Marie-France Hetu

Dr. Marie-France Hetu is a Researcher in the Division of Cardiology at the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Queen's University. She serves as the Research Manager at CINQ (Cardiovascular Innovation and Nano-medicine Lab) and holds cross-appointments in the Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME). Her expertise includes 3D ultrasound plaque quantification, clinical research administration, and protocol development. She earned her MSc and PhD in Molecular Biology from Queen's University.

Research interests focus on cardiovascular disease mechanisms, particularly atherosclerosis and carotid plaque vulnerability. She investigates imaging biomarkers (e.g., carotid ultrasound) for predicting cardiovascular outcomes, with emphasis on gender differences and therapeutic interventions like carnitine supplementation. Her work bridges clinical cardiology, radiology, and ethics in health systems.

Key projects include the CIRCE, ECoM, VANGUARD, and NUGATT studies, addressing plaque characterization, risk prediction, and drug efficacy. She collaborates on validating novel ultrasound techniques for detecting vulnerable plaques and improving diagnostic accuracy in emergency and community settings.

Her research places emphasize on translating imaging innovations into clinical practice, with a focus on reducing cardiovascular event risks through early detection and targeted therapies.