About the CHUM IBD Centre
Advancing IBD Care Through Expertise, Research and Innovation
Based in Montreal at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), the CHUM IBD Centre provides specialized care for close to 7,000 people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As a major Canadian centre for IBD, we bring specialized expertise together in one integrated program focused on the complex needs of people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Our multidisciplinary approach brings together clinical expertise, research, digital health and education to advance IBD care, with an impact extending across Quebec, Canada and internationally. By connecting patient care with research and innovation, we are developing new approaches to diagnosis, treatment and disease management while training the next generation of IBD specialists.
Clinical Care
The CHUM IBD Centre provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary care to close to 7,000 people living with IBD. Our specialized team brings together gastroenterologists, nurses and allied health professionals with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease. With a full-time nutritionist and psychologist, we are the only centre in Quebec offering patients with IBD free access to both clinical nutrition and psychological support.
We are also the only centre in Quebec with a dedicated emergency IBD endoscopy room, with access available within the same week. This specialized service helps divert patients from the emergency department and allows IBD flares to be assessed and managed in an outpatient setting.
With 19 ongoing studies and multiple clinical trials, the CHUM IBD Centre provides eligible patients with access to emerging therapies and advanced approaches to IBD treatment and monitoring. These include dual biologic treatment and advanced diagnostic tools for drug and inflammation monitoring not available elsewhere in Canada.
Our patients also benefit from a broader network of IBD-focused surgeons, radiologists, pathologists and other specialists at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, reinforcing the depth and integration of care across disciplines.
Research
The CHUM IBD Centre’s research program advances inflammatory bowel disease care through clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies. Led by Dr. Robert Battat, the team gives eligible patients access to emerging therapies while investigating new approaches to IBD diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. At any given time, the Centre typically oversees at least six active clinical trials.
Dr. Battat leads multiple prospective studies as well as a broad portfolio of observational research. Our research team includes coordinators, nurses, research assistants, medical residents, and medical and master’s students working together to conduct rigorous, patient-focused research.
A major focus is the development of diagnostic biomarkers to improve IBD diagnosis, enable non-invasive disease monitoring and identify new therapeutic targets.
The CHUM IBD Centre also plays a leading role in IBD knowledge translation. Based in Montreal, we host the annual Quebec IBD Research Conference, bringing together clinicians, scientists and trainees to share research and advance IBD care.
Interested in becoming a research partner?
Digital Health + AI
At the CHUM IBD Centre, we use digital health and artificial intelligence to improve care and research for people living with IBD. Led by Dr. Jeremy Liu, an expert in data analysis and management, our work combines healthcare registries, AI-powered insights and natural language processing to turn complex clinical data into meaningful information.
By analyzing key performance indicators, patient trends and clinical data in collaboration with data strategists and scientists, we are developing practical tools to support treatment decisions, improve patient outcomes and advance IBD research.
Education
Education is a core priority at the CHUM IBD Centre. Led by Dr. Katarzyna Orlicka, our program combines theoretical learning, clinical rotations and research opportunities to train medical students, residents and the next generation of gastroenterology specialists.
Each year, approximately 40 residents receive gastroenterology training through didactic and hands-on learning. Our formal research program also provides opportunities for medical students and residents in internal medicine and gastroenterology to gain practical research experience.
Beyond the CHUM, we develop educational initiatives for healthcare professionals and patients designed to strengthen IBD knowledge, improve local care and reduce the need for patients with complex IBD to travel to Montreal.
We also host the annual MICI Masterclass at the CHUM, a province-wide educational event that shares current medical knowledge, strengthens clinical practice and brings together Quebec’s IBD healthcare community.
The CHUM IBD Centre Team
-
Robert Battat MD, CM, FRCPCGastroenterologist + Director, CHUM IBD CentreAttending Physician and Scientist, University of Montreal Hospital Centre -
Jeremy Liu MDGastroenterologist, CHUM IBD CentreClinical Assistant Professor and Researcher, University of Montreal Hospital Centre -
Edmond-Jean Bernard MDGastroenterologist, CHUM IBD CentreClinical Assistant Professor, University of Montreal Hospital Centre -
Katarzyna Orlicka MDGastroenterologist, CHUM IBD CentreAssociate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal -
Raymond Leduc MDGastroenterologist, CHUM IBD CentreAssociate Professor of Medicine, University of Montreal -
Camille Boucher NPNurse Practitioner -
Koralie Cournoyer-Lacerte RNClinical IBD Nurse
-
Fabienne Camaly RNClinical IBD Nurse
-
Jina Bayar RDRegistered Dietitian
-
Amélie Ouellette PsyDPsychologist
-
Catherine Ferland PhDDirector of Operations
-
Annie BarbeauAdministrative Assistant
Our interdisciplinary IBD team includes gastroenterologists, nurses, nutritionists and psychologists working alongside digestive surgeons, radiologists, rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, emergency physicians, internists and hepatologists. Together, this network provides expertise in the many digestive and extra-digestive manifestations of IBD.