2024-2025 Annual Report
Research not only saves lives, it ignites hope. While true transformation requires both patience and vision, each breakthrough brings us closer to our goal. Through continual innovation, we’re illuminating the path toward a healthier future for women and children.
Messages
Sandra Davidge &
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Women and Children’s
Health Research Institute
In research, progress requires illumination to guide us through uncertainty toward understanding.
See how our WCHRI community continues to light the way toward better health for women, children and families in this annual report.
Sandra Davidge &
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Women and Children’s
Health Research Institute
Message from WCHRI
In research, progress requires illumination to guide us through uncertainty toward understanding. As we share the inspiring stories in this year’s annual report, we see how our WCHRI community continues to light the way toward better health for women, children and families.
From reclaiming traditional birth practices in northern communities to pioneering neonatal brain injury research, our members’ work spans a remarkable spectrum, each project clearing paths once shadowed by knowledge gaps and health disparities.
We’ve witnessed this collaborative spirit in action through initiatives like the MiTy Tykes study, which strives to improve health outcomes for children born to women with diabetes. Similarly, our researchers’ partnership with the Deadly Dads Support Society in Maskwacîs demonstrates how Indigenous knowledge and cooperation create stronger, healthier families.
Looking ahead, we see tremendous potential in newly launched initiatives like PANDA, the national platform uniting hospitals across Canada to streamline neonatal clinical trials. This groundbreaking partnership promises to transform care for our most vulnerable newborns. Meanwhile, our Translational Genomics Hub provides crucial answers to families facing complex genetic diagnoses, showing how research directly impacts lives.
The future of women’s health also looks brighter because of WCHRI researchers whose work has led to essential diagnostic tools for polycystic ovary syndrome and redefined exercise guidelines for women with Type 1 diabetes. These advances are creating more personalized and effective healthcare approaches that shine a light on previously overlooked needs.
None of this would be possible without our extraordinary partners, the University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, the Stollery Children’s Health Foundation and the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation. The foundations’ commitments allowed WCHRI to back 266 active research projects in the past year with a cumulative $25.5 million in grants, while our research platforms teams supported more than 280 projects and researchers.
Where do we go from here? We envision a WCHRI that continues to reveal research gaps, spark new understanding of complex health challenges and ensure equitable health outcomes for all women and children. As we move forward, we remain committed to fostering the relationships that make WCHRI unique — among researchers and communities, clinicians and patients, and across disciplines and institutions. These connections will continue to light our way toward healthier futures for women, children and families.
Sandra Davidge,
Executive Director
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum,
Associate Director
Bill
Flanagan University of
Alberta
Bill
Flanagan University of
Alberta
Message from the University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a global leader in education and research that advances new frontiers of knowledge and discovery. Health and well-being are areas of excellence and core research pillars for the U of A as we tackle some of the most complex challenges to help shape healthier, safer and stronger communities across Alberta and beyond.
The Women and Children’s Health Research Institute exemplifies what we can achieve through collaboration and a shared purpose to drive change and improve lives.
Canada’s only research institute dedicated to women’s, children’s and perinatal health has over 400 members across the U of A’s three colleges and 13 faculties. The U of A flagship institute strategically partners with other organizations, including the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, to foster a research ecosystem designed for transformative impact that benefits society. The team’s groundbreaking work seeks to make a difference in many areas, including protecting newborn brains from injury, Indigenous health, rare genetic conditions, diabetes and heart disease.
This year’s theme, Lighting the Way, reflects WCHRI’s commitment, compassion, rigour and vision. I am proud of this remarkable team and their many contributions to building a healthier future. Congratulations on another outstanding year.
Bill Flanagan
President and Vice-Chancellor
Karen
Faulkner Stollery Children’s
Hospital Foundation
Karen
Faulkner Stollery Children’s
Hospital Foundation
Message from the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
WCHRI researchers are some of the best and brightest medical minds in the world, lighting the way for breakthroughs in pediatric health care and igniting new hope for Stollery families across Western Canada.
We know progress in research requires patience and that each discovery brings us closer to a healthier, more promising future for our kids. From uncovering innovative treatments and testing new medicines, WCHRI researchers continue to break barriers in children’s health, helping to give every kid the best chance to live a long and healthy life.
Since 2006, we’ve invested more than $85.5 million in the innovative WCHRI researchers who are transforming the way children’s health care is approached and provided, sparking real change across the globe.
As you pursue new breakthroughs in pediatric health care, we recognize the importance of each discovery and its potential to shape a healthier future. Together, we’re guiding the way to better health and limitless possibilities, knowing that every small advancement brings us closer to lasting change.
On behalf of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and our more than 100,000 donors, congratulations on another year of enlightenment and discovery. We’re proud to shine a light on all your successes and know the future is bright for kids’ health care in Alberta and beyond, thanks to all of you.
