 Image credit: (left) Frontiers in Public Health, (right) THRiVE Lab. A new paper published in Frontiers in Public Health explores the question: can breastfeeding help buffer children against early-life socioeconomic disadvantage? Led by former THRiVE Lab PhD student Dr. Sarah E. Turner, along with THRiVE Lab Director Dr. Meghan Azad and collaborators, the team used data from the CHILD Cohort Study to show that breastfeeding may help reduce childhood behaviour problems, especially in families of lower socioeconomic status. Read more on LinkedIn.
 Photo credit: THRiVE lab. (left to right) THRiVE team members Alie Johnston, Larisa Lotoski, Rowan Shwaluk and Shayna Giesbrecht THRiVE team members took part in two International Day for Women and Girls in Science events that brought together students, educators, and professionals to celebrate and empower the next generation of STEM leaders in Manitoba. At Holy Cross School, approximately 300 girls gathered to explore opportunities in science. The event provided these students with valuable exposure to potential career paths in science and the chance to hear directly from women working various STEM fields. Later, the Manitoba Legislative Building hosted an inspiring evening that united a diverse group of participants from industry, academia, and female students of all ages. The event showcased contributions women are making in the sciences, while also creating space for networking and learning. Together, these celebrations highlighted the importance of inclusion, representation, and continued support to empower future generations of women in STEM.
THRiVE Director Featured in UMToday for Role in Return of Lactation Consultants in Manitoba2/11/2026
 MILC Laboratory Manager Shayna Giesbrecht (back) and THRiVE Director Dr. Meghan Azad (front) analyze macronutrient composition of breast milk. THRiVE Director Dr. Meghan Azad was featured in a recent UMToday article highlighting her role in helping to reinstate public funding for lactation consultants in Manitoba. The service, which was cut in 2018, has now been permanently restored following widespread advocacy supported by evidence-based research. UM Researchers demonstrated that eliminating publicly funded lactation consultant services was associated with lower breastfeeding rates and increased formula use, particularly in remote and First Nations communities. This research and advocacy contributed to a province-wide effort that led the Manitoba government to reverse its decision and secure funding for lactation consultant positions once again. The reinstatement will help support stronger starts for infants, mothers, and families across the province, aligning with THRiVE Discovery Lab’s mission to advance maternal–child health research and impact.
 THRiVE Director Dr. Meghan Azad is featured on the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) website in their highlight of the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Cohort Study. The CHILD study launched in 2008 with support from CIHR as one of Canada’s important longitudinal research efforts, tracking nearly 3,500 children from before birth into adolescence to uncover how genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors influence lifelong health. In the CIHR feature, Dr. Azad is recognized for her contributions using CHILD data to deepen understanding of early-life influences on health. Her work helps inform evidence-based guidance on maternal diet and its influence on babies' gut bacteria, illustrating the real-world impact of CHILD’s research on family health across the country.
 THRiVE Director Dr. Meghan Azad, together with THRiVE Senior Data Analyst Kelsey Fehr and collaborators from the International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium, have published exciting new research advancing our understanding of human milk. The study, Time-specific bidirectional links between the maternal microbiome, milk composition, and infant gut microbiota, was part of the MISAME-III trial led by Dr. Trenton Dailey-Chwalibóg in Burkina Faso, with milk data contributed by the IMiC team. Published in Cell Host & Microbe, the results show how different maternal milk components regulate infant microbiome development over time, and how infants shape their mothers' milk composition in return. These findings highlight breastfeeding as a dynamic, bidirectional system of biological communication between mothers and babies, reinforcing the critical role of human milk in early-life development and maternal–infant health. Read Dr. Azad's related LinkedIn post here.
 Many THRiVE members are affiliated with the Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC). Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has nominated MILC for the Governor General’s Innovation Awards, recognizing MILC as a leading Canadian innovation in human milk science and health systems. This nomination highlights the contributions across research, clinical care, and community partnerships, including the MILC Study and Biorepository; collaborations with the Winnipeg Breastfeeding Centre, Youville Community Health Centre, and the Manitoba Lactation & Breastfeeding Support Network; the IMiC Consortium and expanding international network; and community programs such as Milk Mentors and the Free Pump Loan initiative. While many of MILC's significant impacts are still ahead, this honour reflects the collective efforts of investigators, trainees, staff, clinicians, and partners who have helped grow MILC from an idea into a vibrant, evolving centre.
 photo credit: Deputy Premier of Manitoba, Uzoma Chioma Asagwara in Instagram video Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long Term Care in Manitoba, Uzoma Chioma Asagwara, has confirmed that lactation consultants will continue to receive government funding to support their work across the province. The announcement came in response to dozens of letters from health care professionals and researchers, including a MILC-led letter, during National Breastfeeding Week. Minister Asagwara addressed the issue on Instagram, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding families. Lactation consultants play a vital role in guiding and supporting many families throughout their breastfeeding journeys.
 During Canada's National Breastfeeding Week, THRiVE director Dr. Meghan Azad joined Marjorie Dowhos on CBC Radio Noon Manitoba to discuss the many benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and babies. Dr. Azad shared insights from her research showing how breastmilk supports infant health and development in both the short and long term — including protection against asthma, allergies, and obesity. She also highlighted the health benefits for mothers, such as reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. The conversation addressed common breastfeeding challenges, the importance of lactation consultant support, the broader economic and environmental impacts of breastfeeding, and the importance of normalizing breastfeeding in modern society.
 A new paper published in Frontiers in Nutrition explores how components of human milk — specifically fatty acids and human milk oligosaccharides — relate to infants’ cognitive, language, and motor outcomes at ages 1 and 2 years. Led by former THRiVE Lab PhD student Dr. Sarah Turner, along with THRiVE Lab Director Dr. Meghan Azad, and collaborators across Canada and the US, the team examined breastmilk samples from 240 mother–infant pairs in the CHILD cohort from the Edmonton site.
 During National Breastfeeding Week THRiVE Lab Director Dr. Meghan Azad joined Maralee Caruso on CTV Winnipeg to discuss the many benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and babies. Dr. Azad shared insights from her research on how breastmilk supports infant development, the economic advantages of breastfeeding, and the critical role of lactation consultants in Winnipeg hospitals. She also emphasized the importance of initiating breastfeeding early and the positive impacts even a small amount of breastmilk can have.
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