Francis H. Glorieux, MD, PHD
- Pediatrics
- English
- French
Biography
Francis Glorieux, M.D., Ph.D., received his M.D. and pediatric training from the University of Louvain (Belgium) and his Ph.D. (Human Genetics) from McGill University at the Montreal Children's Hospital under Charles Scriver. It is there that he developed his interest in heritable pediatric bone diseases. His doctoral thesis demonstrated that calcitriol and phosphate allowed for control of the bone disease in hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH). This regimen has been used worldwide in such patients. In 1972, he was hired by Richard Cruess, chief of surgery at Shriners Children's Canada, to initiate a research program on the various conditions affecting the Shriners Children's patients. Thus, from 1973 to 2011, he was director of research and founding head of the Genetics Unit at Shriners Children's Canada and a professor at McGill University.
The Genetics Unit grew rapidly into a multidisciplinary group using bone histomorphometry, molecular diagnosis, in vitro work and animal models to better evaluate and treat various forms of familial rickets and osteogenesis imperfecta. He feels privileged having been able to hire high-class collaborators like Rene St-Arnaud and Frank Rauch who are now continuing the work. Dr. Glorieux has demonstrated the beneficial effects of bisphosphonates in severe forms of osteogenesis imperfecta. Programs based on the Montreal protocols are now used all over the world and considered the standard of care.
Since 2009, Dr. Glorieux has been the chair of the Medical Advisory Council of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (USA). He has published more than 320 peer-reviewed papers and co-edited three books. He is also the recipient of both the Bartter and the Neuman Awards of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). Dr. Glorieux was granted honorary doctoral degrees by the universities of Amiens and Lyon (France). In 2004, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada, the country's highest honor for lifetime achievement. Dr. Glorieux is now emeritus director of research at Shriners Children's Canada and emeritus professor of surgery, pediatrics and human genetics at McGill and continues to lead clinical trials to assess potential beneficial effects of denosumab and setrusumab in osteogenesis imperfecta.
In his younger years, Dr. Glorieux practiced fencing, golf and tennis and enjoyed sailing catamarans and flying small airplanes.
Pediatric Care
Specialties
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
WHERE I PROVIDE CARE
Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada
Pediatric specialty care for children throughout Montreal and beyond
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