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Dr. Meghan Azad
Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease
PhD, Biochemistry and Medical Genetics (University of Manitoba) Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pediatrics and Epidemiology (University of Alberta) Dr. Azad holds the following positions:
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Current Team Members

Faisal Atakora - Data Analyst / Statistician.
Faisal previously worked as a Research and Statistical Consulting Assistantat the Department of Statistics, University of Manitoba. His interests include soccer, health research and analyzing data using various statistical methods, tools and software. Faisal received his BSc (Statistics) from the University of Ghana and MSc (Statistics) from the University of Manitoba.
Faisal previously worked as a Research and Statistical Consulting Assistantat the Department of Statistics, University of Manitoba. His interests include soccer, health research and analyzing data using various statistical methods, tools and software. Faisal received his BSc (Statistics) from the University of Ghana and MSc (Statistics) from the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Kozeta Miliku - Postdoctoral Fellow.
Kozeta holds a Medical Doctorate from the Medical University of Tirana in Albania, and a PhD from Erasmus University in the Netherlands, where she also obtained her MSc and DSc in Clinical Epidemiology. Kozeta’s postdoctoral studies are focused on the impact of maternal factors on human milk oligosaccharides and subsequently on obesity and cardiovascular health in children.
Kozeta holds a Medical Doctorate from the Medical University of Tirana in Albania, and a PhD from Erasmus University in the Netherlands, where she also obtained her MSc and DSc in Clinical Epidemiology. Kozeta’s postdoctoral studies are focused on the impact of maternal factors on human milk oligosaccharides and subsequently on obesity and cardiovascular health in children.

Lorena Vehling - Student Research Assistant
Lorena Vehling completed a Bachelor of Science (Hon) degree in Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of British Columbia and a Master of Science degree in Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She is currently training to become a Registered Midwife. Lorena is passionate about improving maternal, infant and child health through empowered maternity health care and impactful research on the developmental origins of health and disease. Lorena currently works as a Student Research Assistant in the Azad lab, exploring associations between breastfeeding exclusivity and duration and chronic child health conditions.
Lorena Vehling completed a Bachelor of Science (Hon) degree in Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of British Columbia and a Master of Science degree in Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She is currently training to become a Registered Midwife. Lorena is passionate about improving maternal, infant and child health through empowered maternity health care and impactful research on the developmental origins of health and disease. Lorena currently works as a Student Research Assistant in the Azad lab, exploring associations between breastfeeding exclusivity and duration and chronic child health conditions.

Nicole Weins - Undergraduate Medical Student.
Nicole is a second year medical student at the University of Manitoba. Nicole completed her Bachelor of Sciences at the University of Manitoba in 2015 with a major in psychology. Previous lab experience includes a project on cell signalling in breast cancer at the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology. This summer, Nicole will be completing a project looking at the association between childhood and adult socioeconomic status and the development of type 2 diabetes.
Nicole is a second year medical student at the University of Manitoba. Nicole completed her Bachelor of Sciences at the University of Manitoba in 2015 with a major in psychology. Previous lab experience includes a project on cell signalling in breast cancer at the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology. This summer, Nicole will be completing a project looking at the association between childhood and adult socioeconomic status and the development of type 2 diabetes.

Alyssa Archibald - Undergraduate Medical Student.
Alyssa is a second year medical student at U of M. Prior to medical school, she completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the U of M, and completed her thesis at CHRIM with Dr. Diehl-Jones and Dr. Gordon in the field of neonatology. She is working with Dr. Dolinsky and Dr. Azad this summer to research the effect of maternal non-nutritive sweetener consumption and the development of childhood obesity. She also enjoys nature and the outdoors, art, and playing ultimate frisbee with friends (albeit pretty terribly!).
Alyssa is a second year medical student at U of M. Prior to medical school, she completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the U of M, and completed her thesis at CHRIM with Dr. Diehl-Jones and Dr. Gordon in the field of neonatology. She is working with Dr. Dolinsky and Dr. Azad this summer to research the effect of maternal non-nutritive sweetener consumption and the development of childhood obesity. She also enjoys nature and the outdoors, art, and playing ultimate frisbee with friends (albeit pretty terribly!).

Keely Loewen - Undergraduate Medical Student.
Keely is a medical student studying at the University of Manitoba. She has previously trained in general science and is working with a team to investigate whether prenatal antibiotic exposure increases a child's risk of developing asthma. She has presented at the CSACI (Canadian Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology) Annual Meeting and at Child Health Research Day here at the University of Manitoba. Keely hopes to continue working in child health throughout her clinical career.
Keely is a medical student studying at the University of Manitoba. She has previously trained in general science and is working with a team to investigate whether prenatal antibiotic exposure increases a child's risk of developing asthma. She has presented at the CSACI (Canadian Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology) Annual Meeting and at Child Health Research Day here at the University of Manitoba. Keely hopes to continue working in child health throughout her clinical career.

