BC Children's Hospital Research Institute

June is 🧠Brain Injury Awareness Month🤔. To commemorate, we are re-sharing important insights from BCCHR’s Ask an Expert Series featuring Dr. Shelina Babul.

As a BCCHR investigator and director of the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, Dr. Babul specializes in the prevention, recognition, treatment, and management of concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

Read the full web story to learn how to recognize a brain injury early, and what resources are available: https://bcchr.info/4fQwevd.

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA

The Doan Lab at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute is conducting an online interview study to improve how suicidal thoughts are measured in youth mental health research. The study takes approximately one hour via Zoom.

The team is looking to recruit youth aged 10–17 who identify as male or gender-diverse and have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year.

Interested? Complete the expression-of-interest survey at https://bcchr.info/3XzNHO1 or email [email protected] to set up an info call with the team.

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia

Button batteries can cause serious injury if swallowed or ingested. Do you know what to do if this happens to your child?

1. Call 9-1-1 or the BC Drug and Poison Info Centre (1-800-567-8911), or go to the nearest emergency department
2. On the way to emergency or waiting for help to arrive, use honey or jam to reduce the risk of injury
3. DO NOT cause the child to throw up
4. DO NOT let the child eat or drink

Learn more: https://bcchr.info/4uvxSpK.

June 10 is Action Anxiety Day.

A child may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when the fear or anxiety they’re experiencing is disproportionate and disrupts normal functioning. When anxiety becomes excessive and persistent it can significantly interfere with a child’s daily life, including their academic performance and relationships.

Understanding anxiety disorders and recognizing the signs early is crucial. Read the full story to learn more about the signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder, and what supports are available: https://bcchr.info/3SuXKVi.

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA

In new research published in Cell Press, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute investigator Dr. Megan Levings and her team, including first author Torin Halvorson, show how using a standard approach to tracking immune cells is needed for both scientific research and clinical care.

Learn more about the role that T cells play, and why tracking them is essential: https://bcchr.info/4dJPpFD

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia

The Lunken Lab study team at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute is conducting a study to learn how gut inflammation in mothers/birthing parents, along with diet and the microbiome, affects infant gut health and health outcomes.

You may be eligible if you:
- Are currently pregnant and under 35 weeks of gestation.
- Are 19+ years and planning to give birth at BC Women’s Hospital or St-Paul’s Hospital old OR
- Live with Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis and are 19+ years old being followed at the IBD Centre of BC, St. Paul’s Hospital, or BC Women’s Hospital.

If you’re interested in participating, please email [email protected] or visit bcchr.info/CALINA-IBD.

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Women's Health Research Institute Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA The IBD Centre of BC

Calina-IBD Study – Lunken Lab Calina-IBd Study Purpose of THe Study The goal of this observational pilot study is to explore how inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during pregnancy may influence the mother/birthing parent and infant gut inflammation and overall health. The study focuses on pregnant adults living in British Columbi...

The Im and Giaschi labs at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute are conducting a perceptual clustering study to examine how children use spatial information to group similar objects.

The study will take place at the Ophthalmology Lab at BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver. Participants will be asked to complete a quick visual assessment and play a video game that involves drawing circles using a digital pen and a tablet. Compensation will be provided to participants for their time.

Your child might be eligible if they are aged 7-12 with healthy vision.

If you're interested in participating, please email [email protected].

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia

May is Celiac Awareness Month. Globally, around one in 100 people are estimated to have celiac disease, a genetically determined autoimmune condition that is triggered by exposure to gluten and related proteins.

Read what parents need to know about celiac in kids: https://bcchr.info/4vgQPxj (clickable link in bio).

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA

Congratulations to the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) and Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) investigators and their teams who were awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fall 2025 Project Grant competition.

📸Photos (left to right, top to bottom):

Dr. Danya Fast
Dr. Matthew Carwana
Dr. Roberto Sassi
Dr. Wendy Robinson
Dr. Caitlin Chang
Dr. Jefferson Terry
Dr. Kirk Schultz
Dr. Bruce Vallance
Dr. Stuart Turvey
Dr. Catherine Biggs
Dr. Bhavi Modi
Dr. Abdul-Fatawu Abdulai (WHRI)
Dr. Wendy Norman
Dr. Brittany Bingham (WHRI)
Dr. Martha Paynter (WHRI)
Dr. Laura Schummers
Dr. Deborah Money (WHRI)
Dr. Elisabeth McClymont
Dr. Daniela Palombo (WHRI)
Dr. Mohamed Ali Bedaiwy

Learn more about the recipients and their projects: https://bcchr.info/4wQhYbZ (clickable link in bio).

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia Women's Health Research Institute Canadian Institutes of Health Research Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA University of British Columbia

The Im and Giaschi labs at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute are conducting a neuroimaging study to analyze children's brain activities through a behavioral task.

The study will take place at the Surrey Memorial Hospital. Participants will be asked to complete a quick visual assessment and play a video game in the MEG scanner, followed by a brief 15-minute MRI scan.

Your child might be eligible if they are aged 6-11, with healthy vision, and no metal in their body.

If you're interested in participating, please email [email protected].

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia Fraser Health