Best Lives – Details, episodes & analysis

Canada has one of the highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world, with approximately one in 140 Canadians currently diagnosed — a number expected to climb to one in 100 by 2030. 

In this episode, registered dietitian and PhD student Mathilde Wilhelmy joins us to discuss CALINA-IBD, a new study from Dr. Genelle Lunken's Lab at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and UBC. The study is exploring how the maternal gut microbiome and diet during pregnancy, along with breastmilk composition, may shape infant gut inflammation and long-term health.

The conversation unpacks what fecal calprotectin (FCP) is, why infants naturally have higher levels than adults, and how elevated infant FCP has been linked to later risks of asthma, eczema, and atopic dermatitis. Mathilde also discusses why the team is paying attention to certain anti-inflammatory bacteria, well-established benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet for gut microbiome diversity, and what human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) — the special sugars found almost exclusively in breastmilk — might reveal about how to better support at-risk infants. She walks through the four-timepoint study design, the at-home participant experience, and a machine learning collaboration with Dr. Amy Lee at SFU that aims to one day help clinicians identify higher-risk infants earlier and guide more personalized care.

Learn more about the topics discussed in this episode:

CALINA-IBD study, Lunken Lab, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute

Exploring the gut microbiota and dietary contributors to elevated infant fecal calprotectin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A pilot study (CALINA-IBD), ClinicalTrials.gov

Interested in participating? Click here to take the screening questionnaire.

Please note: The CALINA-IBD study also collects breast milk samples and breast skin swabs at two postpartum timepoints (two weeks and three months). This portion of the study is optional.

Participants who choose to take part will be provided with all necessary collection materials. A breast pump can also be provided if they do not already have one at home.

For more information, please contact the study team at calina.ibd@ubc.ca.

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir

Parents' lived experiences shape this discussion on congenital heart disease (CHD), moving beyond clinical outcomes to explore the emotional and everyday realities of raising a child with a heart condition. Drawing on qualitative research, Dylan Nemes shares what families told his team about navigating diagnosis, surgery, the transition from hospital to home, and the long-term uncertainty that can follow.

The discussion highlights the importance of family-centred care, the lasting emotional impact of CHD on parents, and why supporting caregiver well-being is essential to children's health and development. It also examines the role of physical activity in the lives of children with CHD, where gaps in guidance can exist, and how listening to families can help improve care, communication, and support.

Learn more about the topics discussed in this episode:

Growing up with congenital heart disease: A qualitative research study of parents’ and clinicians’ experiences and perspectives, CJC Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir

This episode explores the critical intersection of maternal mental health and child development, focusing on the implications of antidepressant use during pregnancy. Dr. Tim Oberlander discusses his extensive research on the effects of prenatal antidepressant exposure, the importance of managing maternal mental health, and the resilience of children despite various risk factors.

This conversation emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to treatment, considering both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies, while addressing common misconceptions surrounding antidepressants and their effects on child development.

Learn more about the topics discussed in this episode:

Potential risks and benefits of prenatal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications for maternal mental health and child development, Nature Mental Health

The question is not whether SSRIs are universally good or bad, but how best to support maternal mental health, Springer Nature Research Communities

An article that references the above work: Prenatal SSRI risks and benefits: Maternal, child impact, Scienmag

CANMAT’s clinical practice guidelines for the management of perinatal mood, anxiety, and related disorders: Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Perinatal Mood, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir

This episode explores new research from BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) that uses an innovative MRI technique to measure brain oxygen metabolism in preterm infants. Dr. Alexander Weber, an MRI biomedical engineer and investigator at BCCHR, explains how this safe, noninvasive method offers a clearer window into brain health during a critical stage of development.

The study looked at how different types of respiratory support were associated with brain oxygen use in very preterm babies. This conversation highlights the potential for quantitative MRI to guide more personalized neonatal care in the future.

