This study is being conducted by a team of researchers from the University of British Columbia, BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital and other institutions.

CHirP Study Team

Glenys Webster, Study Director
Glenys is a PhD candidate in the School of Environmental Health at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada), and is the creator and director of the CHirP study. In addition to her fascination with environmental toxins and their potential effects on health, she performs regularly with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra (baroque viola), and is a fabulous mom to her toddler son. She holds degrees in Music (BMus), Ecology (BSc) and Environmental toxicology (MRM), as well as a Performance diploma from the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam.

Linda Dix-Cooper, Research Assistant, home interviews and sampling
Linda completed her undergraduate degree in 2006 from Yale and is currently applying to environmental health sciences graduate programs. She is interested in rural health issues, neuro-development, and cultural psychology and enjoys running, hiking, and playing hockey.

Kathy Gregg, Research Assistant, recruitment
Kathy has been involved in participant recruitment, evaluation and Knowledge Translation in both maternal health research and environmental sustainability projects. She is delighted to be on the CHirP team.

Sara Leckie, Research Assistant, recruitment
Sara has a background in ecology and environmental science. She spends part of her time on the CHirP study and part working on air quality research in the School of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene. The rest of her time is spent chasing after her one-year-old daughter.

Noël Patten, Research Assistant, labour and delivery coordinator
Noël is a second year student in the Midwifery department. She has a MA in Women's Studies, and has an interest in international health and the barriers affecting women's access to healthcare.

Academic Team

Dr. Kay Teschke
Kay Teschke (PhD) is a Professor in the Department of Health Care & Epidemiology, and the School of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene at the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Patti Janssen
Patti Janssen (PhD) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Care and Epidemiology at the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Andre Mattman
Dr. Andre Mattman (MD) is a Clinical Instructor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia, and leads the Maternal Serum Screening Program and BC Women's Hospital and Health Care.

Dr. Scott Venners
Dr. Scott Venners (PhD) is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. As an epidemiologist, his research interests include chemical exposures from conception to birth and their effects on susceptibility to disease throughout life.

Dr. Jonathan W Martin
Dr. Martin (PhD) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, and is cross appointed between the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and the School of Public Health.

Dr. Mahiba Shoeib
Dr. Shoeib (PhD) is a research chemist at the Air Quality Process Research Division, Science and Technology Branch of Environment Canada.

Dr. Tom Harner
Tom Harner (PhD, P. Eng.) is a Research Scientist in Environment Canada's Science & Technology Branch, Air Quality Processes Research Division.  He is also a Conjunct Professor at Trent University. 

Dr. Andreas Sjodin
Dr. Andreas Sjodin (PhD) is a research chemist at the US Center for Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia, where he leads the Combustion Products and Persistent Pollutants Biomonitoring Laboratory at the National Center for Environmental Health. Dr. Sjodin's lab will measure the levels of PBDEs and other chemicals (e.g. organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) in the blood samples collected for this study.

Funding

This study has received funding from:

Health Canada
BC Medical Services Foundation (Vancouver Foundation)
BC Environmental and Occupational Health Research Network
UBC Centre for Health and Environment Research