2026 Summer Student Research Program Abstract Booklet - Final

2026 SUMMER STUDENT POSTER DAY

Did you know?

Over the past three decades, 2,000+ undergraduate and medical students have participated in the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Student Research Program!

Welcome to the 2026 Summer Student Research Program Poster Day! This annual event highlights the innovative research conducted by undergraduate and medical students across the Oak Street Campus during the summer.

2026 Program Highlights:

120 $200,000+

25+ 82

Students registered in the program, represeting 16 universities world-wide Studentship funding awarded to support research training and career development Hours of professional development designed to build skills and support academic growth Research teams mentoring undergraduate and medical students in the 2026 Summer Student Research Program

Since 1987, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute has provided students with hands-on opportunities to contribute to child and family health research. From basic science to clinical and population health studies, Poster Day showcases the breadth of student research and the future leaders driving innovation in health care.

We are proud of our students and their contributions to advancing health research.

Thursday, July 23, 2026 9:00 am – 10:15 am Location – Online: bcchr.ca/posterday Session 1: Posters 1 to 9

Location – SHY Auditorium Session 2: Posters 10 to 16 Session 3: Posters 17 to 22

Session 4: Posters 23 to 28 Session 5: Posters 29 to 34

11:00 am – 12:15 pm Location – SHY Auditorium Session 6: Posters 35 to 40 Session 7: Posters 41 to 47

Session 8: Posters 48 to 53 Session 9: Posters 54 to 59

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm Location – SHY Auditorium Session 10: Posters 60 to 64 Session 11: Posters 65 to 70

Session 12: Posters 71 to 76 Session 13: Posters 77 to 82

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm Location – SHY Auditorium Session 14: Posters 83 to 88 Session 15: Posters 89 to 94

Session 16: Posters 95 to 100 Session 17: Posters 101 to 105

Finding the SHY Auditorium: The SHY Auditorium is located on the second floor of the BC Children’s Hospital building.

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Enter BC Children’s Hospital through the North Entrance (entrance #17), across the street from BCCHR.

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Continue down the hallway, past the gift shop, coffee shop and connecting entrance for BC Women’s Hospital (pink wall).

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At the junction, veer left and follow the signs towards the Shaughnessy Building or cafeteria. Continue down the hallway.

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Watch for signs and turn left towards the main entrance to the cafeteria.

• Elevator: Continue down the hallway, the elevator is on the right side. Take the elevator to the 2nd floor, the entrance to the auditorium is directly outside the elevator.

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Stairs: Take the stairs on the left (just before the cafeteria entrance) to the 2nd floor. Turn left out of the stairwell and follow the hallway to the end. The entrance to the auditorium is on the right.

Finding a Poster Board:

9:00 – 10:15 am Session 2 | Posters 10 to 16 Session 3 | Posters 17 to 22 Session 4 | Posters 23 to 28 Session 5 | Posters 29 to 34

Stage

Sessions: 2, 6, 10 & 14

Sessions: 3, 7, 11 & 15

1:00 – 2:15 pm Session 10 | Posters 60 to 64 Session 11 | Posters 65 to 70 Session 12 | Posters 71 to 76 Session 13 | Posters 77 to 82

Sessions: 5, 9, 13 & 17 Auditorium Doors Elevators

Refreshments

Sessions: 4, 8, 12 & 16

11:00 am – 12:15 pm Session 6 | Posters 35 to 40 Session 7 | Posters 41 to 47 Session 8 | Posters 48 to 53 Session 9 | Posters 54 to 59

3:00 – 4:15 pm Session 14 | Posters 83 to 88 Session 15 | Posters 89 to 94 Session 16 | Posters 95 to 100 Session 17 | Posters 100 to 105

Celebrating excellence within our talented research community 2026 Poster Presentations Participant

Title

Presentation

Temi Aina

Comparing Physical Activity Across School, Non-School, and Weekend Periods in Children with and without Congenital Heart Conditions

Session #1 | Poster #1 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Mona Aboofazeli

Have modern therapies improved long-term JIA outcomes?

A descriptive comparison of the CAPRI-JIA registry and the ReACCh-Out cohort at transition to adult care

Session #12 | Poster #71 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Nabiha Ahmed

The Regulation of Candida Albicans’ Mucin Degradation by N-Acetylglucosamine

Session #13 | Poster #77 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Yasmeen Al-Mafraji

Implementation of GeneXpert rapid HIV-1 PCR testing for pregnant individuals presenting at delivery with unknown HIV status or risk factors for HIV acquisition since last testing

Session #10 | Poster #60 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Misheel Altanbadralt

Unmasking the Norms: Autism, Chronic Pain, and Intersecting Marginalizations in Healthcare

Session #7 | Poster #41 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Beth Anderson

Investigating the Role of Structural Extracellular Matrix Proteins in the Functional Maturation of Stem Cell-Derived β-Cells

Session #5 | Poster #29 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Ajay Antonio

Investigation of Epicardial Outgrowth and Cardiac-Neural Development in suspension-derived Cardiac-Neural Organoids

Session #13 | Poster #78 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Isabella Babicki-Moore

Real-world data on young children who received oral immunotherapy (OIT) demonstrate high adherence and significant reduction in parental food allergy-associated anxiety post-OIT

Session #3 | Poster #17 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Ahmber Bains

Outdoor Learning as Developmental Fit: Parents’ Perceptions of Outdoor Learning Supporting Self-Regulation and Attention in School-Aged Children

Session #6 | Poster #35 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Participant

Title

Presentation

Rith Bal

Phantom and Residual Limb Pain Prevalence in the Pediatric Population

Session #14 | Poster #83 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Rebecca Beaton

Feasibility of Wearing a Compact EEG system with fNIRS in Pediatric Populations During Visual Scene Search

Session #9 | Poster #54 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Mohini Bhade

Atypical Sensory Profile is Associated with Impaired Functional Development in Neonatal Seizure Survivors with Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Age 5-6 Years

Session #10 | Poster #61 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Julia Bohnen

Mainstream Next-Generation Germline Sequencing for Pediatric Cancer Predisposition in British Columbia

Session #6 | Poster #36 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Gurnimrat Brar

An Exploration of Parent-Child Relationship Quality within Immigrant Families: Preliminary Work

Session #6 | Poster #37 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Jasleen Brar

Supporting Newcomer Fathers to Promote Early Child Development: A Needs Assessment in Partnership with MOSAIC BC

Session #10 | Poster #62 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Katie Burrows

Investigating the Role of T-cell Receptor in CD47-mediated Cell Death in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Session #12 | Poster #72 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

The BC Children’s Hospital research community would like to acknowledge the following organizations for supporting training opportunities on the Oak Street Campus

• BC Children’s Hospital Foundation • Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories • Community Child Health Endowment • Sunny Hill Health Centre Research Group BCCHR Research Themes & Teams: • Brain, Behaviour & Development • Childhood Diseases • Evidence to Innovation • Healthy Starts • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Allyship & Anti-Oppression Team

Participant

Title

Presentation

Annie Cai

An investigation into the perturbation of the Atoh1 lineage in the loss of Pax6

Session #15 | Poster #89 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Tanya Chaudhary

Molecular Matching and Donor Accessibility in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation

Session #2 | Poster #10 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Lillian Chen

A multilevel analysis of environmental, seasonal, and childlevel correlates of peer interaction during outdoor play in early learning and child care centres

Session #1 | Poster #2 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Viola Chen

Exploring Substance Use Screening in Autistic Youth with Chronic Pain: A Secondary Qualitative Analysis

Session #3 | Poster #18 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Zoe Chen

Imagining Social Robots For Pediatric Care at BC Children’s Hospital

Session #3 | Poster #19 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Zoyia Chohan

Developing a resource library to support inclusive research practices in psychology

Session #9 | Poster #55 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Sophia Chong

More than ‘in-between’: A systematic review of identity, belonging, and well-being of multiracial youth

Session #2 | Poster #11 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Ava Coonfer

Histone modification landscape in a mouse model of pediatric diabetes

Session #11 | Poster #65 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Julia Crowther

The Association between Physical Activity Parenting Practices and Physical Activity Levels in Children With and Without Congenital Heart Disease

Session #7 | Poster #42 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Siddharth Das

Perioperative Experiences of Children with Autism: a Narrative Study (PECANS) Phase II

Session #7 | Poster #43 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Harsimran Dhillon

The influence of loss of interruption variants on astrocyte reactivity in Huntington disease

Session #7 | Poster #46 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Kate Doan

Use of Downloadable Ventilator Data to Predict Acute Hospital Admissions in Children Who Use Home Mechanical Ventilation: A Retrospective Observational Study

Session #2 | Poster #12 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Participant

Title

Presentation

Artemis Douglas

Understanding Chronic Pain and Eating Disorders in Youth Athletes: A Scoping Review and Conceptual Framework

Session #5 | Poster #30 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Anaïk Ferradini

Genomic analysis of neonatal sepsis causing bacterial isolates from Malawi

Session #16 | Poster #95 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Elizabeth Fung

Implementing the Pain Pathway: Supporting the Uptake of a Clinical Tool to Manage Pain and Irritability of Unknown Origin in Children with Severe Neurological Impairments

Session #12 | Poster #73 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Julliana Zarah Gabiane

Restoring Calcium Homeostasis in ALS: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pridopidine on Modulating Calcium Signalling in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

Session #8 | Poster #48 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Rohan Garg

Examination of rare rhombic lip derived Purkinje cells in the developing cerebellum

Session #4 | Poster #23 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Taima Gheriani

The Role of Housing Insecurity and Household Chaos in Early Childhood Sleep

Session #5 | Poster #31 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Jiya Ghuman

Low birth weight is associated with adverse outcome of childhood pneumonia in resource-limited hospitals

Session #1 | Poster #3 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Aarya Gokhale

Physical Activity Guidance in Juvenile Myositis: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Providers and Families

Session #17 | Poster #101 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Jahan Gold

Implementing a Site-Wide Gastroschisis Care Bundle: A Surgical Quality Improvement Initiative

Session #4 | Poster #24 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Participant

Title

Presentation

Mei Lin Hambley

Investigating the Feasibility of Measuring Gene Expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae During Infection

Session #17 | Poster #102 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Omar Harb

Exploring the genetic and environmental contributions to early life blood DNA methylation trajectories

Session #8 | Poster #49 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Alexandra Hawkins

Characterization of Pediatric Pulmonary Graft Versus Host Disease After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Using Quantitative CT

Session #9 | Poster #56 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Basmah Hendy

Postoperative Assessment of Sensory Function in Pediatric Patients Receiving an Adductor Canal Block for Knee Surgery

Session #14 | Poster #84 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Omar Jamal

Quantifying the contributions of twins, congenital anomalies and other factors to cerebral palsy

Session #17 | Poster #103 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Jordan Jia

Characterizing Child-Parent Discordance in the Perception of OCD Severity in a Pediatric Clinical Population

Session #13 | Poster #79 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Yaohan Jin

Investigate the Role of Msx1 on Granule Cells by Examining Msx1 Knockout Mouse Embryos Across Multiple Developmental Stages

Session #11 | Poster #66 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Ava Joa

Clinical presentation and 12-month outcomes in childhood polyarteritis nodosa

Session #5 | Poster #32 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Gurpreet Kaur

TIDES: Trimester-by-trimester Investigation of DHA Supplementation on maternal metabolism and health

Session #13 | Poster #80 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Aasim Khan

Neural Correlates of Attentive Tracking in Children with Amblyopia

Session #14 | Poster #85 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Liam Lahiffe

ProIAPP processing as a marker of functional maturity in stem cell derived beta cells

Session #16 | Poster #96 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Darya Laptieva

Designing islet-specific TCR Tregs for Type 1 Diabetes

Session #15 | Poster #90 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Participant

Title

Presentation

Katie Le

Factors associated with prevalence of conditioned food avoidance and sensitivity among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission

Session #5 | Poster #33 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Vanessa Lee

Exploring the Barriers, Representation, Accessibility, and Voices in Eating Disorders (BRAVE): Work-In-Progress

Session #3 | Poster #20 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Kaitlyn Leung

Development of a Psychoeducational Resource on Demand Avoidance for Caregivers Using Integrated Knowledge Translation

Session #4 | Poster #25 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Cassie Lin

Contrasting fMRI Signatures of Vicarious and Somatic Pain Perception

Session #11 | Poster #67 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Yucheng Liu

Elucidating the role of transcriptional co-regulator ifbp-1 in C. elegans aging

Session #12 | Poster #74 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Nathan Loo

Acute glycemic responses to free-living physical activity in children with type 1 diabetes

Session #14 | Poster #86 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Sean Ly

Evolution of peanut component resolved diagnostic (CRD) results from childhood to adulthood

Session #4 | Poster #26 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Natalie Ma

Translating Care: Centering Lived Experiences in Knowledge Translation for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth Living with Chronic Pain

Session #8 | Poster #51 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Griffin Mawson

Evaluating Models of Care for Survivors of Childhood Cancer and Their Families: Describing Participant Demographics and the Role of Cultural Identity in Care Experiences

Session #4 | Poster #27 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Noah Miller

Quantifying RSV-Neutralizing Antibody Loss in Infants Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery

Session #5 | Poster #34 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Ran Mo

Investigating Age- and Injury-Related Changes in Non-heme Iron and Myelin in Deep Grey Matter Structures in Very and Extremely Preterm Neonates using QSM

Session #3 | Poster #21 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Lana Navarro

Contextualizing Eating Disturbances in Chronic Pain: Lived Experiences of Autistic Youth and Young Adults

Session #9 | Poster #58 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Participant

Title

Presentation

Anson Ng

Evaluating the Potential Role of PXN Variants in Generalized Pustular Psoriasis

Session #11 | Poster #68 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Hazel Oh

The SWell intervention: protocol for a co-developed digital proof-of-concept trial supporting perinatal mental health in non-birthing parents

Session #2 | Poster #14 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Christopher Orban

Transcriptional Characterization of an In Vitro Human Colonoid-Derived Monolayer Model Mimicking Chronic Ulcerative Colitis Through Repeated Damage and Recovery

Session #7 | Poster #47 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Claire Padvaiskas

The Next Chapter: Predicting Early Adult Outcomes Following Childhood-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Session #8 | Poster #52 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Emily Pan

Investigating Trans-acting Genetic Modifier Variants’ Association with Loss of Interruption (LOI) Variants and Impacts on Age of Onset in Relation to Canonical Alleles in Huntington’s Disease

Session #13 | Poster #81 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Lucy Peng

Understanding parental experience of the Magic Glove (a hypno-analgesic technique) as an additional modality to reduce pain and anxiety during preoperative IV insertion: A Qualitative Study

Session #17 | Poster #104 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Kyla Phan

What Does Accessible Care Look Like? Vietnamese Parents Experiences Navigating Autism Support in Canada

Session #1 | Poster #4 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Mason Poitras

Functional Characterization of Novel STAT6 Gain-of-Function Variants Associated with Primary Atopic Disorders

Session #16 | Poster #97 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Participant

Title

Presentation

Lori-Ann Pokou

Tolerizing mRNA lipid nanoparticles and islet replacement combination therapy for type 1 diabetes

Session #14 | Poster #87 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Juliet Pulfrey

Associations Between Neonatal Hippocampal Volume and School-Age Executive Function in Children Born Preterm

Session #6 | Poster #39 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Ruoxi Qu

Characterization of T-cell Subpopulations in Spleen and Liver in a Mouse Model of Pediatric Diabetes: Implications for Vascular Injury

Session #16 | Poster #98 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Balkeert Rakhra

Immigrant Fathers’ Mental Health and Its Implications for Child Well-Being: A Systematic Review

Session #3 | Poster #22 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Naveen Ramalingam

Functional lung imaging using hyperpolarized xenon-129 MRI in pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies associated interstitial lung disease (JIIM Xe MRI)

Session #2 | Poster #15 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Moneek Rawan

Improving Access to Evidence-Informed Feeding Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in British Columbia Through a Provincial Needs Assessment and ECHO-Based Knowledge Translation Model

Session #8 | Poster #53 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Participant

Title

Presentation

Carolina Rivero

Estimating baseline kidney function in babies with CAKUT- towards better prediction of long-term outcome

Session #17 | Poster #105 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Raj Saini

Representative of Whom? A Tool for Measuring Who’s Missing from Health Research

Session #15 | Poster #91 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Tayjen Sarang

Chromosomal abnormalities in offspring conceived via ICSI, IVF, and natural conception: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Session #1 | Poster #5 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Mysha Shariff

Integrating AI Risk Flags into Diabetes Care: Physician Perceptions of Usefulness, Interpretability, and Actionability

Session #12 | Poster #75 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Khayam Siah

Benefits and Outcomes of Large-Scale Safety Campaigns Related to Child Restraint Systems: A Rapid Review

Session #13 | Poster #82 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Chloe Siu

Discharge Outcomes of Neonates with Mild Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Session #2 | Poster #16 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Nikki Sivakumar

Characterizing Analgesia and Sedation Exposure in Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): a SingleCentre Retrospective Cohort Study

Session #10 | Poster #63 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Participant

Title

Presentation

Elli Tiliakou

Pharmacogenomic evaluation of chemotherapy-related toxicities in children with poor-prognosis cancer

Session #10 | Poster #64 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Justin Tran

Accuracy of Tissue Transglutaminase- IgA (tTG)-Based Diagnosis of Pediatric Celiac Disease Without Anti-Endomysial Antibody Testing

Session #9 | Poster #59 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Leia Tsao

Engaging Chinese Canadian Youth in Mental Health Research: A Multilingual Recruitment Strategy for the MyHEARTSMAP-C Validation Study

Session #1 | Poster #6 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Nadia Ulanowska

Faces of CP: A new guide to understanding the GMFCS- using the F-Words through children’s eyes

Session #11 | Poster #69 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Ella Wang

Development and Evaluation of a Storybook to Educate and Support Families of Children with Anorectal Malformations in sub-Saharan Africa

Session #15 | Poster #92 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Julie Wang

Prioritizing strategies that target the barriers and facilitators to the implementation and sustainability of injury prevention interventions in youth team sports: an umbrella scoping review with application of the CFIR-ERIC matching tool

Session #11 | Poster #70 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Kendra Wang

Sublingual Immunotherapy: A Second-Chance Treatment Pathway After Failed Oral Immunotherapy

Session #16 | Poster #99 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Sarah Wissmann

Optimizing the early diagnostic experience for cerebral palsy: A quality improvement evaluation of a standardized clinical pathway

Session #14 | Poster #88 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Alyssa Wong

Experiences of Caregivers in the BC Children’s Hospital Pediatric IV Outpatient Therapy (PIVOT) Program: A MixedMethods Study

Session #1 | Poster #7 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Madison Wong

Assessment of Congenital Cytomegalovirus in British Columbia: Characterizing the Population and Classifying Infant Outcomes

Session #12 | Poster #76 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Tiffany Xian

Establishing a flow cytometry assay to characterize antigenspecific immune responses following RSV vaccination

Session #6 | Poster #40 11:00 am – 12:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Sabrina Ye

C-reactive protein predicts fatal outcome in Orthoebolavirus zairense Ebolavirus disease: retrospective analysis from DR Congo

Session #1 | Poster #8 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Participant

Title

Presentation

Chloe Young

Metabolomic Profiling for Discovery and Validation of Biomarkers of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Children

Session #15 | Poster #93 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Gloria Zhuo

Investigating the role of MED15 in Pediatric Neuroblastoma

Session #4 | Poster #28 9:00 am – 10:15 am SHY Auditorium

Mehak Dhaliwal & Bodria Uddin

Toward Culturally Responsive Somatization Care: Perspectives of Asian-Canadian Children and Families

Session #1 | Poster #9 9:00 am – 10:15 am Online

Nicholas Tjandra & Jane Tjandra

Radiomics and Artificial Intelligence for Opportunistic Detection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma on Portal Venous CT: A Systematic Review

Session #15 | Poster #94 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Kevan Wu & Raha Nikoumaram

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Approaches for Early Detection or Prediction of Drug Induced Liver Injury: A Systematic Review

Session #16 | Poster #100 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm SHY Auditorium

Session #1

Presenters Temi Aina Lillian Chen Jiya Ghuman Kyla Phan Tayjen Sarang Leia Tsao Alyssa Wong Sabrina Ye Mehak Dhaliwal & Bodria Uddin

Thursday, July 23 9:00 – 10:15 AM Online

Temi Aina

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia – Okanagan | Voss Research Team CIHR Undergraduate Student Research Award Recipient

Comparing Physical Activity Across School, Non-School, and Weekend Periods in Children with and without Congenital Heart Conditions

Session 1 | Poster 1

Temi Aina, Ty Sideroff, Jennifer Collins, Kevin Harris, Christine Voss Background: Physical activity is essential for the health and development of all children, including those with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, many children are not meeting physical activity guidelines of ≥60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day. In our previous work, girls with CHD were significantly less active than girls without CHD a pattern that was not observed in boys. Reasons that could explain these gender patterns are currently unknown.

Objective: To describe detailed physical activity patterns for boys and girls with and without CHD, including school-based and weekend activity levels.

Methods: Participants ages 5-10 years with and without CHD wore waist-worn accelerometers (Ametris GT3X) for seven consecutive days. Accelerometer data were processed using Actilife software. Daily MVPA was separated for weekdays and weekend days. School-time was also isolated, which was defined as activity that occurred between 8:35 AM and 2:40 PM. Betweengroup differences were assessed via generalized linear regression models using R. Results: 166 participants (7.9 ± 1.9yrs, 45% female) were included in analyses (CTRL: n=88; CHD: n=78). Median weekday MVPA was 61.7 min/day (45.6-81.5), of which approximately 49.5% occurred at school. On weekend days, median MVPA was 58.0 min/day (35.6-79.3).

Statistical comparisons between groups and genders are currently ongoing.

