Dr. Meghan Azad presented at Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants (EBTSOYP), a program that brings STEM experts into the classrooms of grade 7+ students through virtual presentations and field trips. ​Dr. Azad talked about breast milk as an extraordinary ‘superfood’ and the ultimate "personalized medicine". She explained how human milk provides all of the nutrients a baby needs in exactly the right combination, protects infants from infections, and even lowers the risk of asthma and obesity later in childhood. This EBTSOYP session was sponsored by the Gairdner Foundation, watch the full video here. 

Dr. Meghan Azad has been named one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40" for 2021, an annual recognition of the exceptional achievements of 40 outstanding Canadians under the age of 40. "To receive this award is such an honor," said Dr. Azad in an interview featured on the CHILD Cohort Study's website. "​It’s gratifying to see, through this celebration of the work I am doing with others, breastfeeding and human milk recognized as an important field. This work depends on the dedication and talents of many colleagues, trainees and research participants. I continue to be grateful to them all, and I’m excited about the new projects we are planning together." Read more about this award here. 

Dr. Meghan Azad was interviewed by CTV News Winnipeg about the CHILD Cohort Study in celebration of it's tenth anniversary. "The CHILD database is something that really could never be replicated and we are only at the tip of the iceberg", states Dr. Azad, "There are so many samples still in the freezer that will probably hold secrets that will cure diseases or answer big questions using technologies that don't even exist yet today".  Watch the full video here. 

​MILC experts shared key discoveries on current human milk and lactation research at the CHRIM Child Health Research Days (CHRD) Public Event on October 5 to support National Breastfeeding Week. Attendees engaged in a discussion about the role of infant nutrition in development, health and wellbeing; health-equity challenges and support for breastfeeding; breastfeeding/chestfeeding trends and lactation education; and more. The event had 179 registrants from 15 countries! You can view the recording here. 

Dr. Meghan Azad and co-authors published "Breastfeeding and the developmental origins of mucosal immunity: how human milk shapes the innate and adaptive mucosal immune systems" in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. Their review explains how different components of human milk influence development of the innate and adaptive mucosal immune systems in breastfed infants. [PDF] Tweetorial here!

The CHILD Cohort Study has developed infographics & lay summaries of Key Discoveries including those focused on Breastfeeding; many of these discoveries were made by our team! Each breastfeeding infographic received input by the Azad Lab and MILC Club. All infographics accompany a full web story and JPG or PDF for download and sharing. Check them out at Key Discoveries – CHILD Cohort Study (childstudy.ca)!

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, is September 30, 2021. This day provides an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of residential schools,  create bridges towards reconciliation, and support survivors and those who have been affected.​ The Azad Lab will be showing support by wearing their Orange Shirts and participating in walks of reflection. You can take action and learn more here. #EveryChildMatters.

Raising Canada 2021: Recovering from the Impacts of COVID-19 is the fourth in an annual series of reports that track the top 10 threats to childhood wellbeing in Canada, published by the national charitable organization Children First Canada. The 2021 report cited evidence from CHILD's COVID-19 add-on study regarding children's self-reported diminishment of physical activity during the pandemic, and featured artwork by CHILD participants for the study's 2019 Poster Contest. Read the full article here. 

Dr. Meghan Azad and two other professors at the University of Manitoba are among the "Class of 2021" newly elected fellows and members of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), the country's most esteemed association of scholars, scientists and artists, states UM Today News. "Election to the RSC is considered the highest honour an academic can achieve in the arts, social sciences and sciences." Read the full article here. 

Azad Lab Members shared reflections on breastfeeding to advocate for World Breastfeeding Week 2021 (#WBW2021). WBW has been celebrated every August 1-7 since 1992 in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration. Learn how you can #ProtectBreastfeeding by visiting ​worldbreastfeedingweek.org.