Introducing…
The GROWW 2026 Cohort!
Selected through our competitive Spring 2026 application process, these trainees are advancing Women’s and Girls’ health and wellness They look to bring change and innovation to research and how it is conducted and delivered in Canada. We are tremendously honoured to become a part of their journey and look forward to the success they will achieve throughout their respective careers.
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Danielle Abi-Farrage is pursuing her MSc in Epidemiology at McGill University where she is interested in exploring the intersection between women’s health and cancer epidemiology. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Integrated Sciences at the University of British Columbia, specializing in immunology and cellular physiology with a minor in English literature. Her strong interest in infection prevention led to her experience working at the Provincial Health Services Authority where she contributed to hand hygiene quality improvement projects at hospitals in BC. Her current CIHR-funded research explores epigenetic markers of HPV infection clearance among young women.
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Halle (she/her) is a Master of Science student in the Community Health Sciences program at the University of Calgary, specializing in Epidemiology. She completed her Bachelor of Medical Sciences at Western University, with an Honours Specialization in Biochemistry and Pathology of Human Disease. Her thesis is co-supervised by Dr. Jamie Benham and Dr. Erin Brennand and explores how researchers can build stronger partnerships with people living with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly polycystic ovary syndrome. She is particularly interested in working alongside people with lived experience to advance research on female health conditions.
Outside of research, Halle volunteers with women and gender-diverse community members in Calgary and likes to spend her time skiing and exploring the mountains.
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Dr. Kate Kennedy studies the developmental origins of health and disease through the maternal and infant gut. She is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University.
Her work asks how the maternal environment programs fetal gut development and, since she found that the fetal gut has no detectable microbiota before birth, which maternal microbial products reach the fetus and what they do there. She is interested in why first and later pregnancies differ, and how parity shapes the microbes a mother passes to her newborn. In the Good Bugs Study, which she leads with a Farncombe Innovation Grant, she asks which members of the vaginal microbiota protect mothers and newborns against Group B Streptococcus. Further ahead, she wants to know which early-life differences persist into later life, which can be changed, and whether early-life programming shapes who benefits from interventions.
Kate completed her PhD in Biochemistry at McMaster University and her MSc in Biology and BSc in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Waterloo. She joined GROWW to connect the biology of pregnancy to the clinical and social questions other women's health researchers ask.
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Geneviève L’Ecuyer, M. Sc., ps. éd., is a Fonds de recherche du Québec–Société et culture (FRQSC)-funded Ph.D. student in the Department of Psychoeducation at the Université de Sherbrooke. Her research focuses on the pathways associating adverse childhood experiences to the development of personality pathology in adulthood, using a sex-differenciated perspective. She is also a member of the Group for Research and Intervention on Children’s Social Adjustment (GRISE) and the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS). She has also worked on many research projects evaluating sexual assault prevention and trauma-informed interventions in postsecondary settings. Geneviève L’Ecuyer also combined her research program to substantial clinical experience, working in child welfare services and in school settings. These professional experiences have strengthened her understanding of the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, both in clinical practice and in research. She hopes her research program will support clinicians in their practice, and, in turn, improve outcomes for the patients they help.
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Ashley Mah is a PhD student in Epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, where she is supervised by Dr. Jennifer Brooks. Her doctoral research focuses on supporting young women diagnosed with breast cancer throughout the cancer care continuum. This work leverages linked administrative datasets and uses advanced causal inference methods to generate high-quality evidence to support the survivorship journey for young women. Her thesis work also includes determining how to best integrate area-level social determinants of health indicators to understand health equity impacts on cancer survival. Her broader interests include cancer care and prevention, leveraging existing health data to generate evidence, and the mobilization of epidemiologic evidence to support clinical practice and patient empowerment.
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Anita Rajkumar is a PhD student in Medical Science at the University of Toronto, supervised by Dr. Joanne Kotsopoulos. Her research at Women’s College Hospital investigates exogenous hormone use and breast cancer risk among women with a hereditary predisposition for breast and ovarian cancer, supported by awards from the Cancer Research Society and CIHR.
She previously completed her Honours Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Toronto, specializing in Health and Disease. Beyond her research, Anita is actively involved in the student community, contributing to initiatives that foster an inclusive academic environment and promote student engagement. She serves as the Executive Editor of the Institute of Medical Science (IMS) Magazine and is a member of the IMS EDIIA Committee. Outside of the lab, Anita enjoys reading, running, and traveling.
