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CHHD  |  Child Health and Human Development Program

Leadership and Management

The Child Health and Human Development Program has a management committee composed of the program leadership, representatives from the Centre for Translational Biology (CTB) and Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), external members and trainees. This committee meets four times a year to discuss program-related concerns, problems, and strategy. Committee members include:
   

Daniel Dufort, PhD
Program Leader

Dr. Meranda Nakhla
Associate Program Leader
Fanny Toussaint, PhD
Fanny Toussaint, PhD
Program Manager
   

Dr. Indra Gupta
CTB Representative

Dr. Evelyn Constantin
CORE Representative

Ciriaco Piccirillo, PhD
External Member
   

TBA
Postdoctoral Representative

Heather Duncan
Graduate Student Representative

TBA
External Member

 

Program Leaders and Manager

Daniel Dufort, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Medicine at McGill University. His research interests focus on elucidating the embryo-uterine communication that is required for successful implantation of the embryo. His laboratory uses molecular, embryological and genetic approaches to identify the signaling pathways and their roles in the implantation process. Currently funded by research operating grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Foundation of Stars, his work has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and featured in the mainstream press. He supervises numerous graduate students and has delivered invited lectures around the world.

Meranda Nakhla, MD, M.Sc., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. Her research program focuses on the organization and delivery of healthcare services to children and youth with type 1 diabetes. She also conducts studies to better understand the transition process from pediatric to adult diabetes care. These studies aim to identify the healthcare needs of children and youth with type 1 diabetes and ultimately help to inform care providers and policy-makers how best to deliver diabetes services for young adults, including transition care. Her work has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and her research is currently supported by operating grants from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Fonds de recherche du Québec─Santé and Canadian Diabetes Association.

Fanny Toussaint, PhD, obtained her doctorate in physiology from the Université de Montréal. She accumulated seven years of biomedical research experience at the Montreal Heart Institute Research Centre and developed a strong expertise in microscopy and imaging. Her studies focused on endothelium physiology and its calcium dynamics as well as arterial pressure regulation mechanisms. Following her graduate studies, Fanny Toussaint provided overall operational leadership in a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop a taste for science during elementary and secondary studies. Thus, in addition to her scientific background, she acquired various expertise in project management, human and financial resources management and events coordination.