Wendy Ward

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Other Academic Appointments

Professor, Department of Kinesiology (primary appointment), Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University

Professor, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University

At a Glance

• Within the Nutrition, Bone and Oral Health Research Group, Dr. Ward and her team’s overall research goal is to develop strategies that help protect against osteoporosis, and to understand how diet can be used to promote periodontal health.
• Engaged in knowledge mobilization activities for health professionals and lay audiences on topics related to nutrition and bone, oral/periodontal or women’s health through oral presentations, podcasts and print media. 

About Dr. Wendy Ward

Dr. Wendy Ward is a graduate of the Arts and Science Program at McMaster University and later completed a MSc in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph followed by a PhD in Medical Sciences from McMaster University. After a 2-year National Institute of Nutrition postdoctoral fellowship, she was a faculty member in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. In 2011, she was awarded a Canada Research Chair at Brock University. Dr. Ward is passionate about understanding how foods and food bioactives modulate a healthy skeleton through the lifespan along with supporting organizations that advocate for bone health. Original articles and reviews from her research team include topics on nutritional programming of bone metabolism by early life diet, as well as the use of herbal and nutritional supplements to support bone and periodontal health. Dr. Ward is currently an Editor in Chief for the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism and holds other leadership positions within Osteoporosis Canada and the Canadian Nutrition Society. She is actively involved in continuing education for health professionals and community education activities on topics about nutrition and health.

Research Synopsis

Using advanced imaging, biomechanical strength testing and biochemical analyses, Dr. Ward's team investigates how calcium and vitamin D, as well as novel foods and food components including flaxseed and its omega-3 fatty acid, fish oil, flavonoids in tea and citrus, and soy and its isoflavones impact bone health using preclinical models. Sex-specific responses are studied within these studies. Clinical studies investigate how diet is associated with better periodontal health and healing outcomes after periodontal procedures.

Recent Awards and Distinctions (Selected)

Osteoporosis Canada Backbone Award, Osteoporosis Canada (2021)

Volunteer Leadership Award, Canadian Nutrition Society (2020)

Canada Research Chair in Bone and Muscle Development (Tier 2), Government of Canada (2011-2022)

National and International Committee Memberships (Current)

Editor in Chief, Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism (journal of the Canadian Nutrition Society, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and Exercise and Sport Science Australia)

Chair, Dietary Recommendations Working Group, for the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis in Canada

Member, Scientific Advisory Council, Osteoporosis Canada

Member, Education Committee, Canadian Nutrition Society

Member, Development Committee, Osteoporosis Canada

Recent Publications

1. Cuinat C, Stinson SE, Ward WE, Comelli EM. Maternal Intake of Probiotics to Program Offspring Health. Curr Nutr Rep. 2022 Aug 20. doi: 10.1007/s13668-022-00429-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35986890.
2. McAlpine MD, Yumol JL, Ward WE. Pregnancy and Lactation in Sprague-Dawley Rats Result in Permanent Reductions of Tibia Trabecular Bone Mineral Density and Structure but Consumption of Red Rooibos Herbal Tea Supports the Partial Recovery. Front Nutr. 2021 Dec 7;8:798936. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.798936. PMID: 34950693; PMCID: PMC8689395.
3. Dodington DW, Young HE, Beaudette JR, Fritz PC, Ward WE. Improved Healing after Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy Is Associated with Higher Protein Intake in Patients Who Are Non-Smokers. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 22;13(11):3722. doi: 10.3390/nu13113722. PMID: 34835978; PMCID: PMC8619233.
4. Villa CR, Sacco SM, Chen J, Taibi A, Comelli EM, Ward WE. Effect of Low Dietary Vitamin D Fed Prior to and During Pregnancy and Lactation on Maternal Bone Mineral Density, Structure, and Strength in C57BL/6 Mice. Curr Dev Nutr. 2021 Sep 8;5(10):nzab114. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzab114. PMID: 34693194; PMCID: PMC8526782.
5. Zanatta CAR, Fritz PC, Comelli EM, Ward WE. Intervention with inulin prior to and during sanative therapy to further support periodontal health: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2021 Aug 10;22(1):527. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05504-1. PMID: 34376241; PMCID: PMC8353927.
6. Dunham TC, Murphy JE, MacPherson REK, Fajardo VA, Ward WE, Roy BD. Sex- and tissue-dependent creatine uptake in response to different creatine monohydrate doses in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021 Oct;46(10):1298-1302. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2021-0301. Epub 2021 Jun 25. PMID: 34171201.
7. Dodington DW, Yumol JL, Yang J, Pollock-Tahiri E, Sivasubramaniyam T, Sacco SM, Schroer SA, Li YE, Le H, Ward WE, Woo M. JAK2-IGF1 axis in osteoclasts regulates postnatal growth in mice. JCI Insight. 2021 Mar 8;6(5):e137045. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.137045. PMID: 33682794; PMCID: PMC8021113.
8. Bott KN, Yumol JL, Comelli EM, Klentrou P, Peters SJ, Ward WE. Trabecular and cortical bone are unaltered in response to chronic lipopolysaccharide exposure via osmotic pumps in male and female CD-1 mice. PLoS One. 2021 Feb 5;16(2):e0243933. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243933. PMID: 33544708; PMCID: PMC7864436.
9. Sparrow TV, Fritz PC, Sullivan PJ, Ward WE. Regular maintenance appointments after non-surgical scaling and root planing support periodontal health in patients with or without dry mouth: A retrospective study. Clin Exp Dent Res. 2021 Oct;7(5):647-655. doi: 10.1002/cre2.401. Epub 2021 Jan 20. PMID: 33474841; PMCID: PMC8543481.
10. McAlpine MD, Gittings W, MacNeil AJ, Ward WE. Black and Green Tea as Well as Specialty Teas Increase Osteoblast Mineralization with Varying Effectiveness. J Med Food. 2021 Aug;24(8):866-872. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2020.0139. Epub 2020 Nov 30. PMID: 33252307; PMCID: PMC8403192.