Arthritis, Pregnancy & Medication Safety with Vienna Cheng
Arthritis Research Canada is home to over 40 research trainees. We believe that helping new scientists develop their careers ensures we continue to find answers for millions of Canadians living with arthritis.
These trainees conduct research under the mentorship of leading experts in a variety of disciplines – from rheumatology to physiotherapy, pharmacy, health economics and more.
“The research that our trainees do is the research that we do. There is no separation,” said Dr. Mary De Vera, Senior Scientist and Associate Director of Training. “In fact, trainees drive the research at Arthritis Research Canada. They collect the data, analyze it, write the papers and present the findings.”
Over the next year, we will profile these amazing, up-and-coming arthritis scientists and the projects they lead, starting with Vienna Cheng, a pharmacist completing a Master’s degree at the University of British Columbia in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Tell us about your background?
I completed my PharmD degree at the University of British Columbia. Now, I am in the second year of my Master’s degree at the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences under the supervision of Dr. De Vera. I am researching the impact of arthritis medications on pregnancy.
How did you get involved in arthritis research?
Throughout various practicums during my pharmacy degree and now working in different pharmacies as a pharmacist, I often interact with arthritis patients and talk to them about their medications. Most of the time, entering pregnancy itself comes with a lot of uncertainty, but it’s another layer of stress to find out there is limited data on whether your arthritis drug is safe for you and your baby. I am grateful I get to do research that combines my clinical knowledge with my research skills, in order to generate evidence on whether or not newer classes of arthritis drugs are safe to use in pregnancy.
What is your current research focus? What are you working on?
I am using administrative health data on the entire population of British Columbia to see whether or not targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs), a newer class of arthritis drugs, are safe to use in pregnancy. Since pregnant individuals are rarely included in drug trials because of ethical challenges, by analyzing real-world data from past pregnancies, we can assess outcomes in individuals who were exposed to these drugs during pregnancy. This provides valuable insights into the potential effects of these drugs on moms and babies.
What do you hope this research achieves?
Currently, this lack of data makes it harder for people to make treatment decisions around pregnancy. I hope my research helps grow the body of evidence on arthritis medications in pregnancy and shape clinical guidelines so that physicians and patients can make informed treatment decisions when planning for a family.
Medication decisions during pregnancy are made on a case-by-case basis and between patients and physicians. Our preliminary results suggest most patients discontinue tsDMARDs when they find out they are pregnant, which may highlight this fear due to lack of data on how these drugs impact moms and babies. It is recommended for patients with arthritis to engage in early, individualized conversations with their physicians if they are planning to get pregnant to ensure the safest possible outcome for both the mom and baby.
Why is arthritis research important to you?
Many people see arthritis as an older person’s disease. But, it’s so much more than that. Arthritis also impacts the daily lives of so many young people. As a pharmacist, I see arthritis patients of all ages that come pick up medications. I also see how managing their conditions allows them to maintain their quality of life and accomplish their goals. I’m grateful to be able to use my unique skills and experience to conduct research that contributes to a better understanding of arthritis medications. I hope my research will help put their minds at ease when considering pregnancy and help them feel better-prepared to enter that chapter of life.
What does it mean to you to be part of Arthritis Research Canada?
Being part of the Arthritis Research Canada community has enriched my research and learning in so many ways. I feel privileged to collaborate with leading experts, trainees and patient partners from diverse backgrounds, who bring their unique expertise to create meaningful impact within the arthritis community.
What do you hope to work on next? Any specific future aspirations?
In my future research, as I continue into my PhD, I hope to look at more long-term impacts of biologic drug use on moms and babies. I specifically want to understand the effects of arthritis drugs on long-term childhood outcomes and differences in outcomes in moms who continued vs. discontinued biologics during pregnancy. I am excited to continue this research and see what’s next!
