Meet Heather Armstrong, 2024 Rh Award Winner in the Health Sciences category

Dr. Heather Armstrong is a tenured associate professor who leads the gastroenterology research group in the department of medicine, division of gastroenterology at the University of Alberta, with an adjunct appointment in the department of internal medicine at UM’s Max Rady College of Medicine. Armstrong conducts groundbreaking research on how diet, environment and the gut microbiome interact to influence gastrointestinal diseases and immune health. 

Armstrong is the 2024 recipient of the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award in the Health Sciences category, recognized for research on developing precision nutrition tools to support people with inflammatory bowel disease and other gut-related conditions. 

UM Today caught up with Armstrong to learn more about her and the research she is undertaking. 

Tell us a bit about yourself and your research.  

Our research focuses on understanding how the environment—particularly diet—shapes our gut microbiome, the host immune system and overall gut health. While our primary emphasis is on gastroenterology and diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other common gastrointestinal conditions, we’ve also explored the gut-brain axis (the two-way communication network between your brain and digestive system). For example, we’ve collaborated on research into multiple sclerosis with Dr. Ruth Ann Marie and other clinicians and researchers, many of whom were previously based in internal medicine at the University of Manitoba.

A major highlight from our work is that the gut microbiome is crucial for nutrient absorption. Even with a healthy diet, an unhealthy microbiome can limit nutritional benefits and worsen health, particularly in people with chronic diseases.  

Why is this research important? 

There are so many reasons this research is important. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the primary condition our team focuses on. One of the biggest challenges patients face after diagnosis is the lack of clear clinical guidance around diet. Many patients report experiencing “trigger foods” but don’t understand why, and the trial-and-error process of adjusting their diet—often over the course of several years—can be stressful and frustrating. 

The clinical system has fallen short in supporting these patients, largely because we haven’t fully understood what constitutes a safe, healthy diet for those with gastrointestinal diseases. A large part of our research program aims to change that. We’re working to identify which foods are beneficial and safe—especially during flare-ups or early stages of diagnosis—and which ones could be harmful. We’re also advancing toward a precision medicine approach, recognizing that dietary needs are highly individual. What’s safe for one patient may not be safe for another. 

What does the Rh Award mean to you? 

This is not a one-person award. We are a very big team with amazing collaborators, and the work we’ve done is part of a much broader team effort. This award speaks to the strength of the staff we’ve had in Manitoba and at Health Sciences Centre, and all their hard work. I also have IBD myself, so when we make big discoveries, it really hits home. A number of our staff also have IBD or other illnesses, and this award is a true testament to their passion and drive to excel in our work together. The award is a recognition not just of myself but of our team and the effort everyone has put into making these projects successful.  

What do you hope to achieve in the future? 

Among the many studies our team is working towards, we have a really neat study running right now that we expect to complete in the next two to three years. The goal is to translate a precision nutrition model that uses the microbiome and different host markers as biomarkers of what someone’s ideal nutrition should look like to benefit their gastrointestinal health.

The tool has been created, and we are working on consolidating it and pushing it forward with different provincial health units to have it covered by health care for patients.

In five to 10 years, we hope it will be available for not just gastrointestinal patients but other illnesses and even for general health. In the next couple of years, we hope to see it in clinics. 

What about you might people find surprising? 

Thanks to research, I’ve traveled to over 50 countries—six out of the seven continents. I’ve had the pleasure of living in over 30 places now in several countries also. Excitingly, we have an Antarctic trip coming up soon to do microbiome research in unique geographical locations. I’ve been a lot of places, but flying into Cape Town takes your breath away. It’s such a beautiful city and the region is so different from what we’re used to here. 

Any advice for early-career researchers and students? 

I think the best advice and the most meaningful for me is to collaborate and get to know people. Everyone’s happy to support you if you find the right people. Once you find the right mentors and collaborators, stick with them. It doesn’t have to be all about work every day—building community, relationships and friendships makes everything a lot more fun. 

Caterina Di Canio