BORN Impact

BORN released its 2025–2026 Annual Report, highlighting the progress made over the past year to strengthen maternal, newborn and child health through data, insights and collaboration.  The report showcases how BORN data is being used to support care, inform policy and planning, advance research, and drive improvements across Ontario’s health system.

BORN Ontario is proud to be featured in a recent article by the Ottawa Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, highlighting innovative work in using artificial intelligence (AI) to support earlier identification of autism.

Check out  MyScreeningPathway.ca - a resource for people who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy to learn more about prenatal screening and find out which screening options are right for them.

You can: 

• Learn about prenatal screening for chromosomal differences and fetal blood types and
• Explore your prenatal screening options to discuss with a health-care provider. 

Researchers are exploring how machine learning and real-world data could help identify autism spectrum disorder earlier and inform future screening approaches.

An early-stage study used data from CIHI, BORN and other linked provincial records to explore whether AI could help identify children likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, highlighting how population-based health data could inform more consistent, system-wide approaches to assessment.

At the October 6–7, 2025 CPPC meeting, participants focused on defining how this now, not-for-profit, legal entity can advance perinatal care nationwide through collaboration among programs across Canada.

As part of Ontario’s expanded infant RSV prevention program, BORN Ontario began collecting data in fall 2024 to monitor uptake of nirsevimab and prenatal RSV vaccines across birthing hospitals. This infographic summarizes key findings from the first season of universal RSV immunization, highlighting uptake rates, hospital-level variation, and barriers to implementation.

BORN Ontario is developing new methods and partnerships—including work with CHEO, Black scholars, and community organizations—to improve collection and use of social determinants and health equity data for Black birthing people. This project includes funding for postdoctoral fellows and aims to help co-design models for better perinatal outcomes.

BORN is pleased to share a new podcast episode, Can AI Help Identify Babies at Risk of Autism?, featuring research led by Dr. Christine Armour using data from BORN Ontario.

The Risks of Preeclampsia in Pregnancy
Preeclampsia is a common and dangerous complication of pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and excess protein in urine.

Check out this video to explore the Recommendations for the Safe Administration of Oxytocin from the Provincial Council of Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH), key indicators from BORN that monitor oxytocin use and clinical outcomes, and real-world insights from clinicians who have successfully implemented these guidelines to improve policies and protocols.