Dr. Vivian Huang

• 2023–present; Associate Professor and Clinician Investigator, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Toronto, Toronto
• 2023–present; Canadian Member and Co-Author, Global Consensus Conference: Pregnancy and IBD
• 2022–present; Research Affairs Committee Member, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG)
• 2022–present; Committee member, Canadian IBD Research Consortium (CIRC) database initiative
• 2020–present; Scientific Committee member, Canadian IBD Research Consortium (CIRC)
• 2017–present; Gastroenterologist, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Specialist, Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto
• 2017–present; Gastroenterologist, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Specialist, Division of Gastroenterology, University Health Network, Toronto
• 2017–present; Founder and Director, Preconception and Pregnancy in IBD clinical research program, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health, Toronto
• 2017–present; Pregnancy IBD Decision Aid (PIDA), international co-lead of steering committee  

Former appointments

• 2017–2023; Assistant Professor and Clinician Investigator, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Toronto, Toronto
• 2017–2020; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
• 2015–2017; Assistant Professor of Medicine and Clinician Scientist, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada 

• Advanced Clinical and Research Fellowship in IBD, University of Alberta, Edmonton; 2012–2015
• MSc, Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton; 2012–2014
• FRCPC (Gastroenterology) University of Toronto, Toronto; 2010–2012
• FRCPC (Internal medicine) Queen’s University, Kingston; 2007–2010
• MD, Queen’s University, Kingston; 2004–2007
• GDBA (Graduate Diploma in Business Administration), Simon Fraser University; 1999–2001
• BSc, Honours Physiology, University of British Columbia; 1995–1999

• 2024 – University Health Network – Sinai Health Quality Improvement Award
• 2023 – Young Scholar in Quality Innovation Award, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology
• 2022 – The Gord Greenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching and Clinical Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Toronto, Toronto
• 2020 – Women in IBD: Emerging Researcher Award, Crohn’s Colitis Canada  
• 2018 – DoMCA award, DOM, UHN/MSH, Department of Medicine Citizenship Award (4th quarter)

Our research team is engaged in retrospective chart review studies, cross-sectional and longitudinal survey studies for patients and health-care providers, educational projects and translational research projects. Below are several currently active studies.

Preconception and pregnancy in IBD prospective cohort study 

preconception and pregnant women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are prospectively followed by clinic assessment and surveys throughout preconception, pregnancy and postpartum; and their infants are followed until three years of age with an option until 10 years.  From this cohort, we are investigating the impact of IBD on fertility and pregnancy outcomes, impact of biologics and advanced therapies during pregnancy on pregnancy and infant outcomes, impact of active IBD and control of disease activity on pregnancy and infant outcomes, among many other outcomes.

Impact of biologics and advanced therapies on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in IBD 

In this retrospective study of patients seen in the IBD in  Preconception and Pregnancy Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital, we are investigating the maternal and neonatal outcomes based on exposure to biologics and advanced therapy, and whether drug levels are associated with risk of adverse outcomes.

Breastmilk composition in IBD

This is a translational research project, where we collect breastmilk from mothers with IBD and healthy mothers from one month and three months postpartum, and information on their IBD disease activity, medications and diet, as well as information on their infants’ nutrition and growth and development up until 12 months.  We will study the milk for human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) composition, and associations with maternal diet and infant outcomes.

Fertility and IBD

Through retrospective chart review of patient charts, we are investigating the impact of IBD activity and medications on fertility treatments and success of treatments. Through surveys of health-care providers, we are aiming to better understand health-care provider knowledge and perceptions regarding the impact of IBD on fertility outcomes and of fertility treatments on IBD disease activity.

We are always looking for motivated researchers to join our team.

Summer students
Summer students should contact myself ([email protected]) directly.