Conclusion: By identifying when and where gender-differences in physical activity occur, findings from the current analyses could help shed light on potential underlying mechanisms and thus potential intervention targets - that underpin the lower physical activity levels of girls with CHD. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online

Table of Contents

Lillian Chen

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Brussoni Research Team Community Child Health Endowment Summer Studentship Recipient A multilevel analysis of environmental, seasonal, and child-level correlates of peer interaction during outdoor play in early learning and child care centres

Session 1 | Poster 2

Ruirui Chen, Rachel Ramsden, Mariana Brussoni Background: Early learning and child care (ELCC) centres are among the first environments where children build communication skills and social competencies through interaction with peers and educators. Prior research has focused on individual factors such as adult involvement or child-level associations, with fewer studies examining environmental and weather-related characteristics or how multiple determinants jointly relate to peer interaction during outdoor play.

Objective: This study aims to examine associations between peer interaction and environmental, seasonal, and child-level factors during outdoor play in ELCC centres, with particular attention to the physical and spatial characteristics of outdoor play environments.

Methods: Observational behaviour mapping was used to collect data on children's outdoor play at 17 ELCC centres in British Columbia, Canada, between September 2021 and December 2024 as part of the PROmoting Early Childhood Outside (PRO-ECO) 1.0 and 2.0 studies. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine associations between peer interaction and exposure variables, including environmental correlates (topography, play features, loose parts interaction, ground surface), seasonal correlates (weather, temperature), and child-level correlates (gender), with results reported as adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Findings indicate that interaction with loose parts (aOR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.09–1.29), sandbox play (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00–1.35), and steep ground topography (aOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.19–2.99) were each associated with higher odds of peer interaction. Outdoor play during the spring season was also associated with increased odds of peer interaction (aOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03–1.23), whereas snowy weather conditions were associated with lower odds (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46–0.88).

Implications: These findings can inform the design of outdoor ELCC environments that promote peer engagement and help educators identify the environmental conditions under which peer interaction is most likely to occur. The results may also offer direction for future interventions, policies, and outdoor play practices aimed at supporting children's social development in early childhood settings.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online

Table of Contents

Jiya Ghuman

Undergraduate Student, University of Alberta | Hawkes Research Team Low birth weight is associated with adverse outcome of childhood pneumonia in resource-limited hospitals

Session 1 | Poster 3

Kelly Spriggs, Jiya Ghuman, Hannah Oatley, Andrea L. Conroy, Juliet Nabwire, John Kanyonyozi, Charles Olaro, Sophie Namasopo, Robert O. Opoka, Qaasim Mian, Manoj Kumar, Michael T. Hawkes Background: Pneumonia remains the leading infectious cause of death among children under five years of age, with the greatest burden occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Children with hypoxemic pneumonia are at particularly high risk of mortality. Low birth weight (LBW), an indicator of impaired fetal growth or prematurity, has been associated with long-term deficits in immune function, lung development, and nutritional status, all of which may increase vulnerability to severe pneumonia. However, the pathways through which LBW contributes to poor clinical outcomes remain incompletely understood.

Objective: To determine whether LBW independently predicts in-hospital mortality among children hospitalized with hypoxemic pneumonia and to evaluate whether postnatal nutritional status, measured by weight-for-age z-score (WFAZ), partially mediates this association.

Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using pre-existing clinical data from children hospitalized with hypoxemic pneumonia across 20 hospitals in Uganda. Demographic, clinical, and nutritional characteristics were compared between children with low and normal birth weight. Illness severity was assessed using the SICK score. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the association between LBW and in-hospital mortality while adjusting for illness severity and other relevant clinical factors. Mediation analysis was used to determine whether WFAZ partially explained the relationship between LBW and mortality.

Results: Children with LBW experienced higher in-hospital mortality than those with normal birth weight. After adjusting for illness severity and other clinical factors, LBW was associated with approximately a 4.5-fold increase in the risk of in-hospital mortality (95% CI 1.7–12.0; p = 0.0097). Mediation analysis estimated that WFAZ accounted for 31% of the association between LBW and mortality, suggesting that postnatal nutritional status may contribute to the increased mortality risk.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that low birth weight may be associated with an increased risk of mortality among children hospitalized with hypoxemic pneumonia. Postnatal nutritional status, as measured by weight-for-age z-score, partially mediated this relationship, indicating that both prenatal factors and postnatal nutritional status may influence pneumonia outcomes.

Incorporating birth history and nutritional assessment into the initial evaluation of hospitalized children may improve risk stratification and support targeted interventions to reduce childhood pneumonia mortality in resource-limited settings.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online

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Kyla Phan

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Ip Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Brain, Behaviour & Development Summer Studentship Recipient

What Does Accessible Care Look Like? Vietnamese Parents Experiences Navigating Autism Support in Canada

Session 1 | Poster 4

Kyla Phan, Melissa Olana, Angie Ip Autistic children from racial and ethnic minority groups face greater barriers to healthcare access than non- ethnic and racialized groups, including delayed diagnosis, cultural discrimination, and reduced access to appropriate supports, which can negatively impact mental health outcomes and well-being (Sritharan & Koola, 2018). Early access to mental health and developmental supports is important as timely interventions can improve children's wellbeing later in life (Bradshaw et al., 2022). Asian families may experience discrimination and stigma when navigating mental health and autism supports for their children (Shorey et al., 2019), contributing to inequities in access to and quality of services. As Asian immigrants being among the fastestgrowing populations in Canada (Government of Canada, Statistics Canada, 2024), research on these families’ experiences with support services is increasingly needed. Because the Asian diaspora is highly diverse, focusing on specific ethnic communities can help better understand the nuanced experiences and support needs of the community (Lindsay et al., 2024). People of Vietnamese origin represent one of the largest Southeast Asian communities immigrating to Canada and are an important group to look at (Government of Canada, Statistics Canada, 2024). Additionally, most research examining access barriers for immigrant families has focused on mothers' perspectives (Fong et al., 2024; Khalil et al., 2025), leaving gaps in understanding immigrant fathers', including immigrant Vietnamese fathers' perspectives on navigating care systems. These perspectives are equally important, as fathers' involvement also play an important role in raising children with autism (Brown, Marsh, & McCann, 2021; Lien et al., 2020).

Using semi structure interviews and thematic analysis on participants experiences, this study aims to understand Vietnamese mothers' and fathers' perspectives on accessing support for their autistic child, including their expectations, service experiences, and what parents define as a successful outcome for their child. Findings will help inform clinical care by helping clinicians better understand parent expectations, improve communication, and strengthen client and clinician collaboration in care services for autistic children.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online

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Tayjen Sarang

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Ma Research Team Chromosomal abnormalities in offspring conceived via ICSI, IVF, and natural conception: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Session 1 | Poster 5

Tayjen Sarang, Sai Ma Background: Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), particularly intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), have raised concern about possible increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities in offspring since ICSI bypasses natural mechanisms of sperm selection. Existing evidence is inconsistent, and previous reviews have not properly distinguished ICSI from in vitro fertilization (IVF). Additionally, details like abnormality subtypes, frequencies, and diagnosis timing are insufficiently reported on. A systematic review and meta-analysis is needed to clarify whether the conception method influences frequency and type of chromosomal abnormalities in offspring.

Objectives: To determine whether conception method (ICSI, IVF, or natural conception) is associated with differences in the frequency and type of chromosomal abnormalities in offspring, and to examine how these differences vary by abnormality subtype (numerical versus structural) and timing of diagnosis (prenatal versus postnatal).

Methods: This systematic review follows PRISMA guidance and is registered with PROSPERO (CRD420261349765). Five databases — Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus — are being searched for studies published between January 1, 2000 and March 31, 2026. The studies must report cytogenetically confirmed chromosomal abnormalities in human pregnancies, fetuses, or live-born offspring conceived via ICSI, IVF, or natural conception. Title and abstract screening combines independent human review with a validated rule-based filter that removes records with clearly ineligible publication types or animal populations, alongside relevance-prioritized screening. Full-text screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) will be performed in duplicate, and pooled estimates generated using random-effects meta-analysis, with heterogeneity assessed via the I-squared statistic.

Results: Database searching identified 12,396 records; after removing 5,175 duplicates in Covidence, 7,221 remained for title and abstract screening. To date, 637 have been screened, 510 excluded and 127 advanced to full-text review. Currently, title and abstract screening is ongoing.

Conclusions: This review will provide updated information on chromosomal abnormality risks across conception methods, addressing gaps in prior literature that pooled ART techniques or lacked natural conception comparators, and including details on frequencies and subtypes of abnormalities, and timing of diagnosis. The findings are intended to inform prenatal counseling and screening practices for individuals and couples pursuing ART. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online

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Leia Tsao

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Doan Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Engaging Chinese Canadian Youth in Mental Health Research: A Multilingual Recruitment Strategy for the MyHEARTSMAP-C Validation Study

Session 1 | Poster 6

Leia Tsao, Karly Stillwell, Quynh Doan Background: Chinese Canadian youth face unique barriers to accessing mental health care, including cultural stigma, language discordance, and limited culturally appropriate services, contributing to the lowest rates of mental health service utilization among ethnic groups in Canada. MyHEARTSMAP-C is a culturally and linguistically adapted digital psychosocial selfassessment tool designed to connect Chinese Canadian youth with appropriate mental health resources. Existing evidence in Canadian research involving Chinese and other racialized populations supports recruitment strategies such as partnerships with community organizations, bilingual/multilingual communication, providing appropriate incentives, and distributing study materials using a multimedia approach; however, evaluation of recruitment strategies specific to Chinese Canadian youth in BC remains limited. Accordingly, this project aims to evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of multilingual, multi-channel recruitment strategies for Chinese Canadian youth and families in BC. Study Purpose: To describe and evaluate the feasibility and uptake of multilingual recruitment strategies used to enroll Chinese Canadian youth aged 10-17 years and caregivers into an ongoing validation study of MyHEARTSMAP-C across British Columbia.

Methods: Recruitment outreach was conducted across community and institutional networks through contact by email, phone, or in person alongside the distribution of English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese study materials. Organizations were categorized by sector, contact method, outreach language, response status, participation status, and dissemination activity. Outreach records were descriptively analyzed, and the progression from initial contact to response, participation, and dissemination was mapped in a flowchart. Counts and proportions were used to compare response and uptake across organization categories and identify effective recruitment channels, dissemination approaches, and barriers to engagement.

Results: Of 79 organizations contacted, 39% (31/79) responded. Among respondents, 87% (27/31) agreed to support dissemination; thus, non-response, rather than refusal, accounted for the majority of non-participation. Response rates differed by sector and outreach method; however, email-only outreach to local Chinese community organizations had both the lowest response rate and uptake among respondents.

Next Steps: Recruitment will prioritize follow-up with high-yield channels––specifically libraries/community centres and tutoring organizations––while outreach to Chinese cultural and community organizations may be expanded through telephone and in-person contact.

Recruitment tracking may be strengthened by surveying participants to identify which channels result in completed study sessions.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online Table of Contents

Alyssa Wong

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | McLaughlin Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Evidence to Innovation Summer Studentship Recipient

Experiences of Caregivers in the BC Children’s Hospital Pediatric IV Outpatient Therapy (PIVOT) Program: A Mixed-Methods Study

Session 1 | Poster 7

Alyssa Wong, Jessie Luo, Laura Luo, Scarlet Chapman, Elizabeth Kalenteridis, Jeffrey Bone, Julie Robillard, Tom McLaughlin Background: Children with serious infections often require prolonged intravenous (IV) antibiotics, traditionally administered in hospitals or clinics by healthcare professionals. Previous findings suggest that caregiver-administered IV antibiotics at home can be equally safe and effective, yielding comparable outcomes to inpatient care. BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) has implemented the Pediatric IV Outpatient Therapy (PIVOT) Program, which trains caregivers to administer IV antibiotics to their children at home using simplified devices. The program leverages virtual care and local partnerships to support families across British Columbia and Yukon. Data show PIVOT reduces inpatient length of stay, lowers healthcare costs, and maintains safety. However, caregiver experiences with home IV administration remain unexplored.

Objectives: This study explores the experiences of caregivers who administer IV antibiotics to their children through BCCH’s PIVOT Program. It assesses caregiver stress and quality of life, stratified by the distance of the family’s residence from BCCH. Methods: This mixed-methods study combines surveys and semi-structured interviews. Primary caregivers complete up to three follow-up surveys after discharge, depending on their child’s treatment duration. Surveys use 5-point Likert scales to measure stress, decision-making, and quality of life. A subset of caregivers also participate in semi-structured interviews, with transcripts analyzed using content analysis.

Results: Preliminary findings from 58 participants show response rates of 82% at the start of treatment, 65% mid-treatment, and 50% at the end of treatment. Caregivers reported high satisfaction with PIVOT. Quantitative results reveal challenges in delivering supplies to participants’ homes, limited weekend support, and concerns about managing complications at home. Despite this, most preferred home-based treatment. Emerging qualitative themes include decision-making rooted in a desire to return home, reunite family, and return to work; the importance of high-quality training and education; the value of program elements such as user-friendly infusion devices and communication between PIVOT and community hospitals; and stress from managing their child’s healthcare.

Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that caregivers value home-based care despite the added responsibility. Caregiver-identified stressors highlight areas for improvement, including expanding weekend support and enhancing communication between the PIVOT team and community hospitals.

Analyses will examine how caregiver experiences vary by demographics to guide program refinements

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online

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Sabrina Ye

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Hawkes Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 1 | Poster 8

C-reactive protein predicts fatal outcome in Orthoebolavirus zairense Ebolavirus disease: retrospective analysis from DR Congo Sabrina Ye, Masika Sivanzire Laurentine Marie, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Richard Kitenge-Omasumbu, François Edidi-Atani, Meris Matondo Kuamfumu, Sabue Mulangu, Olivier Tshiani-Mbaya, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Jan Hajek, Ellie MacBain, Andrea L. Conroy, Kasereka Masumbuko Claude, Michael T. Hawkes Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker commonly used in clinical practice. Whether CRP is a clinically informative marker in Orthoebolavirus zairense Ebolavirus disease (EVD) is unknown due to the absence of longitudinal studies.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted of a cohort of EVD patients admitted to two treatment units, from March-October 2019, during an Orthoebolavirus zairense epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Results: 334 patients (median age 30 years, 58% female) had at least one CRP measurement (total 2,365 CRP measurements, median 11 per patient). The median baseline CRP was 40 mg/L (IQR 13-110), 86 patients (26%) had an elevated baseline CRP (>100mg/L), and 159 patients (48%) had at least one elevated CRP documented over the course of the acute illness. With respect to longitudinal trajectories of CRP, among survivors, the average CRP level remained stable until 10 days after fever onset, then decreased. Among fatal cases, the average CRP level increased monotonically until death. The baseline CRP and the baseline AST (τ = 0.18, p<0.0001), ALT (τ = 0.28, p<0.0001), and bilirubin (τ = 0.28, p<0.0001) were statistically significantly correlated. Elevated baseline CRP was an independent predictor of mortality in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, with and without imputation of missing covariates (aHR 1.5, 95%CI 1.01-2.2, p=0.049).

Conclusions: Elevated CRP is an independent predictor of mortality in EVD patients. Pointof-care monitoring of CRP may inform clinical decision-making in resource-limited settings and provide a valuable risk-stratification tool in the current and future Orthoebolavirus spp. outbreaks.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online

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Mehak Dhaliwal & Bodria Uddin Undergraduate Students, University of British Columbia | Dhariwal Research Team

Session 1 | Poster 9

Mehak Dhaliwal: BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Brain, Behaviour & Development Summer Studentship Recipient

Toward Culturally Responsive Somatization Care: Perspectives of Asian-Canadian Children and Families Mehak Dhaliwal, Bodria Uddin, Gloria Yu, Amrit Dhariwal Background: Clinically significant somatization affects 8-12% of children and is linked to substantial functional disability and adverse developmental outcomes. Effective treatment begins with psychoeducation. At BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH), considerable care has been invested into developing psychoeducational materials to support families in understanding and engaging with somatization-related care. However, preliminary analyses suggest these materials are under- accessed by non-White families, warranting research to reduce potential healthcare disparities. Although somatization is universal, its expression and interpretation are culturally patterned. Asian children constitute one of the largest and fastest-growing pediatric populations in British Columbia, and existing literature suggests that collectivist cultural frameworks may influence how families engage with existing BCCH resources. Structural barriers, such as language differences, migration stress, and perceived racism, may further result in delays or disparities in access.

Objectives: In this study, we aim to explore (1) how Asian-Canadian caregivers understand the relationship between bodily symptoms and emotional experiences, (2) how the concept of somatization is interpreted, (3) how relevant and acceptable existing psychoeducational materials are for Asian families, and (4) what adaptations to content and delivery would improve acceptability and access.

Methods and Anticipated Outcomes: This qualitative study will use thematic analysis. We will recruit 9 adult participants from spaces with a large Asian presence, such as specific community and religious centres. Currently, a semi-structured interview guide has been developed to address the outlined research objectives, and the research ethics application is being developed for submission. Upon approval, participants will be recruited and invited to one-on-one interviews.

We expect to identify how Asian families conceptualize somatization and describe specific facilitators and barriers shaping engagement with existing psychoeducational material.

Significance: Pediatric somatization is common and disabling, yet culturally responsive psychoeducation is limited. Findings from this project will directly inform culturally grounded adaptations to existing psychoeducational material used at BCCH, thus supporting engagement with appropriate care and improved health outcomes for affected families.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Online Table of Contents

Session #2

Presenters Tanya Chaudhary Sophia Chong Kate Doan Hazel Oh Naveen Ramalingam Chloe Siu

Thursday, July 23 9:00 – 10:15 AM SHY Auditorium

Tanya Chaudhary Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Blydt-Hansen Research Team

Molecular Matching and Donor Accessibility in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation

Session 2 | Poster 10

Tanya Chaudhary, Amy Thachil, Tom Blydt-Hansen Background: Kidney transplantation offers the best long-term outcomes for children with endstage kidney disease, but donor selection remains a complex clinical decision. Donor-recipient compatibility is currently determined by evaluating mismatches in HLA proteins, at the antigen-level. However, advances in molecular typing now permit compatibility to be assessed at the molecular level, capturing differences not reflected by traditional antigen profiling.

Molecular profiling may improve the assessment of immunologic risk, however, its effect on donor accessibility and projected waiting time remains unknown.

Objectives: This study aims to 1) compare donor accessibility under antigen and molecularbased matching; 2) examine the variability in molecular mismatch within traditional antigen mismatch categories; and 3) estimate the effect of implementing molecular-based matching on waiting times for pediatric kidney transplant candidates in BC. Methods: A retrospective cohort of pediatric renal transplants was selected from BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver. The HLA eplet registry algorithm was used to determine molecular mismatches between recipients and donors, expressed as a single molecule mismatch score (maximum molecular mismatches/HLA haplotype). Donor accessibility will be defined as the proportion of compatible donors within the BC donor pool. Projected waiting times under antigen and molecular-based matching strategies will be estimated using a simulation model, with waiting time as the primary outcome and paired comparisons performed using a Student’s t-test.

Results: 164 recipient/donor pairs were included and were predominantly male (59.9%) with a first transplant (88.9%), aged 11.4±.3 years, with 54.3% deceased donors. Preliminary results indicate that for HLA-DRB1 (n=140), the median single-molecule molecular mismatch for antigen mismatch categories 0, 1, and 2 is 0 (IQR: 0–1.25), 10 (IQR: 6–14), and 13 (IQR: 10–15.8), respectively. For HLA-DQB1 (n=148), the corresponding median values were 0 (IQR: 0–3), 10 (IQR: 7–13), and 14 (IQR: 9.5–18.5).

Significance: By estimating the trade-off between improved immunologic matching and timely transplantation, the findings support informed decision-making in transplant care and reduce the uncertainty faced by clinicians and families when deciding whether to accept a current donor offer or wait for an optimal immunologic match.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Sophia Chong

Undergraduate Student, McGill University | Kil Research Team More than ‘in-between’: A systematic review of identity, belonging, and well-being of multiracial youth

Session 2 | Poster 11

Sophia Chong, Hali Kil Background: Multiracial youth are among the largest and fastest-growing groups of young people, particularly in multicultural countries such as Canada. Past research has frequently portrayed multiracial youth through a pathologizing lens, emphasizing identity conflict, mental health problems, and a loss of belonging. However, these findings have been inconsistent, and a balanced synthesis of the literature has been lacking.

Objective: To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review synthesizing evidence on multiracial youths’ identity development, sense of belonging, and well-being. We also examined familial, peer, and societal correlates to contextualize these processes.

Methods: Peer-reviewed articles and theses published up to May 2026 were identified through systematic searches across eight databases: PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Social Services Abstracts, Humanities & Social Sciences Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, Anthropology Plus, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Abstracts and Index. Eligible studies included multiracial or biracial youth samples up to 24 years of age with a clear assessment of identity, belonging, or well-being in the reported methods. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included to ensure a comprehensive synthesis of this body of work. We identified a total of 325 eligible studies following title and abstract screening and full-text screening with two independent coders who demonstrated high interrater reliability (κ = .76).

Results: Our synthesis of selected studies revealed a mixed but often strengths-focused picture of multiracial youth. While many multiracial youth reported identity tension, discrimination, and exclusion from both majority and minority peer groups, many others reported strong identity pride, successful identity integration, and comparable or better well-being relative to monoracial peers. Positive parent-child relationships, explicit parental ethnic-racial socialization, supportive peer relationships, and racially diverse school and neighbourhood environments consistently emerged as protective factors across identity, belonging, and well-being outcomes.

Significance: Overall, this review challenges stereotyped, deficit-based narratives about multiracial youth, demonstrating that although some struggle, many flourish, particularly in highly supportive social contexts representative of diverse backgrounds. These findings underscore the need for balanced, strengths-focused approaches in research, practice, and policy supporting multiracial youths’ positive development, and highlight family, peer, and community factors that can be leveraged to promote resilience.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Kate Doan

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Wright Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 2 | Poster 12

Use of Downloadable Ventilator Data to Predict Acute Hospital Admissions in Children Who Use Home Mechanical Ventilation: A Retrospective Observational Study Kate Doan, Marie Wright, Vinnie Liu Background: At BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH), the Home Ventilation clinic supports approximately 200 children across the province who use Home Mechanical Ventilation (HMV), 75% of whom utilize non-invasive mask ventilation. Although HMV can improve survival and quality of life, these children remain medically fragile to respiratory infections and acute clinical deteriorations. Over the past decade, advances in ventilator technology have enabled providers to extract ventilator data to guide changes in ventilator settings to optimize patient management.

