Susan Tarlo

FRCP (C), MBBS, MRCP

Investigator

Biography

Dr. Susan Tarlo is a respiratory physician with main clinical and research interest in respiratory allergic responses, and occupational respiratory diseases. She has a primary appointment at the University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, with a cross appointment at St. Michael’s Hospital, and has clinical activities at both sites. She has research appointments at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital and the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto. She is also a Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto with a cross-appointment at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She is a member of the Centre for Research Excellence in Occupational Diseases, St Michael’s Hospital.

She has over 200 peer-reviewed publications, mostly in the area of occupational and allergic respiratory diseases, especially work-related asthma. Recent research has included a focus on prevention of work related asthma. She has also authored the chapter on occupational lung diseases in Cecil Textbook of Medicine 24th-26th editions, was first author of a review of occupational asthma in the New England Journal of Medicine, and has co-authored the BMJ Point-of Care Epocrates web monograph on occupational asthma since 2009, with yearly updates. She has given the 2012 Canadian Thoracic Society Christie Lecture and was the 2015 Mastromatteo Orator for the Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada. She was given the 2018 John Peters award of the American Thoracic Society, for outstanding contributions to occupational or environmental medicine.

Recent Publications

  1. Chavoshian, S, Cao, X, Thommandram, A, Stanbrook, MB, Tarlo, SM, Fossat, Y et al.. Designing and validating an experimental protocol to induce airway narrowing in older adults with and without asthma. Biomed Eng Online. 2024;23 (1):28. doi: 10.1186/s12938-023-01197-6. PubMed PMID:38448963 PubMed Central PMC10916193.
  2. Montazeri Ghahjaverestan, N, Chavoshian, S, Cao, X, Bradley, TD, Tarlo, SM, Stanbrook, M et al.. The Effect of Simulated Obstructive Apneas on Mechanical Characteristics of Lower Airways in Individuals with Asthma. Ann Biomed Eng. 2024; :. doi: 10.1007/s10439-024-03475-3. PubMed PMID:38433152 .
  3. Cao, X, Francisco, CO, Bhatawadekar, SA, Makanjuola, J, Tarlo, SM, Stanbrook, MB et al.. A pilot study to assess the effects of preventing fluid retention in the legs by wearing compression stockings on overnight airway narrowing in mild asthma. Sleep Breath. 2024; :. doi: 10.1007/s11325-023-02976-0. PubMed PMID:38365985 .
  4. Chan, FL, Lipszyc, J, Dekoven, B, Nguyen, V, Ribeiro, M, Tarlo, SM et al.. Occupational asthma in Ontario, Canada (2000-2022): A retrospective, clinic-based study evaluating sex differences. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024; :. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.01.037. PubMed PMID:38307206 .
  5. Zhang, Y, Rajaram, N, Lau, A, Mehta, K, Holness, DL, Tarlo, SM et al.. Silicosis, asbestosis, and pulmonary fibrosis in Ontario, Canada from 1996 to 2019. Am J Ind Med. 2023;66 (8):670-678. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23504. PubMed PMID:37302125 .
  6. Patel, A, Hasany, A, Tarlo, SM. Occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis after polyurethane adhesive exposure. CMAJ. 2022;194 (29):E1027-E1030. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.220052. PubMed PMID:35918092 PubMed Central PMC9481262.
  7. Cao, X, de Oliveira Francisco, C, Bradley, TD, Montazeri Ghahjaverestan, N, Tarlo, SM, Stanbrook, MB et al.. Association of Obstructive Apnea with Thoracic Fluid Shift and Small Airways Narrowing in Asthma During Sleep. Nat Sci Sleep. 2022;14 :891-899. doi: 10.2147/NSS.S359021. PubMed PMID:35573055 PubMed Central PMC9091700.
  8. Dang, KTL, Garrido, AN, Prasad, S, Afanasyeva, M, Lipszyc, JC, Orchanian-Cheff, A et al.. The relationship between cleaning product exposure and respiratory and skin symptoms among healthcare workers in a hospital setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Sci Rep. 2022;5 (3):e623. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.623. PubMed PMID:35509379 PubMed Central PMC9059197.
  9. Agache, I, Antolin-Amerigo, D, de Blay, F, Boccabella, C, Caruso, C, Chanez, P et al.. EAACI position paper on the clinical use of the bronchial allergen challenge: Unmet needs and research priorities. Allergy. 2022;77 (6):1667-1684. doi: 10.1111/all.15203. PubMed PMID:34978085 .
  10. Tarlo, SM. Time for Action on Cleaning and Disinfecting Agents. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021;9 (6):2366-2367. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.03.013. PubMed PMID:34112479 .
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Staff Physician, Department of Medicine, Respiratory Division with cross appointment Occupational Medicine Division and Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, UHN (primary location, Toronto Western Hospital) and cross appointment to St Michael’s Hospital
  • Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
  • Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto