
Child Health and Human Development


WELCOME TO CHHD
The Child Health and Human Development (CHHD) Program is a scientific program that excels in researching the entire developmental spectrum, from conception to early adulthood, and is part of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) in Montreal, Canada.
News Highlights
May 23, 2025
Congratulations to the 2025 recipients of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) awards in health care research

4 trainees from the CHHD Program were among the recipients of the EDI Award for Academic Excellence:
Bryan Inibhunu, M.Sc student in Neuroscience - Dr. Geneviève Bernard
Naiya Patel, M.Sc. student in McGill's Division of Clinical and Translational Research - Dr. Daniel Dufort
Phoenix Plessas-Azurduy, M.Sc. student in McGill's Division of Clinical and Translational Research - Dr. Gabriel Altit
Sacha Williams, Jean-Martin Laberge Global Pediatric Surgery Fellow and PhD student in the Department of Surgical and Interventional Sciences - Dr. Dan Poenaru
1 trainee from the CHHD Program was also among the recipients of the MISI Prize for Inclusive Science:
Ayla Gerk, MD, doctoral student in surgical and interventional sciences - Dr. Dan Poenaru
May 20, 2025
Congratulations to Dr. Maryam Oskoui, Scientist in the CHHD Program, for receiving the Pfizer Research Award of Excellence from the MCH Foundation

Dr. Maryam Oskoui’s medical practice brings together cutting-edge science and a strong sense of humanity. As a clinical researcher in pediatric neurology, she transforms care for children with rare neurological conditions, thanks in large part to gene therapy and innovative tools like a therapeutic video game for home physiotherapy. She listens to families, letting their realities guide her research to make concrete improvements in care. Thanks to her commitment, spinal muscular atrophy has been included in Quebec’s newborn screening and in the creation of international standards of care. Her deeply humanistic approach to innovation in care makes her truly deserving recipient for the Research Award of Excellence
May 12, 2025
Congratulations to Dr. Wissam Shalish, Scientist in the CHHD Program, for receiving a $25,000 McGill Innovation Fund Discover award on his new project BubbleSense

Dr. Wissam Shalish is leading a novel project that uses sound to monitor respiratory support in preterm infants. Called BubbleSense, the initiative recently received a $25,000 McGill Innovation Fund Discover award. Working with graduate students Amanda Gross and Emily Campbell, Dr. Shalish aims to convert bubbling sounds from a common respiratory device into real-time diagnostics, offering a smarter, safer way to support fragile newborn lungs.
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