2026 Scientific Meeting of the Canadian DOHaD Society

Trainee Award Winners

DOHaD Canada 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting

Congratulations to the trainee award winners from the 2026 DOHaD Canada Annual Scientific Meeting, held June 2–3, 2026 at Western University in London, Ontario. The standard of trainee work was excellent, and these awards recognize some of the strongest presentations and posters of the meeting.

Oral Presentation Awards

Naiya Patel, McGill University

Early Risk Stratification of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Using Proteomics and Clinical Characteristics

Her work showed that inflammatory biomarkers measured early in pregnancy can improve prediction of gestational diabetes beyond standard clinical risk factors.

Katherine Kennedy, McMaster University

First-Born Infants are More Vulnerable to Intrapartum Antibiotic Disruption of Gut Microbiome Development

Her presentation examined how birth order may shape the developing infant gut microbiome and its vulnerability to antibiotics given during labour.

Flash Talk Awards

Kingston Wong, Brock University

Targeting the Gut Microbiota to Reverse Behavioural Impairments in Prenatal Alcohol Exposed Rats using Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

His work tested whether fecal microbiota transplantation can help reverse anxiety- and depression-like behaviour associated with prenatal alcohol exposure in rats.

Cristina Monaco, McMaster University

Prenatal Cannabis Smoke Exposure Alters Placental Steroidogenic and Metabolic Pathways

Her work showed that prenatal exposure to cannabis smoke disrupts placental genes involved in lipid metabolism and steroid production.

Poster Awards

Violet Patterson, Western University

OVOL2 Reinforces Epithelial Identity and Mediates Syncytiotrophoblast Formation in the Mouse Placenta

Her work identified the protein OVOL2 as a key regulator of syncytiotrophoblast formation and labyrinth development in the placenta.

Ariana Lewis, McMaster University

Maternal Diet-Induced Obesity Promotes Thrombotic Alterations in Decidual Vasculature across Gestation in Mice

Her work showed that maternal diet-induced obesity is associated with clot-like (thrombotic) changes in the blood vessels of the decidua that increase across pregnancy.

Amy Pietrantonio, Western University

Early, Acute Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Leads to Life-Long, Sex-Dependent Hearing Impairments

Her work found that a single, early exposure to alcohol in pregnancy can cause lasting hearing loss in a mouse model, with females more affected than males.

Luis Limo, Western University

Unmet Dental Needs are Associated with Adverse Developmental Health and Functioning across Childhood

His work linked untreated dental problems in children to poorer developmental health and functioning, more missed school, and lower academic performance.

Congratulations to all of our award winners, and thank you to every trainee who presented and to the judges and moderators who made the sessions possible.