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null CHHD trainees honoured for advancing research in child and developmental health

Celebrating continued excellence and achievement

SOURCE: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute)
November 21, 2025

Building on a year of recognition across programs, trainees from the Child Health and Human Development (CHHD) Program continue to demonstrate excellence through national, institutional and international awards. Their success reflects the program's strong mentorship environment and its commitment to advancing discovery across multiple dimensions of child and developmental health research.

These achievements highlight CHHD's role in cultivating a new generation of leaders in pediatric and developmental research. Through mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration, trainees are expanding knowledge in areas such as genetics, neuroscience, maternal–fetal health and child development. The following CHHD trainees have recently been recognized for their achievements:

(From left to right) CHHD program trainees Ayla Gerk, Camillie Héguy, Chika Onochie, Émilie Desnoyers, Laura Humez, Leah O’Meara and Yanchen Dong
(From left to right) CHHD program trainees Ayla Gerk, Camillie Héguy, Chika Onochie, Émilie Desnoyers, Laura Humez, Leah O’Meara and Yanchen Dong

Ayla Gerk, PhD candidate supervised by Dan Poenaru, MD, PhD, received a Travel Award from the Surgeon-Scientist Program in recognition of her presentation at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago.

Camille Héguy, PhD student under Marie Brossard-Racine, PhD, was awarded a Graduate Mobility Award supporting an international research exchange at King's College London, England. She also received Best Oral Presentation (Judges' Votes) at the Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives Symposium and Poster Winner in the neonatal imaging group at the Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting.

Chika Onochie, PhD trainee working with Cristian O'Flaherty, DVM, PhD, received the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award from the Society for Free Radicals Research at the Canadian Oxidative Stress Consortium Conference in Toronto. He also earned an Internal Studentship Award from McGill's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Émilie Desnoyers, MSc student supervised by Daniel Dufort, PhD, received multiple distinctions including the GREAT Travel Award by Experimental Medicine, the ASRI Trainee Travel Grant, and the Bourse ODISÉ pour congrès hors Québec. She also earned 1st place in the RQR Interactive Poster Competition.

Laura Humez, MA student with Tina Montreuil, PhD, received the Best Poster Presentation Award at DOHaD Canada for her work on developmental health.

Leah O'Meara, MSc student supervised by Prof Dufort, received the Graduate Excellence Award from McGill's Department of Experimental Medicine for academic and research distinction.

Yanchen Dong, PhD trainee with Loydie Jerome-Majewska, PhD, received a McGill MedStar Award for excellence in research communication.

Together, these accomplishments showcase the depth and diversity of CHHD trainee research, spanning laboratory science, clinical innovation and global collaboration. Each award underscores their shared commitment to advancing knowledge that improves the health and wellbeing of children and families around the world.

"It's always exciting to see our trainees getting the recognition they deserve," says Fanny Toussaint, PhD, CHHD Program Manager. "Their hard work, creativity, and the supportive culture around them really shine through — we're proud to celebrate everything they're contributing."

Congratulations to all CHHD trainees for their continued excellence and growing impact in child and developmental research.