At DOHaD Canada, we are dedicated to understanding how environmental factors during early life—from preconception through fetal development, infancy, and early childhood—interact with biological processes to influence lifelong health, learning, and social function. A poor start to life is associated with an increased risk of various non-communicable diseases throughout the life course, including for example cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, chronic lung diseases, certain cancers, and mental health challenges as well as altered responses to communicable diseases.

Our Mission

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept explains how early-life environmental exposures—such as parental lifestyle and diet, smoking, obesity, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals or toxins—can induce subtle changes in development that impact long-term health and disease risk. These effects are often graded and do not necessarily cause disease directly but can influence how rapidly disease develops in an individual. Epigenetic processes, which alter gene activity without changing the DNA sequence, are thought to mediate some of these developmental changes, affecting responses to challenges in adulthood like poor diet or unhealthy lifestyle.

Strategic Priorities

To address these challenges and fulfill our mission, DOHaD Canada focuses on three strategic priorities:

1.Research Engage in world-class, discovery-based research
Our national network comprises nationally and internationally recognized researchers from clinical practice, academia, industry, and government sectors. Many are engaged in extensive international collaborations and partnerships. We are committed to fostering cutting-edge research to understand the mechanisms underlying the developmental origins of health and disease, identify biomarkers of risk, and develop preventative interventions. By promoting excellence in research, we aim to generate new knowledge that can lead to innovative strategies for improving health outcomes.

2.Training and Education Deliver high-quality, transdisciplinary training, career development and public education
Deliver high-quality, transdisciplinary training and career development. Recognizing that trainees are our future, we are committed to creating an environment that fosters academic excellence and empowers emerging research leaders to drive DOHaD innovation. By representing and connecting with DOHaD Canada trainees, we offer robust professional development opportunities that equip them with the skills to excel in research, communication, and advocacy. Equally important, we emphasize educating the general population to heighten awareness and strengthen collective efforts in championing early-life health. By bringing researchers and communities together, we aim to nurture a generation of scientists and informed citizens who collaborate to translate DOHaD principles into impactful policies and practice, ensuring a healthier future for all.

3.Translation and Advocacy Promote health and wellness for all Canadians
We are dedicated to promoting health and wellness for all Canadians by engaging policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public in co-designing research and knowledge mobilization strategies that foster inclusive, evidence-based decision-making. With a strong emphasis on translating bench science into clinical practice and policy, we raise the profile of DOHaD research; develop, test, and implement interventions rooted in scientific discovery; and act as a catalyst for advancing health, learning, and social function. By translating research into actionable strategies, we work towards preventing or reversing negative life-course outcomes, thereby allowing all Canadians to attain their full potential.

Populations We Serve

DOHaD Canada is committed to serving all Canadians by focusing on critical periods of development that influence lifelong health and disease risk. Our efforts particularly emphasize:

• Infants and Children: We aim to improve health outcomes from the earliest stages of life by understanding how early-life factors affect growth and development.
• Expectant and Prospective Parents: We provide knowledge and resources to parents and families to promote healthy environments before and during pregnancy, as well as in early childhood.
• Vulnerable and Underserved Populations: Recognizing that social determinants of health significantly impact development, we focus on Canada’s most vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities, low-income families, and those facing health disparities.
• Healthcare Professionals and Policymakers: By engaging with clinicians, public health practitioners, and policymakers, we strive to translate research findings into effective interventions and policies that benefit the broader population.
• The General Public: Through outreach and education, we aim to raise awareness about the importance of early-life factors in health and disease, empowering individuals and communities to make informed choices that promote wellness.

Our commitment to these populations aligns with our strategic priorities in research, training, and translation, ensuring that our efforts have a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of all Canadians.

Through our collective efforts, DOHaD Canada is dedicated to improving health outcomes by addressing the developmental origins of health and disease, ultimately promoting health and wellness for all Canadians.