Meghan

CHILD Researcher

What does your research focus on, and how does your work relate to CHILD?

My team studies how breastfeeding shapes infant development and long-term health.

Within CHILD, we have found that breastfeeding supports a healthy microbiome in baby’s gut and nose, leading to a lower risk of asthma later in childhood. To figure out how this works, we are analyzing hundreds of different components in the CHILD breast milk samples – from nutrients and hormones to antibodies and microbes. We have also studied how maternal diet and genetics influence breast milk composition.

I am now leading an international study to explore how breast milk is different (or not!) in different parts of the world – with CHILD included to represent Canada.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Learning new things! Working as a scientist is so interesting and exciting. And working with CHILD offers endless opportunities to ask and answer new research questions because it has collected so much information from so many families over such a long period of time.

What made you want to become a researcher?

I’ve always been interested in science. And when I was 10 years old, I was diagnosed with asthma and enrolled in a study. I thought it was pretty special to be part of research that would help other kids – and this inspired me to become a researcher myself.

Do you have a favourite podcast or YouTube channel?

How I Built This (podcast)

What is your favourite book and what makes it so special to you?

Brene Brown: Gifts of Imperfection. This gave me a fresh perspective on life at a time when I really needed it

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?

I love adventuring outdoors – hiking, cycling and photography

What is your favourite way to unwind?

A long walk in nature.

Meghan is the former Deputy Director of CHILD, serves on CHILD’s Executive Committee, and is the Chair of CHILD’s Knowledge Mobilization Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Meghan is also a Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at University of Manitoba; Director of Science & Knowledge Mobilization for the THRiVE Discovery Lab; a Research Scientist at Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba; Co-Director of the Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC); and Scientific Director of the International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium.

Created spring 2026