New MILC Research Examines Association Between Family Socioeconomic Status and Child Behavior Scores2/13/2026
 Image credit: (left) Frontiers in Public Health, (right) MILC. A new paper published in Frontiers in Public Health explores the question: can breastfeeding help buffer children against early-life socioeconomic disadvantage? Led by MILC Club member Dr. Sarah E. Turner, along with MILC Director Dr. Meghan Azad and collaborators, the team used data from the CHILD Cohort Study to show that breastfeeding may help reduce childhood behaviour problems, especially in families of lower socioeconomic status. Read more on LinkedIn.
 Photo credit: UMToday. MILC member Dr. Shen presents research findings (left), MILC Laboratory Manager Shayna Giesbrecht (right, back) and MILC Director Dr. Meghan Azad (right, front) analyze macronutrient composition of breast milk. MILC Director Dr. Meghan Azad and MILC member Dr. Garry Shen were featured in a recent UMToday article highlighting their role in helping to reinstate public funding for lactation consultants in Manitoba. The service, which was cut in 2018, has now been permanently restored following widespread advocacy supported by evidence-based research. Dr. Shen and UM colleagues demonstrated that eliminating publicly funded lactation consultant services was associated with lower breastfeeding rates and increased formula use, particularly in remote and First Nations communities. This research and advocacy contributed to a province-wide effort that led the Manitoba government to reverse its decision and secure funding for lactation consultant positions once again. The reinstatement will help support stronger starts for infants, mothers, and families across the province, aligning with MILC’s mission to advance maternal–child health research and impact.
 MILC Club member Robyn Brown of Milk Mentors will be presenting at the upcoming Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) Roundtable on February 11. The roundtable’s theme, “Strengthening Breastfeeding Through Peer Support,” highlights the vital role peer support plays in helping families initiate and sustain breastfeeding. This interactive discussion will explore how peer support models function at both national and community levels, and how they can be effectively integrated into broader breastfeeding support systems. Robyn will join other experts in breastfeeding and lactation support to share insights drawn from her work mentoring families and strengthening community-based support networks. The BFI Roundtable offers a collaborative space to advance equitable, sustainable breastfeeding support and baby-friendly practices across care settings.
 MILC Club member Dr. Christina Raimondi has been awarded the 2025 Reproductive Health Award by the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC). The FMWC is a national organization dedicated to advancing women physicians professionally, socially, and personally, and to promoting the well-being of women in medicine and society. This annual award recognizes the full member who has made the most significant contributions to the field of reproductive health. Congratulations to Dr. Raimondi on this remarkable honour!
 We're excited to share that MILC Club member Dr. Sanoji Wijenayake co-authored an article published in Molecular Psychiatry. Molecular signals in breast milk play a key role in shaping a baby’s brain development. The research team studied “milk-derived extracellular vesicles (MEVs),” tiny fat bubbles that transport material from mother to child. In rats, milk from mothers in low stress environments had different MEV cargo than milk from mothers in stressful environments, a change also evident in the rat baby’s hippocampus during nursing and later life. These findings suggest maternal environments and breastfeeding interventions can influence milk’s molecular signals and support healthy development.
 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has nominated MILC for the Governor General’s Innovation Awards, recognizing MILC as a leading Canadian innovation in human milk science and health systems. This nomination highlights the contributions across research, clinical care, and community partnerships, including the MILC Study and Biorepository; collaborations with the Winnipeg Breastfeeding Centre, Youville Community Health Centre, and the Manitoba Lactation & Breastfeeding Support Network; the IMiC Consortium and expanding international network; and community programs such as Milk Mentors and the Free Pump Loan initiative. While many of MILC's significant impacts are still ahead, this honour reflects the collective efforts of investigators, trainees, staff, clinicians, and partners who have helped grow MILC from an idea into a vibrant, evolving centre.
 Congratulations to MILC Club Advisory Board member, Dr. Katherine Kearns, on being named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award recipients for 2025 by WXN Network. Dr. Kearns was recognized in the Professionals category, which celebrates women who demonstrate leadership and impact within their organizations. A family physician specializing in breastfeeding and lactation medicine, Dr. Kearns was honoured for her clinical expertise and her role as co-founder of the Winnipeg Breastfeeding Centre, where she has advanced care and support for families across the region. We are incredibly proud to celebrate Dr. Kearns’ achievements and her continued leadership in the field of maternal and infant health.
 Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long Term Care in Manitoba, Uzoma Chioma Asagwara, has confirmed that lactation consultants will continue to receive government funding to support their work across the province. The announcement came in response to dozens of letters from health care professionals and researchers, including a MILC-led letter, during National Breastfeeding Week. Minister Asagwara addressed the issue on Instagram, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding families. Lactation consultants play a vital role in guiding and supporting many families throughout their breastfeeding journeys.
 During Canada's National Breastfeeding Week, MILC director Dr. Meghan Azad joined Marjorie Dowhos on CBC Radio Noon Manitoba to discuss the many benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and babies. Dr. Azad shared insights from her research showing how breastmilk supports infant health and development in both the short and long term — including protection against asthma, allergies, and obesity. She also highlighted the health benefits for mothers, such as reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. The conversation addressed common breastfeeding challenges, the importance of lactation consultant support, the broader economic and environmental impacts of breastfeeding, and the importance of normalizing breastfeeding in modern society.
 A new paper published in Frontiers in Nutrition explores how components of human milk — specifically fatty acids and human milk oligosaccharides — relate to infants’ cognitive, language, and motor outcomes at ages 1 and 2 years. Led by former MILC PhD student Dr. Sarah Turner, along with MILC Director Dr. Meghan Azad, and collaborators across Canada and the US, the team examined breastmilk samples from 240 mother–infant pairs in the CHILD cohort from the Edmonton site
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