The value of this has been increasingly recognized as the rapid growth of the pediatric HMV population has limited access to traditional methods of treatment monitoring and adjustment, such as in-hospital polysomnography. We hypothesize that downloadable data from ventilators of children using HMV could be used to identify children in the early stages of respiratory exacerbation or those experiencing subacute deterioration.

Objective: To evaluate whether acute changes in downloadable ventilator parameters are associated with acute hospital admissions and illness severity in pediatric HMV users.

Method: This retrospective study included patients aged 0–18 years followed by the BCCH HMV clinic who use non-invasive ventilation, and who had at least one acute respiratory hospital admission between January 1st, 2022 and December 31st, 2025. Downloadable ventilator data collected from a cloud-based storage system (ResMed AirView) over a 35-day "baseline" period were compared to the 5 days immediately before acute hospital admission ("pre-admission").

Parameters evaluated included daily usage, unintentional leak, tidal volume, and total respiratory rate. Changes between the periods were analyzed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and linear mixed effects models.

Results: In total, 241 patients using a compatible non-invasive home ventilator were followed by the BCCH HMV clinic during the study period. Preliminary database searches indicate an average of one hospital admission for acute respiratory illness. Data collection and analysis are still ongoing.

Significance: In adults, changes in ventilator data prior to acute respiratory illnesses, such as COPD exacerbations, have been demonstrated. No prior studies have explored this relationship in the pediatric HMV population. Identifying such early indicators could allow for timely interventions that may reduce disease severity and prevent avoidable acute hospital admissions.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Hazel Oh

Undergradaute Student, Simon Fraser University | Cameron Research Team The SWell intervention: protocol for a co-developed digital proof-of-concept trial supporting perinatal mental health in non-birthing parents Hazel J. Oh, Troy Holmes, Harlin Bharaj, Caroline Mawhinney, Lianne M. Tomfohr-Madsen, Leslie E. Roos, Joshua Madsen, Kristin Reynolds, James Bolton, Jonathan McGavock,

Session 2 | Poster 14

Corey Mackenzie, Ryan Giuliano, and Emily E. Cameron Introduction: Perinatal mental illness (MI) in non-birthing parents (e.g., fathers and 2SLGBTQ+ parents) affected an estimated 8.4% pre-pandemic, with rates increasing 4- to 10-fold during COVID-19. Non-birthing parents of young children report high unmet support needs (62%), with elevated MI linked to isolation, low social support, and family conflict. Persistent parental MI can negatively affect child development through reduced quality child-parent interactions and poor self-regulation modelling, increasing the risk of adverse cognitive, behavioural, and mental health outcomes from infancy into adulthood.

Despite the urgent need for support, existing mental health services in Canada are constrained by long waitlists and limited resources. Significant barriers to accessing in-person care, including geography, childcare, service cost, and work-related scheduling conflicts, further reduce the reach of these services. Digital mental health (eHealth) interventions offer a promising way to improve access; however, few affordable, evidence-based programs are available for parents of young children, and none are specifically designed for non-birthing parents. To address this gap, we are developing the Striving for Wellness in Partnerhood (SWell) program, a co-designed digital intervention tailored to the mental health and parenting needs of non-birthing parents.

Methods: A single-arm, non-blinded proof-of-concept trial with pre- and post-assessments will be used to evaluate SWell’s feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy among a sample of 15 non-birthing parent participants. Before trial implementation, intervention content and study design will be co-created with patient partners through individual consultations and Parent Advisory Board meetings, with content adapted from existing evidence-based interventions to address identified needs. Participants who meet eligibility criteria will complete 12 weeks of emotion-focused mental health and parenting content delivered via an online platform, with weekly outcome monitoring and post-intervention experience surveys.

Discussion: The SWell program aims to extend existing evidence-based approaches for supporting non-birthing parents’ mental health and wellbeing. This study will provide preliminary evidence for a scalable digital intervention for an underserved population. Findings will inform further refinement and evaluation in larger trials.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Naveen Ramalingam

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Wee Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 2 | Poster 15

Functional lung imaging using hyperpolarized xenon-129 MRI in pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies associated interstitial lung disease (JIIM Xe MRI) Naveen Ramalingam, Rachel Eddy, Jonathan Rayment, Kristin Houghton, Kimberly Morishita, Wallace Wee Background: Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is an autoimmune disease in children that attacks the skin, muscles, and sometimes other organs. A common manifestation of JDM is interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the current gold standard for diagnosing and monitoring JDM-associated ILD but exposes patients to harmful ionizing radiation. Hyperpolarized xenon MRI (XeMRI) may be a safer alternative for lung imaging in JDM-ILD patients and may provide functional information about the lungs. XeMRI imaging has never been studied in patients with JDM. Therefore, in our study we will assess XeMRI in patients with JDM. Objectives: 1. To establish whether XeMRI is feasible in patients with JDM 2. To compare XeMRI outcome measures between patients with JDM, JDM-associated ILD and healthy controls 3. To evaluate the relationship between XeMRI outcome measures with pulmonary function tests (PFT), multiple breath washout (MBW), oscillometry, disease activity scores and patient-reported symptoms Methods: In our study, we will recruit 15 JDM patients and 5 JDM-associated ILD patients from the BC Children’s Hospital rheumatology and respirology clinics. During the study visit, the participants will complete XeMRI, MBW, oscillometry, PFT and disease activity scores. XeMRI image analysis will be completed using the XIPline program to evaluate the ventilation and gas exchange metrics.

Anticipated Results: Patients with JDM-ILD will have a lower RBC to membrane ratio compared to healthy controls. XeMRI will have a higher sensitivity for detecting ventilation defects compared to PFT. The results from XeMRI will correlate with the PFT, MBW, oscillometry, and clinical CT scores.

Significance: XeMRI could reshape the way we diagnose and monitor JDM-associated ILD. For patients with ILD, XeMRI could be used to evaluate gas exchange and ventilation, which could reveal impairments in the lungs that are not structurally visible using chest HRCT. Functional information about the lungs could help clinicians detect ILD in earlier stages and reduce the need for chest HRCT, which exposes patients to ionizing radiation.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Chloe Siu

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Siden Research Team Discharge Outcomes of Neonates with Mild Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Session 2 | Poster 16

Chloe Siu, Chanjoo Kim, Katherine Boone, Emily Kieran, Harold Siden Introduction: Neonatal Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury caused by impaired oxygen delivery and blood flow around the time of birth. HIE is typically classified into three stages (mild, moderate, severe) based on the neonate’s clinical neurological findings.

Previous studies have largely evaluated outcomes in mixed cohorts that include all stages of HIE or have focused specifically on moderate and severe cases. Consequently, there is limited research examining mild HIE as a distinct group. This study aims to investigate the discharge outcomes of neonates with mild HIE admitted to a tertiary-level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Methods: We employed a structured, retrospective medical record review. The population included late preterm and term neonates with mild HIE (Sarnat Stage I) admitted to the BC Women’s Hospital (BCWH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between January 1, 2014, and July 31, 2024, and who survived to discharge. Data collected included demographic characteristics, length of NICU stay, age at discharge, and discharge disposition.

Results: Among 421 neonates with HIE, 120 (61 male, 59 female) had mild HIE and survived to discharge. The mean gestational age at birth was 39.0 weeks (SD = 1.8), and the mean birth weight was 3279.8 g (SD = 621.1). Their median NICU length of stay was 6.5 days (range = 1.0-77.0), and the median age at discharge was 7.0 days (range = 1.0 - 77.0).

Overall, 81% (n = 97) were discharged home. Of the remainder, 13% (n = 16) were transferred to another inpatient unit within the hospital, 2% (n = 2) to tertiary hospitals, and 3% (n = 4) to community hospitals for ongoing care; disposition data were missing for one patient (1%).

Conclusion: Most infants with mild HIE were discharged home, reflecting generally favourable short-term outcomes. However, a meaningful proportion required ongoing inpatient care and experienced variable lengths of stay, indicating that mild HIE is not a uniform condition and may require individualized, tailored management approaches. Further investigation of clinical trajectories and longer-term outcomes is needed to better inform standardized care and follow-up strategies for mild HIE. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Session #3

Presenters Isabella Babicki-Moore Viola Chen Zoe Chen Vanessa Lee Ran Mo Balkeert Rakhra

Thursday, July 23 9:00 – 10:15 AM SHY Auditorium

Isabella Babicki-Moore Undergraduate Student, McGill University | Mak Research Team

Canadian FAIT (Food Allergy Immunotherapy) Foundation Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 3 | Poster 17

Real-world data on young children who received oral immunotherapy (OIT) demonstrate high adherence and significant reduction in parental food allergy-associated anxiety post-OIT Isabella Babicki-Moore, Vedant R Bahel, Raymond Mak, Edmond S Chan, Alanna Chomyn, Stephanie C Erdle, Thomas Gerstner, Sandeep Kapur, Vicky Le Blanc, Mary McHenry, Gregory Rex, Tiffany Wong, Joanne Yeung, Lianne Soller*, Jennifer Y Tong* * These authors have contributed equally to this work and share co-senior authorship.

Background: Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) is a food allergy desensitization treatment, requiring regular allergen consumption to maintain treatment benefit. Long-term, post-OIT outcomes are understudied. This study examines long-term adherence, treatment safety, and anxiety.

Methods: An annual survey on allergen consumption adherence and allergic reactions was distributed to parents of children who completed OIT (tolerated 4g of food protein in an exit oral food challenge) between 1 and 5 years ago. Descriptive statistics were performed on most recent survey responses. Food allergy-associated anxiety was measured via the Impairment Measure for Parental Food Allergy-Associated Anxiety and Coping Tool (IMPAACT) pre-OIT, and at the time of the annual survey. The scores were compared using a paired-samples t-test.

Results: Between June 2025 and June 2026, 107 of 174 parents (61%) whose children completed OIT responded to the annual survey. The children (mean age of 7.32±2.35 years at survey completion) had completed OIT an average of 3 years (SD 1.56) prior to survey completion. One hundred and five (98%) parents reported their child continued to eat at least one of their OIT food(s). For 92 children (88%), consumption frequency was at least weekly. Of all 107 children, only 5 (5%) reported allergic symptoms, with none requiring epinephrine.

Among the 107 parent participants, 96 (90%) completed IMPAACT post-OIT with a total mean IMPAACT score of 36 ± 12.1 (out of 196), which corresponds to minimal anxiety (<130) based on studied normative data. Twenty-four of these parents had also completed IMPAACT pre-OIT. A significant reduction of 40.0 points in IMPAACT score was calculated (t(23) = 7.29, p <0.0001).

The mean pre-OIT score of 73.9/196 (SD 28.1; 95% CI 62.1–85.8) decreased to a mean postOIT score of 33.9/196 (SD 7.4; 95% CI 30.8–37.1), corresponding to a decrease from 20th to 3rd percentile.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates high allergen consumption adherence, few allergic reactions, and a marked decrease in parental food allergy-associated anxiety between the start of OIT and 1-5 years post-OIT. Further investigation with a larger sample size and longer study duration is needed to confirm this adherence and whether the anxiety decrease is sustained post-OIT. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Viola Chen

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Boerner Research Team Exploring Substance Use Screening in Autistic Youth with Chronic Pain: A Secondary Qualitative Analysis

Session 3 | Poster 18

Viola Chen, Katelynn Boerner Background: Autistic youth experience higher rates of sensory sensitivity and more incidents requiring medical treatment.

Furthermore, because pain is a subjective experience, assessment relies heavily on the ability to verbally communicate internal states; an area autism inherently affects to varying degrees.

This clinical gap frequently leads to diagnostic uncertainty and overshadowing, where a patient’s neurodivergence may cause clinicians to overlook standard health screenings or deliver them in ways that feel non-inclusive.

They are twice as likely to develop substance use disorder than their neurotypical peers, yet they are significantly less likely to be screened for it in healthcare settings.

Objective: Investigate if healthcare providers navigate substance use screening during pediatric chronic pain assessments for autistic youth, and explore parental and youth perceptions of these clinical encounters.

Methods: This study conducted a secondary qualitative analysis of semi-structured interview data collected from 27 autistic youth with chronic pain (ages 13 - 25) and 10 parents/caregivers.

The analysis focuses specifically on participant responses to an interview question inquiring whether a healthcare provider had ever asked about substance use during pain assessments, alongside their emotional reactions and perception of their approach to the topic. Reflexive thematic analysis will be used to identify recurring patterns, systemic implications, and emotional undertones across the participants.

Significance: There is minimal research addressing a dual diagnosis of autism spectrum and substance use, and to our knowledge none examining the added intersection with chronic pain.

By examining how the “autism label” creates clinical biases in pain management, this allows us to explore the possible implementation of standardized, neuro-inclusive substance use screenings that are both effective for patients and feasible for clinicians. This will provide a foundation for affirming clinical guidelines relevant within our local landscape for autistic youth navigating the complexities of chronic pain.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Zoe Chen

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Robillard Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Brain, Behaviour & Development Summer Studentship Recipient

Imagining Social Robots For Pediatric Care at BC Children’s Hospital

Session 3 | Poster 19

Zoe F. Chen, Susanna E. Martin, Julie M. Robillard Background: Can a small, robotic character or pet support the patient and family experience at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH)? Socially assistive robots (SARs) are increasingly being used as tools in pediatric healthcare. Applications include distraction during painful procedures, social and emotional support, education and physical therapy. Despite increased availability and enthusiasm about their potential, few have been deployed based on the expert knowledge of hospital professionals. More evidence is needed to understand the potential barriers and solutions to ethical implementation of SARs in pediatric healthcare settings.

Aim: This study aims to gather potential solutions to the barriers to SAR implementation in pediatric healthcare through consultation with professionals working in key administrative roles at BCCH (e.g., operations, management, information technology, facilities).

Methods: We will conduct 20-minute semi-structured interviews, with hospital professionals (N=20) inviting them to share their perspectives on SARs, identify the most challenging barriers in SAR implementation, and discuss potential solutions. Before each interview, participants will be emailed an optional demographic survey on Qualtrics and a 1-page robot primer with information on SAR implementation and findings from our earlier works. Interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed in full. Transcripts from the interviews will be analysed using content analysis to identify key and emergent themes that capture the range of participant perspectives.

Significance: Results from the project will provide new knowledge to inform future research on the implementation of SAR in pediatric healthcare, and specifically at BCCH. The blueprint for social robot implementation will also be transferable to future emerging technology interventions at BCCH. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Vanessa Lee

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Hou Research Team Exploring the Barriers, Representation, Accessibility, and Voices in Eating Disorders (BRAVE): Work-In-Progress

Session 3 | Poster 20

Vanessa Lee, Lara Vaziri, Tayla Bain, Jennifer S. Coelho, Sharon H.J. Hou Background: Eating disorders research have historically focused on the experiences of cisgender, affluent, White girls and women. As a result, the current eating disorders literature underrepresents the experiences of diverse youth with eating disorders and their families, contributing to important gaps in knowledge and hindering the delivery of culturally responsive care. Importantly, health care disparities exist. For example, racialized individuals face more barriers to accessing eating disorders care than non-racialized individuals.

Objectives: This study aims to better understand the experiences of pediatric eating disorders care among underrepresented youth, families, and clinicians, with a focus on those who identify as racialized and those who reside in rural and remote communities in British Columbia.

Method: Using patient-oriented research methods, this qualitative study will recruit underrepresented youth (15 to 24 years old) with experience of eating disorders, their caregivers, and clinicians that provide eating disorders care. The research ethics application is currently under review, and a semi-structured interview guide is being co-developed alongside individuals with lived experience. In addition, a rapid review is underway to synthesize current knowledge and identify gaps related to the cultural considerations in pediatric eating disorders to inform study procedures.

Implications: Following ethics approval, participant recruitment will begin to initiate a pilot phase of this project involving one to three participants. Pilot data will help evaluate and refine the study protocols before full-scale data collection. Overall, findings from this project will contribute to the development or refinement of strategies, resources, and training that can improve cultural responsiveness in eating disorders care.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Ran Mo

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Weber Research Team

Session 3 | Poster 21

Investigating Age- and Injury-Related Changes in Non-heme Iron and Myelin in Deep Grey Matter Structures in Very and Extremely Preterm Neonates using QSM Ran Mo, Floria Lu, Cecil Chau, Steven Ufkes, Steven Miller, Ruth Grunau, Thiviya Selvanathan, Alexander Rauscher, Jessie Guo, Alexander M. Weber Neonates born very or extremely preterm (< 32 and < 28 weeks’ gestational age [GA] respectively) are highly susceptible to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes due to frequent brain injuries, highlighting the need to detect and treat these injuries early following birth.

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) allows for the direct, non-invasive quantification of magnetic products in the brain which may differ abnormally following brain injury such as nonheme iron and myelin. This study aims to investigate correlations between iron and myelin in deep grey matter (DGM) structures with GA, postmenstrual age (PMA), and brain injury severity (intraventricular hemorrhage [IVH] and white matter injury [WMI]), as well as with motor and cognitive outcomes at 18- and 36-month follow-up assessments.

81 scans from 52 preterm neonates (median GA = 28.6 weeks) were acquired at early-life age (median PMA = 32.6 weeks) and/or at term-equivalent age (median PMA = 41.2 weeks). DGM structures (thalamus, caudate nucleus, and lentiform nucleus) were manually segmented and the average magnetic susceptibility (Chi, proportional to iron and inversely proportional to myelin) was extracted for each region. A linear mixed effects model was used to assess relationships between regional Chi values, GA, PMA, and brain injury, and multivariate linear regression was used to assess correlations between motor and cognitive scores and regional Chi values while controlling for confounding variables such as gender and socioeconomic status.

Chi values were positively correlated with PMA in the left caudate nucleus and left lentiform nucleus but were negatively correlated with PMA in the right caudate nucleus and in the bilateral thalamus, while GA was positively correlated with Chi values in the left thalamus (FDR-corrected P < 0.02 for all comparisons). IVH severity was positively correlated with Chi values in the left thalamus (ß = 0.0023, FDR-corrected P = 0.00738), however there were no significant correlations between Chi values and WMI or 18- and 36-month follow-up cognitive and motor scores. These results suggest hemisphere-dependent age-related changes in iron and myelin in DGM structures of preterm neonates and highlight the thalamus as a structure that may be particularly susceptible to oxidative stress and demyelination following IVH. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Balkeert Rakhra

Undergraduate Student, Simon Fraser University | Cameron Research Team Immigrant Fathers' Mental Health and Its Implications for Child Well-Being: A Systematic Review

Session 3 | Poster 22

Balkeert Rakhra, Emily E. Cameron, PhD, Nushaiba Nanjiba, Harlin Bharaj Background: The transition into fatherhood is associated with substantial psychological, social, and lifestyle changes influencing the mental health and well-being of fathers. Despite the growing research on paternal mental health, immigrant fathers remain significantly underrepresented due to the historical focus on White and-native-born fathers, or exclusion of fathers in immigrant family research. Immigrant fathers face unique challenges, including language barriers, unemployment, discrimination, financial hardship, and acculturative stress, which may negatively affect their mental health and parenting experiences. Migration may also lead to fathers renegotiating traditional gender roles, family responsibilities, and cultural expectations, creating additional psychological challenges. Given the detrimental impact on children exposed to paternal mental illness, there is a clear need to understand the experiences of immigrant fathers during this transitional period.

Objective: The systematic review will summarize empirical study findings to understand the mental health, well-being, parenting, and related experiences of immigrant fathers in Canada with children <18 years old, post-migration.

Methods: The review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. The systematic search was conducted across four databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociological Collection, and MEDLINE) and used predefined search terms related to immigrant fathers and mental health. Screening and inclusion were performed using Covidence, with two reviewers independently screening study titles and abstracts for inclusion, followed by full-text review.

Discrepancies at every level were resolved through consensus with the graduate student lead and PT. Study quality of included studies was assessed and included in the review.

Results: Preliminary findings are expected to identify factors associated with immigrant fathers' mental health and parenting experiences and show how these experiences may indirectly affect children's psychological well-being and development. Significance: This review is expected to identify psychological stressors, protective factors, and gaps in available support, impacting immigrant fathers’ post-migration. Improving our understanding of immigrant fathers’ mental health experiences will help inform culturally appropriate mental health services and interventions supporting parental well-being. This will ultimately help promote positive family functioning and developmental outcomes for children.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Session #4

Presenters Rohan Garg Jahan Gold Kaitlyn Leung Sean Ly Griffin Mawson Gloria Zhuo

Thursday, July 23 9:00 – 10:15 AM SHY Auditorium

Rohan Garg

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Goldowitz Research Team UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient

Examination of rare rhombic lip derived Purkinje cells in the developing cerebellum

Session 4 | Poster 23

Rohan Garg, Michael Ke, Daniel Goldowitz Background: The cerebellum plays a key role in motor coordination, emotion, and higher-order processes. Disorder of the cerebellum is implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD (autism spectrum disorder). Cells of the cerebellum originate from two progenitor zones during embryonic development: the ventricular zone (VZ), which gives rise to GABAergic cells; and the rhombic lip (RL), which gives rise to glutamatergic cells. However, recent data from our lab have identified Purkinje cells (PC) that may descend from Msx1+ RL progenitors. This challenges the canonical story that the inhibitory and excitatory cells of the cerebellum originate from two separate progenitor zones.

Objective: To identify if Purkinje cells descend from Msx1+ RL progenitors and whether they are maintained in the adult cerebellum.

Methods: A Cre-lox fate mapping mouse model was used to label Msx1+ cells at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) and all subsequent daughter cells with red fluorescent protein (RFP). Rodent brains were collected and cryo-/paraffin-embedded for sectioning. To identify RL-derived Purkinje neurons, immunofluorescence (IF) staining was conducted for the PC marker FOXP2 and RFP. The localization of these neurons was assessed via comparison to the Allen Developing Mouse Brain Atlas and previous literature.

