THRiVE DISCOVERY LAB
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Google Scholar

Dr. Meghan Azad, PhD
Director of Science & Knowledge Mobilization

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease
PhD, Biochemistry and Medical Genetics (University of Manitoba)
MSc Epidemiology (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK)
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pediatrics (University of Alberta)

Dr. Azad holds the following positions:
  • Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba
  • Associate Professor, Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba
  • Associate Professor, Immunology, University of Manitoba
  • Adjunct Professor, Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba
  • Research Scientist, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)
  • co-Director, Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC)
  • Principal Investigator, International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium
  • Deputy Director, CHILD Cohort Study
  • Fellow, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) Humans & Microbiome Program
  • Trainee Advisor, International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML)
  • Manitoba Representative, DOHaD Canada​
Dr. Azad is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba, where she holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease. Her research program is focused on the role of infant nutrition and the microbiome in child growth, development and resilience. Dr. Azad co-Directs the new Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC) and leads the new International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium. She serves as Deputy Director of the CHILD Cohort Study, a national pregnancy cohort following 3500 children to understand how early life experiences shape lifelong health. Research in the THRiVE Discovery Lab is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Azad serves on the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation Executive Council and the joint US/Canada Human Milk Composition Initiative. She is a Fellow of the CIFAR Humans and the Microbiome Program and an elected member of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars. Dr. Azad received the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation Erlich-Koldovsky Early Career Investigator Award (2018) and the International Human Milk Genomics Mid-Career Investigator Award (2020). She was named among the WXN Canada Top 100 Most Powerful Women (2020) and Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 (2021).
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Natalie Rodriguez, MBA ACC
Director of Operations, Diversity & Inclusion

EQ-i.2.0 and EQ 360 Practitioner
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Pediatric Research Integrating Data with Clinical Application 
In an acclaimed career of truly transformative and translational work, Natalie has implemented new systems, technologies, platforms, initiatives and discovery worldwide.  A myriad of credentials, awards, appointments and certifications reflect her fierce commitment to research and ongoing learning.  She defies boundaries with a determination to make a lasting difference in the world, one child at a time. 

A Visionary Approach Designed to Improve Children’s Lives 
Viewing problems through a multi-disciplinary lens, Natalie sees opportunities. Leading initiatives to address some of the world’s most urgent issues, she melds discovery and clinical applications with a human touch to find common ground anchored by research and hope. 

Transcending Our Differences and Bringing Everyone Together 
Developing solutions amidst the complexities of a modern world requires the ability to blend innovation and best practices with a multi-disciplinary perspective. This is how Natalie expertly navigates the most complex tasks and connects stakeholders with disparate agendas. She thrives on operationalizing the nuts and bolts to build a clear roadmap that engages collaboration and inspires teams to new heights.

Staff

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​Dr. Larisa Lotoski – Research Associate
Larisa’s primary research interests include child health and the effects of the physical and social environment on children’s health outcomes. Larisa’s interest in child health research began during her MSc (Immunology) training at the University of Manitoba where she studied severe childhood asthma and allergic disease. She holds a PhD in Community and Population Health Sciences (Community Health and Epidemiology) from the University of Saskatchewan. Her doctoral research involved the characterization of children’s sedentary time and physical activity in their lived environment. 

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Tricia Choquette - Operations Officer 
Tricia received her BSc in Microbiology and MSc in Biochemistry and Medical Genetics from the University of Manitoba. Her MSc focused on the development of a novel 3D co-culture system to study Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, and later research focused on mitochondrial metabolism in cancer. She is eager to expand her knowledge on the roles of breastfeeding and the microbiome in infant health and disease.   

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Jackie Edelson - Research Administrative Assistant
Jackie received her diploma in Office Administration (Executive Profile) from Sheridan College in Ontario. Jackie brings extensive experience and knowledge with the University of Manitoba's research policies and procedures, having previously worked with various departments at the Fort Garry Campus. She provides administrative assistance with the lab, and is also the MILC Club Coordinator.

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Stephanie Goguen - Data Analyst/Manager
Stephanie previously worked as a Data Manager at the George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation at the University of Manitoba. Her interests include healthcare research and exploring statistical methods and software. Stephanie received her undergraduate degree in Statistics at the University of Winnipeg and MSc (Community Health Sciences with a concentration in Biostatistics) from the University of Manitoba. 

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Kelsey Fehr - Research Technician
Kelsey specializes in microbiome research and is interested in the role host microbiota play in health and disease. She received her MSc in Animal Science at the University of Manitoba. Kelsey manages the sample database and laboratory activities at the MILC Biorepository, and leads the sub-aliquoting and distribution of milk for the International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium.


