Martin Brochu

Martin Brochu is a prominent researcher specializing in metabolic diseases, obesity, nutrition, and aging at the Research Center on Aging (Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement) affiliated with Université de Sherbrooke's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. With a PhD in Physical Activity Sciences from Université Laval and postdoctoral training in Clinical Pharmacology and Metabolic Research from the University of Vermont, he has established himself as a leading expert in body composition, metabolic health, and physical activity interventions for aging populations.

His research interests focus on metabolic diseases, obesity, aging, nutrition, physical activity, energy balance, body composition, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk factors. Dr. Brochu's work particularly examines the heterogeneity of obesity, factors explaining variations in body composition and adipose tissue distribution, and the effects of different intervention modalities (exercise and/or nutrition) on body composition and health profiles.

Recent publications reveal a strong focus on the counterintuitive relationship between fat-free mass and metabolic health, high-intensity interval training for older women with type 2 diabetes, and anthropometric measurements for assessing adiposity in postmenopausal women. His research consistently leverages large datasets like NHANES and longitudinal studies such as the Quebec NuAge cohort.

• Scientist in Training Research Award (2008) - American Geriatrics Society
• Age+ Awards (2007) - CIHR-Institute of Aging
• First Place: Excellence in Published Clinical Research (2002) - Endocrine Society of America
• Finalists: Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award (2001) - North American Association for the study of obesity
• Hot papers in the literature - Journal of Women's Health

Dr. Brochu has successfully secured significant research funding including a $200,000 CIHR Operating Grant for the SAFE randomized controlled trial examining exercise as a countermeasure for inflammation processes following muscle disuse (2020-2021), and a $100,000 grant for studying metabolic characteristics of overweight postmenopausal women who are first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes patients (2012-2014). He has mentored numerous researchers who appear as co-authors on his publications, including J-C Lagacé, A Marcotte-Chénard, and J Paquin.

His work is primarily conducted through the Research Center on Aging at CIUSSS de l'Estrie – CHUS, where he leads investigations into the complex relationships between body composition, physical activity, and metabolic health in aging populations, with particular emphasis on postmenopausal women and those with type 2 diabetes.