Johane Allard

Administrative Assistant: Linda Fera, 416-340-5159, linda.fera@uhn.ca

Research Synopsis

Gut microbiome in bariatric care
Many people who are severely obese have high blood sugar levels and type 2 diabetes. Both obesity and type 2 diabetes are growing health problems in Canada. The only reliable and effective treatment for severe obesity is weight loss surgery, which also remarkably improves type 2 diabetes and blood sugar control, even before weight loss occurs. New studies show that changes in the gut bacteria can play an important role in this process. The purpose of this project is to examine the gut bacteria of patients undergoing bariatric surgery in order to clarify their role in improvements of blood sugar control.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and nutrition-related factors that could contribute to the pathogenesis, including:

• Diet and lifestyle (dietary intake, obesity, physical activity)
• Oxidative stress and antioxidants
• Lipid profile of liver and other tissues (lipid classes, fatty acid composition)
• Hepatic gene expression (genes related to oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance)
• Intestinal microbiota

Home Parenteral Nutrition
Dr. Allard's team is managing the Canadian Home Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) Registry, which collects demographic information, medical history, and health status of patients in Home TPN programs across Canada. Dr. Allard’s team is also conducting a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial to examine the effects of fish-oil based lipid emulsion on parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease. Dr. Allard's areas of expertise also include inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and short bowel syndrome. In addition, she and her team have conducted studies on patients with HIV infection or chronic Hepatitis C infection, as well as lung and liver transplant patients.

Nutrition Care in Canadian Hospitals
Dr Allard is one of the co-chairs of the recently founded Canadian Malnutrition Task Force . The aim of the task force is to create a knowledge base and close the gaps between research and practice in the prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition in Canadians through the continuum of care. Their first study ‘Nutrition Care in Canadian Hospitals’ is currently conducted at multiple hospitals across Canada, including the University Health Network with Dr. Allard as a site investigator. Dr. Allard's areas of expertise also include inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and short bowel syndrome. In addition, she and her team have conducted studies on patients with HIV infection or chronic hepatitis C infection, as well as lung and liver transplant patients.

More information on Dr. Allard's clinical trials can be found in her publications and in the clinical trials registry ClinicalTrials.gov.