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Faculty of Health Sciences

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Funding and Publication Highlights

As global leaders, our objective is to translate research and advances in clinical care through international learning programs and collaborations. The department has 10 divisions of research and over 95 active research projects. We are committed to improving patient experience and health outcomes and reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in Canada.

“Our mission is excellence in education, research and evidence-based effective care for women.”

Initiatives Highlighted for Funding

  • The FLOURISH Lab, led by Dr. Rohan D’Souza, has conducted several high-impact initiatives. The Government of Canada invested $5 million over 5 years to a national research network led by Dr. D’Souza aimed to reduce cardiovascular morbidity/mortality in pregnancy. Additional funding would support the expansion of this project to work with marginalized patients.
  • The Holloway Lab is currently exploring environmental health disparities and its disproportionate effect on women and Indigenous peoples in our communities. Funding would help to support the understanding of these health disparities, identify biomarkers for early detection of adverse outcomes, and discover intervention strategies, to achieve environmental justice for disadvantaged peoples in our communities.
  • The Wilson Pregnancy Lab is piloting a project to characterize the maternal, fetal, and placental microbiome signatures associated with preterm birth. Funds would support collecting and sequencing diverse samples to assess pregnancy health and identify pregnancies at risk of preterm birth prior to clinical symptoms.
  • The PERL Lab is working to reduce the incidence of injuries to mothers and babies during childbirth (i.e., maternal and neonatal trauma) in Canada, which has the highest maternal trauma rates among high-income countries. Funding would support research to understand the high Canadian incidence rate, most affected populations, long-term physical/mental health implications, and needed support strategies.
  • Dr. Matthew Leonardi’s research lab focuses on advancing diagnostic and treatment strategies for endometriosis. Dr. Leonardi has several ongoing projects and collaborations with industry partners. Funding would support the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools using blood tests and ultrasounds as opposed to surgery.
  • McMaster Centre for Reproductive Health and Early Development is a new initiative currently in development. The centre’s goals are to advance new avenues of scientific research and education, improve reproductive health outcomes, and advance community engagement. Funding will go towards supporting these goals.