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Dr. Sonia Anand researches the relationship between health behaviors, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors contributing to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among high risk diverse ethnic populations. Her research highlights the disproportionate burden of obesity, diabetes, and CVD among South Asians and Aboriginal peoples compared to their Caucasian counterparts.
Through analyzing health behaviour patterns, genetic markers, and dietary habits, Dr. Anand develops targeted prevention strategies tailored to address the specific needs of these communities. Her research aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms driving CVD risk factors, thereby enhancing our ability to predict and prevent CVD within vulnerable populations. Additionally, her genetic discoveries related to dietary factors, such as energy intake and macronutrient composition, provide insights into how environment and genetics influence cardio-metabolic risk.
Her research interests span from childhood through adulthood, offering a comprehensive understanding of how these risk factors evolve over the lifespan. By identifying adverse health behaviours and genetic factors, she aims to determine the causes of CVD risk factors, improve the accuracy of risk prediction, and motivate behavioural changes in high risk groups. Furthermore, her methodology has the potential to validate measurement tools tailored to specific ethnic groups, facilitating comparisons across diverse populations.
Dr. Anand’s research offers insight into the disproportionate burden of CVD faced by ethnic populations, deepening our understanding of the root causes of cardiovascular issues and offering tangible strategies to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities in cardiovascular health.
Dr. Sonia Anand’s research focuses on understanding the intersection of ethnicity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Her work involves conducting large-scale, population-based studies that integrates social determinants of health, health behaviours, and genetic data to explore the socio-biological pathways leading to CVD. By examining how social factors, biological predispositions, and genetic variations contribute to the high prevalence of CVD in certain ethnic groups like South Asians, Dr. Anand’s research aims to uncover critical insights that can inform more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Dr. Sonia Anand’s research in peripheral artery disease (PAD) focuses on evaluating antithrombotic regimens to improve outcomes in PAD patients. She has led and contributed to large, well-known randomized clinical trials, including WAVE, COMPASS, and VOYAGER, which have tested various antithrombotic therapies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in this high-risk population. Through these trials, Dr. Anand’s work has provided critical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of different therapeutic approaches, helping to shape guidelines for the management of PAD globally.
Dr. Sonia Anand’s research investigates the associations between diet and health, particularly how different dietary patterns influence the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Her work often involves systematic reviews of the literature, large population-based studies and clinical trials that examine the impact of specific nutrients and food groups on health outcomes. This work is complemented by recently examining metabolomics as food biomarkers in parallel with recent technological advances in this area. By exploring the role of diet in disease prevention, Dr. Anand aims to provide evidence-based insights that can inform public health guidelines and promote healthier eating practices to improve overall population health.
Dr. Sonia Anand’s research in Global Health and Health Equity focuses on addressing health disparities both internationally and within Canada. Through large-scale international studies, she explores the concept of “GLOCAL” (Global-Local), emphasizing that global health challenges often have local relevance. In Canada, Dr. Anand has been deeply involved in improving health outcomes for marginalized populations, including leading the SCORE! project, which supports newcomer populations, and working with Indigenous communities to address health inequities. Her work aims to create more equitable health systems by understanding and addressing the social determinants of health across diverse populations.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented disruption, with certain communities in Canada, such as South Asian and First Nations populations, facing disproportionately higher risks of infection while encountering barriers to testing and vaccine access. Additionally, vaccine hesitancy arose, fueled by mistrust in the speed of vaccine development. In response, Dr. Sonia Anand and colleagues conducted the COVID CommUNITY study, investigating seroprevalence, vaccine hesitancy, and health access in these vulnerable populations. Their research aimed to better understand the challenges these groups faced and to inform more equitable health interventions during the pandemic.