BC Children's Hospital Research Institute

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

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

New research from BC Children's Hospital Research Institute finds that breastfeeding protects infants' gut health well into childhood, and its effects may be the most beneficial for children from lower-income families.

Read the full story at https://bcchr.info/43nJccf

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

The IRIS study team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute is conducting a study to learn about infant immune responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections - the #1 cause of infant hospitalization in Canada.

By taking part, your baby can help researchers improve RSV prevention strategies and understand how to reduce the long-term risks of the disease.

If you had given or are planning to give birth in the months of April–June or September–November of 2026 at BC Women's Hospital, the team would like to hear from you.

If you're interested in participating, please visit bcchr.ca/iris or email [email protected].

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

Understanding infant immune responses to RSV | BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute The Infant RSV Immune Study (IRIS) follows babies from birth through early childhood to understand how RSV affects the developing immune system.

May 20 is 🔬Clinical Trials Day🧫. To commemorate, we are sharing the story of how a clinical trial at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute changed how we diagnose strep throat, a bacterial infection that can cause fever, sore throat, chills, or more serious complications if left untreated.

This clinical trial enabled the use of a rapid molecular test that allowed for earlier treatment with fewer antibiotics.

Read the full story: https://bcchr.info/ctday2026.

Congratulations to BCCHR investigator Dr. Matthew Carwana who was recently awarded the 2026 Young Investigator Award by Canadian Paediatric Society. This prestigious honour recognizes outstanding contributions to child and youth health research.

Through innovative models of care, policy-informed research, and strong community partnerships, Dr. Carwana’s work is helping address health inequities affecting structurally marginalized children and youth.

Learn more about Dr. Carwana and his work at bcchr.info/49ckWgP.

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

The stress and social distancing related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with increased violence against children.

A team of researchers from BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and other organizations that are part of the Pediatric Outcome ImProvement through COordination of Research Networks (POPCORN) looked into the potential indirect impacts of the public health measures on the well-being of children.

Learn more at bcchr.info/4dFuyDg.

BC Children's Hospital Foundation Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority - PHSA Pediatric Outcome Improvement through Coordination of Research Networks CMAJ