Professional background
Olivier Villemain did his medical training and undertook specialist training in paediatric cardiology in Paris, France. He graduated from medical school at Paris Descartes University in 2014.
Afterwards, he became Assistant Professor in Paediatric Cardiology at Necker Enfants Malades Hospital in Paris for two years. In addition to his medical training, he studied cardiovascular physiology (M.Sc., Paris Descartes University, 2014) and acoustic physics. Between 2014 and 2017, he worked at the Langevin Institute in Paris, a laboratory specialized in acoustic physics. This resulted in a PhD thesis on the new applications of ultrasound in cardiology in 2017. He worked full-time again in this laboratory, between November 2018 and July 2019, as a collaborator.
In July 2019, he was appointed as a clinician investigator and staff cardiologist at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). He founded and led the Villemain Lab, the first laboratory in the world dedicated to the development and application of ultrafast ultrasound imaging in pediatrics. In just four years, his team published over 30 international publications on this topic.
In August 2023, Olivier Villemain returned to France to work at the Bordeaux University Hospital and the IHU Liryc, where he leads the Ultrafast Imaging team. In July 2025, he was awarded an ERC Starting Grant (5D-ULTRAFAST-HCM).
Funding
Research funding obtained (between 2018 and 2025): a total of €3,350,000, including an ERC Starting Grant (€1,500,000; 2025–2030) and a CIHR Operating Grant of $485,000 CAD (2022–2027, #202203PJT-183888). A total of 20 grants and 5 awards obtained as Principal Investigator.
Patents
Methods and Apparatus for Treating Valvular Disease. Granted. Patent #: 15/557455. United States. Messas E, Pernot M, Tanter M, and Villemain O;
Systems and Methods for Assessing Myocardial Work. Provisional. Patent #: P4920US00. Villemain O, Baranger J, Venet M, and Mertens L.
