What is the MIREC
Research Platform?
The MIREC Research Platform is a ground-breaking pan-Canadian research program that includes the original pregnancy cohort, follow-up studies of the mothers and children and a biobank that houses biospecimens (e.g., blood, urine) and data collected from participants, which will be used for future research on the health of pregnant women and children.
Launched in 2008, MIREC has over 15 years of prospective data, which we use to investigate how chemical exposures and the health of children during fetal development may impact maternal and child health and development over time. Since 2008, we have completed 3 follow up studies and are currently conducting our 4th, MIREC-ENDO Phase 2. Our follow-up studies have already produced a wealth of data on chemical exposure during infancy, childhood and early adolescence, and the health of the mothers as they enter perimenopause.
Why do we follow a cohort
of mothers and
their children?
Vulnerable populations are an important part of Health Canada’s mandate to help all Canadians maintain and improve their health.
- Developing fetuses, babies and children are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of chemical exposure than other subgroups of the population because their organ systems are not fully developed and they are growing rapidly.
- Pregnant women are vulnerable to the adverse effects of chemical exposure due to the physiological changes of pregnancy. Pregnancy also has a profound impact on long term metabolic health (e.g., type 2 diabetes, hypertension, weight gain).
- Early life chemical exposures can have long-lasting health effects that may be passed on to the next generation.
Our Lead
Investigators
Jillian Ashley-Martin, PhD
Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Population Studies Division, Targeted Epidemiology and Biomonitoring Section, Health Canada.
Linda Booij, Ph.D.
Professor and Research Scientist
McGill University, Douglas Mental Health University Institute and Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine
Maryse Bouchard, Ph.D.
Professor and Research Scientist
Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) and Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine
Tye Arbuckle, Ph.D. (original co-principal investigator, retired)
Research Scientist
Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada
William D. Fraser, M.D., M.Sc., FRCSC (original co-principal investigator, retired)
Professor and Research Scientist
Sherbrooke University Hospital Center, University of Sherbrooke and Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine
MIREC Research Platform
Sites Participation
The original MIREC study included 10 study sites across Canada. Many of these sites have been involved in the MIREC follow-up studies, leading to a wealth of data from various geographical locations.
Vancouver |
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The one and only study site in British Columbia is at the BC Children’s and Women’s Health institute in Vancouver. The original MIREC study recruited 162 mothers from this site. The Vancouver site has been involved in every follow-up study since MIREC. |
Edmonton |
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Our northern-most study site is at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton. The original MIREC study recruited 20 mothers from this site. The Edmonton site has been involved in two follow-up studies (MIREC-CD Plus and MIREC-ENDO). |
Winnipeg |
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Our Manitoba site was originally held at the St. Boniface General Hospital but has since moved to the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. The original MIREC study recruited 90 mothers from this site. The Winnipeg site has been involved in two follow-up studies (MIREC-CD Plus and MIREC-ENDO). |
Toronto |
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Toronto is the largest of five Ontario based sites. The Toronto site was originally located at Mount Sinai Hospital, then moved to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and is now located at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. The original MIREC study recruited 325 mothers from this site. The Toronto site has been involved in two follow-up studies (MIREC-CD Plus and MIREC-ENDO). |
Hamilton |
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Hamilton is another Ontario based site, held at McMaster University. The original MIREC study recruited 275 mothers from this site. The Hamilton site has been involved in every follow-up study since MIREC. |
Sudbury |
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The northern-most Ontario site was initially held at the Sudbury General Hospital but has since moved to Medicor Research Inc. The original MIREC study recruited 130 mothers from this site. The Sudbury site has been involved in two follow-up studies (MIREC-CD Plus and MIREC-ENDO). |
Kingston |
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The Kingston site is held at the Kingston General Hospital. The original MIREC study recruited 255 mothers from this site. The Kingston site has been involved in every follow-up study since MIREC. |
Ottawa |
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Ottawa is home to our eastern-most Ontario site and was originally located at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, but has since transitioned to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). The original MIREC study recruited 119 mothers from this site. The Ottawa site has been involved in every follow-up study since MIREC. |
Montréal |
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Our Québec site is located at the Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine, as well as the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Ste-Justine is also home to the MIREC Coordinating Center and the MIREC Biobank. The original MIREC study recruited 325 mothers from this site. The Montreal site has been involved in every follow-up study since MIREC. |
Halifax |
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Our eastern-most study site is at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The original MIREC study recruited 300 mothers from this site. The Halifax site has been involved in every follow-up study since MIREC. |
Funding partners
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Montreal, QC, Canada, H3T 1C5
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