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Grants

BORN Ontario participates in innovative research projects advancing perinatal, newborn, child, and youth health. BORN team members participate as Principal Applicants, co-Applicants, Collaborators, or Knowledge Users – reflecting our commitment to improving health outcomes and health system performance for pregnant individuals, children, youth, and families across Ontario and beyond. 

Explore this page to learn more about funded research projects that we either lead or support. 

Funded Research Projects
BORN Role Applicants Grant Title Funder Awarded Years Funded
Led Armour C (NPA), Dick K, Bellai-Dussault K, Hawken S, Meng L, Walker M. , Dougan, S.  Using Artificial Intelligence to Develop and Internally Validate a Screening Algorithm for Trisomy 21 Detection (INDICATE) PSI Foundation $250,000 2025-2028
Led Armour C (NPA), Dick K, Hawken S, Walker M, Vandette MP, van der Zweep L, Gardener-Jenkins T.  Predictive Intelligence: Leveraging Large-scale Administrative and Registry health data (PILLAR) for early identification of autism spectrum disorder. PCYMH Collaboratory, CHEO Research Institute $200,000 2025-2027
Led Okun N (NPA), Po L, Dougan, S.  Prediction and Prevention of Preterm Preeclampsia at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre ASHC AFP Innovation Fund (IFPOC) $251,388 2025-2027
Led Vesnaver E (NPA), Dougan S, Presseau J (Supervisor) .  Building a culture of equitable implementation science to advance prenatal screening in Ontario Canadian Institutes of Health Research $400,000 2024-2028
Led Walker M (NPA), Asztalos E, El-Chaar D, Feig D, Fergusson D, Abenhaim H, Audibert F, Barrett J, Berger H, Berveiller P, Bujold E, Cook J, Corsi D, D'Souza R, Gaudet L, Harvey A, Hawken S, Helewa M, Keely E, Lim K, Melamed N, Mulddon K, Murphy K, Murphy MSQ, Pylypjuk C, Rennicks White R, Retnakaran R, Rey E, Sermer M, Shah P, Smith G, Thavorn K, Wen S, Wood S, .  Piloting the EAGER trial: Expectant management versus induction At 38 weeks among individuals with GEstational diabetes mellitus - a Randomized controlled trial Canadian Institutes of Health Research $569,926 2024-2026
Led Miao Q (NPA), Lougheed J, Walker M, Dunn S, Wen SW .  Racial variations and socioeconomic inequities in healthcare utilization and mortality among infants with congenital heart disease: a mixed methods study Heart and Stroke Foundation $270,570 2023-2023
Led Corsi D (NPA), Walker MC, Wen SW, Hawken S, Janus M, Jain M, van Lieshout R, Fell D, Dunn S, Cook J.  Cannabis use in pregnancy and associations with child developmental outcomes: an extension to the Ottawa and Kingston (OaK) Birth Cohort Canadian Institutes of Health Research $289,249 2022-2025
Led Armour C (NPA), Hayeems R, Corsi D, Chitayat D, Walker MC.  What does this mean for my baby? The impact of exome sequencing on the diagnosis and management of fetal structural anomalies. ASHC AFP Innovation Fund (IFPOC) $109,261 2022-2024
Led Armour C (NPA), Walker MC, Hawken S, Corsi D.  ELEGANT study: prEcision mentaL hEalth usinG Artificial iNtelligence for early inTervention PCYMH Collaboratory, CHEO Research Institute $250,000 2022-2023
Led Corsi D (NPA), N/A, Duku E, Fell D, Gaudet L, Janus M, Muldoon K, Murphy M, Taljaard M, van Lieshout R, Walker M, Wen SW.  The lifestyles pregnancy cohort: a prospective follow-up study of mothers, their partners and offspring from pregnancy to age 3 Canadian Institutes of Health Research $102,363 2021-2024