Results: Sparse double labelling of FOXP2 and RFP was observed at E13.5 and E18.5 in regions corresponding to PC localization at these time points. This labelling provides evidence that the labelled Msx1+ progenitor cells are giving rise to a small population of PCs. Work is ongoing to determine if these PCs localize to specific regions of the cerebellum.

Conclusions: The results suggest that Msx1+ RL progenitor cells have the ability to form both glutamatergic and GABAergic cells. Further investigation is necessary to characterize the developmental role and fate of these cells in the adult cerebellum. The findings of this project may be relevant to the excitatory/inhibitory hypothesis of ASD, which proposes that imbalance between the two underlies disruptions in ASD neural circuitry. This novel PC cohort provides another possible site to disrupt the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signalling.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Jahan Gold

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Skarsgard Research Team The Chief of Surgery Fund at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Recipient

Implementing a Site-Wide Gastroschisis Care Bundle: A Surgical Quality Improvement Initiative

Session 4 | Poster 24

Jahan Gold, Gilman Angelo Fuenzalida, Erik Skarsgard Background: Gastroschisis survival in Canada is high, shifting the quality improvement opportunity from improved survival to reducing morbidity and resource utilization through evidence-based practice standardization. At BCWH, prior standardization efforts supported changes in surgical practice (bedside sutureless closure instead of routine operative closure under general anesthesia). However, unnecessary variation persists, including type and duration of antibiotic prophylaxis, sedation practices, feeding advancement, and the overall clinical pathway. This project aimed to develop and begin the implementation of a standardized care bundle for simple gastroschisis.

Methods: A retrospective quality improvement baseline audit was conducted for infants with simple (i.e. without intestinal necrosis, perforation or atresia) gastroschisis managed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at BCWH between 2015 and 2025. Site data from a national, gastroschisis-specific clinical registry (CAPSNet), integrated with Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) data, were used to define demographic details, treatment, and relevant outcomes for the pre-implementation cohort. Furthermore, literature reviews, baseline data mapping, and multidisciplinary stakeholder engagement were used to develop a clinical pathway for NICU stabilization, antibiotic prophylaxis, procedural NICU sedation, bedside closure, enteral feeding initiation and progression, and home transition.

Results: Preliminary data extraction identified 73 infants with gastroschisis (62 simple, 11 complex). The baseline audit framework identified persistent opportunities for standardization in closure decision-making, prophylactic antibiotic type, timing and duration, sedation and respiratory management, feeding practices, and the overall clinical pathway. Multidisciplinary stakeholder feedback successfully converted the initial measurement framework into a viable bedside care bundle. Neonatal review clarified the clinical guardrails for routine care, surgical survey feedback shaped the bedside closure process and equipment cart, and pharmacy review established a closure-dependent antibiotic strategy that supports current best practices in antibiotic stewardship.

Conclusion: This project translated retrospective baseline measurement and stakeholder feedback into a standardized care bundle for simple gastroschisis. Immediate next phases include site-wide deployment of the care bundle, with systematic evaluation of bundle adherence and clinical outcomes post-implementation.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Kaitlyn Leung

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Mah Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Development of a Psychoeducational Resource on Demand Avoidance for Caregivers Using Integrated Knowledge Translation

Session 4 | Poster 25

Kaitlyn S. Leung, Janisa Hui, Janet W.T. Mah Background: Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) is a set of features characterized by extreme resistance to everyday instructions. While many caregivers have resonated with this profile, there is a lack of scientific consensus about PDA. Some have viewed it as a distinct disorder, some have conceptualized it as a subtype of autism, while others have proposed that it reflects symptoms of comorbid disorders (e.g., anxiety or oppositional defiance).

Methods: Our project uses an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach to design a psychoeducational resource for caregivers, which aligns the differing views to offer evidencebased strategies for demand avoidance while providing social validation for families. An initial resource prototype was developed based on review of scientific literature and gaps in existing resources. To date, three focus groups have been conducted with BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) clinicians (n = 12), patient families (n = 2) and students and clinicians at the national Canadian Psychological Association conference (n = 6), to gather feedback and refine the prototype at each round. The latter participants also completed a short rating scale survey about the draft resource.

Results: BCCH clinicians valued the characterization of demand avoidance as behaviours rather than a formal diagnostic entity. Additionally, they emphasized the need for the resource to be written in plain language. Caregivers highlighted social validation as a key priority, and suggested analogies to aid in understanding. Discussions at the national conference highlighted differences about PDA use across the country, and participants suggested catch phrases to include to help with family resonance. Conference attendees rated the resource prototype to be informative, useful, validating, and non-judgmental.

Discussion: Overall, there was consensus surrounding the timely need for this psychoeducational resource amidst the lack of clarity surrounding demand avoidance. Both clinicians and caregivers highlighted the importance of intentional use of language and supporting families’ emotional experience. Following iterative refinement with more input from patient families, the resource will be publicly available through the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, and preliminary user acceptability and satisfaction data collected.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Sean Ly

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Wang Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Evolution of peanut component resolved diagnostic (CRD) results from childhood to adulthood

Session 4 | Poster 26

Sean Ly, Raymond Mak, Edmond Chan, Li Wang Background: Peanut allergy is a common food allergy that can cause potentially life-threatening reactions and adversely affect quality of life (QoL). Component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) can detect specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) antibodies to isolated proteins (Ara h 8 & Ara h 2) which help differentiate true peanut allergy (Ara h 2) from sensitization due to cross-reactivities (Ara h 8). Levels of both Ara h 2 and Ara h 8 change over time as children with peanut allergy grow older. However, it remains unclear how CRD patterns correlate to the natural evolution of peanut allergy.

Objectives: 1. Assess the Ara h 2 and Ara h 8 sIgE levels in children by comparing their results from ~2012 to results in 2026; 2. Assess the quality-of-life challenges between children, teens, and young adults with peanut allergy to identify gaps in transitional care.

Methods: 1. Invited patients who received CRD testing ~2012 with [Ara h 2] > 0.75 kU/L to return for repeat CRD blood testing, using the Phadia 250 (Thermo Fisher Diagnostics) at BC Children’s Hospital.

2. Administered various digital standardized questionnaires through REDCap to assess accidental exposures, symptom changes, anxiety scales, and quality of life measures.

Conducted statistical analysis with Excel and R (version 4.6.1). This study was approved by the UBC Research Ethics Board (H26-00636).

Results: The 14 adult participants recruited so far range from 18 to 26 years old. The average of FAQLQ-AF is 3.0 and the average of SOFAA-A is 3.4. There is a strong correlation between FAQLA-AF and SOFAA-A (R^2 = 0.6851). The average WAO grade is 3 based on their last accidental exposure. 5/12 patients went to ER and 2 of them were admitted to hospitals.

Compared with the rest of the cohort, the five patients with severe symptoms showed no significant differences in mean FAQLQ-AF or SOFFA-A scores (both p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Higher levels of food allergy anxiety were associated with poorer food allergy– related quality of life in adults. However, reaction severity following accidental allergen exposure did not appear to influence anxiety levels or quality of life.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Griffin Mawson

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Hou Research Team Evaluating Models of Care for Survivors of Childhood Cancer and Their Families: Describing Participant Demographics and the Role of Cultural Identity in Care Experiences

Session 4 | Poster 27

Griffin Mawson, Sebastian Kondratowski, Kiera O’Connor, Sharon Hou, Kristin Marr, Rebecca Deyell Background: With advances in pediatric cancer treatment, over 80% of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in Canada now achieve long-term survival. In British Columbia (BC), individualized surveillance and psychosocial support for survivors of childhood cancer is coordinated by the Pediatric Oncology Long-Term Follow-Up (LTFU) program at BC Children’s Hospital.

Objective: To describe the demographics and patient experiences of survivors of childhood cancer and their families going through the LTFU program at BC Children’s Hospital, with a focus on the role of cultural identity and background in patient experiences.

Methods: A single blind, mixed-methods survey (including quantitative and open-ended text responses) was administered to patients and parents/caregivers of patients attending their routine LTFU clinic visit. Survey included questions regarding demographic information, cancer and illness history, and the role of cultural identity and background on patient care experience.

Data was collected between May 2023 and August 2025.

Results: In total, 149 parents/caregivers of survivors of childhood cancer completed the study.

Within this sample, most survivors were diagnosed before age 10, had completed treatment within the past 10 years, and the most common diagnoses included leukemia and solid tumour.

On average, parents/caregivers somewhat disagreed that their cultural background/identity makes a difference in their cancer experience and LTFU care. Overall, parents of survivors reported a strong preference for in-person, face-to-face care for future LTFU visits compared to other modalities of care.

Conclusion: Additional analysis is underway to explore how survivorship experiences and care needs differ across care models, and how they are shaped by sociocultural context. Findings will inform the comprehensiveness and accessibility of survivorship care by identifying the unique needs of survivors of childhood cancer and their families, and inform the development of a culturally responsive and inclusive model of care.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Gloria Zhuo

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Taubert Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Childhood Diseases Summer Studentship Recipient

Investigating the role of MED15 in Pediatric Neuroblastoma

Session 4 | Poster 28

Gloria Zhuo, Sara Cristiano, Chiaki Shuzenji, Stefan Taubert Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children, with neuroblastoma (NB) being the most common solid tumor in infants. NB originates from neural crest-derived cells that undergo defective differentiation due to genomic/epigenomic alterations. Molecularly, transcription factors (TFs), which are controlled by various co-regulators including Mediator, are frequently dysregulated in these cancers. Interestingly, MED15, a subunit of the Mediator complex, is highly expressed in many cancers and associated with shorter patient survival.

To study MED15 in cancer, our lab generated MED15 knockout (KO) models in lung adenocarcinoma cells, which led to the downregulation of oxidative stress response, cell cycle, and pro-inflammatory immune genes and proteins. This signifies a role for MED15 in these cancer cells; however, it is not known if MED15 may play a similar role in other cancers, including NB. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the role of MED15 in NB. Objectives: 1. To generate stable MED15KO NB cell lines.

2. Future Direction: Examine the role of MED15 in oxidative stress response and pro-inflammatory immune response in NB. Methods: To study the role of MED15 in NB, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing is used to generate MED15 exon 5 KOs in two NB cell lines, IMR-32 (male) and SK-N-AS (female). After generating single colonies, the MED15 locus is genotyped using PCR to identify homozygous mutant clones.

These NB MED15KOs will be used to assess the expression of oxidative stress and immune genes/proteins using qRT-PCR and Western Blots.

Expected Results: 1. Successful generation of stable homozygous MED15KO NB cell lines using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.

2. As previously mentioned, our lab identified the downregulation of various genes/proteins in MED15KO lung cancer cells. Similar findings are expected, including the downregulation of oxidative stress and immune response genes/proteins in the generated NB MED15KO cells.

Significance: Many childhood cancers, including NB, remain deadly and are in need of new treatments. This project has the potential to identify MED15 as a new therapeutic target in NB. Importantly, the MED15-TF interface is targetable with small molecules, making MED15 a potential therapeutic target in pediatric cancers.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Session #5

Presenters Beth Anderson Artemis Douglas Taima Gheriani Ava Joa Katie Le Noah Miller

Thursday, July 23 9:00 – 10:15 AM SHY Auditorium

Beth Anderson

Undergraduate Student, Brown University | Lynn Research Team Investigating the Role of Structural Extracellular Matrix Proteins in the Functional Maturation of Stem Cell-Derived β-Cells

Session 5 | Poster 29

Beth C. Anderson, Francis Lynn Background: Type 1 diabetes is caused by the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells, requiring lifelong administration of exogenous insulin to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

While human islet transplantation has been proven successful, severe donor shortages limit its clinical application. Stem cell-derived β-cells (SC-βCs) offer a promising lab-grown alternative; however, they struggle to fully mature in vitro, limiting their immediate functionality. This suggests that signals from the native islet environment, such as structural extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, are necessary to guide complete maturation and function.

Objectives: To evaluate how specific candidate ECM proteins affect SC-βC attachment, morphology, and overall functional maturation in vitro, building upon previous research that identified these structural targets.

Methods: SC-βCs from a genetically engineered cell line were cultured using a 35-day protocol.

To evaluate the effects of the ECM microenvironment, cells were seeded into 24-well plates coated with different candidate proteins: Collagen VI (ColVI), Plasma Vitronectin (PV), and Recombinant Vitronectin (RV), alongside a Geltrex control. Cell attachment and viability were assessed using standard microscopy. Fluorescence imaging was utilized to evaluate Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (IAPP), a marker of cell maturation, and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), an indicator of insulin expression. Finally, a Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion (GSIS) assay was conducted, followed by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to quantify C-peptide (insulin) secretion in response to low and high glucose levels.

Results: Cellular responses varied depending on the ECM substrate. ColVI promoted the most uniform cell attachment. GSIS and ELISA data indicated that ColVI, RV, and Geltrex matrices yielded higher total C-peptide secretion across both glucose conditions compared to PV. Notably, RV demonstrated the greatest insulin secretion in response to high glucose stimulation in specific replicates. Furthermore, low glucose stimulation resulted in higher C-peptide secretion in most samples, excluding a technical replicate from RV, potentially indicating cellular stress during the GSIS procedure.

Conclusions: Individual ECM proteins uniquely influence SC-βC behavior. ColVI optimally supports cell adhesion and viability, whereas RV can enhance the overall magnitude of insulin production and secretion. These ongoing experiments highlight ColVI and RV as highly significant candidates for guiding the in vitro maturation of SC-βCs for future clinical applications.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Artemis Douglas

Undergraduate Student, University of Northern British Columbia | Boerner & Coelho Research Teams BC Children's Hospital Rising Scholars Summer Studentship Recipient

Understanding Chronic Pain and Eating Disorders in Youth Athletes: A Scoping Review and Conceptual Framework

Session 5 | Poster 30

Artemis Douglas, Kyra McKinnon, Colleen Pawliuk, Jennifer Coelho, Katelynn Boerner Background: Despite the high prevalence of both disordered eating and injury-related pain in athletes, the relationship between these factors remains largely unexplored. However, emerging evidence from non-athlete populations suggests several mechanisms through which pain, injury, and disordered eating may interact. Individuals with both chronic pain and disordered eating frequently exhibit shared psychological characteristics, including heightened anxiety, perfectionism, self-criticism, and reduced interoceptive awareness. These overlapping vulnerabilities may contribute to the development and maintenance of both conditions, while physiological mechanisms such as central sensitization may further influence this relationship.

Disordered eating can also result in insufficient energy intake relative to physiological demands, which is associated with impaired bone health, hormonal dysfunction, delayed recovery, and an increased risk of musculoskeletal injury. Injury itself may further exacerbate disordered eating behaviours, as some athletes respond to reduced training volumes by restricting food intake in an effort to prevent weight gain or maintain perceived athletic physique. This creates a potentially self-perpetuating cycle in which injury contributes to restrictive eating behaviours, leading to inadequate nutritional intake, impaired healing, prolonged rehabilitation, and an elevated risk of subsequent injury.

Objectives: 1. Review and synthesize current literature on the relationships between youth athletes and chronic pain, athletes and EDs, chronic pain and EDs, and all three constructs to better understand these relationships.

2. Develop an evidence-informed conceptual model which highlights important considerations, potential areas for intervention, and research gaps.

Methods: This scoping review included a full search of relevant literature concerning disordered eating and chronic pain in adolescent athletes. Databases included Embase (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (EBSCO), SportDISCUS (EBSCO), and Web of Science Core Collection.

Studies were retrieved and uploaded to Covidence, where screening and extraction was conducted by two independent reviewers based on pre-determined inclusion criteria.

Significance: By developing a framework and identifying knowledge gaps in the existing literature, the publication of this review will have a significant impact in the world of athletics and will encourage future research in chronic pain and eating disorders in this domain.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Taima Gheriani

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Tomfohr-Madsen Research Team Community Child Health Endowment Summer Studentship Recipient

The Role of Housing Insecurity and Household Chaos in Early Childhood Sleep

Session 5 | Poster 31

Taima Gheriani, Lisa Yang, Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen Adequate housing supports stable family routines and home environments that are important for healthy sleep in toddlerhood, yet access to stable, affordable homes remains unequally distributed across socioeconomic (SES) and racialized groups. Housing insecurity, including difficulty finding stable housing and frequent moves, may disrupt children’s sleep through more chaotic household environments, but mechanisms linking housing-related stressors to toddler sleep are not well understood. This study examined associations among SES, housing insecurity, household chaos, and toddler nighttime sleep in a Canadian perinatal cohort and tested whether associations differed for racialized families.

Data were drawn from the Pregnancy during the Pandemic study (N = 4,222, Mage = 32.5, SD = 4.10). At intake, SES was indexed using a z-scored composite of household income, maternal education, and food insecurity; race/ethnicity was categorized as White or racialized.

At 24 months postpartum, caregivers reported whether it had been difficult to find stable housing and how many times they had moved in the past two years, and completed measures of household chaos and nighttime sleep duration. Linear and logistic regression models adjusted for maternal age and infant sex.

Higher SES was associated with more favourable housing and home environments: fewer moves (B = -0.16, p < .001), lower odds of difficulty finding stable housing (OR = 0.32, p < .001), lower household chaos (B = -0.15, p < .001), and 17.4 minutes more toddler nighttime sleep per unit increase in SES (p < .001). Greater household chaos was associated with 11.4 minutes less sleep (p < .001). Racialized families had higher odds of housing difficulty than White families (OR = 2.63, p < .001), reported slightly more moves (B = 0.08, p = .004), and their toddlers slept 16.2 minutes less per night (p < .001), but chaos scores did not differ significantly (B = 0.01, p = .67).

Findings suggest that SES, housing insecurity, and household chaos are important correlates of toddler sleep duration, and that racialized families bear a greater burden of housing difficulty and shorter sleep. Housing difficulty, residential mobility, and household chaos may be promising targets for interventions and policies aimed at promoting healthy toddler sleep and reducing early childhood sleep inequities.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Ava Joa

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Morishita Research Team Clinical presentation and 12-month outcomes in childhood polyarteritis nodosa

Session 5 | Poster 32

Ava Joa, Kimberly Morishita Background: Pediatric polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare necrotizing vasculitis affecting smallto -medium arteries. The cutaneous variant (cPAN) is primarily limited to the skin, muscles, and joints, whereas systemic PAN may impact all organ systems. For both variants, early diagnosis is challenging due to non-specific symptoms, contributing to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: To characterize differences in disease presentation and outcomes between cutaneous and systemic childhood polyarteritis nodosa.

Methods: A multicenter ambispective study of children diagnosed with PAN was conducted utilizing PedVas, an international study collecting data from children with chronic vasculitis.

Eligible patients had an MD diagnosis of PAN and were <18 years of age at diagnosis.

Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s Exact tests were used for analysis.

Results: Among a cohort of 50 children (64% female; median age at diagnosis, 11 years), 32 met classification criteria for systemic PAN and 18 were diagnosed with cPAN. Cutaneous involvement was the most prevalent manifestation, observed in 88% of cases. Compared with cPAN, systemic PAN was characterized by greater renal (43.8% vs 5.56%) and gastrointestinal (53.1% vs 0%) involvement, and a higher median Pediatric Vasculitis Activity Score (PVAS) at diagnosis (11 vs 4). Constitutional/musculoskeletal features (78.1% vs 50%, OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.05–12.2, p = 0.06) and neurological features (37.5% vs 16.6%, OR 3.00, 95% CI 0.73–12.4, p=0.18) were higher in systemic PAN than cPAN; however, differences did not meet statistical significance.

At 12-month follow-up, similar proportions of patients achieved inactive disease (defined as a PVAS of 0) in both systemic and cutaneous PAN (22/32 [68.8%] vs. 11/18 [61.1%], respectively).

However, systemic PAN resulted in higher rates of persistent damage, 12/32 [37.5%] compared to cPAN, 2/18 [11.1%].

Conclusion: Childhood PAN is characterized by high rates of cutaneous disease, but the systemic variant presents high rates of gastrointestinal and renal features along with higher disease activity. Although similar proportions of patients achieved inactive disease at 12 months, systemic PAN was associated with substantially higher rates of irreversible damage.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Katie Le

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Lunken Research Team NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award Recipient

Factors associated with prevalence of conditioned food avoidance and sensitivity among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission

Session 5 | Poster 33

Katie Le, Harnil Jham, Mariam Narous, Cristian Massaro, Brian Bressler, Genelle Lunken Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing-remitting gastrointestinal (GI) disorder driven by immune dysregulation, with unpredictable shifts in disease activity.

Active disease can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malnutrition, impairing quality of life (QoL). Many patients believe food triggers their symptoms, and this belief can develop into conditioned food avoidance and sensitivity (C-FAS): a learned, disease-driven dietary restriction meant to prevent symptoms. This conditioning can persist after inflammation resolves, with restrictive eating continuing into remission in up to 70% of patients, risking unnecessary nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, and further decline in QoL. This study aims to determine factors associated with C-FAS prevalence in IBD patients in remission at a specialist IBD clinic in Vancouver, Canada.

Method: Adult (≥19years) IBD patients in objective disease remission (fecal calprotectin <150ug/g, intestinal ultrasound (IUS) bowel wall thickness <3mm, and/or colonoscopy with SESCD score <4 for Crohn’s disease [CD] or partial Mayo score <2 for ulcerative colitis [UC]) within the preceding 3 months were included. Patients with J pouch, ostomy, or another eating disorder diagnosis were excluded. Participants completed the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) and Fear of Food Questionnaire (FoF) to evaluate restrictive eating behaviours, plus questions exploring the relationship with body mass index (BMI) and weight change.

Results: Preliminary analysis of a sub-cohort (n=46; 43.5% CD and 56.5% UC; 50% men, 48% women, and 2% non-binary) found NIAS identified 8.7% at-risk of restrictive eating vs. 91.3% not at-risk, while FoF identified 56.5% at-risk vs. 43.5% not at-risk. Both tools showed a higher proportion of at-risk CD patients than UC (NIAS: 15 vs. 3.8%; FoF: 70 vs. 46%). No differences in weight change or BMI were observed between at-risk and not-at-risk groups for either disease type.

