All members of the division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition share the vision of improving the lives of children with intestinal and liver disorders. Research is an integral step towards this vision and as part of our clinical and academic mission, our team of physicians, nurses and scientists are actively involved in clinical, translational and bench research. The division has a long history of clinical care and research, and the main focus of the program is in the following areas: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver disorders, eosinophilic esophagitis and celiac disease.
Dr. Kevan Jacobson
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Kevan Jacobson
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Head and Clinical Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Associate Member, Department of Physiology, University of British Columbia
Dr. Kevan Jacobson is a Senior Clinician Scientist and Director of the Pediatric GI IBD program. Dr. Jacobson is involved in clinical care of children with IBD and in clinical and basic research in the field of IBD. He oversees the Pediatric GI IBD database, which currently has data on 1,200 children. Dr. Jacobson’s clinical areas of interest include the epidemiology of IBD, identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and improving clinical outcomes for children with IBD.
Dr. Richard Schreiber
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Richard Schreiber
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Clinical Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Dr. Richard Schreiber is a senior liver specialist His clinical research interests include biliary atresia, pediatric viral hepatitis B and C, autoimmune hepatitis and liver transplant. He is co-founder of the Canadian Pediatric Hepatology Research Group, a national collaborative effort to research and help improve the care and outcome of Canadian children with liver disease. He is the lead investigator of a CIHR funded project to examine the feasibility of a home-based newborn screening program for biliary atresia using infant stool colour cards. He is co-director of the Canadian Biliary Atresia Registry (CBAR).
Dr. Collin Barker
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Collin Barker
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Dr. Collin Barker’s research interests focus on celiac disease, GI complications in oncology patients and quality assessment and quality improvement projects within the division of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition.
Dr. Vishal Avinashi
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Vishal Avinashi
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Dr. Vishal Avinashi is interested in clinical characteristics of patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). He is keen to study biomarkers to hopefully decrease the need for endoscopy in follow up for patients with EoE. He is collaborating with Dr. Edmond Chan (Allergist) to see patients and build the EoE patient registry.
Dr. Linda Casey
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Linda Casey
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Director, Complex Nutrition and Feeding Service, BC Children’s Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Dr. Linda Casey is the Medical Director of the Complex Feeding and Nutrition Service (CFNS). Dr. Casey has a strong background in clinical nutrition, in the care of children with short bowel syndrome, and has interests in education and quality assessment and quality improvement projects.
Dr. Orlee Guttman
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Orlee Guttman
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Orlee Guttman is interested in education and in clinical research. Dr. Guttman studies the role of Fibroscan (transient elastography) in evaluating the extent of liver fibrosis in children with primary liver disease and other disorders. She also has an interest in the presence of liver disease and abnormal liver biochemistry in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Dr. Sally Lawrence
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Sally Lawrence
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Sally Lawrence is involved with clinical research involving patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She has been part of the development of Canadian consensus guidelines for patients with IBD. She is also involved with European collaborators for nutritional studies for the treatment of IBD, and several quality improvement projects related to IBD.
Dr. Alice Foster
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Alice Foster
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Alice Foster is involved with clinical studies involving patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She has a particular interest in, and is leading projects related to, the successful transition of IBD patients from pediatric to adult care.
Dr. Andy Skinn
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Andy Skinn
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Andy Skinn is involved with quality improvement projects related to providing pediatric GI care outside of BC Children’s hospital, including outreach and telehealth.
Dr. Jocelyn Jeong
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Jocelyn Jeong
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Jocelyn Jeong’s research interests include Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and particularly, using bedside ultrasound as an aid in following patients with IBD.
Dr. Sylvie Label
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Sylvie Label
Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Sylvie Label is involved with QI projects involving the liver, particularly surrounding the care of children who have received pediatric liver transplantation.
Dr. Bruce Vallance
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Bruce Vallance
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
CH.I.L.D. Foundation Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology
Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Dr. Bruce Vallance’s research is focused on intestinal microbes and understanding how pathogenic as well as commensal bacteria cause inflammation and disease in the mammalian intestinal tract. He is the C.H.I.L.D. Foundation Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology and the Director for Gut4Health Microbiome Core.
Dr. Laura Sly
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Dr. Laura Sly
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Dr. Laura Sly studies intestinal macrophages and how different macrophage subsets either drive intestinal inflammation, such as occurs in IBD, or promote intestinal healing.