Led Fell D (NPA), El-Chaar D, Barrett J, Shah P, Okun N, Kwong J, McDonald S, Wilson S, Buchan S, Wilson K, Gravel C, Walker MC, Sprague A, et al.  COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy: A province-wide epidemiological assessment of safety and effectiveness using the BORN Ontario Registry COVID-19 Immunity Task Force $525,560 2021-2022
Led Reszel J (NPA), Graham ID, Dunn S, Cassidy C.  Facilitating the use of evidence-informed maternal-newborn care: Development and evaluation of an implementation capacity-building toolkit  Canadian Institutes of Health Research $150,000 2021-2021
Led Corsi D (NPA), Janus M, Arbuckle T, Borghese M, Cameron DW, Dennehy M, Duku E, El-Chaar D, Gaudet L, Hutcheon J, Muldoon K, Murphy MSQ, Smith G, Cook J, Dunn S, Hsu H, McGee A, Murray R, van Lieshout R, Walker M, Zwaigenbaum L, Woolcott C, Wen SW.  Pan-Canadian Network to investigate cannabis use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children Canadian Institutes of Health Research $1,495,716 2020-2024
Led Corsi D (NPA), Lippert AM, Muldoon K, Murphy MSQ, Pakhale S.  Vaping in Canada: Investigating the geographic distribution and sociodemographic correlates of e-cigarette use Canadian Institutes of Health Research $100,000 2020-2021
Led Guo Y (NPA), El-Chaar D, Corsi DJ, Walker M, Gaudet L , Wen S, Hawken S, Muldoon K.  Gestational weight loss in obese women and risk for adverse perinatal outcomes: a population-based retrospective cohort study Canadian Institutes of Health Research $75,000 2020-2021
Led Corsi D (NPA), N/A, N/A.  There may be a time and a place, but is pregnancy one? Weeding out the myths from the facts to help make informed choices about cannabis use in pregnnacy Canadian Institutes of Health Research $750 2020-2020
Led Fell D (NPA), Bolotin S, Crowcroft NS, Cook J, Dubey V, Biringer A, Halperin SA, Hawken S, Jamieson FB, Kwong JC, Sadarangani M, Walker MC, Wilson K.  Impact of maternal pertussis immunization on pregnancy outcome and child health Canadian Institutes of Health Research $200,340 2019-2020
Led Miao Q (NPA),  Dunn SI, Lougheed J, Walker MC, Wen SW.   Disparities in congenital heart disease burden by maternal socioeconomic status and ethnicity. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $209,588 2018-2023
Led Fell D (NPA), Bolotin S, Crowcroft NS, Biringer A, Cook J, Dubey V, Halperin S, Hawken S, Jamieson F, Kwong J, Sadarangani M, Walker MC, , Wilson K.  Impact of maternal pertussis immunization on pregnancy outcome and child health Canadian Institutes of Health Research $336,600 2018-2021
Led Fell D (NPA),  Benchimol E, Chakraborty P, Kwong J, Macdonald N, Top K, Walker MC, Dodds L, Ortiz J, Wen SW, Hawken S, Sprague A, Wilson K.   Health outcomes in children of mothers who received influenza vaccination during pregnancy. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $75,000 2017-2018
Supported Shulman R (NPA), McClear N, Zenlea, Ivers N, Brazeau AS, Faisal M, Caruthers S, Toulany A, Bailey K, Weisman A, Mukerji G, Alton G, Thorpe K, Moreau E, Kichler J, Fierheller D, Abdullah S, Keen Sonnenberg M, Miller H, Chiodo D, McQuirr Y, Smrf D, Pollock B, Linklater L, St Hill A, Tarasoff L.  A Youth-Engaged Community of Practice to Improve Readiness to Transition to Adult Type 1 Diabetes Care Canadian Institutes of Health Research $1,500,000 2025-2030
