Dr. Évelyne Vinet

2018 Young Investigator Award

Dr. Évelyne Vinet is an assistant professor in the Division of Rheumatology at McGill. She is also a medical scientist for the Centre for Health Outcomes Research at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and an associate member of the McGill Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.

Évelyne’s contributions in the field of reproductive issues in rheumatic diseases are substantial. Notably, she created the world’s largest cohort of children of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), leading to novel findings of increased risk of autism spectrum disorders, congenital heart defects, and stillbirths in SLE offspring. Using a large US database, Évelyne also assessed the risk of serious infections in children of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) exposed to TNF inhibitors.

After completing her PhD in Epidemiology in 2015, Évelyne secured a Fonds de Recherche du Quebec (FRQS) junior career award (ranking 2nd in Quebec). She has received operating funds as a principal investigator from several granting agencies, including CIHR, FRQS, and CIORA. In 2017, Évelyne ranked 1st out of 107 PIs in the CIHR Catalyst Grant in Musculoskeletal Health competition, funding the establishment of an international cohort of pregnant patients with SLE. Additional peer-reviewed funding obtained by Évelyne supports a randomized controlled trial to improve preeclampsia knowledge and aspirin adherence in pregnant women with SLE and a focus group study assessing pregnancy counselling in women with RA.

Évelyne has already published 41 peer-reviewed manuscripts (cited 470 times) and has published in top-ranking journals, such as Circulation, Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, and Arthritis & Rheumatology. Since 2013, 5 of her abstracts have been selected for oral presentations at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Meeting.

Évelyne is a member of the ACR Reproductive Health guideline development group and led the Pregnancy Working Group for the Canadian Recommendations for SLE Monitoring, She recently became a member of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics group where she leads reproductive outcome initiatives.