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Dr. Rodrigo Vargas (he/him) is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Alison Holloway’s lab in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at McMaster University. Rodrigo earned his Bachelor’s in Biology (2013), Master’s in Physiology (2015), and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (2022) from the State University of Maringá, Brazil. In his doctoral research, he investigated how a low-protein perinatal diet impacts liver metabolism across generations—discovering that when grandmothers consume an unbalanced diet during pregnancy and lactation, the risk of liver disease extends to their children and grandchildren! Today, his CIHR-supported research focuses on maternal metabolism, nutrient transport across the placenta, how Oil Sands activity in Alberta affects human placental function. McMaster marks Rodrigo's exciting first step into Canadian academia, where he actively pursues his passion for teaching. Off-campus, you’ll find him staying active with daily workouts at gym or out on the field playing soccer, tennis, and softball!
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Kiran Basra is a graduate student studying Neuroscience at McMaster University. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on perinatal depression and its impacts on exposed infant offspring. She is especially interested in the physiological correlates of intergenerationally transmitted psychopathological risk. Kiran also writes short fiction; her work has been republished in Year's Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction.
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Dr. Stephanie Fox is an Evolutionary Anthropologist and NSERC Impact+ Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Lethbridge. She studies wild primates as a translational model to understand how social environments influence mother and infant health, insights that inform both human health research and reconstructions of our evolutionary past. Her current work examines perinatal maternal health and infant outcomes in blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) in western Kenya with the Kakamega Monkey Project.
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Jayati Khattar is a PhD student in the Epidemiology stream at the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, under the supervision of Dr. Hilary Brown. Her current research examines how health and social risk factors cluster together and collectively affect the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes using healthcare administrative data from Ontario. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, she completed her MPH at McMaster University where her graduate thesis looked at the experience of unmet healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults. Broadly speaking, she is interested in research that examines the heterogeneity of health outcomes from early life, pregnancy and through out life course.
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Josiah Lansang (he/him) is a queer MSc student in Computer Science in the Towlson Lab at the University of Calgary. His research uses a network neuroscience approach to investigate how gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) influences brain organization and mental health over time. Josiah is passionate about advancing health equity and improving research practices and outcomes for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Beyond his research, Josiah helped launch the Queer Research Network at UCalgary and co-organized the inaugural Queerposium, which brought together nearly 100 attendees to celebrate queer scholarship and community. He is also actively involved in teaching and university governance and volunteers as a Support Group Facilitator with Alzheimer Calgary. Outside of academia, Josiah enjoys crocheting, coin collecting, going to the gym, and learning to play guitar!
https://womenshealthresearchcluster.com/profile/josiah-lansang/
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I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Cardiovascular Health Psychology Lab at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. My research uses observational and intervention approaches to understand psychological adaptation and recovery following cardiovascular events and to develop tailored psychological interventions that can be integrated into real-world cardiac care. A key area of my work is women’s cardiovascular health, particularly spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), an increasingly recognized cause of heart attacks that predominantly affects women. My research examines the psychological impact of SCAD and gaps in traditional cardiac rehabilitation, with the goal of developing evidence-based approaches that better support patients’ recovery and long-term well-being.Over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable and occur due to unexpected complications during the perinatal period. These complications, defined as severe maternal morbidity (SMM), and their associated costs have been increasing with higher rates observed in patients of lower socioeconomic status and racial minority groups. Dr. Srajer’s research will evaluate the most recent rates and cost of SMM and how the intersection of socioeconomic status and race may be impacting these trends. These results will highlight specific deficits in care and points of intervention to improve obstetrical outcomes and healthcare spending.
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Weiqi Ruan is a PhD student in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta, supervised by Dr. Margie Davenport. Her research explores how pregnancy reshapes the brain and cognition, what mechanisms underlie these adaptations, and whether exercise can help the maternal brain thrive.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/weiqi-ruan-893b49367?
utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
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Alejandra is a Ph.D. Candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Queen's University (Kingston, ON). Her research focuses on bone biomechanics and mechanobiology, specifically investigating how bone adapts in response to mechanical stimulation in the context of age-related musculoskeletal diseases (e.g. osteoporosis and osteoarthritis). Combining experimental work and computational simulations, Alejandra's research aims to enable the development of advanced, patient-specific computational tools, orthopaedic implants and technologies. Beyond her doctoral work, she is committed to science communication and inclusive Science, Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM) Education.
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Blair Irish is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Dalhousie University and IWK Health. Her research focuses on understanding and addressing psychosocial factors that negatively impact health outcomes for youth with stigmatized pain conditions. Her doctoral research focuses on primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain in the absence of underlying pathology) in youth, with particular attention on the factors that influence whether and how youth manage their menstrual pain. Ultimately, her work aims to identify opportunities to better support youth in managing their pain to improve their health and well-being. Blair’s doctoral research is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D) and a Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit (MSSU) Trainee Support Award.