Supported Wen SW (NPA), Lougheed J, Walker M, Miao Q, Retnakaran R, Dunn S, Hawken S, .  Association of prenatal glucose levels with congenital heart disease in offspring: a large population based retrospective cohort study Heart and Stroke Foundation $199,103 2024-2027
Supported El-Chaar D (NPA), Brophy J, Hawken S, Cameroun B, Cook J, Corsi D, Ducharme R, Dunn S, Fell D, Kharrat A, Muldoon K, Murphy MSQ, Pham-Huy A, van Lieshout R, Walker M, .  Infant and Child health outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy Canadian Institutes of Health Research $175,000 2024-2026
Supported El-Chaar D (NPA), Brophy J, Walker MC, Fell D, Dunn S, Corsi D, Pham-Huy A, Cameron W, Cook J, Muldoon K, Murphy MSQ, van Lieshout R, Hawken S.  Infant and child health outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy Canadian Institutes of Health Research $100,000 2023-2024
Supported Bainbridge S (NPA), Adamo K, Nagpal T, Cook J, Eastabrook G, El-Chaar D, Gaudet L, Hawken S, Smith G, Snelgrove-Clarke E, Tzaneva V.  Scope and safety of vaping during pregnancy – generating and disseminating knowledge to inform clinical practice and pregnant individuals Canadian Institutes of Health Research $100,000 2023-2024
Supported Money DM (NPA), Boucoiran I, Castillo E, Elwood C, Fell DB, McClymont EK, Poliquin V, Snelgrove JW, Luo W, Onysko J, Abenhaim HA, Albert A, Barrett J, Carson GD, Crane JM, Joynt C, Kakkar F, Kajden M, Kuret V, Malinowski AK, Murphy-Kaulbeck LC, Murphy P, Sauve LJ, Scott HM, Shah P, Sprague A, ting YJ, Whittle WL.  The Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes (CANCOVID-Preg) Canadian Institutes of Health Research $825,367 2022-2023
Supported Money DM (NPA), Boucoiran I, Castillo E, Elwood C, Fell DB, McClymont EK, Poliquin V, Snelgrove JW, Luo W, Onysko J, Abenhaim HA, Albert A, Barrett J, Carson GD, Crane JM, Joynt C, Kakkar F, Kajden M, Kuret V, Malinowski AK, Murphy-Kaulbeck LC, Murphy P, Sauve LJ, Scott HM, Shah P, Sprague A, ting YJ, Whittle WL.  The Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes (CANCOVID-Preg) PHAC $286,059 2022-2023
Supported Money DM (NPA), Boucoiran I, Castillo E, Elwood C, Fell DB, McClymont EK, Poliquin V, Snelgrove JW, Luo W, Onysko J, Abenhaim HA, Albert A, Barrett J, Carson GD, Crane JM, Joynt C, Kakkar F, Kajden M, Kuret V, Malinowski AK, Murphy-Kaulbeck LC, Murphy P, Sauve LJ, Scott HM, Shah P, Sprague A, ting YJ, Whittle WL.  The Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes (CANCOVID-Preg) BCWHF $22,500 2022-2023
Supported McDonald S (NPA), Murphy K, Allen V, Asztalos E, Boucoiran I, Dodd J, deVrijer B, Joseph KS, Lacaze-Masmonteil T, Matthews S, Melamed N, Mukerji A, Pechlivanoglou P, Schmidt L, Shah P, Smith G, Tomlinson G, Walker M, Yusuf S.  A Single Dose of Antenatal Corticosteroids (SNACS) Non-Inferiority Randomized Control Trial for Pregnancies at Risk of Preterm Delivery Canadian Institutes of Health Research $4,004,776 2021-2029
Supported Malhame I (NPA), Berard A, Bernatsky S, Pilote L, , Abenhaim H, Abrahamowicz M, Aguilar M, D'Souza R, Eltonsy S, Hawken S, Joseph KS, Kaul P, Sermer M, Vinet E, Walker M, Winquist B.  The “Atrial FIBrillation in Pregnancy: assessing seveRe matErnal morbidity and anticoagulation strateGies” (AFIB-PREG) Study Canadian Institutes of Health Research $275,400 2021-2024
