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 Deliver high-quality, transdisciplinary training and career development
Recognizing that trainees are our future, we are devoted to creating an exceptional transdisciplinary training environment that promotes academic excellence and supports the next generation of research leaders and policymakers. We strive to represent and connect with DOHaD Canada trainees, offering professional development opportunities that equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their careers. Our goal is to nurture a new generation of researchers who will continue to advance the DOHaD field.

3.Translation Promote health and wellness for all Canadians
Knowledge exchange and engagement with government, policymakers, and the public are at the core of our mission. Through partnerships with these stakeholders, we aim to raise the profile of DOHaD research; develop, test, and implement interventions based on research discoveries; and act as a catalyst for promoting health, learning, and social function, especially focusing on Canada’s most vulnerable populations. By translating research into actionable strategies, we work towards preventing or reversing negative life-course outcomes, 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.