Researcher

Title

• Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, Université de Montréal (2021)

• Postdoctoral fellowship, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Institute (2017-2020)
• PhD in Nutrition, Université de Montréal (2017)
• MSc in Nutrition, Université Laval (2012)
• BSc in Nutrition, Université Laval (2010)

My interests are focused on the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of obesity and diabetes, with a special interest for pregnancy and infancy as key periods for the development of healthy dietary habits and behaviors. My research program focuses on 1) prevention of gestational diabetes and optimization its treatment, and 2) obesity and diabetes prevention in youth.

• Nutrition
• Gestational Diabetes
• Obesity
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Infancy
• Dietary behaviors
• Metabolic diseases prevention

Awards and Distinctions

• CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 2018-2020
• Dean's Honor List of Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (Ph.D. in nutrition), Université de Montréal, 2018
• Young investigator travel grant award, American Diabetes Association's 78th Scientific Sessions, 2018
• Pyle Fellowship, Department of Population Medicine – Harvard Medical School and HPHCI, 2017-2018
• Manuscript Award - Brian Dufton Memorial Award, Canadian Journal of Diabetes, Diabetes Canada, 2017
• FRQ-S Doctoral scholarship for holders of a professional diploma, Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQ-S), 2013-2017
• Presentation scholarship, Department of Nutrition, Université de Montréal, 2017
• Poster competition award, Canadian Nutrition Society, 2017
• Oral presentation award, Department of Nutrition, Université de Montréal, 2015 and 2017
• Best abstract award – Annual Scientific Meeting of the Réseau de recherche sur la santé cardiométabolique, le diabète et l'obésité (CMDO) and the Société québécoise de lipidologie, nutrition et métabolisme (SQLNM), 2014
• Poster presentation award, Montreal Diabetes Research Center (MDRC), 2014
• Dean's Honor List of Laval University’s Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (M.Sc. in nutrition), Université Laval, 2013
• Presentation award, 1ST ICAN Conference Series, Réseau de recherche sur la santé cardiométabolique, le diabète et l'obésité (CMDO), 2013
• Doctoral scholarship, Diabète Québec, 2013
• Doctoral scholarship, Montreal Diabetes Research Center (MDRC), 2013
• Finalist for the Nestle Nutrition Graduate Student Competition (Christine Gagnon Memorial), Canadian Nutrition Society 2012
• Doctoral scholarship, Department of Nutrition, Université de Montréal, 2012
• Recruitment scholarship, Faculty of Medicine of Université de Montréal, 2012
• Presentation award, Canadian Society of Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 2012
• Masters scholarship, Diabète Québec, 2011 and 2012
• Poster presentation award, Réunion annuelle de la Société québécoise de lipidologie, nutrition et métabolisme (SQLNM), 2011
• Trainee recognition award, Maternal, infant, child and youth research network (MICYRN) for presentation at the Canadian Obesity Summit, 2011

Presentations

1. Gingras V. Early life risk factors of obesity and type 2 diabetes in youth. McGill School of Human Nutrition Colloquium Presentations. Montreal, QC, February 19, 2019.
2. Gingras V. Les défis associés à l’obésité et à la résistance à l’insuline dans le diabète de type 1. Réunion Scientifique Annuelle SQLNM, CMDO et COLosSUS. Magog, QC, February 6 – 8, 2019.
3. Gingras V. Dietary Behaviors throughout Childhood Are Associated with Body Mass Index and Estimated Insulin Resistance in Adolescence — A Longitudinal Study. American Diabetes Association’s 78th Scientific Sessions. Orlando, FL, June 22-26 2018.
4. Gingras V. Adoption d’une alimentation Méditerranéenne pour la prévention et le traitement du diabète. Formation Nutrium, Groupe Extenso. Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC. March 27, 2015.
5. Gingras V. Efficacy of dual-hormone artificial pancreas to alleviate the carbohydrate counting burden in type 1 diabetes: randomized crossover trial. CDA/CSEM Professional Conference and Annual Meetings. Winnipeg, MB. October 23-25, 2014.

Publications

1. Gingras V, Switkowski KM, Rifas-Shiman S, Faleschini S, Oken E, Hivert MF*. (2020) Associations of Early Parental Concerns and Feeding Behaviors with Child’s Diet Quality Through Mid-Childhood. Nutrients. 2020;12(11):E3231. 
2. Gingras V, Aris IM, Rifas-Shiman SL, Switkowski KM, Oken E, Hivert MF. Timing of complementary feeding introduction and adiposity throughout childhood and adolescence. Pediatrics. 2019;144(6):e20191320.
3. Gingras V, Rifas-Shiman SL, Taveras EM, Oken E, Hivert MF. Dietary behaviors throughout childhood are associated with adiposity and estimated insulin resistance in early adolescence: a longitudinal study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2018;15(1):129.
4. Gingras V, Rifas-Shiman SL, Derks IPM, Aris I, Oken E, Hivert MF. Associations of gestational glucose tolerance with offspring body composition and estimated insulin resistance in early adolescence. Diabetes Care. 2018;41(12):e164-166.
5. Fortin A, Rabasa-Lhoret R, Lemieux S, Labonté MÈ, Gingras V. Comparison of a Mediterranean to a Low-Fat Dietary Intervention in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome: A 6–month randomized trial. Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. 2018;28(12):1275-1284.
6. Gingras V, Taleb N, Roy-Fleming A, Legault L, Rabasa-Lhoret R. The challenges of achieving postprandial glucose control using closed-loop systems in patients with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism. 2018;20(2):245-256.