Supported Barrett J (NPA), D'Souza R, Agarwal G, Alton G, Alvarz E, Apatu E, Bisnaire L, Boamah S, Bogler T, Castillo E, Cook J, Darline E, Dube E, Dunn J, El-Chaar D, Ellis D, Fadel S, Fell D, Iorio A, katherine W, Kuret V, Lavis J, McDonald S, Malhame I, Poliquin V, Schwartz L, Scott H, sprague AE, Sussman D, Thabane L, Walker MC, Yudin M, DeFrance B, Downey B, Money D, Shoenfeld E, Vohra-Miller S, Wolfe S.  Increasing Confidence, Acceptance and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine. Immunization partnership fund $500,000 2021-2023
Supported Dayan N (NPA), Platt R, Auger N, El-Chaar D, Fortier I, Lisonkova S, Malhame I, Ray J, Ukah UV.  Beyond survival: examining health of mothers after severe maternal morbidity in Canada (the BEYOND project) Canadian Institutes of Health Research $351,901 2021-2023
Supported El-Chaar D (NPA), Langlois MA, Cook J, Millar D, Sprague A, Bainbridge SA, Barrett J, Berger H, Brophy J, Cameron DW, Crawley A, deVrijer B, Dy J, El Demellawy D, Fell DB, Gaudet L, LaRoche A, Lawrence SL, mcDonald S, McGuinty M, Mei-Dan E, Muldoon KA, Murphy MSQ, Palerme S, Snelgrove J, Thampi N, Thorne S, Walker MC.  COVID-19 Variant Supplement - The COVID-19 Ontario Pregnancy Event (COPE) Network: Assessing the impact of COVID-19 in pregnancy on maternal, fetal and newborn health Canadian Institutes of Health Research $50,000 2021-2022
Supported Money DM (NPA), Elwood C, Albert A, Sadarangani M Kuret V, el-Chaar D Malinowski A, Barrett J, Fell D, et al.  Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Registry for Pregnant and Lactating Individuals (COVERED): An Evaluation of Safety, Effectiveness, and Acceptability COVID-19 Immunity Task Force $798,901 2021-2022
Supported El-Chaar D (NPA), Langlois MA, McGuinty M, Aviram A, Buchan S, cooper C, Dunn S, Fell D, McDonald S, Pham-Huy A, Wilson K, Barrett J, Cameron DW, Corsi D, Dy J, Gaudent L, Mei-Dan E, Saginur R, Palerme S, Berger H, Carley S, Crawley A, El Demellawy D, LaRoche A, Muldoon K, Walker M, Brophy J, Cook J, de Vrijer B, Fakhraei R, Lawrence S, Murphy MSQ, Wen SW.  Pregnant and Lactating Individuals & Newborns COVID-19 Vaccination Study Canadian Institutes of Health Research $500,000 2021-2022
Supported Barrett J (NPA), Agarwal G, Alvarez E, Boamah S, Castillo E, D'Souza R, Darling E, Dunn J, Iorio A, Alton G, Apatu E, Bisnaire L, Bogler T, Cook J, Dube E, El-Chaar D, Ellis S, Fadel S, Fell D, Juret V, Sprague AE, Sussman D, Walker MC, Soenfeld E, Vohra-Miller S.  Encouraging vaccine confidence among pregnant and breastfeeding Canadians NSERC $50,000 2021-2021
Supported Peterson W (NPA), Salvador A, Gravelle A, McCoubrey D, Coyle D, Darling E, Nault J, Cipriano L, Taljaard M, Dunn S, Palerme S, , Maloney C, Vigneault M.  .  The Montfort Postnatal Care at Home Program: How do health outcomes, costs, patient and provider experiences compare with usual hospital-based postnatal care?  Canadian Institutes of Health Research $451,350 2020-2023
