A healthy diet complete with plenty of fruits and vegetables is an important contributor to reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight. It is also protective against many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
Brain, Behaviour & Development | Lab, Project & Program Websites
Adolescent Health
Over the past several years, members of the division have led and/or participated in research in adolescent health, often in collaboration with partners at BC Children’s Hospital and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, UBC School of Social Work, UBC School of Nursing, and the McCreary Centre Society.
BB&D Annual Research Day
Presented by the BB&D Advisory Group and Administration, the Brain, Behaviour & Development (BB&D) Annual Research Day is held annually in the fall. The annual event highlights accomplishments and advances from BB&D researchers and provides a forum to learn about various ongoing or developing projects and collaborations. The event also includes a keynote presentation given by an internationally renowned guest speaker.
Biochemical Genetics Clinic
The Biochemical Genetics Clinic actively participates in the Canadian Inherited Metabolic Diseases Research Network (CIMDRN). CIMDRN provides the evidence needed to improve outcomes and health care services for children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM).
Eating Disorders Research Team
The Provincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program for Children & Adolescents, based at BC Children's Hospital, employs evidence-based therapies in the treatment of youth with eating disorders.
Healthy Sleep for Kids
Is your child having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep? Do you have questions about what to expect with a newborn baby’s sleep schedule? How many naps is enough for a preschooler? Why is sleep important for my child? All of these are important questions regarding sleep in newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschool age children.
Neurodisability in children and young people: Integrated Navigational Support Program
The Integrated Navigational Support Program is a combined research-system level quality improvement program. It aims to understand and improve the experience of families who seek and need services and supports for their child/youth with neurodevelopmental special needs (neurodisability) from across multiple agencies and service sectors.
Mah Lab
We focus on clinical research to improve the lives of children, youth, and their families who have mental health difficulties. We are dedicated to the understanding of the unique strengths and challenges, and the beliefs, attitudes, and actions of this population, in order to develop and evaluate innovative and evidence-based practices for patients, professionals, and public community.
MObilizing citizen Scientists Across BC to Improve Child Health (MOSAIC) Study
MOSAIC aims to engage children and families across British Columbia to facilitate the collection of biological samples and data that will lead to an integrative and comprehensive assessment of child development, health and well-being.
Neurosciences Research
The Neurosciences Program works in the areas of neurology, neurosurgery, neuromuscular disease and neuro-oncology. We have an active program of clinical research for children and youth with disorders of the nervous system.
Provincial OCD Program
Our program aims to improve the lives of children and families affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in British Columbia by providing assessments and group-based treatment approaches.
RICHER
The RICHER Program (Responsive Intersectoral Child and Community Health Education and Research) is a place-based, equity-focused, interdisciplinary team of health care providers at BC Children’s Hospital co-located in Vancouver’s inner city.
Sunny Hill Health Centre Research
Sunny Hill Health Centre and its associated colleges and universities take a leadership role in educating the academic community about child development and rehabilitation. We evaluate and promote innovative service delivery. Sunny Hill is associated with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and other colleges and universities across Canada.
The Living Lab at Home
The “Living Lab at Home” (LLAH) offers a novel approach to real-time home-based data collection that will expand access to research participation for a wide range of children and youth with developmental and behavioural disabilities, as well as typically developing children with chronic illnesses.
Translational Psychiatric Genetics Group
The Translational Psychiatric Genetics Group is interested in doing research that makes a difference to people who live with psychiatric disorders and their families.
Weber Lab
We are interested in using non-invasive imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging, in order to help scientists and clinicians better understand brain health and disease, and how to treat an unhealthy brain.
Zwicker Lab
Our research team, led by Dr. Jill G. Zwicker, is focused on brain development and motor impairment throughout childhood. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques, we examine how the brain differs in children with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and whether brain structure and function can change with rehabilitation intervention.
Get Involved
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Recent News See all
New project hopes to uncover the origins of type 1 diabetes
A team of researchers at BC Children's is doing a deep dive into why the immune system attacks islet cells — the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin — and how metabolic pathways are involved. This could lead to new treatments for type 1 diabetes.
Pediatric epigenetic clock can be a useful tool in assessing neurodevelopment in very preterm babies
Very preterm babies have an increased risk of ongoing medical complications and neurodevelopmental issues throughout their lifespan. New research suggests that a specially designed epigenetic “clock” can indicate abnormally accelerated molecular aging, which may be associated with these long-term impacts and warrants further study.
When research is personal
Lindsay Pallo and Raelyn Gallant were both diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as children. Now they’re conducting diabetes research in Dr. Bruce Verchere’s lab. Read about their lived experience and how that enriches their work.
Researchers work to develop post-surgical pediatric pain risk communication tool
Every child is different in terms of their risks for experiencing post-surgical pain. Researchers at BC Children’s Hospital are developing a tool to help accurately predict and communicate an individual child’s risk of experiencing a higher level of post-surgical pain.
Donate to Research
We believe there’s nothing we can’t do with your support. It can take years to turn scientific breakthrough into new interventions and treatments. Funding helps speed the pace of change. When given the resources, we can bring transformative therapies – and hope – out of the laboratory and into the clinic to save and improve children’s lives.