Conclusion: The FoF tool, designed specifically for GI conditions, identified a higher proportion of at-risk IBD patients than NIAS, with CD patients at greater risk of C-FAS. Restrictive eating in IBD is understudied; identifying associated patient characteristics could improve future C-FAS identification and management.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium

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Noah Miller

Undergraduate Student, McGill University | Lavoie Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Healthy Starts Summer Studentship Recipient

Quantifying RSV-Neutralizing Antibody Loss in Infants Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery

Session 5 | Poster 34

Noah Miller, Amir Golzan, Tiffany Xian, Marina Vineta Paramo, Abdelilah Majdoubi, Heather Mangan, Joan Robinson, Pascal Lavoie Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection and hospitalization in infants. Nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, is routinely given to high-risk infants to prevent RSV, but protection requires maintaining adequate antibody levels throughout the October-March RSV season.

Infants with congenital heart disease often undergo cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery, which causes hemodilution and alters circulating plasma proteins. Since nirsevimab circulates in plasma, CPB may lower its concentration and weaken RSV protection, similar to reductions seen in other antibodies after bypass. As these infants already face elevated RSV risk, understanding CPB's impact is clinically important. Quantifying nirsevimab loss will inform postoperative re-dosing decisions, keeping high-risk infants protected while avoiding unnecessary dosing.

Objective: To determine the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery on nirsevimab levels in infant serum.

Methods: 34 infants from British Columbia and Alberta who had received nirsevimab and were undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery were enrolled. Serum samples were collected before and after the procedure. Nirsevimab concentration was quantified using ELISA, and neutralizing activity was tested through a plaque reduction assay and flow cytometry. Pre- and post-operative samples were compared to assess the impact of surgery on circulating nirsevimab levels.

Results: Comparison of paired pre- and post-operative samples revealed a consistent decrease in circulating nirsevimab levels following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. This reduction was observed across the entire study cohort and was replicated across all assays used to quantify antibody concentration. The magnitude of loss was notable given nirsevimab's intended long halflife, suggesting that hemodilution and related physiological changes during CPB meaningfully disrupt antibody persistence. Because protection against RSV relies on antibody levels remaining above a protective threshold, this consistent post-operative decline raises concern that infants undergoing CPB during RSV season may fall below the concentration needed for adequate protection, reinforcing the clinical value of monitoring nirsevimab levels and considering re-dosing after surgery in this high-risk population.

Significance: This project directly addresses the question of whether nirsevimab levels are reduced after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. The results will inform clinical decisions about repeat dosing of nirsevimab after CPB to ensure continued protection from RSV in high-risk infants.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 9:00 am – 10:15 am | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Session #6

Presenters Ahmber Bains Julia Bohnen Gurnimrat Brar Juliet Pulfrey Tiffany Xian

Thursday, July 23 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Ahmber Bains

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Brussoni Research Team Outdoor Learning as Developmental Fit: Parents’ Perceptions of Outdoor Learning Supporting Self-Regulation and Attention in School-Aged Children

Session 6 | Poster 35

Ahmber Bains, Christina Han, Megan Zeni, Mariana Brussoni Background: A robust body of research demonstrates that outdoor learning supports children’s physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development; yet access remains inconsistent across schools. While traditional school-based learning often requires prolonged sitting, restricted movement, and sustained attention, many children benefit from opportunities to move, explore, and engage directly with their environment.

Objective: Drawing cautiously on Stage-Environment Fit Theory, this study explored how parents perceive outdoor learning, compared with classroom-based learning, as supporting school-aged children’s self-regulation, attention, and developmental fit.

Methods: Thirteen parents of children in Kindergarten to Grade 7 were recruited from three elementary schools in the Richmond School District. Four semi-structured focus groups were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

A focused literature review was also conducted to situate the findings within existing research on parent perspectives, attention and engagement, self-regulation, and barriers to implementation.

Results: Three themes were identified. First, parents viewed outdoor learning as a valuable means of supporting self-regulation through movement, energy release, and behavioural reset, allowing children to return to classroom learning better prepared to focus. Second, parents described attention as context-dependent and shaped by environmental engagement. Novelty, hands-on learning, sensory experiences, and active participation were perceived as increasing children’s interest, concentration, and memory. Third, parents reported that access to outdoor learning was inconsistent and often depended on individual teachers, classroom support, school priorities, and institutional concerns related to safety, liability, and resources. The literature broadly supported these themes, showing that outdoor learning is associated with improved attention, engagement, mood, cooperation, and stress regulation, while also identifying teacher confidence, curriculum demands, leadership support, and resources as common barriers.

Conclusion: Overall, parents perceived outdoor learning as a potentially stronger developmental fit than traditional classroom settings for supporting children’s self-regulation and attention. These findings suggest that children’s behaviour and capacity to focus are shaped not only by individual characteristics, but also by the extent to which learning environments accommodate their needs for movement, active engagement, and experiential learning. Increasing teacher support and reducing institutional barriers may help make outdoor learning more consistent and accessible.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Julia Bohnen

Undergraduate Student, Huron University College | Pollard Research Team This work was supported by a 2026 Terry Fox New Investigator Award, awarded to Dr. Samantha Pollard. Julia Bohnen was supported by a summer studentship from this grant.

Mainstream Next-Generation Germline Sequencing for Pediatric Cancer Predisposition in British Columbia

Session 6 | Poster 36

Julia Bohnen, Rebecca J. Deyell, Linlea Armstrong, Samantha Pollard Background: Next generation sequencing (NGS) of tumour and germline in cancer patients simultaneously interrogates multiple genes. It refines diagnostic categorizations, risk stratification and targeted therapeutic decision-making, evaluating underlying cancer predisposition. Although research-based NGS is increasingly available in high-risk pediatric cancers, there is limited large-scale research analyzing its long-term impact on patient and health-system outcomes.

Consequently, the enduring clinical and economic effects of NGS remain uncertain. As many as 10-15% of pediatric cancer patients have underlying cancer predispositions, many of which are unknown prior to testing. In response, the oncology program at BC Children's Hospital (BCCH) is beginning to provide access to a clinically validated, cancer predisposition virtual panel on a whole genome backbone for all newly diagnosed patients. Alongside this effort, expanded data collection and infrastructure development is necessary to enable the rigorous evaluation of patient, family, and system impacts.

Objectives: This project broadens data collection and infrastructure to enable robust, standardized retrospective and prospective assessments of the long-term clinical and economic impacts of universal germline testing for pediatric cancer patients at BCCH. Methods: We first conducted a scoping literature review to synthesize existing evidence on the clinical outcomes of NGS in pediatric oncology. Findings informed the development of a preliminary core set of data elements (n=125) to evaluate the impacts of mainstream germline testing for patients with pediatric cancers. Following data dictionary development, we mapped each element to internal holdings to ensure timely and comprehensive data capture. We are now conducting a retrospective chart analysis of all pediatric cancer patients diagnosed at BCCH between 2022 and 2024 to establish a pre-intervention counterfactual patient cohort and characterize patient care trajectories prior to mainstream testing implementation.

Significance: This study will provide critical, decision-grade evidence regarding the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of mainstream germline testing. By establishing a framework for iterative evaluation, our findings will enable expedited data access and estimation of the clinical and system-wide impacts of NGS, subsequently informing future implementation and reimbursement decisions. Our work supports the long-term well-being of pediatric oncology patients at BCCH by ensuring appropriate and timely access to precision medicine.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Gurnimrat Brar

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Hou Research Team An Exploration of Parent-Child Relationship Quality within Immigrant Families: Preliminary Work

Session 6 | Poster 37

Gurnimrat Brar, Sophia Guan, Rand Wang, Sharon Hou Background: The parent-child relationship plays a fundamental role in shaping the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of young adults. Within immigrant families, these relationships are shaped by factors such as migration, cultural values, language, and acculturation between parents and children. Although parent-child relationships have been widely studied, less is known about the specific characteristics that determine a quality parent-child relationship in immigrant populations. Existing research suggests that parental warmth, support, and an open communication style are associated with better psychological adjustment and better socio-emotional well-being among immigrant young adults.

Objective: To conduct a scoping review to examine how quality of parent-child relationships are defined and characterized within immigrant families.

Methods and Work-In-Progress: This scoping review will include peer-reviewed, empirical studies that investigate the parent-child relationship of immigrant families. The review will explore how relationship quality is conceptualised and measured. A search strategy is being developed.

Search terms include immigration, acculturation, family or parent-child relationship quality, parent-child or family conflict, and young adult. Preliminary screening of the literature suggests that parent-child relationship quality is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct, often characterized by emotional closeness, mutual trust, effective communication, and low levels of conflict.

Expected Outcomes/Implications: Findings will provide a more complete understanding of what factors contribute to a quality parent-child relationship within immigrant families and inform future search on strategies, supports, and interventions that promote healthy family dynamics and well-being for immigrant young people and their families.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Juliet Pulfrey

Undergraduate Student, Dalhousie University | Miller Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Brain, Behaviour & Development Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 6 | Poster 39

Associations Between Neonatal Hippocampal Volume and School-Age Executive Function in Children Born Preterm J. Pulfrey, E. J. G. Brian, S. Ufkes, V. Rapos, C. Chau, T. Guo, J. van Dyk, V. Chau, H. M. Branson, L. G. Ly, E. N. Kelly, R. Grunau, S. P. Miller Introduction: Preterm birth is associated with impaired brain development, with the hippocampus being particularly vulnerable. Children born preterm are also at increased risk of executive functioning difficulties. Whether neonatal hippocampal volume is associated with later executive functioning in children born preterm remains unclear. This study examined associations between neonatal hippocampal volume and executive functioning, specifically working memory and inhibition, at 4–7 years in a multicenter cohort of children born preterm.

Methods: A total of 234 children born preterm (mean gestational age 27.8 ± 2.4 weeks) with neonatal MRI and Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Preschool (BRIEF-P) follow-up data at school age were included. Left and right hippocampal volumes were automatically segmented using the MAGeT-Brain pipeline (Multiple Automatically Generated Templates) and manually revised from MRI scans acquired early in life (EIL; mean postmenstrual age 32.6 ± 2.4 weeks) and at term-equivalent age (TEA; mean postmenstrual age 41.2 ± 3.2 weeks). Left and right volumes were summed to derive total hippocampal volume for analysis.

Multiple linear regression models examined associations between hippocampal volume and BRIEF-P working memory and inhibit T-scores, with birth gestational age, postmenstrual age at MRI, sex, and total cranial volume included as covariates.

Results: Larger total hippocampal volumes measured at EIL were associated with lower BRIEF-P Working Memory (B = -2.53, p = 0.023) and Inhibit T-scores (B = -2.12, p = 0.023) at 4–7 years, indicating fewer executive functioning difficulties. Both EIL associations remained significant after false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Total hippocampal volume measured at TEA was not associated with BRIEF-P Working Memory (B = -1.18, p = 0.24) or Inhibit T-scores (B = -1.43, p = 0.12).

Conclusion: Smaller hippocampal volumes measured shortly after birth (EIL), but not at TEA, were associated with greater executive functioning impairment in children born preterm. This highlights the early neonatal period as a sensitive window for neurodevelopment following preterm birth.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Tiffany Xian

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Lavoie Research Team UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient & BioTalent Canada Student Work Placement Program Recipient

Session 6 | Poster 40

Establishing a flow cytometry assay to characterize antigen-specific immune responses following RSV vaccination Tiffany Xian, Blandine Dang, Caitlin O'Malley, Noah Miller, Amir Golzan, Abdelilah Majdoubi, Pascal Lavoie Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants. In Canada, nearly all children will be infected with RSV before two years of age, with 1-2% requiring hospitalization. Young infants are prone to severe RSV infection, linked to defective immune responses such as skewing of CD4+ T cells toward Th2/Th17 phenotypes and emergence of IgE+ virus-specific B cells. The IRIS study follows a prospective cohort of 300 infants born during two seasonal windows to compare immune responses across infection status and age, guiding identification of early life immune signatures involved in RSV immunopathogenesis.

Objective: To develop and validate a flow cytometry assay for characterizing immune kinetics following RSV vaccination in healthy adults, establishing its use identifying antigen-specific immune responses in infants.

Methods: Blood from one vaccinated and one unvaccinated adult donor was collected.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from both donors were analyzed weekly for four weeks after RSV vaccination. Cells were rested for four hours and then assessed for viability and cell recovery. Subsequently, PBMCs were distributed for T-cell activation induced marker assays, B-cell analysis, and FMO controls, with spectral flow cytometry conducted on all samples.

Preliminary Results: Peak adaptive immune responses were observed one week after vaccination. Pre-F specific T cells expanded substantially, with CD4+ T cells increasing five-fold and CD8+ T cells increasing six-fold. We found that pre-F protein elicited greater CD8+ T-cell activation than N protein, confirming an antigen-specific immune response directed toward the vaccine target. Plasmablast populations also increased from 1.45% to 37.4% of B cells, indicating an antibody secreting response.

Next Steps: These findings establish a validated framework for immune monitoring in RSV infected infants. As infants mount a primary response during natural RSV infection as opposed to vaccine-induced recall, we expect cohort immune responses to differ in magnitude and kinetics but involve similar antigen-specific immune cell populations and signalling behaviours. We will next incorporate cytokine profiling and functional stimulation assays.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Session #7 Thursday, July 23 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Misheel Altanbadralt Julia Crowther Siddharth Das Harsimran Dhillon Christopher Orban

Misheel Altanbadralt Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Boerner Research Team AMS Healthcare Hannah Studentship Recipient

Session 7 | Poster 41

Unmasking the Norms: Autism, Chronic Pain, and Intersecting Marginalizations in Healthcare Misheel Altan, Bethany Donaghy, Alexandra Nevile, Jessica Luu, David Moore, Katelynn E. Boerner Background: Chronic pain in young people is a highly distressing experience that is related to disability, mental health, interruptions in recreational, academic, and occupational outcomes, and significant costs to the healthcare system. In contrast to early research suggesting that autistic individuals experience reduced pain sensitivity, recent research demonstrates that autistic individuals tend to experience heightened and more variable pain along with higher rates of chronic pain conditions than neurotypical individuals. Importantly, autistic identity and pain experiences cannot be understood in isolation from gender and other axes of marginalization, especially since individuals who exist at the crossroads of multiple systems of oppression may be more likely to experience chronic pain as they face systemic barriers to receiving appropriate care.

Objective: To understand the pain experiences of autistic young people with particular attention to their sensory experiences as well as identity-based (e.g., gender) and structural (e.g., income) factors. We seek to explore the following: (a) How do autistic young people experience and seek care for their chronic pain? and (b) How do intersectional factors play a role in their chronic pain experiences?

Methods: The research team has recruited 27 diverse autistic individuals aged 13-25 years-old with chronic pain, who have each completed virtual semi-structured interviews to explore their pain experiences. Interviews explored the diagnostic process for both chronic pain and autism, autism-specific pain experiences, and the role of intersecting identities. Reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) was used to identify meaning across the dataset, following an established 6-phase approach. RTA ensures researchers’ positionalities and prior biases are recognized when engaging in analysis, while prioritizing participant narratives.

Significance: Stigma, unaccommodating healthcare systems, and overlooking sensory-related experiences may limit the level of engagement and help autistic young people receive when seeking treatment for their pain. By centering their narratives, and acknowledging the intersecting identities that inform these narratives, the findings will inform how healthcare services can be modified to ensure autistic peoples’ pains are properly considered. Neurodivergent-centered care and more inclusive approaches are necessary to begin to deconstruct historical patterns of ableism and invalidation.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Julia Crowther

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Voss Research Team The Association between Physical Activity Parenting Practices and Physical Activity Levels in Children With and Without Congenital Heart Disease

Session 7 | Poster 42

Julia Crowther, Ty Sideroff, Jenn Collins, Kevin Harris, Christine Voss Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects approximately 1 in 100 births. While physical activity is associated with better psychosocial and physiological health, children with CHD tend to be less active than their typical peers (CTRL group). Physical Activity Parenting Practices (PAPP) describe behaviours that may impact a child’s physical activity levels; however, our understanding of how PAPP relates to physical activity in children with CHD remains limited.

Objectives: To describe the PAPP of parents/guardians of children with vs. without CHD, and to assess the association between PAPP and child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) within each group.

Methods: Children aged 5-10 years old with and without CHD, and their parents/guardians participated. Parents completed the 31-item Physical Activity Parenting Practices (PAPP) Item Bank, which yielded scores across three domains: structure, autonomy promotion, and coercive control. Children wore an ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer for seven days to measure MVPA (min/day). In R, Welch’s independent-sample t-tests were used to compare PAPP domain scores between children with CHD vs. CTRL group, and associations between PAPP domains and MVPA were assessed using Spearman rank correlations.

Results: The analytical sample included 78 children with CHD (41% girls), and 88 typical peers (CTRLs; 49% girls). MVPA did not differ significantly between groups in unadjusted comparisons.

Parents of children with CHD reported significantly lower scores in the structure domain (p<0.01) than parents of CTRL children. Autonomy promotion and coercive control were not different between groups. Within the CHD group, structure (rho=0.53) and autonomy promotion (rho=0.40) were positively associated with MVPA, while coercive control (rho=-0.27) was negatively associated with MVPA (all p<0.05). Among the CTRL group, only structure (rho=0.31) and autonomy promotion (rho=0.31) were positively correlated with MVPA (both p<0.05).

Conclusions: Parents of children with CHD were less likely to organize and facilitate physical activity than parents of typical peers, possibly reflecting uncertainty around safe participation.

Unlike structure and autonomy support domains, coercive control practices related to lower MVPA only in children with CHD, suggesting that children may be sensitive to how parents encourage activity. Parenting practices may be a modifiable behaviour for promoting physical activity in this population.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Siddharth Das

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Z. Brown Research Team Perioperative Experiences of Children with Autism: a Narrative Study (PECANS) Phase II

Session 7 | Poster 43

Sid Das, Casey Li, Everett Vun, Sarah Musni, Kirsten Stratton, Zoë Brown Introduction: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have more healthcare encounters compared to neurotypical children and may experience increased perioperative anxiety related to disrupted routines, sensory sensitivity, and unfamiliar environments. Caring for children with ASD can cause additional role strain for healthcare professionals. Whilst there has been emerging literature on evaluating patients with ASD and provider experiences, limited work has been done in Canada.

Objectives: To explore the perioperative experience of children with ASD, their caregivers, and their healthcare providers by obtaining perspectives and feedback on existing support strategies and to inform future interventions to improve the experience for future families.

Methods: With research ethics board approval and informed consent, in Phase I we conducted semi-structured interviews with caregivers of children >6 years diagnosed with ASD undergoing day-case procedures. In Phase II, we will recruit healthcare professionals involved in perioperative ASD care, including anesthesiologists, nurses, child life services, and anesthesiology assistants. The study will be introduced at rounds and staff meetings, followed by email invitation via REDCap for consent. Interviews will be conducted via Zoom lasting 30-60 minutes. Two interviewers, not involved in patients’ direct clinical care, will explore domains including: 1) educational background/experience, 2) caring for patients with ASD in various perioperative settings, and 3) existing systems, training, and communication. Themes will be identified by iterative team-based thematic analysis using NVivo. We anticipate recruiting 10-25 healthcare professionals to ensure feasibility and a diverse sample. Recruitment will continue until thematic saturation has been reached.

Results: In Phase I, 13 caregivers were interviewed. Children included 10 males, median age 11, range 6-16 years. 5 major themes were identified: 1) child experience, 2) personalized perioperative journey, 3) staff interaction, 4) information flow, and 5) family dynamics. Phase II is currently under ethics review, with recruitment expecting to begin in late July.

Conclusion: Caregivers value patient-centred interactions and staff who are familiar with working with patients with ASD. The findings of this study may guide future implementation processes at our institution, improving the care that children with ASD receive, and enhancing the ability of healthcare professionals to perform their roles more effectively.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Harsimran Dhillon Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Hayden Research Team

Huntington Society of Canada – Brain Canada Undergraduate Student Summer Fellowship Recipient

Session 7 | Poster 46

The influence of loss of interruption variants on astrocyte reactivity in Huntington disease Harsimran K. Dhillon, Jessica C. Barron, Michael R. Hayden Background: The Huntington disease (HD) mutation produces a pathogenic mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. mHTT disrupts diverse cellular pathways, leading to adverse molecular phenotypes and eventually neurodegeneration. Dr. Hayden’s team previously identified a key genetic modifier associated with hastened HD onset – on average 13 years earlier. This variation lacks two interrupting regions within the HTT gene, and it is collectively termed the CAG-CCG loss of interruption (LOI) variant. Although this variant is the most significant genetic modifier identified for HD to date; its underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

The canonical HD brain is marked by reactive astrogliosis, where astrocytes exhibit elevated GFAP expression and have altered morphologies, such as larger cell bodies and reduced branch complexity. Preliminary data from our lab suggests that astrogliosis is further exacerbated in LOI variant HD donor brains compared to canonical HD patients matched for CAG repeat length.

However, additional data is required to confirm this early finding.

Objective: To determine the impact of the CAG-CCG LOI variant on astrocyte reactivity and morphology, as compared to canonical HD and wild type control conditions.

Methods: Our study used two experimental models. The first used human striatal tissue samples (control N = 1; canonical HD N = 4; LOI N = 2) obtained from the HD Biobank, which were cryosectioned onto slides. The second used primary corticostriatal cultures isolated from wildtype mouse pups. At DIV 10 cultures were transfected with custom AAV plasmids containing either the canonical or LOI variant sequence and fixed at DIV 17. Human and primary cultured cells were immunostained using GFAP and DAPI antibodies. Human and mouse-derived astrocytes were imaged via confocal microscopy and morphologically analyzed for branch number, length and complexity using Imaris software.

Results: Average total astrocyte filament length was decreased in LOI human tissue samples compared to canonical HD and control cohorts. Parallel analysis of astrocyte filament length in corticostriatal cultures is ongoing and will serve to isolate confounding variables associated with the human tissue data.

