She helped lead a national study that found the prevalence of heart disease varies significantly among Canadians of Chinese, South Asian and European origin. “My work with that study, trying to analyze all the information, really piqued my interest in studying how biological and social factors interact to cause cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. Anand of her research into varying causes of health problems among populations.

Following up on that study, she is now investigating the causes of cardiovascular disease among Aboriginal people and the effects of varying diets as a key determinant of cardiovascular disease and cancer.