Linda Lam - Undergraudate Medical Student.
Linda Lam is a medical student in the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. She completed her Bachelor of Science honours in genetics at the University of Manitoba in October 2015. In 2017-2018, she will be working with the TMPLR (The Manitoba Personalized Lifestyle Research) team to explore the developmental origins of bone health. She will be collecting data on prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal exposures and defining associations between adult bone mineral density (BMD) to determine if and how these early factors affect later bone health.
Linda Lam is a medical student in the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. She completed her Bachelor of Science honours in genetics at the University of Manitoba in October 2015. In 2017-2018, she will be working with the TMPLR (The Manitoba Personalized Lifestyle Research) team to explore the developmental origins of bone health. She will be collecting data on prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal exposures and defining associations between adult bone mineral density (BMD) to determine if and how these early factors affect later bone health.

Dr. Shirin Moossavi - PhD Student in Medical Microbiology.
Shirin obtained her Medical Doctorate from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and her MSc in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Biology from University of Sussex, UK. She is interested in factors shaping the human microbial communities and physico-chemical alterations underlying microbial community dysbiosis. She is currently studying milk microbiota in Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study and stool microbiota in The Manitoba Personalized Lifestyle Research (TMPLR) Program.
Shirin obtained her Medical Doctorate from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and her MSc in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Biology from University of Sussex, UK. She is interested in factors shaping the human microbial communities and physico-chemical alterations underlying microbial community dysbiosis. She is currently studying milk microbiota in Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study and stool microbiota in The Manitoba Personalized Lifestyle Research (TMPLR) Program.

Deborah Chan - Student Research Assistant.
Deborah recently completed a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Manitoba and has worked in the Azad lab throughout her undergraduate degree. She is passionate about maternal and child health in the context of early life exposures on future health outcomes as well as all things statistics. Her most recent project examines the relationship between breastmilk hormones and infant obesity.
Deborah recently completed a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Manitoba and has worked in the Azad lab throughout her undergraduate degree. She is passionate about maternal and child health in the context of early life exposures on future health outcomes as well as all things statistics. Her most recent project examines the relationship between breastmilk hormones and infant obesity.

- Michelle La - Student Research Assistant

Jacqueline Richelle - Pediatric Resident
Jacqueline Richelle is currently a Pediatric Resident at the University of Manitoba. She received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Manitoba in concurrently with her Bachelor of Science in Medicine. She also completed her undergraduate degree in General Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She is investigating the association of breast milk fatty acid composition with childhood atopic diseases.
Jacqueline Richelle is currently a Pediatric Resident at the University of Manitoba. She received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Manitoba in concurrently with her Bachelor of Science in Medicine. She also completed her undergraduate degree in General Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She is investigating the association of breast milk fatty acid composition with childhood atopic diseases.

Jana Slaght - DREAM (Diabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba) Research Coordinator.
Jana is the research coordinator for the DREAM theme, at the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. She works with all of the DREAM researchers to facilitate their research projects, which span many different areas but have a common interest of helping to improve the health and well-being of youth living with type 2 diabetes.
Jana is the research coordinator for the DREAM theme, at the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. She works with all of the DREAM researchers to facilitate their research projects, which span many different areas but have a common interest of helping to improve the health and well-being of youth living with type 2 diabetes.
- Dr. Michelle Durst - Pediatric Resident
- Dr. Jessica Forbes - Postdoctoral Fellow
Alumni

Dr. Annika Klopp - Pediatric Resident.
Annika Klopp completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Northern British Columbia and graduated with her Doctor of Medicine from the University of British Columbia in 2013. She is currently a paediatric resident at the University of Manitoba. Her research project investigated the association of mode of infant feeding and the development of childhood asthma.
Annika Klopp completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Northern British Columbia and graduated with her Doctor of Medicine from the University of British Columbia in 2013. She is currently a paediatric resident at the University of Manitoba. Her research project investigated the association of mode of infant feeding and the development of childhood asthma.
- Ashleigh (Reid) Derksen - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Student 2014-15
- Cheryl Hirst - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Student 2014-15
- Amy Dytnerski - Community Health Sciences Graduate Student Research Assistant 2015-16
- Sandra Ragheb - Undergraduate Nursing Student 2016
- Asif Ahmed - Undergraduate Student 2016
- Dr. Arthur Owora - Postdoctoral Fellow 2016
- Hasantha Sinnock - Student Research Assistant 2016
- Olivia Coneys - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Student
- Lindsey Shumila - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies Student
Interested in joining our team as a student or postdoctoral fellow? See here.