Supported El-Chaar D (NPA), Langlois MA, Bainbridge S, Cameron DW, Dy J, LaRoche A, Mei-Dan E, Snelgrove J, Walker M, Barrett J, Cook J, El Demellawy D, Lawrence S, Millar D, Sprague A, Palerme S, Berger H, Crawley A, Fell D, McDonald S, Muldoon K, Thampi N, Brophy J, deVrijer B, Gaudet L, McGuinty M, Murphy MSQ, Thorne S.  The COVID-19 Opntario Pregnancy Event (COPE) Network: Assessing the impact of COVID-19 in pregnancy on maternal, fetal and newborn health Canadian Institutes of Health Research $795,559 2020-2021
Supported El-Chaar D (NPA), Fell D, Corsi DJ, D'Souza R, Dayan N, Edwards W, Guo Y, Hawken S, Keely K, Manuel D, Muldon K, Pham-Huy A, Presseau J, Walker M, Wen SW, Wise L.  Connection to Care for the Management of Maternal Morbidities: The CONNECT Project Canadian Institutes of Health Research $100,000 2020-2021
Supported Berard A (NPA), N/A, Oberlander T, Sprague A, Vinet E, Bernatsky S, Carleton B, Chateau D, Eltonsy S, Padmaja R, Walker M, Winquist B.  Medications and Pregnancy - 1st Canadian Mother-Child Cohort Active Surveillance Initiative Symposium Canadian Institutes of Health Research $19,000 2020-2020
Supported Stacey D (NPA), Hutton B, Legare F, Graham I, Jull J, Dunn S, Lewis K, Boland L, Smith MM, Kopke S.  Decision coaching for people preparing to make health decisions: A Cochrane systematic review using an integrated knowledge translation approach Canadian Institutes of Health Research $114,750 2019-2020
Supported Shoemaker ES (NPA), Smith S, Bibeau C, Darling EK, Hawken S, Kendall C, Loutfy MR, Walker MC.   Improving Maternity Car for Women living with HIV in Ontario, Canada. Bruyere Research Institute $19,500 2019-2020
Supported Rousseau F (NPA),  Michaud JL, Giguere A, Wilson D, Giguere Y, Luw W, Duncan R, Gagne C, Longtin J, Valee M, Ouimet M, De Guise M, McKellin W, Friedman J, Evans J, Pazzagli M, Pazzagli M, Pelo E, Vekemans M, Vermeesch J, Bekker H, Levesque I, Little J, Walker MC, et al.   PEGASUS-2 - PErsonalized Genomics for prenatal Abnormalities Screening USing maternal blood : Towards First Tier Screening and Beyond. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $12,241,625 2018-2022
Supported Vigod SN (NPA), Brown HK, Dennis CL, Gruneir A, Thombs B, Walker MC.  Postpartum depression Action toward Causes and Treatment (PACT) - Canada: Predictive Analytic Models for Postpartum Depression Risk Canadian Institutes of Health Research $200,000 2018-2020
Supported Boet S (NPA), Etherington N, Grantcharov T, Kenna J, Lam S, Presseau J, Proulx L , Przbylak-, Brouillard A, Singh S, Sun L , Walker MC.   Bringing the patient voice into the operating room: engaging patients in surgical safety. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $40,000 2018-2018
Supported El-Chaar D (NPA), Corsi DJ, Cook J, Hsu H, Fell D, Guo Y, Walker MC.   Influence of cannabis exposure in pregnancy on offspring perinatal and childhood health outcomes: a population-based birth cohort. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $94,691 2018-2018
Supported Dennis CLE (NPA), Birken CS, Juni P, Hutchinson HT, Roumeliotis P, Santos RG, Abbass-Dick JM, Atkinson, SA, Barrett J, Bell RC, Bérard A, Berger  H, Brown H, Chambers CT, Clinton JM, Constantin E, Da Costa DM, Feller A, Guttmann A, Isaranuwatchai W, Janus M,  Joseph KS, Kimmins S, Letourneau NL, Li PT, Maguire JL, Manson H, McGrath PK, Murphy KE, Nuyt AM, O'Connor DL, Parekh RS, Parkin P, Paterson AD, Puts MT, Ray JG, Scherer SW, Sellen DW, Semenic SE, Shah P, Smith GN, Stremler RL, Szatmari P, Telner D, Thorpe KE, Tremblay MS , Vigod SN, Walker MC.   Trajectories of healthy life using Public Health and primary care Interventions in Canada: The TROPHIC Trial. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $17,049,987 2017-2027
