Here is the portrait of the recipient of the 2024 Jacques-Huot Scholarship, Louis Plourde, a doctoral student in Pharmaceutical Sciences in the team of Professor Michel Dorval. Our scholarship program is made possible through the support of the Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval and the Fonds de recherche en cancérologie from Université Laval.
A little over ten years after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies with a minor in Film Studies from Concordia University—six of which were spent in Japan—Louis Plourde returned to academia in 2018, driven by a strong interest in a burgeoning field of research exploring the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy. At Université Laval, under the supervision of Professor Guy Jobin, he dedicated his Master's in Religious Studies to a thesis examining a correlation observed in cognitive sciences between the clinical efficacy of this intervention and a specific type of experience described as "mystical." In addition to conducting an in-depth analysis of the experiential dimension of psychedelic-assisted therapy for major depression, addiction, and existential distress in cancer patients, this research familiarized him with methodological approaches in psychiatry, neuroscience, and pharmacology.
Seeking to contribute more directly to the ongoing integration of psilocybin-assisted therapy in palliative care—an approach gaining increasing interest in Canada for alleviating existential distress in individuals with serious and incurable illnesses—he decided to shift toward the pharmaceutical sciences. In the fall of 2022, he began a PhD under the supervision of Professor Michel Dorval. This opportunity allowed him to join an interdisciplinary research project rich in expertise, with the primary goal of establishing guidelines for the use of this promising therapy.
His doctoral research focuses on evaluating various aspects of the social and professional acceptability of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress. By considering public attitudes and concerns, as well as the anticipated challenges and needs of those involved in palliative care, this research aims to identify pathways to facilitate the integration of this intervention into healthcare settings and society at large, ensuring equity and accessibility for individuals facing cancer.
Beyond his academic journey, which provides him with a broad and multidisciplinary perspective on psilocybin-assisted therapy, Louis is currently involved with the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Michel-Sarrazin Palliative and End-of-Life Care Institute – Université Laval and serves as a member of the Student Committee of the RQSPAL. He is affiliated with the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center – Oncology Division and has been a recipient of scholarships from the Chair in Religion, Spirituality, and Health as well as the Teaching and Research Fund of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Université Laval. Louis is deeply committed to advancing knowledge related to the relief of acute psychological suffering in individuals living with cancer or other incurable illnesses.