Heather Armstrong, MSc, PhDMED
Pronouns: She/Her
Personal Website: https://sites.google.com/view/armstrong-lab/home
Contact
Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Medicine Dept
- harmstro@ualberta.ca
Overview
Area of Study / Keywords
Gastroenterology Microbiome Nutrition Gut-Brain Axis Autoimmunity
About
Dr Armstrong is a Tenured Associate Professor at the University of Alberta Department of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology), Adjunct Department of Pediatrics. She and her team continue to advance the field of nutrition, microbiology, and immunology research to improve the outcomes of patients suffering from inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Research
In collaboration with patient and community advocates, the Armstrong team has expanded their research focus, demonstrating that environmental factors promote changes in the gut microbiome composition and functions which are directly involved in diseases of the gut-brain axis. The gut microbiome in turn mediates whether the host elicits a beneficial or detrimental response to their diet and environment. The goal of the Armstrong lab is to uncover the factors influencing composition and functions of the gut microbiome (e.g., sleep, mental health, geography, ethnicity, genetics), how the gut microbiome mediates host response to diet and environment, and the role that the gut microbiome plays in conditions of the gut-brain axis (intestine, liver, CNS). The team studies how these factors change throughout life from pregnancy and infancy to adulthood. Moving forward, the team has several well-funded projects that seek to use these early findings to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these environment-microbiome-host interactions, supporting tailored dietary interventions and microbiome-altering therapies. The goal of these interventions is to re-establish a healthier gut microbiome to reduce disease burden and improve quality of life. The ongoing work is well supported through funding and collaborations with government, industry partners and clinical teams capable of developing products (biomarker tests, prebiotics and probiotics) along with delivering guidelines (apps) and whole-food diet advice (dietitians and physicians).
Research Students
Currently accepting undergraduate students for research project supervision.
Our student openings are filled on a competitive basis 4 months prior to term start dates. We are presently accepting applications for September 2025 and January 2026 start dates with priority given to trainees with background in wet-lab research skills and coursework in medicine, nutrition, microbiology, immunology, gastroenterology, neurology, hepatology, and data analyses (e.g., medical statistics). Applications by email must include the following: Cover letter indicating your specific experience in our field and why you personally wish to undertake a training position or career in this area of research (personal, professional, career goals). Be sure to clearly indicate the specific position and start date you are applying for. CV highlighting your experiences in relation to our work (academic success, publications, conference presentations, awards, techniques, training of other HQP). Relevant transcripts References (3) name/contact