Lionel Carmant

Lionel Carmant is a Full Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Neurosciences at the University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine, affiliated with CHU Sainte-Justine University Hospital. He specializes in pediatric neurology with a focus on epilepsy, serving as Chief of the Neurology Department and Medical Director of the Integrated Center of the Child Neurodevelopment Network (CIRENE).

Education: Residency in pediatric neurology at the University of Sherbrooke and McGill University, followed by a fellowship in pediatric epilepsy at Harvard University.

Research Interests: Dr. Carmant’s translational research explores epilepsy-induced brain damage mechanisms, linking seizures to intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. He investigates neurodevelopmental disruptions in children with epilepsy, congenital heart defects, and neonatal brain injuries. His work bridges basic science (e.g., receptor dynamics in hippocampal slices) and clinical applications (e.g., febrile seizure models for temporal lobe epilepsy).

Scientific Awards:

• Clinical Research Fellow (Junior to Senior) from 1997 to 2008
• American Epilepsy Society Young Investigator Award (2004)
• University of Montreal Social Commitment Award (2010)
• Epilepsy Ambassador, International League Against Epilepsy (2011)

Grants and Funding: Continuously supported by CIHR, Savoy Foundation, CURE Foundation, and NSERC since 1997, with FRQS salary support during 1997–2009.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Integrated Center of the Child Neurodevelopment Network (CIRENE) at CHU Sainte-Justine, integrating clinical and basic research to address neurodevelopmental challenges in pediatric populations.