Karen Faulkner
President and CEO
Marc
Leduc Alberta Health
Services
Marc
Leduc Alberta Health
Services
Message from Alberta Health Services
It can’t be stated often enough: research and innovation drive improvements in health care.
That was true in 1747 when Scottish physician James Lind proved citrus fruits prevent scurvy, and it’s true today whenever a clinician-scientist collects evidence in a clinical trial.
Health research has been an inextinguishable torch throughout the centuries, lighting the way to countless advancements that have improved the lives of millions.
In Alberta, health research has found unique expression with the partnership that created the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute.
Alberta Health Services and the University of Alberta, with strategic funding partners the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, brought WCHRI to life in 2006.
Nothing’s been the same since. Alberta’s women, children and their families have benefited from countless opportunities to participate in clinical research, benefit from innovative treatments and incorporate evidence-based practices into care.
WCHRI’s work encompasses the health-care spectrum: from diagnosing mitochondrial disorders and using machine learning to predict ADHD in kindergarten-age children to sharing the traditional teachings and cultural practices of Indigenous grandmothers to support Indigenous pregnant women, mothers or children. And those are just three examples from 2025.
Advancing health care through research requires a team effort. It would not be possible without the infrastructure, talent, skills and leadership of our university partners, scientists, researchers, physicians, pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals and so many others.
We remain committed to advancing care for Albertans and exploring new opportunities in the refocused health-care system. Together, those working in Alberta’s thriving research and innovation ecosystem are helping light the way to a healthier future for the province’s women, children and families.
Marc Leduc
Senior Provincial Director, Health Evidence and Innovation
Christine Westerlund
Senior Operating Officer, Stollery Children’s Hospital
Tracee Pratt
Executive Director, Women’s Health, Lois Hole Hospital for Women
Sharlene
Rutherford Alberta Women’s
Health Foundation
Sharlene
Rutherford Alberta Women’s
Health Foundation
Message from the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation
At the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, we believe research is the catalyst for change and the key to a healthier future. Every breakthrough, every question asked and every challenge overcome illuminates more of the path to a world where women’s health is fully understood, prioritized and championed.
Real progress demands time, persistence and vision. It requires the relentless dedication of researchers, clinicians and advocates who refuse to accept the unknown.
Through our funding partnership with WCHRI, we are lighting the way together — uncovering new treatments, closing critical gaps and equipping women with the knowledge to make informed health decisions.
We are proud to stand alongside WCHRI as partners in progress. Because of your passion and commitment, the future of women’s health is no longer a distant hope — it is a reality we are building together. While the journey continues, every step forward brings us closer to a reality where every woman receives the care, answers and support she deserves.
On behalf of the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, thank you for your relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation, and working to ensure that generations to come will benefit from the progress we make today. You are truly lighting the path forward — from lab to life.
Sharlene Rutherford
President and CEO
Women & Children’s Health Research Institute
WCHRI supports research excellence dedicated
to improving the health and lives of women and
children. WCHRI is the only research institute in Canada to focus on both women’s and children’s health, including perinatal health.
WCHRI was founded in 2006 as a partnership between
the University of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, with
strategic funding partners, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
and the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation. Thanks to our funders’ generosity, WCHRI is able to support a broad range of research
programs focused on improving health for women and children. Support is offered through research funding and expert research
services. WCHRI also invests in the next generation of researchers through graduate and summer studentships, postdoctoral fellowships, and research presentation and travel grants.
Our membership is made up of over 400 leading researchers who are passionately committed to women’s and children’s health and well-being. WCHRI is proud to support the continued growth and success of their work.
Our Mission
Foster the brightest minds to discover,
innovate and ultimately transform the health
of children and women through supporting
research excellence.
Our Vision
Harness the power of research innovation for
a healthy future for children and women.
Governance
- Finance & operations
sub-committee - Oversight
board- Brenda Hemmelgarn (Chair)
Dean, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, U of A - Verna Yiu
(Brenda Hemmelgarn, designate)
Provost & Vice-President Academic, U of A
- Aminah Robinson Fayek
(Jason Acker, designate)
Vice President, Research & Innovation, U of A - Todd Alexander
Chair, Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, U of A - Jane Schulz
Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry,
U of A
- Lawrence Richer
Vice Dean, Research (Clinical), Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry,
U of A
- Tammy Hopper
Dean, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, U of A
- Hanne Ostergaard
Director, Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, U of A - Mircea Fagarasanu
(Marc Leduc, designate)
Interim vice president, Provincial Clinical Excellence, AHS
- Christine Westerlund
Senior operating officer, Stollery Children’s Hospital, AHS - Janie Clink
(Tracee Pratt, designate)
Senior operating officer, Royal Alexandra Hospital and Sturgeon Community Hospital, AHS
- Karen Faulkner
President & CEO, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation - Delphine Brooker
Board of trustees representative, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation - Sharlene Rutherford
President & CEO, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation - Dianne Balon
Board of directors representative, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
- Ex-officio (non-voting members)
Sandra Davidge
WCHRI executive director - Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
WCHRI associate director
- As of March 2025
- Brenda Hemmelgarn (Chair)
- Associate
Director
- Lonnie Zwaigenbaum is a developmental pediatrician at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, where he directs the Autism Research Centre. He completed his clinical training in Toronto and research training at McMaster University in Hamilton, where he worked before moving to Edmonton in 2006.