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Dr. Bernadette Kina Kombo is an IMPaCT Clinical Trials Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of Manitoba. She is a medical anthropologist and public health researcher with over 13 years of experience conducting qualitative, mixed-methods, and community-engaged research in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa. Her current research focuses on adapting and evaluating mental health interventions to better respond to the needs and experiences of Black immigrant families during pregnancy and postpartum. She also contributes to research exploring the mental health experiences of children, youth, and families. As a critical qualitative health researcher, she is interested in understanding how people's everyday experiences of health and illness are shaped by social relationships, cultural contexts, and broader structural inequalities. Her work draws on ethnography, participatory approaches, and critical social theory, with a particular interest in bringing community perspectives into health research, intervention development, and policy. Her broader research experience spans sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, and community-based health programs. She is passionate about health equity and meaningful community engagement and volunteers on the Board of Directors of Afrimama Peace and Cultural Initiative Inc. Dr. Kombo holds a PhD in Community Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba, an MSc in Public Health/Health Promotion from Leeds Beckett University in the United Kingdom, an MA in Peacebuilding from Coventry University in the United Kingdom, and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Nairobi in Kenya.
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Chloe is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), an Adjunct Research Professor at Western University, and a fourth-year medical student at the University of Toronto. She holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Western University, where her doctoral achievements were recognized with the Governor General’s Gold Medal, one of Canada’s most prestigious academic honours. Her master’s and doctoral research were supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), while her postdoctoral research has been supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Research Canada, Mitacs, and CAMH.
During medical school, Chloe has also been recognized nationally for her leadership and contributions to the medical student community, including receiving the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS)–MDFM Leadership Award and the CFMS Affinity Leadership Award in Gender Justice. Her current research program focuses on two complementary areas: the measurement and expression of normative and pathological personality across cultures, and the identification of risk factors associated with suicide attempts and deaths by suicide.
Chloe’s personality research has received international recognition. She was awarded the Early Career Award from the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID) and delivered an invited keynote address at its 2023 conference. ISSID, founded by Hans Eysenck, is an international scientific society dedicated to advancing research on individual differences and personality. With more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, Chloe’s work has also been featured in public-facing outlets such as Forbes and TherapyTips, reflecting its broader relevance beyond academic settings.
Chloe has also contributed to large-scale mental health assessment and cross-cultural research initiatives. She led the development of internalizing and externalizing mental health scale algorithms for interRAI, an international health and social care assessment system used in more than 35 countries. During her PhD, she conducted cross-cultural research at the University of Florence and the University of Zurich. These collaborations enabled her to contribute Canadian data to a multinational study involving researchers from 25 countries, advancing efforts to build a more culturally inclusive and globally representative science of personality and mental health.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=o2ZaJIkAAAAJ&hl=en
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Dr. Stephanie Ortynsky is a Postdoctoral Fellow at JSGS, University of Regina and a Research Associate supported through MITACS funding with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA). Her academic supervisor is Dr. Jim Farney and SUMA supervisor is Dr. Jean-Marc Nadeau.
Before her current positions, Stephanie held a previous appointment as the Richard M. Bird Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Institute of Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) at the University of Toronto, where she also taught municipal finance in the Master of Urban Innovation program.
At JSGS, she has taught several courses in the MPA program including public sector financial management, statistics for public managers, COVID-19 and public policy and public policy analysis in Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.
Her work focuses on municipal governance, public finance, wellbeing budgeting, and local policy capacity. Her postdoctoral research builds on her interdisciplinary background and previous work on research, evaluation, and knowledge mobilization projects in Saskatchewan, Switzerland, South Africa and Tajikistan.
Stephanie also serves as an elected City Councillor in her hometown of Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Stephanie is passionate about holistic health and wellbeing for all. And is currently teaching fitness and yin yoga with the city. She adores daily hikes or runs on the edge of her city's dirt roads with her active 10-year-old Weimaraner pup Poet Pickles, is a consistent meditator, and regularly joins in on Yorkton's plethora of group fitness options,
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Brooke Shepley is a PhD candidate in the Integrative Vascular Physiology Lab at the University of Windsor. Her current research focuses on vascular biology and cerebrovascular physiology, with a particular interest in understanding how vascular function adapts across various physiological conditions and populations. She is also collaborating with her prospective postdoctoral advisor, Dr. Jennifer Williams, at Wilfrid Laurier, to investigate the effects of structured exercise on peripheral and cerebral vascular outcomes in women during perimenopause. Through this training and her involvement in GROWW, she hopes to further develop her expertise in women’s cardiovascular health, with the long-term goal of becoming a clinical scientist investigating cardiovascular adaptations during pregnancy and the postpartum period.