Valérie Gouon-Evans, PhD, PharmD Hear my name
Associate Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
Gastroenterology

PhD, University of Paris Vii
PharmD, Université Paris 5 René Descartes
MS, University of Paris Vii
BS, Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris VI)

Pronouns: she/her/hers



Valerie Gouon-Evans, PharmD, PhD is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Gastroenterology at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Director of the Program of Boston University Liver Biologists (BULB), and Associate Director of the Molecular & Translational Medicine (MTM) PhD Program of the Department of Medicine.

After completing her graduate studies in Paris, Dr. Gouon-Evans joined Dr. Pollard's Lab as a postdoctoral fellow where she studied mammary gland development and breast cancer. She then began her career as an Instructor of Gene and Cell Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York in the laboratory of Dr. Gordon Keller, where she pioneered protocols to efficiently generate hepatocyte-like cells from pluripotent stem cells. She quickly rose up the ranks and was promoted to Assistant Professor before arriving at Boston University. As a PharmD PhD lab leader for 16 years, Dr. Gouon-Evans has overseen the creation of a research program to advance understanding of liver development and establishing therapeutic strategies to alleviate liver disease using an induced pluripotent stem cell platform and mouse models. Recently, Dr. Gouon-Evans lab also pioneered an innovative technology to deliver regenerative factors to the liver to treat various liver diseases, by using mRNA complexed to lipid nanoparticles, which is a validated platform with the widely used mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

I am a strong advocate for the power of diversity in advancing science. Fostering daily awareness of equity, inclusion, and belonging is crucial for empowering diversity, and is therefore a continuous ethical endeavor I uphold in my lab, work environment, and daily life. My willingness and dedication to enhancing this awareness and implementing diversity initiatives has been significantly shaped by two key leadership training programs on the BU campus, the Women Leadership Program, and the Mid-career Faculty Leadership (MFL) Program. Especially, the MFL Program provided me with the invaluable opportunity to be part of a leader group that proposed the novel “Report. Respond. Restore.” Program aimed at addressing interpersonal mistreatments at BUCASoM. If implemented, this program could help create a safer work environment where everybody can thrive.

Below are some specific examples of my Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice activities. I mentor BU Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program students and train them for PhD program applications through mock interviews. I mentor underrepresented undergraduate students and guide them in their future career path. As the co-director of the MTM PhD program, I support the recruitment of PhD students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups with financial compensation through the program. My lab actively participates in anti-racism initiatives organized by the CReM and has notably presented at the CReM anti-racism journal club series. As the first woman PI hired at the CReM, I am proud to promote women in science, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, from undergraduate to graduate levels. Overall, I submit that harnessing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is essential for advancing science in a healthy environment where all thrive. While recognizing that this is a societal work in progress, I have the willpower and dedication to continuing my DEI effort in all aspects of my life.

Member
Boston University
Center for Regenerative Medicine


Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Member
Boston University
Genome Science Institute


Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences




Primary hepatocyte and engineered iPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cell transplantation to treat alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiencyassociated liver disease
02/01/2023 - 05/31/2024 (Key Person / Mentor)
NIH/National Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
5F31DK135378-02

Sexual dimorphism of acetaminophen-induced liver injury and regeneration
07/01/2021 - 10/31/2022 (Key Person / Mentor)
NIH/National Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
5F31DK127606-02


Investigation of the role of VEGFA in harnessing cholangiocyte-driven liver regeneration
07/01/2022 - 04/30/2027 (PI)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS
5R01DK133404-02

Pre notification Promoting progenitor-driven liver regeneration as an AATD-associated liver disease therapy
07/01/2024 - 06/30/2026 (PI)
Alpha-1 Foundation

A multi-modular approach for human pluripotent stem cell-based liver regeneration
09/15/2020 - 07/31/2025 (PI)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases/NIH/DHHS
1R01DK124361-01A1

