CHILD's video New Scientific insights into breastfeeding, developed with the help of MILC Club members, won first place in the 2021 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) "IHDCYH Talks" knowledge mobilization video competition. This video shares important discoveries about the role of breastmilk in child health and development through research done with MILC members from the Azad Lab in collaboration with other CHILD Cohort Study investigators. Important findings include a higher level of beneficial gut bacteria and healthier growth patterns in babies who are breastfed compared to babies who are not breastfed, as well as a lower rate of wheezing and risk of developing asthma as they get older. To view all of the 2021 video submissions on the IHDCYH Talks Video Competition YouTube Channel, click here.

Dr. Meghan Azad has been named one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40" for 2021, an annual recognition of the exceptional achievements of 40 outstanding Canadians under the age of 40. "To receive this award is such an honor," said Dr. Azad in an interview featured on the CHILD Cohort Study's website. "​It’s gratifying to see, through this celebration of the work I am doing with others, breastfeeding and human milk recognized as an important field. This work depends on the dedication and talents of many colleagues, trainees and research participants. I continue to be grateful to them all, and I’m excited about the new projects we are planning together." Read more about this award here. 

MILC Club members, Dr. Brockway and Sarah Turner, presented to Douglas College Breastfeeding Course students on exploring Interdisciplinary Collaborations in Human Milk Research, which featured MILC research. The full presentation is available here. 

MILC Co-Director Dr. Meghan Azad and co-authors published "Breastfeeding and the developmental origins of mucosal immunity: how human milk shapes the innate and adaptive mucosal immune systems" in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. Their review explains how different components of human milk influence development of the innate and adaptive mucosal immune systems in breastfed infants. [PDF] Read the Tweetorial here.

The CHILD Cohort Study has developed infographics & lay summaries of Key Discoveries including those focused on Breastfeeding; each of these infographics received input by MILC Club Members. All infographics accompany a full web story and JPG or PDF for download and sharing. Check them out at Key Discoveries – CHILD Cohort Study (childstudy.ca)!

MILC Club Member, Dr. Ayesha Saleem received a 2020 University of Manitoba Merit Award for her combination of outstanding teaching, research, scholarly work and creative activities, and service in the Life Sciences, Natural Sciences and Engineering category. The full list of recipients can be found here. Well-deserved and congratulations, Ayesha! 

Congratulations to MILC Club Member, Dr. Ayesha Saleem who was awarded $80,000 through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) College-Industry Innovation Fund and the John R. Evans Leaders Fund! Dr. Saleem's research program is designed to gain insight into the fundamental role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in health and disease, including their role in breastmilk. This research will drive discovery-based research and lead to the development of therapeutic interventions for chronic diseases, which will ultimately reduce the burden of chronic diseases that claim numerous lives in Manitoba. Full Release here. 

MILC Club Members shared reflections on breastfeeding to advocate for World Breastfeeding Week 2021 (#WBW2021). WBW has been celebrated every August 1-7 since 1992 in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration. Learn how you can #ProtectBreastfeeding by visiting ​worldbreastfeedingweek.org.