Dr Mourad Ferdaoussi
Associate Professor, Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta — academic member of the Alberta Diabetes Institute and Adjunct Academic Colleague, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
A career devoted to metabolism
For more than twenty years, Dr Mourad Ferdaoussi has studied the cellular mechanisms of diabetes and cardiovascular health. His path has taken him from France to Switzerland, then from Quebec to Alberta, with one constant thread: understanding why pancreatic beta cells fail — and how to protect them.
In 2006, still a doctoral student at CHUV (Lausanne), he was already among the young researchers recognized by the Swiss Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes for the quality of his work on pancreatic beta cells. Today, an Associate Professor with tenure at Campus Saint-Jean, he leads the Ferdaousi Lab and mentors a team of local and international students.
UNIL-CHUV press release, December 27, 2006 — Servier Prize awarded to Dr Mourad Ferdaoussi for the best poster presentation of his doctoral work.
Deeply committed to Francophone research in a minority-language setting, he teaches five different courses — microbiology, physiology, physiopathology, and histology — while maintaining an active research program and a presence in Francophone media, including an interview with CBC/Radio-Canada on the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Protocol.
Career path
From Lille to Edmonton, twenty years of research
Master's student
Institut de Biologie de Lille, France
Doctoral student (PhD)
CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland
Postdoctoral Fellow
Montreal Diabetes Research Center, CRCHUM
Postdoctoral Fellow, then researcher
Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta
Instructor
Campus Saint-Jean — Microbiology (MICRE103), Human Physiology (PHYSE 210), Physiology and Physiopathology (PHYSE 152A, PHYSE 152B), Human Histology (ANATE 409)
Research Associate
University of Alberta
Assistant Professor
Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta
Associate Professor, tenured
Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta — recognition of his commitment to research on diabetes and cardiovascular health, and to promoting Francophone science.
Teaching
Courses taught at Campus Saint-Jean
Field of study: CSJ Researchers — Health Sciences.
ANATE 409 — Human Histology
Winter Term 2027This introductory histology course focuses on recognizing and identifying the cellular structure and organization associated with the normal physiology of the body's various tissues and organs. An equal share of lectures and labs helps develop the observational skills needed for the study of histology, closely linked to physiology and medical practice.
Prerequisites: BIOLE 201, PHYSE 210, or PHYSL 210, or PHYSL 212 and 214, or ZOOL 241 and 242.
PHYSE 152A — Physiology
Fall Term 2026Introduction to human physiology and pathophysiology, as well as pharmacology. Emphasis is placed on applying human physiology to concepts of pathophysiology and pharmacology, with an introduction to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Restricted to students in the BScInf (bilingual) program. Must be completed before Year 2 of the program.
PHYSE 152B — Physiology
Winter Term 2027Continuation of PHYSE 152A: a deeper look at alterations of normal physiology and at pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic concepts in relation to health disorders.
Restricted to students in the BScInf (bilingual) program.
PHYSE 210 — Human Physiology
Fall Term 2026Introductory course in human physiology, intended for students in health sciences and biology.
Prerequisites: BIOLE 107 or 108, 6 credits of CHEM.
Dr Ferdaoussi also teaches microbiology (MICRE 103). See the full course catalogue for up-to-date terms.
Affiliations
Networks and institutions
- Alberta Diabetes InstituteAcademic member
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, U of AAdjunct Academic Colleague
- Campus Saint-Jean, University of AlbertaAssociate Professor, tenured
- ACPCM / CAMPRCanadian Association of Moroccan Professors and Researchers
- ORCID iDTo be added — standard researcher identifier linking publications and citations
Commitment
Research and the Francophonie
Beyond the lab, Dr Ferdaoussi champions a vision of science that is accessible in French in Western Canada. He trains Francophone and international students, takes part in networks of Moroccan researchers in Canada, and speaks publicly — in the press and at university events — to raise awareness of the research being done at Campus Saint-Jean.