- He is a professor in the Department of Pediatrics, the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Autism and a Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher. He also serves as the Edmonton Zone Clinical Department Head for Child Health, Alberta Health Services.
- Zwaigenbaum’s current research focuses on improving early detection and timely diagnosis and health care for autistic children and youth, and he leads capacity building in autism diagnosis in partnership with community pediatricians and parent leaders.
- His research is funded by CIHR, Kids Brain Health Network, National Institutes of Mental Health, Autism Science Foundation, Autism Care Network, One Child Every Child and WCHRI through the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. He chaired the oversight panel of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Assessment on Autism, which is guiding the development of a national strategy.
- He has been recognized for his research leadership with fellowships from the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the International Society for Autism Research. He also received the 2022 Autism Edmonton Opening Doors Award and a 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for career contributions.
- Zwaigenbaum has made significant contributions to WCHRI over the last decade, from his role on the program advisory committee to his extensive involvement with our annual research day and stewardship initiatives.
- Executive
director
- Sandra Davidge received her bachelor of science degree from the University of Massachusetts, master of science from Washington State University and PhD from the University of Vermont. She continued her training as a postdoctoral fellow at the Magee Women’s Research Institute in Pittsburgh before moving to Edmonton with her husband and two children in 1996. She is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Alberta.
- A leader in pregnancy research, Davidge is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, as well as a former two-term Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in maternal and perinatal cardiovascular health.
- She has published more than 300 scientific articles on her pioneering studies that are focused on understanding the causes of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction and developing new therapies to improve outcomes.
- Her work further explores strategies to prevent chronic cardiovascular diseases that can arise in children born from complicated pregnancies.
- She has received international recognition for her research as she mentors the next generation of scientists and clinician-scientists.
- Davidge has been leading WCHRI as executive director since 2012.
- Strategic advisory committee
- Stephanie A. Atkinson, PhD, DSc (honoris causa), FCAHS, FASN
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Associate Member, Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University
Special Professional Staff, McMaster Children’s Hospital - Liisa Galea, PhD
Senior scientist, women’s health research cluster lead and inaugural womenmind Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Affiliate professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia
- Anne Monique Nuyt, MD
Director and professor, Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal
Past president, Pediatric Chairs of Canada
- Charles Nelson, PhD
Professor of psychology, pediatrics and neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
Professor of education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Director of research, Developmental Medicine Center, Boston Children’s Hospital
Richard David Scott Chair in Pediatric Developmental Medicine Research, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Wyeth W. Wasserman, PhD
Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Senior scientist, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics
Past executive director, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute - As of March 2025
- Stephanie A. Atkinson, PhD, DSc (honoris causa), FCAHS, FASN
- WCHRI
operations-
Academic Leads
- Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
Children’s health research - Sofia Ahmed
Women’s health research - Todd Alexander
Co-lead, Translational Genomics Hub - Grant Bruno
Indigenous children’s health research - Oana Caluseriu
Co-lead, Translational Genomics Hub - Padma Kaul
Artificial Intelligence + Data Hub - Anastassia Voronova
Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell shared resource lab -
Senior Management Team
- Michelle Bailleux
Director, research grants - Katie Buchanan
Program and governance lead - Louanne Campbell
Director, Operations - Bethan Kingsley
Research Associate - Laura Reyes Martinez
Clinical research program lead, women’s health - Dory Sample
Clinical research director - Breanne Sampson
Director, stewardship, communications & marketing - Tanya Voth
Program director - As of March 2025
-
- Program advisory committee
- Oluwakemi Amodu
Assistant professor, Faculty of Nursing - Amit Bhavsar
Associate professor, Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Stephane Bourque
Associate professor, Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Sandra Davidge
Executive Director, WCHRI - Matt Hicks
Associate Professor, Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Cheng-Han Lee
Associate professor, Lab Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Piush Mandhane
Professor, Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Stephanie Montesanti
Associate professor, School of Public Health - Colleen Norris
Professor, Faculty of Nursing - Lesley Pritchard
Assistant professor, Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine - Keatton Tiernan
PhD student, School of Public Health - Yifeng Wei