Learn more about the topics discussed in this episode:

Assessing semiregional cerebral oxygen consumption (CMRO2) in preterm neonates: A quantitative MRI cohort study with exploratory analysis of respiratory support, NMR in Biomedicine

Please note that the NICU mentioned in this episode is located at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre.

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir

Managing a child's food allergy can be an enormous source of stress. Constant vigilance, fear of accidental exposures, and navigating complicated meal plans can deeply impact a family's quality of life. But new research from BC Children's Hospital Research Institute highlights how one treatment option can alleviate certain psychosocial impacts of food allergies for parents and caregivers.

This episode focuses on the experiences of parents whose young children receive oral immunotherapy (OIT) — a well-established treatment that helps kids gradually build tolerance to allergenic foods. Dr. Lianne Soller shares findings showing that OIT not only improves clinical outcomes for kids with food allergies, but also reduces anxiety and increases quality of life for their parents and caregivers.

The conversation explores the broader emotional and practical challenges of parenting a child with food allergies — and how OIT is changing what long-term management can look like for families.

Learn more about topics discussed in this episode:

Preschool oral immunotherapy is associated with improved parental food allergy-specific anxiety and quality of life: A real-world observational study, Clinical & Experimental Allergy

Food Allergy Immunotherapy (FAIT) Program

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir

Concussions are more than "just a bump" — they're brain injuries that can seriously impact a child's life. In this episode, Dr. Shelina Babul, concussion expert and creator of the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT), joins us to break down why concussions matter, especially in children and youth. We explore common misconceptions, early symptoms, and how CATT is changing concussion care across Canada and beyond. 

Whether you're a parent, coach, teacher, or teen, you'll learn how to recognize and respond to concussions early — key to safer recoveries and better outcomes. Tune in and learn how we can all protect kids' brains.

Learn more about topics discussed in this episode:

Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) website

Concussion Awareness Training Tool for youth: Impact on concussion knowledge, beliefs, and reporting intentions, Health Education & Behavior

Concussion Harmonization Project webpage

Follow-up visits after a concussion in the pediatric population: An integrative review, NeuroRehabilitation

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir

Dr. Georgina Barnabas and PhD candidate Tariq Bhat — from the Lange and Lim Labs at BCCHR — share how they used proteomics and a personalized tumour model to identify a treatment option for a child with hard-to-treat cancer, within just two weeks. 

Their story reveals how the latest precision approaches are identifying hidden vulnerabilities in aggressive childhood cancers and reshaping what's possible when conventional cancer treatments fail. It's a glimpse into a future where researchers and clinicians can respond as quickly and as personally as each diagnosis demands.

Learn more about topics discussed in this episode:

ACCESS website

BRAvE website

PROFYLE website

Proteomics and personalized PDX models identify treatment for a progressive malignancy within an actionable timeframe, EMBO Molecular Medicine

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir

Cheek swabs are easy to collect, but the science behind them is anything but simple. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Merrill and Dr. Chaini Konwar discuss how the proportion of cells collected from cheek swabs — buccal epithelial cells — change with age and why this matters for pediatric epigenetics. 

Learn how these changes impact biomarker accuracy, epigenetic clocks like PedBE, and our understanding of child development and health risks. For scientists and curious minds alike, the episode explores how cheek swabs — from infancy through adolescence — can help us better track, understand, and support children's health over time. 

Learn more about topics discussed in this episode:

Impact of age-related changes in buccal epithelial cells on pediatric epigenetic biomarker research, Nature Communications

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir

In this episode, Dr. Hana Mitchell joins us to talk about the barriers to HPV vaccine uptake, the role of schools in vaccine awareness, vaccine anxiety and parental involvement, integrating educational resources in schools, and much more.

Learn more about topics discussed in this episode:

Kids Boost Immunity

Opportunities for HPV vaccine education in school-based immunization programs in British Columbia, Canada: A qualitative study, Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

Vaccine Evaluation Center at BC Children's Hospital

All episodes written and produced by the Research Communications team at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.

Theme music: "Life Is Beautiful" by Anastasia Kir