Teresa To

Dr. Teresa To has developed a population-based research program that focuses on childhood asthma. Using paediatric health databases, she examines factors that influence the health of children with asthma and their health outcomes. Her current asthma care research program spans from the acute, primary care settings, to the population levels.

To also maintains a cross-appointment at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) that allows her to use administrative databases to study health-care utilization, access to care, and practice patterns for a variety of medical and surgical conditions.

Research

To’s program is asthma-focused and her research agenda is population-based with a primary research goal to identify, quantify, and propose ways of filling the gaps in asthma prevention, management, and policy.

Using epidemiology, biostatistics, health services, and outcomes research methodologies, To’s research includes the establishment of strategies to identify determinants of asthma health and associated health outcomes, the development of an asthma surveillance system, and the examination of asthma health indicators to monitor asthma health across the life span. The overall intent is to improve the quality of life and outcomes for patients with asthma through an evidence-based approach. Her ongoing projects have laid the foundation for an ongoing province-wide asthma surveillance and outcomes research for Ontario and Canada.

Education

• 1980–1982: M.Sc., Statistics & Research Methods, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
• 1982–1985: PhD, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Achievements

• 2020–2027: Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Asthma; CIHR
• 2020–current: Chair, Clinical Research Grant Panel, The Lung Health Foundation
• 2019–2021: Lead, Research and e-Communications; WHO-Global Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases
• 2017–current: Associate Editor, Canadian Journal of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine
• 2017–2018: Anthony Miller Research Excellence Award, University of Toronto
• 2016–current: Scientific Lead from SickKids, ICES at University of Toronto
• 2014–current: Lead, Environmental Health Platform, Canadian Respiratory Research Network
• 2012–current: Scientific Director, Biostatistics, Design and Analysis Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children
• 2008–2011: Dales Award in Medical Research, University of Toronto
• 2008: Eminent Scientist of the Year 2008 International Award in the field of Pediatrics and Community Health Research, World Scientists Forum
• 2005–2010: Program Head, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, SickKids
• 2001–2006: Investigator Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

1. To T, Viegi G, Cruz A, Taborda-Barata L, Asher M et al. A Global Respiratory Perspective on the COVID-19 Pandemic: Commentary and Action Proposals. Eur Respir J. 2020 Jun 25:2001704. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01704-2020. Online ahead of print.  
2. To T, Zhu J, Stieb D, Gray N, Fong I, Pinault L, Jerrett M, Robichaud A, Ménard R, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Hystad P, Brook JR, Dell S. Early life exposure to air pollution and incidence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. Eur Respir J. 2020 Feb 20;55(2):1900913. doi: 10.1183/13993003.00913-2019. 
3. Abdullah K, Zhu J, Gershon A, Dell S, To T. Effect of asthma exacerbation during pregnancy in women with asthma: a population-based cohort study. Eur Respir J. 2020 Feb 12;55(2):1901335. doi: 10.1183/13993003.01335-2019 
4. Gray N, Howard A, Zhu J, Feldman LY, To T. Association Between Inhaled Corticosteroid Use and Bone Fracture in Children With Asthma. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 Jan 1;172(1):57-64. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.3579. 
5. To T, Zhu J, Larsen K, Simatovic J, Feldman L, Ryckman K, Gershon A, Lougheed MD, Licskai C, Chen H, Villeneuve PJ, Crighton E, Su Y, Sadatsafavi M, Williams D, Carlsten C; Canadian Respiratory Research Network. Progression from Asthma to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Is Air Pollution a Risk Factor? Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016 Aug 15;194(4):429-38. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201510-1932OC.  

View a full list of Teresa To's publications