Engineered and edited patient-derived iPSC for AATD-associated liver disease cell therapy
07/01/2022 - 06/30/2025 (PI)
Alpha-1 Foundation

Edited stem cell-based therapy with transcript therapy for AATD-associated liver disease
07/01/2019 - 06/30/2022 (PI)
Alpha-1 Foundation

Use of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatic Cells in Pediatric Liver Transplantation
07/01/2017 - 05/31/2018 (PI)
March of Dimes


Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2024 Investigation of the role of VEGFA in harnessing cholangiocyte-driven liver regeneration 5R01DK133404-03
2023 Investigation of the role of VEGFA in harnessing cholangiocyte-driven liver regeneration 5R01DK133404-02
2023 A multi-modular approach for human pluripotent stem cell-based liver regeneration 5R01DK124361-04
2022 Investigation of the role of VEGFA in harnessing cholangiocyte-driven liver regeneration 1R01DK133404-01
2022 A multi-modular approach for human pluripotent stem cell-based liver regeneration 5R01DK124361-03
2021 A multi-modular approach for human pluripotent stem cell-based liver regeneration 5R01DK124361-02
2020 A multi-modular approach for human pluripotent stem cell-based liver regeneration 1R01DK124361-01A1
2014 Endothelial cells in liver development and regeneration 5R01DK087867-05 11
2013 Endothelial cells in liver development and regeneration 5R01DK087867-04 11
2012 Endothelial cells in liver development and regeneration 5R01DK087867-03 11
Showing 10 of 17 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Smith AR, Rizvi F, Everton E, Adeagbo A, Wu S, Tam Y, Muramatsu H, Pardi N, Weissman D, Gouon-Evans V. Transient growth factor expression via mRNA in lipid nanoparticles promotes hepatocyte cell therapy in mice. Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 12; 15(1):5010.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38866762; PMCID: PMC11169405; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49332-8;
     
  2. Smith AR, Rizvi F, Everton E, Adeagbo A, Wu S, Tam Y, Muramatsu H, Pardi N, Weissman D, Gouon-Evans V. Transient growth factor expression via mRNA in lipid nanoparticles promotes hepatocyte cell therapy to treat murine liver diseases. bioRxiv. 2024 Jan 11.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38260488; PMCID: PMC10802626; DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.575286;
     
  3. Rizvi F, Lee YR, Diaz-Aragon R, Bawa PS, So J, Florentino RM, Wu S, Sarjoo A, Truong E, Smith AR, Wang F, Everton E, Ostrowska A, Jung K, Tam Y, Muramatsu H, Pardi N, Weissman D, Soto-Gutierrez A, Shin D, Gouon-Evans V. VEGFA mRNA-LNP promotes biliary epithelial cell-to-hepatocyte conversion in acute and chronic liver diseases and reverses steatosis and fibrosis. Cell Stem Cell. 2023 Dec 07; 30(12):1640-1657.e8.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38029740; PMCID: PMC10843608; DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.10.008;
     
  4. Rizvi F, Lee YR, Diaz-Aragon R, So J, Florentino RM, Smith AR, Everton E, Ostrowska A, Jung K, Tam Y, Muramatsu H, Pardi N, Weissman D, Soto-Gutierrez A, Shin D, Gouon-Evans V. VEGFA mRNA-LNP promotes biliary epithelial cell-to-hepatocyte conversion in acute and chronic liver diseases and reverses steatosis and fibrosis. bioRxiv. 2023 Apr 18. PMID: 37131823; PMCID: PMC10153196; DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.17.537186;
     
  5. Everton E, Del Rio-Moreno M, Villacorta-Martin C, Singh Bawa P, Lindstrom-Vautrin J, Muramatsu H, Rizvi F, Smith AR, Tam Y, Pardi N, Kineman R, Waxman DJ, Gouon-Evans V. Growth Hormone Accelerates Recovery From Acetaminophen-Induced Murine Liver Injury. bioRxiv. 2023 Apr 18.View Related Profiles. PMID: 37131727; PMCID: PMC10153200; DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.17.537197;
     
