The Hoareau Acute Care and Translational Research Laboratory investigates how mitochondrial injury drives organ dysfunction after trauma, hemorrhagic shock, and ischemia-reperfusion, and how targeted mitochondrial therapies can restore cellular and tissue resilience. The lab’s work is grounded in the concept that mitochondrial dysfunction is not uniform across organs or cell populations. Instead, it occurs in spatially and temporally heterogeneous patterns that shape clinical outcomes. Using a combination of translational large-animal models, small-animal studies, and mechanistic cellular approaches, the laboratory examines mitochondrial energetics, redox balance, structural integrity, and stress signaling in the heart, kidney, and vascular beds. A major focus of the lab is the development and evaluation of mitochondrial-targeted interventions, including peptide-based therapies that preserve mitochondrial architecture and function following severe physiological stress. By integrating clinically realistic models with deep mechanistic readouts, the Hoareau Laboratory aims to define actionable mitochondrial phenotypes that can be translated into novel resuscitation and organ-protective strategies.
Mitochondrial Injury and Shock Research
The Hoareau Lab bridges emergency and critical care medicine with fundamental mechanisms of cellular injury and recovery. Our work centers on mitochondrial pathobiology as a unifying mechanism of organ injury in critical illness, using clinically relevant large-animal translational models.
Research Areas
Our research centers on mitochondrial pathobiology as a unifying mechanism of organ injury in critical illness, spanning hemorrhagic shock, resuscitation biology, and translation to trauma care.
Mitochondrial Pathobiology in Critical Illness
studies of mitochondrial structure, energetics, and signaling as a unifying mechanism of organ injury in critical illness, to identify therapeutic strategies that improve tissue resilience and recovery after severe physiological stress.
Hemorrhagic Shock and Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
clinically relevant large-animal (swine and canine) translational models of hemorrhagic shock; mitochondrial-targeted therapies (e.g., elamipretide) to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury after hemorrhage.
Resuscitation Biology
resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA), including intermittent vs. partial occlusion strategies and mitigating REBOA-associated myocardial injury (e.g., esmolol); extracorporeal CPR/ECMO and cardiac arrest resuscitation.
Translating to Trauma Care
advancing novel therapies toward clinical practice for military and civilian trauma, with implications for organ transplantation, sepsis, and metabolic disease.
Leadership
Guillaume Hoareau, DVM, PhD
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine; Investigator, Nora Eccles Harrison CVRTI; Chair of the RECOVER Research Trials Committee; board-certified in Emergency and Critical Care by the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care; Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Hoareau is a veterinarian scientist. He received his veterinary degree from the École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse in France, and completed his PhD in Integrative Pathobiology at UC Davis. He has been collaborating with the U.S. Air Force for several years, investigating mechanisms of injury after hemorrhagic shock. He joined the University of Utah where his lab is investigating mitochondrial injury in the context of shock and other critical illnesses, including ischemia-reperfusion injury following cardiac arrest. Contact Dr. Hoareau at Guillaume.Hoareau@hsc.utah.edu
Mentorship
Dr. Hoareau mentors trainees around all aspects of translational acute care research with a strong interest and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is part of several pipelines for trainees from underrepresented minorities.
