Modes of transmission in vulnerable populations
Julie Bruneau MD, MSc, is a clinical researcher and Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Montreal. She is a Senior clinical research Scholar of the Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec. As a clinician, she is recognized as a leader in the development of addiction medicine in Canada. She was a founding member of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine, and implemented the largest University-based Addiction Medical Facility in Eastern Canada.
For the past twenty years, she has conducted epidemiological research among active injecting drug users (IDU), and published her work in high-impact journals. Her research accomplishments have significantly contributed to a better understanding of the dynamics of HIV and HCV transmission among IDUs. Her work on the relation between syringe access and HIV transmission, albeit controversial at times, directly influenced changes in prevention strategies to better address injector needs nationally and around the world. Recently, she has expanded her research program to examine the impact of various approaches including treatment and motivational interviewing, on the behaviours and quality of life of active injection drug users (IDU).