Supported Joseph KS (NPA), Attenborough R, Blake JM, Boswall HD, Burrage LM, Chari RS, Cook S, Crawford S, Fahey TJ, Fawzy S, Laforge RR, LeBlanc-Cormier G, Lee LS, Martinez J, Murphy P, Nelson C, Poissant J, Ryan SR, Sibbald BS,Williams KC, Arbour LT, Auger N,Barrett J, , Betker CR, Biringer A, Caron NR, Carson GD, Cook JL, Coughlin KW, Darling EK, Deb-Rinker P, Dunn SI, Dzakpasu S, Fell DB, Hutcheon JA, Kornelsen JA, Kramer MS, Lacaze-Masmonteil T, Lee KS, Leon JA, Lisonkova S, Little J, Liu S, Luo W, McDonald SD, , Mitchell-Foster S, Moore AM, Murphy-Kaulbeck LC, Ray JG, Scott HM, Shah P, Smith GN, Sprague A, Ting Y, Joseph, Van Den Hof MC, Walker MC, Whyte HE, Wilson D.   A systems approach for enhancing perinatal care regionalization. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $1,000,000 2017-2022
Supported Hawken S (NPA), McNally D,  Walker MC, Kwong J, Little J, Wilson K.   Improving the health of infants and children through research that links large health administrative databases with clinical, screening, and laboratory data. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $197,610 2017-2019
Supported Velez MDP (NPA), Dayan N,  Basso O, Fell D, Hladunewich M, Joseph KS, Laskin CA, Ray JG, Silversides C, Graeme N, Udell JA, Walker MC.   The FERTILE network (FERTility therapy and its Impact on Long-term health Events. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $15,000 2017-2018
Supported Wen SW (NPA), Walker MC, Gaudet L, El-Chaar D, Moher D, Fergusson DA, Fell D, Moddemann D, Aztalos E, Smith GN, Tan H, Zwaigenbaum L, Taljaard M, Xie R, Dunn S, Lacaze T, Fraser W.   An epidemiologic research program to improve maternal and child health. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $9,876,973 2016-2022
Supported Wen SW (NPA), Asztalos E,  Fergusson D, Gaudet L, Moddemann D, Ramsayi T, Walker MC, Zwaigenbaum L.  Folic Acid Supplementation in pregnancy and child development. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $1,873,025 2016-2021
Supported Gaudet L (NPA), Velez M,  Fell M, Deshayne B, Smith G, Waddington A, Walker MC.   Oak 2016-2021: Investigating Contemporary Topics in OB/MFM. Canadian Institutes of Health Research $736,960 2016-2021
Supported Marc I (NPA), Lacaze-Masmonteil T, Fraser W, Nuyt A, Masse B, Lavoie P, Lucas M, Piedboeuf  B, Synnes A, Walker MC, Pierre J, Lavoie JC.  Maternal Omega-3 supplementation to reduce Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in very Preterm Infants : A Randomized Controlled Trial (MOBYDIck Trial) Canadian Institutes of Health Research $2,626,763 2015-2017
Supported Wilson K (NPA),  Chakraborty K, Atkinson K, Walker MC, Potter B, Hawken S.   Development of a Global Algorithm for Metabolic Gestational Age Dating. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation $1,183,353 2015-2017
Supported Wen SW (NPA),  Sprague A, Leader A, Graves E, Gaudet L, Walker M, Talgaard M.  Congenital heart disease in infants born to mothers conceived by assisted reproductive technology: a record linkage study with Ontario registries. Heart and Stroke Foundation $147,680 2015-2017

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