Trainees 

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Dr. Merilee (Meredith) Brockway​ - Postdoctoral Fellow
Merilee is a registered nurse and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. She holds a BN from the University of Calgary and a BSc in biotechnology from the University of Lethbridge. Her PhD examined maternal experiences with infant feeding and breastmilk feeding outcomes in moderate and late preterm infants enrolled in the Alberta Family Integrated Care (FICare) trial. Merilee’s post-doctoral studies will explore clinical applications of donor human milk and its impact on the developing gut microbiome in early preterm infants. 

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​Sarah Turner - PhD Candidate
​Sarah is a Vanier Scholar and PhD student in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Her research focuses on how breast milk and breastfeeding contribute to child neurological development and behavioral outcomes. She is interested in how both the nutritional qualities of breast milk and the psychological benefits of breastfeeding contribute to infant health and well-being. Sarah is interested in knowledge translation and how to best communicate breastfeeding research to the public.

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Rilwan Azeez - MSc Student 
Rilwan received his medical degree at Igbinedion University, Nigeria in 2014. He is completing his MSc in Immunology and concurrently enrolled in the Visual and Automated Disease Analytics graduate training program (VADA) at the University of Manitoba. Rilwan is studying antibody response following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. He is passionate about computational immunology, artificial intelligence, and the role of pre-natal and early life influences in shaping childhood health


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Spencer Ames - MSc Student 
Spencer is a MSc student in the Department of Immunology at the University of Manitoba. For his MSc project, Spencer is investigating the relationship between infant feeding practices and basal immune biomarkers of one-year-old infants in the CHILD Cohort Study. He has a strong interest in early life immune system development, and is passionate about integrating scientific research into clinical practice. Spencer received his BSc in Honours cellular, molecular and microbial biology from the University of Calgary.


Research Assistants

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Bridget McGann - Volunteer Research Assistant
Bridget’s scientific curiosity is centered around the bio-behavioral adaptations associated with lactation in human and non-human primates. She is passionate about science communication and improving access to careers in science for mothers and for individuals with neurological differences. Bridget holds a BA in Anthropology from Indiana University, and is attending the University of Colorado to obtain her MA in Anthropology. She is currently working on a project involving breastfeeding outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. 


THRiVE Discovery Lab Alumni

  • Siwon Jenguskusavat​ - Volunteer Research Assistant 2021
  • Deborah Chan - Volunteer Research Assistant 2015-21
  • Kaitlyn Hanson - Undergraduate Summer Student 2021
  • Dr. Shreyas Kumbhare - Postdoctoral Fellow 2020-21
  • Dr. Sarah Reyes - Postdoctoral Fellow 2020
  • Faith Kirabo - Undergraduate Summer Student 2019-20
  • Dr. Jacqueline Richelle - Pediatric Resident 2015-20 ​
  • ​​Dr. Kozeta Miliku - Postdoctoral Fellow 2017-20
  • Shirin Moossavi - PhD Student 2015-20
  • Anuradha Ravi - Visiting Researcher 2019
  • Michelle La - Student Research Assistant 2019
  • Jana Slaght - DREAM Research Coordinator
  • Michaela Groen - Undergraduate General Biological Sciences Student 2019
  • Dhasni Muthumuni - Undergraduate Medical Student 2019
  • Faisal Atakora - Data Analyst / Statistician 2016-19
  • ​Lorena Vehling - Student Research Assistant 2016-18
  • Thomas Roberts - Undergraduate Summer Student 2018
  • Linda Lam - Undergraduate Medical Student 2017-18
  • Olivia Coneys - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Student 2017
  • Lindsey Shumila - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Student 2017
  • Nicole Weins - Undergraduate Medical Student 2017
  • Alyssa Archibald - Undergraduate Medical Student 2017
  • ​Keely Loewen - Undergraduate Medical Student 2016-18
  • Dr. Jessica Forbes - Postdoctoral Fellow 2017
  • Sandra Ragheb - Undergraduate Nursing Student 2016
  • Asif Ahmed - Undergraduate Student 2016
  • Dr. Arthur Owora - Postdoctoral Fellow 2016
  • Hasantha Sinnock - Student Research Assistant 2016
  • Amy Dytnerski - Community Health Sciences Graduate Student Research Assistant 2015-16
  • Dr. Annika Klopp - Pediatric Resident 2014-16
  • Ashleigh (Reid) Derksen - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Student 2014-15
  • Cheryl Hirst - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Student 2014-15

Interested in joining our team? Open positions are listed here. Instructions for potential trainees (students and postdoctoral fellows) are here.
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© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Our Team
    • THRiVE Lab Members
    • Training Positions
    • Staff Positions
  • Publications
  • News
  • Resources
  • Projects
    • IMiC
    • MILC
    • Breastfeeding Education Study
    • iPOP Study
  • DEI
  • Contact