‘Growing Strong: Research on Iron Deficiency Aims to Improve Women’s Health’ highlighted the work of Professor Kristin Connor at Carleton University. The article describes her team’s work on iron deficiency in women, both in Canada and globally, highlights the importance of good nutrition for lifelong health, and showcases the amazing team of women researchers driving this work.

New study from a DOHaD Trainee Marina White!

Marina is recent graduate, former DOHaD Canada Trainee Committee member!

Fetal spina bifida associates with dysregulation in nutrient-sensitive placental gene networks: Findings from a matched case-control study

Jessica Puranda is a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, and her dissertation work is supervised by Dr. Kristi Adamo.

Jessica’s multidisciplinary research investigates novel questions related to reproductive health, bone health, and musculoskeletal injuries in female Canadian Armed Forces members. She is currently supported by a prestigious CIHR Graduate Scholarship. Jessica has demonstrated a commitment to fostering a sense of community and engagement for DOHaD Canada members through significant contributions to both the DOHaD Canada TDC and ECO committee.

DOHaD Canada Council Member Dr. Shela Hirani is an Associate Professor at the University of Regina, Faculty of Nursing. Her research focuses on breastfeeding and health promotion in women affected by disasters and displacement. Her first-hand experience working in disaster relief camps with women affected by natural disasters guides her research goals. Some selected links featuring her work:

Select publications:

Hirani SAA. Barriers to Women’s Menstrual Hygiene Practices during Recurrent Disasters and Displacement: A Qualitative Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Jan 30;21(2):153. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21020153. PMID: 38397644.

Hirani SAA, Wagner J. Impact of COVID-19 on Women Who Are Refugees and Mothering: A Critical Ethnographic Study. doi: 10.1177/23333936221121335. PMID: 36105717.

Toolkit: Strategies to Promote Breastfeeding Practices of Refugee Mothers with PTSD

Canadian Nurse Profile Interview: Breastfeeding advocate creates ‘positive changes in the lives of marginalized women and children’

Regina Leaderpost Interview: U of R professor is a voice for refugee women in Sask. health care

Awards: Dr Shela Hirani Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal

Anita Kozyrskyj is Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta. She leads the SyMBIOTA (Synergy in Microbiota: www.symbiotalab.com) research program on early-life environmental shaping of the infant gut microbiome, and child immune-related and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the CHILD Cohort Study (www.childstudy.ca). SyMBIOTA was funded by the 2010 CIHR Microbiome Initiative and is now part of CIHR’s IMPACTT microbiome research network, where Kozyrskyj is co-PI of the Human Cohort Design and Analyses Platform (www.impactt-microbiome.ca). Dr. Kozyrskyj’s SyMBIOTA program has generated 50 papers, 3 book chapters and trained many next generation microbiome researchers. Her microbiome papers have received awards for being the most influential, and have been cited by position statements on food allergy and neonatal early-onset bacterial sepsis. She is associate editor of J Dev Orig Health Dis and the interim President of DOHaD Canada.

New Publication!

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of gut microbiome-associated childhood overweight and obesity

Peng Y, Tun HM, Ng SC, Wai HKF, Zhang X, Parks J, Field CJ, Mandhane P, Moraes TJ, Simons E, Turvey SE, Subbarao P, Brook JR, Takaro TK, Scott JA, Chan FKI, Kozyrskyj AL. Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of gut microbiome-associated childhood overweight and obesity. Gut Microbes. 2024 Jan-Dec;16(1):2323234. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2323234. Epub 2024 Mar 4.

DOHaD Canada Secretary, Maria B. Ospina is a clinical epidemiologist in the area of maternal and perinatal health and former Canada Research Chair in Life Course, Social Environments and Health.

New Publication!

Perinatal and early life factors and asthma control among preschoolers: a population-based retrospective cohort study

This study published in BMJ Open Respiratory Research was funded by a Lung Association grant to Dr. Ospina and a team of all-female co-applicants to investigate the influence of perinatal and early-life factors on asthma control in preschoolers. The paper offers important insights for potential preventive measures of modifiable exposures on long-term lung heath. 

Moore LE, Serrano-Lomelin J, Rosychuk RJ, Kozyrskyj A, Chari R, Crawford S, Bakal J, Hicks A, Ducharme FM, Ospina MB. Perinatal and early life-factors and asthma control among preschoolers: a population-based retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2023 Sep 10(1):e001928. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-001928.