  6. Gouon-Evans V, Fiorotto R. Fibroblasts to hepatocytes: A nonstop flight into cell therapy for liver diseases? Hepatology. 2023 May 01; 77(5):1469-1471. PMID: 35957526
     
  7. Kim M, Rizvi F, Shin D, Gouon-Evans V. Update on Hepatobiliary Plasticity. Semin Liver Dis. 2023 Feb; 43(1):13-23.View Related Profiles. PMID: 36764306; PMCID: PMC10005859; DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1760306;
     
  8. Smith AR, Gouon-Evans V. c-Maf: The magic wand that turns on LSEC fate. Cell Stem Cell. 2022 Apr 07; 29(4):491-493. PMID: 35395181
     
  9. Everton E, Rizvi F, Smith AR, Beattie M, Tam Y, Pardi N, Weissman D, Gouon-Evans V. Transient yet Robust Expression of Proteins in the Mouse Liver via Intravenous Injection of Lipid Nanoparticle-encapsulated Nucleoside-modified mRNA. Bio Protoc. 2021 Oct 05; 11(19):e4184.View Related Profiles. PMID: 34722830; PMCID: PMC8517647; DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4184;
     
  10. Rizvi F, Everton E, Smith AR, Liu H, Osota E, Beattie M, Tam Y, Pardi N, Weissman D, Gouon-Evans V. Author Correction: Murine liver repair via transient activation of regenerative pathways in hepatocytes using lipid nanoparticle-complexed nucleoside-modified mRNA. Nat Commun. 2021 May 10; 12(1):2825.View Related Profiles. PMID: 33972545; PMCID: PMC8110992; DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23322-6;
     
Showing 10 of 40 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 40 publications over 20 distinct years, with a maximum of 5 publications in 2023

YearPublications
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20041
20063
20091
20101
20114
20121
20133
20143
20151
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20171
20181
20213
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2010 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB): Travel Award
2008 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB): Travel Award
2007-2008 International Society for Stem Cell Research: Travel Award

As a PI, one of my most rewarding role is to instill in rising PhD and MD/PhD students the passion for research and in guiding them to the career path that matched their personality. This is the reason that drove me to become the Associate Director of the Graduate Program in Molecular and Translational Medicine (MTM). Over 15 years of Faculty experience, 8 years at ISMMS, and 7 years at BUCASoM/BMC, I have enjoyed training students coming from various levels of education: 2 high schoolers, 9 undergraduates (including Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, honors science Program and research for credit at BUCASoM), 1 post graduate from the Program for under-represented students (Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program), 4 master students, 5 PhD students and 7 PhD or MD/PhD rotation students. I have a track record for training 6 postdoctoral fellows and 2 technicians who have together with all students remained in the research field either in academia or industry/consulting firms. I am currently training 1 postdoctoral fellow, 3 PhD students, one technician and one master student as well as 3 undergraduate students. I have been actively involved in student development programs in both institutions from PhD applicant reviewer (ISMMS/BUCASoM), member and chair of Dissertation Advisory Committees (ISMMS/BUCASoM), member of PhD qualifying exam (ISMMS/BUCASoM), and master exam committee (ISMMS), Evans Research Days poster reviewers (BUCASoM), to organizing mock NIH study section for students, postdocs and early career faculty at the Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM). As equally important, I also mentor junior and peer faculty members as a member of BMC research speed mentoring Program for early-career Faculty and through my position as the director of the BU Liver Biologist (BULB) program which provides intellectual and technical resources for peers in the liver field at a local and national level.

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):
  • Advisor
  • Career Mentor
  • Diversity Mentor
  • Education Mentor
  • Project Mentor
  • Research / Scholarly Mentor
Contact for Mentoring:
  • Email (see 'Contact Info')

670 Albany Street
Boston MA 02118
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