Significance: This project examines how the HTT mutation impacts astrocyte function, and assesses whether reactive astrogliosis is associated with the CAG-CCG LOI genetic modifier.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Christopher Orban Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Steiner Research Team

Transcriptional Characterization of an In Vitro Human Colonoid-Derived Monolayer Model Mimicking Chronic Ulcerative Colitis Through Repeated Damage and Recovery

Session 7 | Poster 47

Christopher Orban, Shruti Sandilya, Ted Steiner Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC), a major form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder characterized by repeated cycles of epithelial injury and repair that compromise intestinal barrier function. Human colonoid-derived monolayers provide a physiologically relevant in vitro platform to investigate epithelial responses to chronic injury.

In this study, we transcriptionally characterized a repeated damage–recovery human colonoidderived monolayer model to evaluate molecular changes associated with epithelial regeneration, barrier integrity, stemness, differentiation, and tissue remodeling.

Methods: Healthy human colonoid-derived epithelial monolayers were subjected to five cycles of damage and recovery to establish an in vitro model of chronic epithelial injury. Damage was induced by exposing monolayers to nutrient-deprived medium, followed by recovery in an optimized in-house conditioned medium to support regeneration. Following the final recovery phase, RNA was isolated using a Qiagen RNA extraction kit and reverse transcribed into cDNA. Gene expression was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) using the ΔΔCt method and normalized to housekeeping genes. Differential gene expression was assessed across functional categories relevant to epithelial biology, including inflammatory activation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, epithelial injury, stemness and regeneration, YAP/TAZmediated regenerative remodeling, epithelial barrier integrity, and cellular differentiation.

Results: Following five cycles of damage and recovery, genes associated with epithelial barrier integrity, ion transport, stemness, differentiation, and YAP/TAZ-mediated regenerative remodeling were differentially expressed, indicating progressive transcriptional remodeling toward an IBDassociated epithelial state. Markers associated with YAP/TAZ-mediated regenerative remodeling were upregulated, while stem cell-associated markers were reduced, accompanied by increased expression of differentiation markers.

Discussion: Repeated cycles of epithelial injury and recovery induced transcriptional remodeling in healthy human colonoid-derived monolayers, resulting in gene expression changes consistent with features of a UC-associated epithelial phenotype. Dysregulation of genes involved in barrier integrity, epithelial regeneration, differentiation, and YAP/TAZ signaling suggests that chronic injury drives epithelial remodeling toward a disease-like state. While the observed transcriptional changes support the utility of this model for studying epithelial responses to chronic injury, validation against UC patient-derived colonoids and inclusion of additional biological replicates will be necessary to determine the extent to which this model recapitulates the molecular features of UC. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Session #8 Thursday, July 23 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Julliana Zarah Gabiane Omar Harb Natalie Ma Claire Padvaiskas Moneek Rawan

Julliana Zarah Gabiane Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Horvath Research Team Restoring Calcium Homeostasis in ALS: Evaluating the Efficacy of Pridopidine on Modulating Calcium Signalling in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)

Session 8 | Poster 48

Julliana Zarah Gabiane, Gabriella Horvath, Aamina Shah Background: Pridopidine is a highly selective Sigma-1 Receptor (S1R) agonist that activates the S1R pathway known to mitigate and attenuate calcium-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The S1R agonist serves as a promising pharmacological intervention for its potent, restorative approach in targeting the mechanistic origins of many neurodegenerative disease models, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Huntington's Disease (HD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Pridopidine’s capacity to recover the cell’s abnormal calcium signalling dynamics, consolidate mitochondrial-associated membrane (MAM) integrity, and restore mitochondrial dysfunction demonstrates its neuroprotective potential in pathologies driven by disruptions in calcium homeostasis.

Objective: To test the effects of Pridopidine-mediated S1R activation on abnormal intracellular calcium signalling in neurons with an unresolved neurodegenerative disorder.

Methods: Patient-derived neurons were cultured from frozen cryovials of patients’ induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), then differentiated into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) before neuronal differentiation was induced to generate neurons. iPSC and NPC colonies were distinguished through the presence of SOX2 + SSEA-4 and SOX2 + Nestin antibodies, respectively, via immunofluorescence staining. Calcium imaging was performed on mature wild-type and patient-derived neurons using confocal fluorescent microscopy to record fluctuations in fluorescent calcium transients throughout a five-phase drug-testing protocol involving Hanks’ Buffer Solution System (HBSS), glutamate, and Pridopidine.

Results and Expected Results: Calcium transients with glutamate on wild-type neurons displayed an expected spike in fluorescent intensity. However, sequential recordings of calcium fluctuations posttreatment with Pridopidine and glutamate, respectively, demonstrated an unprecedented increase in fluorescent intensity.

Anticipated results include elevated baseline fluorescent intensity in HBSS among patient-derived neurons in comparison to wild-type neurons due to dysfunctional ER calcium release receptors.

Subsequently, fluorescent signals after glutamate are greater in patient-derived neurons. Pridopidine treatment should regulate over activated ER calcium release receptors, decreasing fluorescent intensity near to baseline fluorescence like in wild-type neurons. This reduction in intracellular calcium suggests the restoration of calcium signalling in patient-derived neurons mediated by Pridopidine. The addition of glutamate post-treatment should show a decline in fluorescent intensity, demonstrating the patient-derived neuron’s capacity to establish calcium homeostasis has been rescued.

Significance & Future Directions: By validating the efficacy of Pridopidine as a pharmacological therapeutic towards medicating neurodegenerative disorders, continued research can propel the implementation of Pridopidine into clinical applications.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Omar Harb

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Kobor Research Team NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award & UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 8 | Poster 49

Exploring the genetic and environmental contributions to early life blood DNA methylation trajectories Omar Harb, Erick I. Navarro-Delgado, Karlie Edwards, Julie L. MacIsaac, Keegan Korthauer, Michael S. Kobor Background: The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework studies the lasting impacts of early life environmental exposures on future health and disease.

One mechanism through which this biological embedding may occur is through epigenetic modifications, which refers to a set of molecular tags that can influence gene expression without modifying the primary DNA sequence. DNA methylation, the covalent attachment of a methyl group to a cytosine base, is an epigenetic biomarker responsive to environmental exposures and potentially influenced by an organism’s genetic makeup. The epigenome has been observed to be dynamic in early life, yet few studies have explored how genetics and the environment contribute to the change in DNA methylation levels over time in developing children.

Objective: Investigate the genetic and environmental contributions towards the genome-wide variation in DNA methylation trajectories across the first five years of life.

Methods: The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) cohort enrolling over 3500 children from across Canada was used in this longitudinal analysis. We curated a set of around 1000 environmental factors from each participant’s environmental variables. At ages zero, one, and five, blood samples were collected from a subset of 757 participants and DNA methylation profiles were quantified. To examine the change in DNA methylation levels across time, trajectories were estimated using linear regression models. Out of 595 276 291 trajectories, 170 148 have been identified to be highly variable based on cutoffs established from DNA methylation sites proven to hold stable across individuals and tissue types. These highly variable trajectories will be analyzed using the RAMEN R package, which explores if genetic and environmental variables contribute towards the variance in DNA methylation trajectories individually, additively, or if they dependent on one another interactively.

Significance: Understanding the relationship between gene-environment interactions and DNA methylation changes across the genome during a sensitive window can open up doors in future epigenetic research. This could improve the interpretation of epigenome wide association studies, which may lead to policy changes and improved personalized medicine.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Natalie Ma

Undergraduate Student, McGill University | Boerner Research Team Sunny Hill Health Centre Research Summer Studentship Recipientt

Translating Care: Centering Lived Experiences in Knowledge Translation for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth Living with Chronic Pain

Session 8 | Poster 51

Natalie Ma, Levi Du, Katelynn Boerner Background: Trans and gender-diverse (TGD) youth report higher rates of pain when their visible gender expression differs from cultural norms. Their experience of chronic pain involves additional layers of complexity related to navigating gender identity, intersecting identities and social positions, and cis-normative medical environments. Access to evidence-based information about pain in TGD youth has the potential to support youth self-advocacy, provide validation for their own experience, and facilitate understanding and self-management. While youth-oriented knowledge translation efforts exist, a thoughtful approach must be taken to address the mistrust related to systemic inequities in research and healthcare in marginalized youth.

Objective: Co-create knowledge translation products with TGD youth to transform research data from the Pine Lab publication, Experiences of Gender-Diverse Youth Living With Chronic Pain, into accessible knowledge and inclusive tools that can be trusted by diverse TGD youth to improve their health and well-being. Through this work, we aim to also evaluate various methods of knowledge translation and establish an effective template for translation of future projects involving TGD youth.

Methodology: We have invited TGD youths to join focus groups to co-create effective knowledge translation methods. Our discussions will focus on the inclusivity, accessibility, relatability, engagingness, and reliability of various content-presenting formats such as websites, videos, social media, interactive content, infographic, etc. within the TGD community. Ongoing feedback will be obtained from the youth participants as knowledge translation products are being created. We will then explore the efficacy and execution of different products. Youth that access content have the option to share their identities and evaluations as data to be recorded regarding reach, interaction, access, inclusivity, and effectiveness.

Significance: This project will explore effective methods to serve as a template for future knowledge translation for TGD youth. Methods explored in this project can be applied for diverse youth populations not limited to TGD youth. Furthermore, these methods can easily and efficiently inform knowledge and tools that can be implemented immediately in the lives of youths.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Claire Padvaiskas Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Stewart Research Team UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient

The Next Chapter: Predicting Early Adult Outcomes Following Childhood-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Session 8 | Poster 52

Claire Padvaiskas, S. Evelyn Stewart, Boyee Lin, Mizuki Kubota Background: Childhood-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder associated with significant impairment in functioning and quality of life. Although many children improve with treatment, a substantial proportion experience persistent symptoms and psychosocial difficulties into adulthood. While previous longitudinal studies have examined symptom persistence, fewer have investigated how childhood clinical characteristics relate to adult outcomes. This study examines long-term outcomes among young adults previously enrolled in the Stewart Lab Paediatric OCD Registry at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH).

Objectives: • To characterize OCD symptom severity, functional impairment, and quality of life among young adults with childhood-onset OCD. • To examine relationships between childhood OCD severity and early adult outcomes.

• To identify childhood clinical and demographic characteristics associated with long-term outcomes.

Methods: Participants aged 19–30 years will be recruited from the Stewart Lab Paediatric OCD Registry at BCCH. Participants previously completed standardized self- and parent-report assessments, including the Childhood Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), during intake to the BCCH OCD Clinic between 2012–2020. Participants will complete a one-time REDCap survey including demographic questions, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Historical registry data will be linked with current survey responses. Statistical analyses will examine associations between childhood clinical characteristics and adult outcomes.

Expected Outcomes: We anticipate variability in symptom severity, functional impairment, and quality of life among young adults with childhood-onset OCD. Greater childhood OCD severity is expected to be associated with increased adult symptoms, greater functional impairment, and reduced quality of life. Findings may identify characteristics associated with more favourable or unfavourable long-term outcomes.

Significance: This study will improve understanding of childhood-onset OCD trajectories by linking childhood assessments with adult patient-reported outcomes. Identifying predictors of adult symptom severity, functioning, and quality of life may support earlier risk identification, personalized treatment planning, and long-term follow-up strategies for youth with OCD. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Moneek Rawan

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Smile Research Team UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient – Albert & Mary Steiner Award

Session 8 | Poster 53

Improving Access to Evidence-Informed Feeding Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in British Columbia Through a Provincial Needs Assessment and ECHO-Based Knowledge Translation Model Moneek Rawan, Sharon Smile Background: Feeding challenges – including sensory-based food selectivity, mealtime rigidity, anxiety-driven avoidance, and food refusal are prevalent in an estimated 46-89% of autistic children. These challenges are associated with nutritional deficiencies, family stress, behavioural escalation, and reduced participation in home and community life, which can compound to have long-term impacts on health and wellbeing.

Objectives: Characterize feeding assessment and intervention practices used by community providers serving autistic children in British Columbia (BC); identify regional and systemic barriers affecting access to feeding services for autistic children in BC; Assess provider interest, educational priorities, and barriers related to participation in a provincial ASD Feeding ECHO program, identifying provider training needs, priorities, and preferred formats for future capacitybuilding initiatives.

Methods: A REDCap survey will be administered to occupational therapists (OT), registered dietitians (RD), speech-language pathologists (SLP), nurse practitioners (NP), pediatricians, family physicians, psychologists, and board-certified behaviour analysts (BCBA) who assess and/or treat autistic children with feeding concerns. Dissemination will occur via regulatory bodies (for RDs, physicians, psychologists, and NPs), and via the BC Registry of Autism Service Providers for OTs, SLPs, and BCBAs. A literature review of existing evidence-based assessment and intervention practices was conducted to inform survey creation, which was then reviewed by a community-based clinician.

Significance: Multidisciplinary treatment teams are essential for comprehensive care of feeding difficulties in autistic children, but BC lacks a coordinated care pathway, with no provincial data existing describing service demand, capacity, or clinical approaches used by frontline providers.

Many families thereby access siloed, fragmented, and inadequate care, which is exacerbated by the fact that autistic children and youth with significant feeding issues such as highly restricted eating with a sensory or behavioural based etiology are not eligible for our hospital-based feeding intervention services. This work will improve the health of children and their families by identifying drivers and barriers to timely and appropriate care and insights into strategies to dismantle them.

This study will produce the first provincial scan of community service realities of feeding services for autistic children across BC to inform evidence-based policy, resource allocation, and training initiatives.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Session #9 Thursday, July 23 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Rebecca Beaton Zoyia Chohan Alexandra Hawkins Lana Navarro Justin Tran

Rebecca Beaton Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Ramsay Research Team

Feasibility of Wearing a Compact EEG system with fNIRS in Pediatric Populations During Visual Scene Search

Session 9 | Poster 54

Rebecca Beaton, Erin Kropp, Scott Ramsay Background: The integration of wearable technology such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems has emerged as a promising advancement in neuroimaging. These non-invasive, user-friendly devices enable real-time monitoring of brain activity outside traditional laboratory and hospital settings, offering significant potential for clinical assessment, neurodevelopmental research, and personalized interventions.

Despite their growing popularity, little is known regarding their feasibility and acceptability for children.

Objectives: To 1) evaluate the feasibility of using a wearable EEG system with fNIRS device; 2) the acceptability of wearing an EEG/fNIRS device; and 3) test a movement versus cognitive paradigm to detect differences in oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated (HbR) hemoglobin levels in the frontal cortex.

Methods: In this pilot, prospective cohort study, 20 healthy children aged 7-18 years old are fit with MUSE Athena band (portable EEG system and fNIRS). The testing protocol begins with participants completing a sit to stand test (movement condition) followed by completion of a block design of the “Where’s Waldo?” visual scene search paradigm (cognitive condition). fNIRS data is continuously recorded. Upon completion of the testing protocol, participants complete a questionnaire on the acceptability of the device. Feasibility data is presented as the percentage of prescribed fNIRS wearing time. Median and IQR are calculated for acceptability. Paired t-tests are used to compare average changes in HbO and HbR over time.

Results: Preliminary results: of the 9 children enrolled so far, all participants completed 100% of prescribed fNIRS wearing time. Results from the acceptability questionnaire show that participants found that the device fit well and was comfortable. Key findings include a significant difference in HbO levels between cognitive and movement paradigms (+12.2 uM, t = 3.40, p = 0.014) among participants. In addition, findings suggest that HbR levels may be a more sensitive marker of cognitive activity than HbO levels.

Implications: Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of portable EEG and fNIRS systems not only advances technological innovation but also holds the potential to transform early diagnosis and intervention strategies by making brain monitoring more accessible, unobtrusive, and adaptable to the unique needs of children.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Zoyia Chohan

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Hou Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Summer Studentship Recipient

Developing a resource library to support inclusive research practices in psychology

Session 9 | Poster 55

Zoyia Chohan, Sophia Guan, Sharon HJ Hou Background: Advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED), and health equity in pediatric psychology requires clear and thorough communication of key concepts. Plain-language knowledge mobilization can improve the accessibility, inclusivity, and reach of research, ensuring that diverse audiences can meaningfully engage with the research process and findings.

Objectives: To develop plain-language resources that support more equitable and inclusive research practice and enhance knowledge mobilization in pediatric psychology.

Methods: Published literature and publicly available web-based resources related to EDI, neurodiversity, accessibility, and health equity were reviewed and synthesized. This work informed the development of three resources: (1) a glossary of key terms; (2) a toolkit of accessible key messages and practical recommendations for inclusive research communication; and (3) plain-language summaries of peer-reviewed publications from the research team.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This is an ongoing project and will produce a resource library to support researchers, clinician-scientists, trainees, and community members in understanding and communicating EDI and psychological research in more accessible ways.

Resources will be shared through our team’s website or other open-access platforms such as the Open Science Framework. Ultimately, this work will contribute to more inclusive and transparent research processes and practices, an important foundation for conducting EDI research and engaging in knowledge mobilization with diverse communities.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Alexandra Hawkins Undergraduate Student, University of Toronto | Eddy Research Team Loran Educational Work Placement Summer Grant Recipient (LEWPS)

Characterization of Pediatric Pulmonary Graft Versus Host Disease After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Using Quantitative CT

Session 9 | Poster 56

Alexandra EH Hawkins, James A Liggins, Jonathan H Rayment, Rachel L Eddy Background: Graft versus host disease is the most common non-relapse complication of paediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), with pulmonary-chronic graft versus host disease (p-cGvHD) representing its most morbid version. p-cGvHD is difficult to detect in children using current clinical tools, and the need for more sensitive tools to detect and monitor p-cGvHD in the pediatric population has been specifically recognized in the HSCT community.

Objective: The effectiveness of quantitative computed tomography (CT) to detect p-cGvHD will be evaluated and compared against that of more conventional tools including spirometry and multiple breath washout (MBW).

Methods: A total of 56 patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant at BC Children’s Hospital between February 2019 and January 2024 were enrolled. For this analysis, we included 31 patients with complete CT, spirometry, and MBW datasets; 24 had both preHSCT and at least one post-HSCT CT scans (up to a maximum of 2 years post-HSCT), and 7 had only pre-HSCT. CTs will be analyzed for measures of parenchymal integrity, air trapping and airway morphology using established software (Insights, VIDA Diagnostics, Inc.).

Baseline measurements will be compared across patients with and without p-cGvHD, to detect morphological characteristics related to increased risk. Then, all follow-up post-HSCT CTs will be compared within a patients record to monitor changes, and against other patients in the cohort with similar follow-up visits (3-month, 6-month, 9-month, 1-year, 18-month, 2-year).

Significance: Research indicates earlier treatment of the p-cGvHD reduces morbidity rate, highlighting the need for quicker and more accessible detection strategies. Quantitative CT measures could fill this gap given their high structural quality, while remaining efficient, easy and less invasive than other pulmonary tests.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Lana Navarro

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Boerner Research Team American Psychological Association Summer Undergraduate Psychology Experience in Research (SUPER) Fellowship Recipient

Session 9 | Poster 58

Contextualizing Eating Disturbances in Chronic Pain: Lived Experiences of Autistic Youth and Young Adults Lana Navarro, Katelynn E. Boerner Background: Chronic pain affects many aspects of daily life, including appetite and eating habits. Existing research has documented associations between chronic pain, eating disturbances, and weight stigma; however, these experiences are often examined independently, as opposed to context-dependent experiences, in neurotypical samples. Autistic individuals may face unique challenges, as differences in sensory processing and communication can influence how pain and eating difficulties are experienced, yet their perspectives remain underrepresented in research.

Objective: This study aimed to examine how autistic youth describe the relationships among chronic pain, eating disturbances, and experiences of weight stigma.

Methods: This study involved a secondary qualitative analysis of interviews from 27 autistic youth and young adults with chronic pain. Data was re-analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, specifically focusing on responses related to eating disturbances and weight stigma.

Preliminary Findings: Participants described eating disturbances as being shaped by diverse pain experiences, including sensory processing factors, pain-related nausea, and difficulty preparing food. They highlighted the continual mental and physical load required to navigate these challenges through ongoing planning and adaptation, reducing their capacity to engage in broader pain management. Social support, healthcare interactions, and interoceptive uncertainty further moderated how participants experienced and managed these difficulties. While weight stigma emerged in some healthcare encounters, broader experiences of dismissal and uncertainty were more prevalent across participant accounts than anticipated.

Preliminary Conclusions: The findings highlight the complex relationships between chronic pain, eating disturbances, and stigma among autistic youth. Future research should further explore the role of healthcare interactions, particularly how patient-centered care and a biopsychosocial approach can help lift the burden of navigating chronic pain and eating disturbances. More specifically, examining different forms of dismissal—such as those related to weight, medication, and gender—may deepen understanding and extend existing frameworks surrounding these relationships.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Justin Tran

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Avinashi Research Team Accuracy of Tissue Transglutaminase- IgA (tTG)-Based Diagnosis of Pediatric Celiac Disease Without Anti-Endomysial Antibody Testing

Session 9 | Poster 59

Justin Tran, Alejandro Vargas, Vilte Barakauskas, Jonathan Bush, Collin Barker, Vishal Avinashi Background: Celiac disease (CD) affects approximately 1% of the population and is one of the most common autoimmune disorders. Diagnosis traditionally relies on positive tissue transglutaminase- IgA (tTG) serology confirmed by duodenal histopathology. The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) recommends a non-biopsy diagnostic approach for children with two tTG levels ≥10 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and a positive anti-endomysial antibody (EMA). EMA testing is not routinely available in British Columbia, and its clinical utility has been questioned.

Objective: To determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of a non-biopsy diagnosis of CD in children with two tTG measurements ≥10× ULN without EMA testing.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of children aged 0–18 years who underwent upper endoscopy with duodenal biopsies for suspected CD at BC Children’s Hospital between January 2018 and July 2025. Pathology reports were identified using the keywords “celiac” and “Marsh.” Duplicate records and cases where CD was not the primary indication for endoscopy were excluded. Biopsies included at least four samples from the second portion of the duodenum and two from the duodenal bulb. Histologic findings were classified as normal or by MarshOberhuber criteria. The two most recent pre-endoscopy tTG measurements and their respective ULN values were recorded.

