine model of pulmonary hypertension associated with hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Paris, France. Presenter: CM. Pilard.
RESEARCH SUPERVISION
2023: Co-supervision – Justine LEROUX – Master’s degree
« Assessment of structural and electrophysiological cardiac remodeling in a murine model of pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia by hyperoxia. »
2022: Co-supervision – Clara LAMOUROUX – Master’s degree
« Study of the effects of different oxygen concentrations on connexin 43 in human fetal smooth muscle cells. »
2021: Co-supervision – Marion FLAMANT – Speech therapy thesis
« Research into predictive factors for language disorders in premature infants at 4 years of age. »
