Members of the THRiVE Discovery Lab recently published a commentary in Microbiome Research Reports focused on the recent study by Shama et al. The study focused on furthering our understanding of the role of breastfeeding in supporting the development of the infant gut microbiome in a high-risk population of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. The THRiVE team noted that ​this study provides a novel characterization of mother-VLBW infant microbiome dynamics and raises several important questions for future studies.

​A new 60-minute online course, developed with the expertise of Dr. Meghan Azad, is now available for healthcare professionals. This course offers an accessible yet comprehensive overview of how human milk influences the developing gut microbiome. It explores the potential links between early microbiome development and the risk of chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies, and obesity. Designed to enhance the understanding of healthcare professionals across various fields, this course provides valuable insights into the crucial role of human milk in shaping long-term health outcomes.

​THRiVE Discovery Lab is thrilled to announce the successful defense of Narges Khodabandehloo’s MSc thesis titled, “Lactating Parents Attending Winnipeg Breastfeeding Centre: A Descriptive Study.” Narges’ hard work and dedication to her research have made a significant contribution to the lab’s ongoing work. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Narges on this achievement and look forward to seeing her continue to thrive in her next endeavors. We wish her all the best in this exciting next chapter! Congratulations again, Narges! 

​THRiVE Discovery Lab and Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC) collaborated with Liminal Creations to bring a science communication workshop to the meeting of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML). Participants discussed the fraught media landscape and social complexities around infant feeding and public literacy in lactation science, and explored new approaches and perspectives from the field of science communication. The group identified their target audiences for science communication, learned tips and tricks for talking to journalists, and had a chance to speak to a documentary film crew about their work. Additional workshops are under development, both online and in person - if you would like to be notified when registration opens, please email [email protected].

A new paper titled  - “Human milk feeding practices and serum immune profiles of one-year-old infants in the CHILD birth cohort study” - led by Spencer Ames (previous THRiVE MSc student) was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This study aimed to investigate how current human milk feeding (HMF) status is related to infant immune biomarker profiles, as well as explore relationships with HMF history (i.e., duration, exclusivity, and method: directly from the breast or pumped and bottled). Check out the Tweetorial.

THRiVE Discovery Lab is proud to celebrate the successful PhD defense of Sarah Turner! Sarah defended her thesis titled: "Infant Feeding and Child Cognition and Behavior: Quantifying Pathways to Understanding the Link in the CHILD Cohort Study." We’re so grateful for Sarah’s contributions to the lab and wish her all the best in her next chapter. Sarah will be working as Post-Doctoral Fellow and Researcher at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. Congratulations, Dr. Turner! Click here to see a thread on Twitter about Sarah's time with THRiVE.

Dr. Meghan Azad and Dr. Gagandeep Kang participated in a panel discussion for the Gairdner Science Week, where they shared their career paths and their challenges as women in science. Attendees included faculty, high school students, and researchers, offering attendees a chance to network. In this panel discussion, the awardees shared their research journeys and experiences that shaped their career. Read more about the event here.

As a Gairdner Momentum award recipient, Dr. Meghan Azad gave a lecture on her research in Toronto for Gairdner Science Week in October 2024. A gala was also held for the awardees at the Royal Ontario Museum. Dr. Azad’s lecture and acceptance speech are available from the Gairdner Foundation’s YouTube Channel. Read more about Gairdner Science Week highlights here. 

Dr. Meghan Azad was featured on The Social CTV, where she discussed the benefits of breastfeeding and the latest advances in breast milk research. Watch the full episode here