Results: A total of 1,086 children underwent endoscopy for evaluation of CD during the study period. After exclusions (patients with low IgA, Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus), 921 patients were included; 65% were female and the mean age was 10.3 years. Biopsy-confirmed CD was present in 654 patients (71%). The PPV for biopsy-confirmed CD was 74.5% with two positive tTG results, 83.5% with two tTG values ≥3× ULN, and 95.2% with two tTG values ≥10× ULN. Conclusions: A non-biopsy diagnostic approach based on two tTG measurements ≥10× ULN demonstrated a PPV exceeding 95% without EMA testing. These findings support the use of a tTG-based diagnostic pathway when EMA is unavailable and may aid shared decision-making with patients and families.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Session #10 Thursday, July 23 1:00 – 2:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Yasmeen Al-Mafraji Mohini Bhade Jasleen Brar Nikki Sivakumar Elli Tiliakou

Yasmeen Al-Mafraji

Medical Student, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland- Medical University of Bahrain | Gubbay Research Team Implementation of GeneXpert rapid HIV-1 PCR testing for pregnant individuals presenting at delivery with unknown HIV status or risk factors for HIV acquisition since last testing

Session 10 | Poster 60

Yasmeen Al- Mafraji, Jonathan B. Gubbay, Elspeth MacBain, Laura Sauvé Introduction: Perinatal HIV transmission in Canada is now rare due to universal antenatal screening and timely maternal antiretroviral therapy, but transmission still occurs when maternal infection is undiagnosed at delivery or acquired during pregnancy. Individuals who face structural barriers to prenatal care are more likely to present in labour with unknown HIV status. In British Columbia confirmatory HIV‑1 PCR testing has historically been centralized, requiring empiric neonatal antiretroviral prophylaxis while awaiting results. Rapid intrapartum HIV PCR testing may enable timely diagnosis, reduce unnecessary neonatal medication exposure and support more informed, family‑centred postnatal care.

Methods: Rapid qualitative HIV‑1 polymerase chain reaction testing using the GeneXpert platform was implemented at BC Women’s Hospital in June 2025 for pregnant individuals presenting at delivery with unknown HIV status or ongoing risk factors for HIV acquisition since last testing. This quality improvement initiative used a pre–post implementation design within the provincial prevention of perinatal HIV transmission (PPHT) program. Maternal samples underwent parallel reference HIV PCR testing at the provincial public health laboratory.

Post‑implementation outcomes were compared with historical provincial program data from 2023 to 2025. Primary outcomes included diagnostic turn‑around time (TAT) and duration of neonatal antiretroviral prophylaxis initiated for prevention of perinatal HIV transmission.

Results: Between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026, 89 rapid intrapartum HIV PCR tests were performed on 66 individuals at intervention sites. Mean rapid HIV PCR test-turn-around time was 4.4 hours (in-laboratory: 3.5 hours), significantly faster than standard reference testing (57.1 hours; preliminary comparison, n=19; p<0.0001). Using preliminary provincial PPHT registry data, implementation was associated with a 2.3-day reduction in neonatal antiretroviral exposure at intervention sites relative to other provincial sites, after adjusting for baseline differences and secular trends (p=0.014). Final analysis with the complete dataset is ongoing.

Discussion: Rapid intrapartum HIV PCR testing within the provincial program appears to shorten diagnostic delays and reduce avoidable neonatal multidrug prophylaxis while maintaining timely treatment for truly exposed infants.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Mohini Bhade

Medical Student, Queen's University | Gano Research Team Queen’s Medical Student Research Studentship

Session 10 | Poster 61

Atypical Sensory Profile is Associated with Impaired Functional Development in Neonatal Seizure Survivors with Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Age 5-6 Years Mohini Bhade, Hannah C. Glass, Renée A. Shellhaas, Neonatal Seizure Registry Investigators, Dawn Gano Background: Sensory processing, the ability to detect and integrate sensory experiences, is essential to physical, cognitive, and behavioral functioning and may be dysregulated following neonatal seizures. Characterizing sensory outcomes in children following neonatal seizures is critical in helping parents understand their child’s likelihood of typical development.

Objective: To characterize sensory profiles in early school-age children following acute provoked neonatal seizures and evaluate their relationships with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and adaptive behavior.

Methods: Using data from a multicenter, prospective cohort of neonatal seizures, children aged 5-6 were classified as having atypical sensory processing if they had ≥1 definite or ≥2 possible differences on the Sensory Profile 2. Group differences were assessed using chi-square and analysis of variance tests. Relationships between sensory profile, adaptive behavior, and NDDs, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cerebral Palsy (CP), low intelligence quotient (IQ<70), and epilepsy, were assessed in subgroup analyses.

Results: Among 125 children aged 5-6, 69 (55%) had atypical sensory profiles. Atypical profile was associated with public health insurance and lower maternal education. Two-thirds of children with atypical sensory profiles had NDDs (p<0.001), with higher rates of ADHD (46% vs. 17%, p=0.001), CP (37% vs. 13%, p=0.008), and IQ<70 (18% vs. 2%, p=0.03) compared to children with typical profiles. Children with atypical sensory profiles also had lower Vineland-3 adaptive behavioral scores than those with typical profiles (median [IQR]: 85 [74, 99] vs. 99 [93, 105]; p<0.001). Similar differences were observed within NDD subgroups, with children who had both a NDD and atypical profile scoring lower than children with neither. However, in ADHD, sensory symptoms appeared to account for much of this difference, as ADHD with typical sensory profile was not associated with worse adaptive behavior, whereas in CP, adaptive behavior challenges were observed regardless of sensory profile. Nearly all children with IQ<70 (8/9, 89%) had atypical sensory profiles.

Conclusions: Atypical sensory processing is common in preschool-aged neonatal seizure survivors, is strongly associated with NDDs, and may worsen adaptive functioning. This highlights the need for targeted family counseling and support strategies.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Jasleen Brar

Medical Student, University of Galway | Cameron Research Team Supporting Newcomer Fathers to Promote Early Child Development: A Needs Assessment in Partnership with MOSAIC BC

Session 10 | Poster 62

Jasleen Brar, Nushaiba Nanjiba, Sangeeta Bhonsale, Sharon Hou, Tanya MacGillivray, Joshua Madsen, Adrienne Bale, Emily E. Cameron Background: Canada's growing newcomer population faces structural and social challenges that can affect family wellbeing, including language barriers, financial strain, discrimination, limited social support, and difficulty accessing services. While research has documented elevated wellbeing risks among newcomer mothers, little is known about the experiences of newcomer fathers. Yet fathers play a major role in family functioning, parenting, and child development, and poor paternal wellbeing can negatively affect couple relationships, parenting practices, and child outcomes. Support for newcomer fathers exists through community agencies such as MOSAIC, but fathers remain underrepresented in existing programs.

Objective: This study addresses a key gap in understanding the emotional wellbeing, paternal experiences and service needs for newcomer fathers in Canada. By integrating perspectives from both service providers and newcomer fathers, the findings are expected to identify barriers to service access, unmet needs and opportunities to improve father engagement in community programming.

Methods: This qualitative needs assessment will be conducted in partnership with MOSAIC, a well-established not-for-profit organization focused on supporting more than 33,000 immigrant, refugee, migrant, and culturally diverse clients from families across BC. In Study 1, MOSAIC service providers (N=15-20) who work with newcomer families with children aged 0-5 years will participate in semi-structured focus groups or individual interviews. These discussions will explore service providers' evaluations of fathers' needs, current supports, barriers to participation, and considerations for improving father engagement. In Study 2, newcomer fathers (N=15) of children aged 0-5 years will be recruited for interviews, with attention to groups identified in Study 1 as having particularly low service use. All sessions will be recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and analyzed in NVivo using framework analysis informed by the RE-AIM model.

Significance & Conclusion: Findings will identify unmet needs, barriers to care, and opportunities to tailor community services for newcomer fathers and their families. Focusing on an understudied population, this work has direct implications for child health as supporting paternal wellbeing during early years can promote healthy child development, while reducing the risk of future child concerns linked to parenting stress. Ultimately, this project aims to inform more father-inclusive programming for newcomer communities across Canada.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Nikki Sivakumar

Medical Student, University of Galway | Charlton Research Team Characterizing Analgesia and Sedation Exposure in Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): a Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study

Session 10 | Poster 63

Nikki Sivakumar, Julia Charlton Background: Prematurely-born infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) frequently receive opioids and sedatives during a critical period of brain development. Both untreated pain and exposure to these medications have been linked to altered brain development and poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes, yet there are no consensus guidelines for their use and prescribing varies widely between units. Analgesia and sedation practice at BC Women’s Hospital has previously been described only in the setting of patients recruited to prospective research studies.

Objectives: To characterize the spectrum and variation of analgesic and sedative exposure in a complete cohort of non-surgical preterm infants during their first eight weeks of NICU admission.

Methods: Data were collected from a retrospective cohort of infants born between 24 to 32 weeks’ gestational age and admitted to the BCWH NICU between April 2022 and December 2024. Infants who underwent surgery in the first eight weeks were excluded, yielding 328 infants. Cumulative dose, duration, and weekly average daily dose were abstracted from the electronic medical record for morphine, fentanyl, and dexmedetomidine. Data were summarized descriptively in relation to the demographic variables of the cohort.

Results: Among 328 infants, 171 (52%) received at least one analgesic; morphine was given to 122 infants, fentanyl to 112, and dexmedetomidine to 21. Opioid exposure was concentrated in the first 2 weeks and fell sharply thereafter, with most exposed infants receiving opioids only briefly. A smaller, distinct subgroup of 93 (28%) infants remained on opioids beyond week five.

These infants were the most premature (mean gestational age 27.2 weeks) and were more likely to require invasive ventilation (923%), received the highest cumulative doses (median morphine 473.8 mcg/kg), and accounted for nearly all concurrent sedative use (dexmedetomidine 22%, midazolam 29%). Among these infants, the median weekly morphine dose rose approximately ninefold between the first and sixth weeks. Opioid-exposed infants had lower gestational age and birth weight than unexposed infants. Morphine-only use also declined from 53% in 2022 to 24% in 2024, with a corresponding rise in fentanyl use (p=0.017).

Conclusion: This is the first description of analgesia and sedation exposure in preterm infants at our centre. Exposure followed two distinct patterns: brief use in most infants, and prolonged, escalating use in a smaller group of the most premature and most ventilated infants. Opioid prescribing also shifted from morphine toward fentanyl over the study period. These baseline data are a necessary first step toward guiding future practice review and can help neonatologists weigh the harms of untreated pain against those of the medications used to treat it during a critical period of brain development.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Elli Tiliakou

Medical Student, University of Western Ontario | Deyell Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Pharmacogenomic evaluation of chemotherapy-related toxicities in children with poor-prognosis cancer

Session 10 | Poster 64

Elli M. Tiliakou, Yaoqing Shen, S. Rod Rassekh, Rebecca J. Deyell Background: Children with poor-prognosis cancers often receive intensive chemotherapy and are at risk of acute and long-term adverse treatment-related toxicities leading to treatment delays, long-term organ damage, and decreased quality of life. Germline pharmacogenomic variants have been associated with increased susceptibility to, or protection from, chemotherapyrelated toxicities. The prevalence and clinical significance of these pharmacogenomic variants in children with poor-prognosis cancers remains poorly characterized, limiting their routine integration into pediatric oncology care.

Objectives: We aim to evaluate chemotherapy exposures, toxicity outcomes, and the prevalence of pharmacogenomic risk and protective variants among children with poor-prognosis cancers previously enrolled in the Pediatric Personalized Oncogenomics (PedsPOG) study. Variants of interest are associated with anthracycline cardiotoxicity (SLC28A3, UGT1A6, RARG), cisplatin ototoxicity (TPMT, ACYP2), vincristine-related neurotoxicity (CEP72), irinotecan-related diarrhea (UGT1A1), and thiopurine-related myelosuppression (TPMT, NUDT15).

Methods: We identified 180 children with poor-prognosis cancers enrolled in the PedsPOG study from 2013-2026. Retrospective data collection is underway to identify clinical characteristics, cumulative chemotherapy exposure, and associated toxicity outcomes graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Germline whole-genome sequencing data will be re-analyzed for variant identification by the BC Genome Sciences Centre bioinformatics team. Subsequently, we will describe associations between variants, treatment exposures, clinical risk factors, and toxicity outcomes.

Preliminary Results: The cohort includes 180 patients across a wide spectrum of diagnostic categories. Relevant exposures included anthracyclines (n=50), cisplatin (n=54), vincristine (n=87), irinotecan (n=45), and thiopurines (n=5); exposure groups were not mutually exclusive.

Retrospective toxicity data collection and pharmacogenomic analyses are ongoing. We hypothesize that known susceptibility variants are more prevalent among patients who experience chemotherapy-associated toxicities, whereas protective variants or the absence of susceptibility variants are more prevalent among patients without toxicity.

Conclusion: Characterizing the prevalence of pharmacogenomic variants among children exposed to chemotherapies together with observed toxicity outcomes, will help define the importance of routinely incorporating pharmacogenomic information into pediatric cancer care.

As BC introduces clinically validated germline whole-genome testing with a virtual cancerpredisposition panel for children with newly diagnosed cancer, this study may guide future expansion to include pharmacogenomic variants at diagnosis.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Session #11 Thursday, July 23 1:00 – 2:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Ava Coonfer Yaohan Jin Cassie Lin Anson Ng Nadia Ulanowska Julie Wang

Ava Coonfer

Undergraduate Student, University of Western Ontario | Devlin Research Team Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories Summer Studentship Recipient

Histone modification landscape in a mouse model of pediatric diabetes

Session 11 | Poster 65

Ava L. Coonfer, Ladan Kalani, Angela M. Devlin Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune condition characterized by immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in deficient insulin production. Several studies have detected hyperglycemia-induced cardiovascular damage in children with T1D much earlier than expected; however, it is unknown how or when it manifests. Various tissues have been shown to reflect cardiovascular damage in individuals with pediatric diabetes. While the aorta is a direct readout of macrovascular damage, both kidney and liver tissues are abundant and more readily available. Because of its dense microvasculature, kidney tissue serves as a good indicator of diabetes related cardiovascular abnormalities. Approximately up to 65% of patients with pediatric diabetes may experience kidney complications, which predispose them to chronic kidney disease. Similarly, other research has related type 1 diabetes to the development of liver disease in children. Studies have also shown that changes to histones resulting in differentially expressed genes have a significant role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. Differences in histone modifications have been identified in adults with type 1 diabetes; however, whether these epigenetic modifications are present in children with T1D remains unclear. Although there exists growing evidence which links histone modifications to longterm complications of diabetes, their specific roles in the context of cardiovascular damage remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of histone modifications as early epigenetic biomarkers of cardiovascular damage in pediatric diabetes.

Tissue samples were collected from control (Ins2+/+) and Akita (Ins2C96Y/+) C57BL/6J mice at disease onset (4 weeks in males, 6 weeks in females) and post-onset (8 weeks in males, 10 weeks in females). Histones were isolated from liver, kidney, and aorta for Western blotting to quantify the levels of H3K36me3 and H3K9me3. Preliminary findings from nuclei isolated from the aortas of 8-week-old male Akita mice in an ELISA Assay identified differences in the histone modifications H3K36me3 and H3K9me3. Through Western blot analysis of 8-week-old male Akita and control mice (n=3) kidney samples, we did not observe a significant difference in H3 methylation patterns; however, the study is still ongoing.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Yaohan Jin

Undergraduate Student, McMaster University | Goldowitz Research Team Investigate the Role of Msx1 on Granule Cells by Examining Msx1 Knockout Mouse Embryos Across Multiple Developmental Stages

Session 11 | Poster 66

Yaohan Jin, Michael Ke, Daniel Goldowitz Background and Significance: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain cancer. Three of the four MB subgroups have been associated with rhombic lip (RL)derived cerebellar lineages, the progenitor zone in the developing cerebellum that gives rise to glutamatergic (excitatory) neurons, including granule cells. Atoh1 is a key transcription factor required for the specification, migration, and differentiation of RL-derived glutamatergic neurons.

Msx1 has been shown to activate Atoh1 expression in the spinal cord; however, whether a similar regulatory relationship exists in the developing cerebellum remains unclear. Investigating the role of Msx1 in regulating Atoh1 as well as cerebellar glutamatergic cell development in RL may provide insight into the developmental mechanisms underlying normal cerebellar formation and MB pathogenesis.

Method: Msx1 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mouse embryonic cerebellar tissues were analyzed at embryonic day (E)13.5, E15, and E18 via immunofluorescence staining for Atoh1 and Pax6. Atoh1 was used to examine RL-derived glutamatergic progenitor identity, while Pax6 was used to label migrating granule cell progenitors. Microscopy was then performed to compare staining patterns and cellular organization between KO and WT cerebellar tissues across the examined developmental times.

Results and Interpretation: Across all three developmental time points, Msx1 knockout cerebellar tissue showed an apparent increase in Pax6 staining. The accumulation of granule cell progenitor staining pattern indicates that Msx1 may be required for proper progenitor accumulation, migration, or organization. Meanwhile, Atoh1 staining was not lost in the Msx1 KO. This suggests that there’s not a direct regulation of Atoh1 by Msx1 in the developing cerebellum.

By defining how Msx1 influences granule cell progenitor development, this work may help clarify how Msx1 can have the effect on disruption of RL-derived developmental programs contributes to the origins of medulloblastoma.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Cassie Lin

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Woodward Research Team Contrasting fMRI Signatures of Vicarious and Somatic Pain Perception

Session 11 | Poster 67

Cassie Lin, Solana Redway, Amber Lu, Todd S. Woodward Background and Rationale: Pain is a complex experience involving sensory, affective, and cognitive processes. Previous fMRI research has identified distributed brain regions associated with pain, often described as the “pain matrix” (Legrain et al., 2011). Despite more recent work that has begun to move beyond this static concept by identifying both pain-related regions and networks (Wilcox et al., 2015; Damascelli et al., 2022), fMRI signatures of vicarious pain have not been contrasted with those of somatic pain.Therefore, it is important to distinguish pain signatures for empathy from those of experience (Kucyi & Davis, 2015). Based on recent work in the field and our lab, the applicant has first- authored a pre-publication proposing a full set of fMRI-based hypotheses for a clear spatial and temporal dissociation between vicarious and somatic pain (Lin et al., 2026).

Aim: This study aims to test our set of published hypothesized task-general anatomical and temporal brain modes as potential biomarkers for pain detectable by fMRI using publicly available data.

Method (Task) Multimodal Negative Affect Task (MNAT): Participants are 101 healthy adults completed fMRI sessions while performing MNAT, designed to elicit participants’ responses to somatic pain (first-hand nociceptive experience) and vicarious pain (pain processing triggered by observing others). Each domain includes three stimulus intensity levels. Somatic pain was delivered via thermal heat, while vicarious pain was presented through video clips.

Method (Analysis): We will analyze preprocessed fMRI data from the publicly available dataset at openneuro.org (accession number ds005256; Jung et al., 2025). Task-timing-related cognitive modes will be extracted using Constrained Principal Component Analysis for fMRI, a data-driven dimensionality reduction method designed to isolate task-related BOLD variance (Metzak et al., 2011; Woodward et al., 2013). Repeated-measures ANOVA will then assess significant main effects and interactions in BOLD change measures (Sanford & Woodward, 2021; Percival et al., 2024).

Research Hypothesis: In our pre-publication first-authored by the applicant (Lin et al., 2026), we hypothesized that activation of the pain detection mode (PDM) and deactivation in the Default Mode (DM) will emerge in the somatic pain domain in a dose-dependent fashion based on past task-based fMRI studies (Damascelli et al., 2022; Gu & Han, 2007; Lu et al., 2026; Sanford & Woodward, 2021). In contrast, increased DM activation will emerge in the vicarious pain domain in a dose-dependent fashion, with no PDM engagement, due to the mental projection of their thoughts into another’s experience, supporting the claim that DM activates when engaging in mental projection, while PDM is a somatic pain detection mode.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Anson Ng

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Capon Research Team Evaluating the Potential Role of PXN Variants in Generalized Pustular Psoriasis

Session 11 | Poster 68

Anson Ng, Austin Burroughs, Francesca Capon Background: Generalized pustular psoriasis is a rare and severe inflammatory skin disease characterized by episodes of widespread sterile pustules and systemic inflammation. Although several genes have been linked to pustular psoriasis, not all patients have variants in known disease genes, suggesting that additional genetic contributors remain to be identified. Wholegenome sequencing in a patient with generalized pustular psoriasis identified two rare missense variants in PXN. This gene encodes paxillin, a focal adhesion-associated protein involved in cell adhesion and signaling. Endothelial paxillin has also been shown to regulate neutrophil transmigration. Because generalized pustular psoriasis is characterized by neutrophil infiltration into the skin and the formation of sterile pustules, altered paxillin function may be relevant to disease pathogenesis.

Objective: This project aims to characterize the predicted effects of the PXN variants p.Ser216Thr and p.Ser701Phe and confirm their presence in patient DNA. Methods: The identified PXN variants were characterized using in silico analyses, including pathogenicity prediction, evolutionary conservation, and analysis of phosphorylation sites.

Primer pairs were designed to amplify genomic regions surrounding the two PXN variants. PCR conditions were tested and optimized using control genomic DNA. Troubleshooting included testing different annealing temperatures, DNA input amounts, and PCR master mixes. After successful amplification conditions were identified, the target regions were amplified from patient DNA. PCR products were assessed using agarose gel electrophoresis and submitted for Sanger sequencing to validate the variant calls identified by whole-genome sequencing.

Current Progress: Both PXN target regions were successfully amplified from patient DNA and submitted for Sanger sequencing.

