Dennis JensenView profile
Associate Professor
Dennis Jensen, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education within the Faculty of Education at McGill University and a Scientist with the Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) . He additionally holds an appointment in the Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, MUHC . His research centres on understanding and alleviating activity-related breathlessness (dyspnea) and exercise intolerance in health, aging, obesity, and chronic cardiorespiratory disease—especially COPD. Research Interests Neuro-physiological mechanisms of dyspnea during exercise Cardiopulmonary exercise testing methodology and reference values Therapeutic interventions for exertional breathlessness (pharmacologic, sensorial, rehabilitative) COPD phenotyping via imaging, spirometry, and wearable sensors Sex- and age-related differences in ventilatory control and exercise tolerance Pulmonary vascular structure–function relationships and dysanapsis Dr Jensen directs the Clinical Exercise & Respiratory Physiology Laboratory (CERPL) , whose mission is to advance mechanistic understanding and evidence-based management of breathlessness in chronic pulmonary disease. The lab integrates whole-body cardiopulmonary testing, neuro-ventilatory measurements, advanced thoracic imaging, and digital health technologies to develop novel diagnostics and therapies. Recent Publications Trend Between 2024 and 2025, Dr Jensen has led or co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed papers. These studies collectively chart a trajectory from mechanistic elucidation of dyspnea pathways (neural respiratory drive, pulmonary vascular dysfunction) to the creation of normative reference equations, deep-learning imaging tools, and pragmatic clinical interventions such as inhaled menthol and sensor-guided rehabilitation. The work spans bench-to-bedside translation and population-level epidemiology (CanCOLD, Canadian Respiratory Research Network). Scientific Awards No specific honours or awards are listed in the provided text. Supervision & Funding While explicit lists of trainees and grants are not supplied, Dr Jensen’s extensive publication record, leadership of CERPL, and involvement in large multicentre cohorts imply active graduate supervision and sustained competitive funding from national and international agencies. Laboratory & Collaborative Teams Dr Jensen heads the Clinical Exercise & Respiratory Physiology Laboratory (CERPL) at RI-MUHC. He collaborates widely with the CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group , the Canadian Respiratory Research Network , and interdisciplinary teams spanning kinesiology, respirology, radiology, biomedical engineering, and data science.






