Dr. Charles Bernstein stands as a preeminent authority in gastroenterology and inflammatory bowel disease research at the University of Manitoba. He currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the Max Rady College of Medicine and holds the prestigious Bingham Chair in Gastroenterology Research. Bernstein received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Manitoba in 1985 followed by specialized training including a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at the UCLA affiliated training program in 1992. After holding a faculty position at UCLA from 1991 to 1993, he joined the University of Manitoba where he has remained since 1993, rising to become Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical and Research Centre and serving as Director of the University of Manitoba fellowship training program in gastroenterology from 2003 to 2008.
Bernstein's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of inflammatory bowel disease epidemiology and mechanisms through the creation of the University of Manitoba IBD Epidemiology Database, a vital population-based resource that has illuminated IBD prevalence, outcomes, and comorbidities in Manitoba. He also established the University of Manitoba IBD Research Registry, a comprehensive population-based registry encompassing nearly half of all Manitobans with IBD, which serves as an invaluable resource for survey and cohort studies. His scholarly impact is extraordinary, with his research cited more than 80,000 times as of 2025, contributing to an impressive H-index of 136. Bernstein's research themes span inflammatory bowel disease, gut microbiome in human disease, epidemiology of chronic immune mediated inflammatory diseases, and psychiatric comorbidity in chronic diseases, establishing him as a multidisciplinary leader in the field.
As Scientific Secretary of the International Organization for the Study of IBD since 2007, Bernstein has played a pivotal role in shaping global research directions and collaboration in inflammatory bowel disease. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors including the CCFC Research Scientist Award from 2001 to 2011, election to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2008, and the John M. Bowman Memorial Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Award in 2016. Bernstein continues to lead innovative research initiatives that bridge clinical practice with epidemiological insights, advancing personalized approaches to inflammatory bowel disease management. His ongoing work focuses on unraveling the complex interplay between gut microbiome, immune function, and disease outcomes, positioning him at the forefront of translational research that promises to transform patient care for individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions.
