Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases
Welcome to DOHaD Canada!
This year for International Women’s Day, DOHaD Canada honours Ethel Margaret Burnside and her midwives and nurses; women who cared for mothers and newborns, creating the records that would ultimately give rise to the field we now call DOHaD.
Learn more about Ethel Margaret Burnside, whose early 20th-century work organizing midwives to visit mothers across Hertfordshire created one of the first major datasets on early-life health and infant development.
Ethel Margaret Burnside (from, Barker 2003)
The 2026 Scientific Meeting of the Canadian DOHaD Society will be held June 2–3, 2026, at Western University in London, Ontario.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 9 (END OF DAY)!
Check out the meeting program here!
We look forward to seeing you there!
Upcoming World Congress Meeting
The 14th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
Hamamatsu, Japan.
Oct 17 - 20 2027
At DOHaD Canada, we are committed to advancing the understanding of how
early-life environmental factors influence health and
disease throughout the lifespan. Our work focuses on the Developmental Origins of Health
and Diseases (DOHaD), emphasizing research, education, and policy initiatives that have a
profound impact on local, national, and international communities.
As a regional society of the International DOHaD Society, we collaborate with a global network of researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. Together, we strive to translate cutting-edge scientific discoveries into practical solutions that promote lifelong health and well-being.
Join us in our mission to shape a healthier future for generations to come.
Strategic Priorities
DOHaD Canada is dedicated to advancing the understanding of how environmental factors during early life-from preconception to childhood-interact with development to influence lifelong health, learning, and social function. Our strategic priorities focus on three key areas:
Research
Engage in world class, dicovery-based research
Our national network comprises nationally and internationally recognized researchers from clinical practice, academia, industry, and government sectors. Many are engaged in extensive international collaborations and partnerships. We are committed to fostering cutting-edge research to understand the mechanisms underlying the developmental origins of health and disease, identify biomarkers of risk, and develop preventative interventions. By promoting excellence in research, we aim to generate new knowledge that can lead to innovative strategies for improving health outcomes.
Training and Education
Deliver high-quality, transdisciplinary training, career development and public education
Recognizing that trainees are our future, we are committed to creating an environment that fosters academic excellence and empowers emerging research leaders to drive DOHaD innovation. By representing and connecting with DOHaD Canada trainees, we offer robust professional development opportunities that equip them with the skills to excel in research, communication, and advocacy. Equally important, we emphasize educating the general population to heighten awareness and strengthen collective efforts in championing early-life health. By bringing researchers and communities together, we aim to nurture a generation of scientists and informed citizens who collaborate to translate DOHaD principles into impactful policies and practice, ensuring a healthier future for all.
Translation and Advocacy
Promote health and wellness for all Canadians
We are dedicated to promoting health and wellness for all Canadians by engaging policymakers, healthcare providers, and the public in co-designing research and knowledge mobilization strategies that foster inclusive, evidence-based decision-making. With a strong emphasis on translating bench science into clinical practice and policy, we raise the profile of DOHaD research; develop, test, and implement interventions rooted in scientific discovery; and act as a catalyst for advancing health, learning, and social function. By translating research into actionable strategies, we work towards preventing or reversing negative life-course outcomes, thereby allowing all Canadians to attain their full potential.
Join DOHaD Canada
The Canadian DOHaD Society is a globally connected network focused on creating, communicating and translating the latest knowledge on early development to improve the health and well-being of Canadians today and into the future and promote the importance of maternal health and well-being on a global platform.