Assistant professor, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - As of March 2025
- Oluwakemi Amodu
- Trainee advisory
committee- Keatton Tiernan (Chair)
PhD student,
School of Public Health,
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Oluwadamilare (Dammy) Akingbade
Postdoctoral fellow,
Faculty of Nursing - Taiye Alawiye
Masters student,
School of Public Health,
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Kazette Yuen Yu Chan
Masters student,
Medical Genetics,
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Shannon Cornelson
Undergraduate student,
Faculty of Native Studies - Haley Frerichs
Medical student,
Obstetrics & Gynecology,
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Ibrahim Khodabocus
PhD student,
Pediatrics,
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Robert Mcweeny
PhD student,
Psychiatry,
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Aida Mohammadabadi
PhD student,
School of Dentistry,
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Jaqueline Munhoz
PhD student,
Nutrition,
Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences - Erin Tichenor
PhD student,
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine - Tanya Voth
Program director,
WCHRI - As of March 2025
- Keatton Tiernan (Chair)
Research Stories
The fatty frontier of neonatal brain injury research
Exploring the world of lipid droplets and their potential to improve outcomes for infants with brain damage
Building healthier futures with MiTy
WCHRI services support international study of mothers with diabetes and their children, providing crucial insights into health outcomes
Deadly Dads key to healthy families
Work with Maskwacîs men’s support group highlights the power of community-led research and Cree ways of knowing
Unlocking genetic mysteries: Translational Genomics Hub provides answers for families
Researchers use cutting-edge sequencing and collaboration to solve complex genetic cases
Exercise guidelines for women with Type 1 diabetes due for an overhaul
Research addresses the unique needs of menstruating and post-menopausal women, moving beyond male-centric diabetes management
Researcher creates key resources for PCOS diagnosis and patient care
Common hormonal disorder leads to higher risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes
Sacred beginnings: Reclaiming birth in the North
Community-led research to explore alternatives to decades-old birth evacuation policies
The power of PANDA
A landmark partnership led by the U of A and supported by WCHRI unites Canadian hospitals to streamline neonatal clinical trials and advance care
Highlights
WCHRI members Lisa Hartling and Shannon Scott (pictured), as well as Todd Alexander, Georg Schmölzer and Lonnie Zwaigenbaum spoke about their research at the Corus Radiothon fundraiser for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Ispimihk Awâsisak, a WCHRI-affiliated, community-led initiative to enhance the health and well-being of Indigenous children, youth and their families, launched.
We celebrated the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation at its Snowflake Gala in support of leading-edge programs, equipment, research and training at the hospital.
WCHRI partnered with RareKids-CAN to support pediatric rare disease clinical trials in Canada.
We celebrated the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation at its inaugural Luminaries Luncheon. Eight WCHRI researchers presented their work to donors to help demonstrate the impact of their contributions.
We celebrated the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation by attending the Harvest Celebration annual fundraiser for the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.
We announced seven new academic leaders, including Lonnie Zwaigenbaum as associate director, shown here with Dianne Balon, a member of the board of directors of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation.
WCHRI members and programs were featured in the news nearly 200 times, including this appearance by Jane Schulz, Colleen Norris and Sofia Ahmed to discuss the future of women’s health research on Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen.
Our research platforms teams provided consultation and implementation support to more than 280 projects and researchers.
WCHRI committed more than $4.1M in operating grants, including partnership funding for large initiatives, start-up support for new recruits, CIHR bridge funding and ongoing support for five endowed chairs.
We welcomed 465 members, partners, trainees and collaborators to our annual Research Day on Nov. 6, 2024. Pictured, from left, are Todd Alexander, WCHRI academic co-lead of the Translational Genomics Hub, presenter Ethan Chow, keynote speaker Christine Chambers and researcher Fabiana T. Almeida.
We supported the Healthy Pregnancy Hub, a new website where pregnant people in Canada can find reliable, evidence-based information on the safety of prescription medications.
Financials
Statement of
Operations
For the year ended March 31, 2025
Revenue
The revenue percentage from each foundation is approximately equal to the proportion of WCHRI researchers working in their areas of interest.
- Alberta Women’s
Health Foundation
$1,987,000 - Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, U of A and other
$1,317,718 - Cost recovery
$1,539,939 - Stollery
Children’s Hospital
Foundation
$4,389,419 - Total Revenue: $9,234,076*
*Includes Memorandum of Understanding commitments and other donations
Expenditures
- Research grants
$2,283,754 - Research catalysts
$2,041,829 - Research platforms
$3,041,364 - Donor-designated
initiatives
$1,085,627 - Administrative support
$943,724 - Total Expenditures: $9,396,299
- Spent not invoiced: -$162,223
Carry forward to next fiscal year