Next Steps and Significance: The next step is to review the Sanger chromatograms to determine whether the expected PXN variants are present in the patient sample. If confirmed, these variants would support further investigation of PXN in generalized pustular psoriasis.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Nadia Ulanowska Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Mishaal Research Team Sunny Hill Health Centre Research Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 11 | Poster 69

Faces of CP: A new guide to understanding the GMFCS- using the F-Words through children’s eyes Nadia Ulanowska, Cynthia Vallance, Nandy Fajardo,Heather Saranczak, Mor Cohen-Eilig, Ram Mishaal Background and Objectives: A Cerebral Palsy diagnosis and language can be overwhelming.

The F-words challenge this framework, by adopting a strength and person based approach that holistically focuses on child and family strengths. Interviewing families with children who have CP and creating a concise resource that explains CP though this framework and the corresponding GMFCS levels can provide several benefits.

The goal of this project is to create a new tool to illustrate capacity and resiliency, looking beyond perceived limitations and focusing on what is important to children with CP. Secondly, the poster will highlight the resource that showcases the GMFCS levels though the F word framework, demonstrating functional nuances within the GMFCS. Description: We will interview families providing them an opportunity to view their children using the F-word framework Then we will condense the interviews into a media resource that uses simple language to showcase CP and GMFCS levels though the F-Words framework. The key component of this research is the creation of the resource, it will become an educational tool.

Significance: The GMFCS is a useful way to describe clinically meaningful distinctions in gross motor function among individuals with CP. The six “F words in childhood disability” adopt a strength and person-based approach that holistically focuses on child and family strengths.

We created a new tool, describing the GMFCS levels using the F-words from the children’s perspective. This resource aims to demonstrate functional nuances in the GMFCS, while also supporting education to health-care professionals, administrators and caregivers of children with CP. Through accessible language, this research also helps improve communication between clinicians and families. It can help families contribute to and develop a greater understanding of their children's care and hopefully improve outcomes in healthcare.The goal of this project is to illustrate capacity and resiliency, looking beyond perceived limitations and focusing on what is important to children with CP. Secondly, the poster will highlight the resource that showcases the GMFCS levels though the F word framework, demonstrating the nuances within CP diagnosis.

This project also integrates the students' experience living with CP. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Julie Wang

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Ezzat Research Team

Session 11 | Poster 70

UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient – Florence & George Heighway Endowment Fund

Prioritizing strategies that target the barriers and facilitators to the implementation and sustainability of injury prevention interventions in youth team sports: an umbrella scoping review with application of the CFIR-ERIC matching tool Julie Wang, Sunny Yang, Colleen Pawliuk, Allison Ezzat Background: Injury prevention interventions, such as neuromuscular training warm-up programs, decrease the rate of injuries up to 60% for youth participating in team sports. Despite their efficacy, interventions are not well implemented or sustained for use in real-world contexts. Previous research has identified the barriers and facilitators to implementing injury prevention interventions in sport communities; however, less work has been done to develop tailored strategies to overcome these barriers.

Objectives: 1. To synthesize the barriers and facilitators to the implementation and sustainability of injury prevention interventions in youth team sports.

2. To map the synthesized findings to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

3. To select and operationalize tailored implementation strategies identified by the CFIR-ERIC (Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change) matching tool.

Methods: An umbrella scoping review is being conducted searching 5 databases (Embase, Medline, SportDISCUS, Web of Science Core Collection, Epistemonikos) for systematic, scoping and narrative reviews on factors related to implementing and sustaining injury prevention interventions in sport settings.

Primary studies will be selected from within relevant reviews. Primary studies are eligible if they involve youth athletes <19 years of age and/or individuals involved in youth team sport (e.g. coaches). Authorsynthesized barriers and facilitators will be extracted from primary studies along with key supporting participant quotes, which will be further synthesized into overarching findings. Findings will be graded for certainty of evidence using GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research) and mapped to constructs within the CFIR. The CFIR barrier and facilitator constructs most strongly supported by evidence will be entered into the CFIR-ERIC tool to identify evidence-based tailored implementation strategies. Strategies will be operationalized to be context-specific and actionable.

Results: Our search for reviews yielded 856 results for title/abstract screening after removing duplicates.

Reviews are currently undergoing full-text screening.

Significance: This study will develop actionable strategies to overcome the previously identified barriers and facilitators to the implementation and sustainability of injury prevention interventions in youth team sports. The resulting strategies can inform the design of implementation plans that support the long-term use of injury prevention interventions in youth sport.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Session #12 Thursday, July 23 1:00 – 2:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Mona Aboofazeli Katie Burrows Elizabeth Fung Yucheng Liu Mysha Shariff Madison Wong

Mona Aboofazeli Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Guzman Research Team

Session 12 | Poster 71

Have modern therapies improved long-term JIA outcomes? A descriptive comparison of the CAPRI-JIA registry and the ReACCh-Out cohort at transition to adult care Mona Aboofazeli, Michelle Batthish, Roberta Berard, Mercedes Chan, Amieleena Chhabra, Molly Dushnicky, Adam Huber, Dax Rumsey, Heinrike Schmeling, Jaime Guzman for CAPRI Registry Investigators Objective: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic pediatric rheumatic disease that can cause lasting joint damage and reduced quality of life if inadequately treated. Over the past two decades, treatment has shifted toward earlier use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic medications. This project aimed to describe long-term outcomes among adolescents with JIA at age 17 prior to transition to adult care and characterize differences between the contemporary CAPRI-JIA registry and a historical cohort.

Methods: Data was obtained from 17-year-old visit reports completed between 2017 and 2026 across 11 sites of the Canadian Alliance of Pediatric Rheumatology Investigators (CAPRI) Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) registry. Participants were eligible if they had a confirmed JIA diagnosis according to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria, were enrolled in the CAPRI-JIA registry within three months of diagnosis, and were at least 16 years of age as of May 2026. Long-term outcomes were compared with those of the Research in Arthritis in Canadian Children Emphasizing Outcomes (ReACCh-Out) cohort (2005-2010).

Results: We included 317 participants from the CAPRI-JIA cohort with a median age of 17.6 (16.7, 18.0) years at follow-up. Overall, 224 participants (70.7%) had inactive disease, including 70 (22.1%) in remission off medication for more than 12 months. Joint damage on imaging was reported in 75 participants (21.6%), and permanent eye damage or previous eye surgery was reported in 5 participants (1.6%). The historical ReACCh-Out cohort included 247 participants, of whom 67 (27.1%) had active disease, 116 (47.0%) were in remission off medication, and 45 (18.2%) had joint damage on imaging. Formal comparisons between cohorts were not performed because of substantial differences in age at diagnosis, follow-up duration, and JIA subtype distribution.

Conclusion: Most participants in the contemporary CAPRI-JIA cohort had inactive disease at transition to adult care, although nearly one-third continued to have active disease and approximately one-fifth had evidence of joint damage on imaging. Future multivariable logistic regression analyses will adjust for differences between cohorts to determine whether outcomes have improved with modern treatment strategies.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Katie Burrows

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Lim Research Team BC Children's Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Investigating the Role of T-cell Receptor in CD47-mediated Cell Death in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Session 12 | Poster 72

Katie Burrows, Pascal Leclair, Chinten James Lim Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is the leading cause of pediatric cancer. Although the prognosis is favourable overall with approximately 80% 5 year survival, current treatment relies on intensive chemotherapies that are highly toxic for pediatric patients, and are associated with long-term detrimental effects such as cognitive deficiencies, cardiotoxicity, developmental defects, and secondary malignancies. Identifying treatments that can synergize with chemotherapeutics could permit lower drug doses to achieve the same efficacy and reduce treatment-related toxicity that impacts long-term health.

CD47 is a cell surface protein that is expressed on most cell types but upregulated in tumour cells. Ligation of CD47 induces a non-apoptotic cell death pathway that acts in synergy with chemotherapeutics to increase cell death. The T-cell receptor (TCR) complex, consisting of the TCR alpha and beta subunits, and the associated CD3 complex, is involved in the activation of T-cells to induce an immune response following presentation of antigens by antigen-presenting cells. In my research project, I studied the role of the TCR receptor complex in CD47-mediated cell death in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL).

To generate a TCR loss of function model for studies on CD47-mediated cell death, CRISPR/ Cas9 gene editing technology was used to knock out either the TCR alpha or beta subunit in the Jurkat T-ALL cell line. Flow cytometry and Western blot analysis was used to validate successful TCR knockout cells, observed as a loss of cell surface TCR expression. Cell death was induced through incubation with the anti-CD47 antibody CC2C6, and quantified by flow cytometry using the Annexin V assay. Preliminary results show that TCR knockout cells exhibited increased CD47-mediated cell death when compared to TCR expressing cells. These findings suggest that less TCR expression contributes to more efficient CD47-mediated cell death in T-ALL, which may represent an important component of the underlying signaling pathway. A better understanding of the mechanism of CD47-mediated cell death could inform the development of more effective and targeted therapies for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Elizabeth Fung

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Siden Research Team BC Children's Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 12 | Poster 73

Implementing the Pain Pathway: Supporting the Uptake of a Clinical Tool to Manage Pain and Irritability of Unknown Origin in Children with Severe Neurological Impairments Elizabeth Fung, Laesa Kim, Gabriel Zamma, Sharon Hou, Anne-Mette Hermansen, Gail Andrews, Caroline Sanders, Tim Oberlander, Stephanie Glegg, Hal Siden Background: Children with Severe Neurological Impairments (SNI) commonly experience Pain and Irritability of Unknown Origin (PIUO). They are often non-verbal, and have cognitive and motor impairments that can complicate pain assessment and management. To address this, a clinical tool, the Pain Pathway, was developed for managing PIUO in children with SNI and was tested in a multi-centre randomized control trial. However, a critical gap remains in translating this clinical tool from tertiary care settings into community pediatric practices. An important next step of this work is to implement and evaluate the use of this tool in community care in British Columbia.

Objective: To develop an implementation strategy, a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) eLearning webinar, to educate and train community pediatricians in using the Pain Pathway in their practice.

Methods: This implementation strategy was developed as part of a larger project on implementing the Pain Pathway in community care. This eLearning webinar was created with input from family perspectives, findings and feedback from previous study phases, and consulting with experts in pediatric care. The webinar is CPD accredited and comprises five modules.

Next Steps and Significance: Pediatricians working in community practices in BC will be recruited to participate in this webinar. This implementation strategy is intended to address identified gaps in knowledge, skills, and resources by equipping community pediatricians with a clinical tool to manage PIUO in children with SNI. Ultimately, by introducing the Pain Pathway in community practice, this project is intended to offer a standardized approach to managing PIUO and improving care experiences for children with SNI and their families.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Yucheng Liu

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Taubert Research Team UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient

Elucidating the role of transcriptional co-regulator ifbp-1 in C. elegans aging

Session 12 | Poster 74

Yucheng Liu, Kevin Wang, Glafira Ermakova, Stefan Taubert Background: Ageing populations represent a significant challenge to public health, with the proportion of the world’s population over 60 expected to double by 2050. Geroscience seeks to understand the biological processes by which ageing occurs, ultimately helping these individuals stay healthier for longer. One protein that has been identified as crucial to healthspan is interferon regulatory factor 2 binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2) which has been shown to regulate cell differentiation, neurodevelopment, and cardiovascular health. To understand this protein, the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans is used which contains ifbp-1, an ortholog to human IRF2BP2. Understanding ifbp-1 within C. elegans aging and stress response will shed light upon the mechanisms by which IRF2BP2 functions in humans.

Objective: Elucidate mechanisms by which ifbp-1 regulates aging and stress response within C. elegans.

Methods: To determine whether or not ifbp-1 affects aging, lifespan assays are conducted on both ifbp-1 knockout worms and wildtype worms. To assay neuronal health, we conducted saltaversive chemotaxis on ifbp-1 knockout and wildtype worms, whereby learning of salt-starved conditioned worms is assessed. Chemotaxis is conducted over time to determine whether or not knockout of ifbp-1 affects age-induced degradation of neuronal health. To assess muscle health, a thrashing assay is conducted on both ifbp-1 knockout worms and wildtype worms, where worms are placed in M9 buffer and counted for each time they thrash within a 30 second period.

Finally, initial stages of preparation for affinity purification mass spectrometry have begun, where CRISPR insertion of a streptactin-tag will allow for affinity purification using streptactin beads, with the end goal of sending the purified proteins for mass spectrometry to elucidate novel binding partners.

Results: Lifespan assays showed ifbp-1 knockout negatively affected lifespan, with an effect size of roughly 20%. Both thrashing and chemotaxis data provided novel insight into the mechanisms by which ifbp-1 may affect healthspan. CRISPR insertion of a strep-tag was successful.

Conclusion: These experiments provided important insight into potential mechanisms by which ifbp-1 may affect lifespan and healthspan, which the human ortholog IRF2BP2 may share.

Further investigation into ifbp-1 is required to better elucidate how it may be affecting lifespan.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Mysha Shariff

Undergraduate Student, McGill University | Amed Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Integrating AI Risk Flags into Diabetes Care: Physician Perceptions of Usefulness, Interpretability, and Actionability

Session 12 | Poster 75

Mysha Shariff, Molly Sweeney Magee, Kimberly Charbonneau, Gonzalo Dominguez, Shazhan Amed Introduction: Diabetes patients generate vast amounts of data through continuous glucose monitors, automatic insulin pumps, and electronic health records. Together, these data offer a comprehensive, longitudinal view of the patient’s health. And yet, fully integrating, analyzing, and interpreting these data across sources is a major challenge that exceeds the resources of routine clinical care. To address this analytical burden, AI tools are being developed to leverage these data and generate risk flags that support healthcare provider decision-making. By identifying emerging patterns earlier, these tools have the potential to support a shift toward more predictive and preventative care. However, for them to be effective, they must fit into physicians’ existing workflows and reduce, rather than add to, clinical burden.

Objective: This quality improvement study explores how AI risk flags can be tailored to fit the needs and existing workflows of healthcare providers, by identifying factors that shape their interpretability, perceived usefulness, and actionability.

Methods: This project consists of two phases. In the first phase, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed. Studies were identified through title/abstract screening followed by full-text review against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Relevant data were then extracted using a standardized framework, before being synthesized into recommendations, organized by theme and sub-theme, and categorized by evidence strength.

In the second phase, interviews with endocrinology fellows at BC Children’s Hospital are being organized to gather firsthand perceptions, experiences, and opinions of AI risk flags in their workflows, and to refine and contextualize these broader recommendations. For example, the literature specified AI education as important but did not define its optimal timing or format.

Results: Twenty-nine strategies to tailor AI-generated risk flags were extracted from 15 papers.

Recommendations from the literature review were grouped into three themes and related subthemes: Visual Design and Display (e.g., colour-coding), Implementation and Trust Infrastructure (e.g., clinical validation), and Clinical Reasoning Support (e.g., AI explainability). As interviews are underway, these findings remain preliminary.

Next Steps: Together, the literature review and interviews will inform priority design recommendations that will be validated through a survey distributed to a broader physician network.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Madison Wong

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | McClymont Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 12 | Poster 76

Assessment of Congenital Cytomegalovirus in British Columbia: Characterizing the Population and Classifying Infant Outcomes Madison Wong, Emma Karlsen, Isabelle Boucoiran, David Goldfarb, Citlali Marquez, Deborah Money, Laura Sauvé, Inna Sekirov, Soren Gantt, Elisabeth McClymont Background: As the most common congenital infection and infectious cause of birth defects, congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) causes an enormous disease burden globally. For infected infants who survive the neonatal period, it is the leading cause of non-genetic hearing loss, also causing neurocognitive disabilities, cerebral palsy, and seizure disorders.

Objective: This project sought to characterize the cCMV landscape in BC, particularly, to classify the degree of disease severity experienced by infected infants and summarize the range of clinical sequelae. In addition, we sought to identify prenatal indications/abnormalities that may be associated with poorer infant outcomes.

Methods: All cases of cCMV in British Columbia from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2025 were clinically identified. All clinical information concerning patient demographics, assessments, and outcomes were abstracted from patient charts retrospectively. The clinical severity of cCMV infection was classified as asymptomatic, mild, or moderate/severe. Mildly symptomatic cCMV was characterized by mild brain imaging abnormalities and/or 1-2 other isolated clinical manifestations of CMV. Moderate/severe cCMV exhibited more profound neurological abnormalities on imaging, often coupled with impairment to multiple organ systems. Isolated sensorineural hearing loss was classified as moderate/severe cCMV. Results: Of 52 identified cCMV infected infants, 23 experienced moderate to severely symptomatic cCMV (44%). Of these infants, 22 had prenatal ultrasound data, wherein 10 infants (45%) had anomalous imaging. Thirteen infants (25%) exhibited mildly symptomatic cCMV, with 12 (92%) having abnormal prenatal ultrasounds. Of the 16 infants (31%) with asymptomatic cCMV, 4 out of 14 infants (29%) with available ultrasound data had abnormal prenatal ultrasounds. Hearing loss was the most common clinical manifestation of cCMV, affecting 13 of 39 (33%) infants for which hearing assessment was performed.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of clinically identified cCMV infected infants in BC (36/52, 69%) exhibit mild to severe symptoms. Further investigation is warranted to identify antenatal markers of clinical disease severity in infancy.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Session #13 Thursday, July 23 1:00 – 2:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Nabiha Ahmed Ajay Antonio Jordan Jia Gurpreet Kaur Emily Pan Khayam Siah

Nabiha Ahmed

Undergraduate Student, University of Toronto | Vallance Research Team The Regulation of Candida Albicans’ Mucin Degradation by N-Acetylglucosamine

Session 13 | Poster 77

Nabiha Ahmed, James Sousa, Bruce Vallance Background: The fungus Candida albicans, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathobiont, is a resident of the gastrointestinal tract and under certain conditions can exacerbate intestinal inflammation.This may be through the degradation of colonic mucus and breakdown of the mucosal barrier. However, how this occurs and what regulates this process is not completely understood. It is known that IBD patients have altered mucin glycosylation along their intestinal tract, which may influence C. albicans’ mucin degradation and lead to barrier disruption.

N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) glycosylation is prominent in the main intestinal mucin, MUC2, and has been shown to induce virulence in C. albicans.

Objective: To understand how the mucin sugar N-acetylglucosamine regulates mucin degradation in Candida albicans.

Methods: Growth, mucin degradation and virulence gene expression was assessed in conditions with either glucose or GlcNAc as the sole carbon source and porcine gastric mucin as the sole nitrogen source. To test whether GlcNAc modulates infection in an in vitro model of the colon, human air-liquid interface (ALI) monolayers were produced from non-IBD colonic organoids and then infected with C. albicans supplemented with GlcNAc or dextrose.

Significance: This project will provide insight into the mechanism by which Candida albicans’ mucin degradation ability changes in the presence of N-acetylglucosamine and will help us better understand the host-microbe interactions that promote mucin degradation in C. albicans.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Ajay Antonio

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Prondzynski Research Team Investigation of Epicardial Outgrowth and Cardiac-Neural Development in suspension-derived Cardiac-Neural Organoids

Session 13 | Poster 78

Ajay Antonio, Maksymilian Prondzynski, Yasaman Mareef, Sue Kang Background: Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiac–neural organoids (CNOs) provide a physiologically relevant model for studying coordinated heart and nervous system development. These multicellular 3D tissues recapitulate aspects of early embryogenesis, including the emergence of epithelial cells that contribute to cardiac and neural morphogenesis, regeneration, and signaling as epicardium and arachnoid barrier cells, respectively. However, these epithelial populations remain poorly characterized. This study investigates epithelial outgrowth and marker expression in CNOs using confocal microscopy.

Methods: MYL7-GFP CNOs were generated using a suspension-based culture method and individually transferred to Geltrex-coated 96-well plates on Days 15 or 30 of differentiation.

Organoids were maintained under standardized conditions with regular media changes and monitored by brightfield and fluorescence microscopy until Day 30. Morphology, spontaneous contractility, attachment, and epithelial outgrowth were documented daily. Four immunofluorescence panels were performed: (1) WT1/phalloidin to identify epithelial cells and cytoskeletal organization; (2) WT1/α-actinin 2 to assess cardiomyocyte structure; (3) WT1/ MitoTracker Deep Red to evaluate mitochondrial distribution; and (4) WT1/βIII-tubulin (TUBB3) to identify neural populations. Samples were counterstained with Hoechst and imaged by confocal microscopy. Organoids were classified as cardiac spheroids or CNOs based on morphology, beating behavior, and neural-like regions.

Anticipated Outcomes: We anticipate characterizing epicardial outgrowth and WT1 expression in CNOs. Comparing attachment efficiency, outgrowth frequency, and WT1-positive cell distribution between Days 15 and 30 will help optimize workflows for studying epithelial behavior.

Results: By Day 15, organoids ranged from compact cardiac spheroids to complex CNOs with distinct tissue compartments. Cardiac spheroids remained spherical with sustained contractions, whereas CNOs exhibited irregular morphology, protrusive outgrowths, and cardiac and neurallike regions. Between Days 23 and 30, attached organoids formed thin migratory cell sheets extending from the tissue mass, consistent with epicardial outgrowth. Immunofluorescence showed preserved cardiac architecture through MYL7-GFP expression, with WT1-positive nuclei localized to peripheral outgrowths. Cytoskeletal organization and neural marker expression further supported the structural complexity of developing CNOs. Implications: Optimizing epicardial outgrowth conditions will enhance the utility of CNOs for studying human cardiogenesis, neurocardiac interactions, regenerative mechanisms, and crossorgan communication. This model may also support investigations of congenital heart disease, tissue repair, and therapies targeting epicardial activation and regeneration.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Jordan Jia

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Stewart Research Team Characterizing Child-Parent Discordance in the Perception of OCD Severity in a Pediatric Clinical Population

Session 13 | Poster 79

Jordan Jia, John Best, Boyee Lin, Mizuki Kubota, S. Evelyn Stewart Introduction: Assessment and treatment of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently rely on reports from both children and their caregivers. However, children and parents often perceive and report OCD severity differently, and the factors driving this discordance remain poorly understood. Thus, the aim of this research is to characterize youth-parent discordance in OCD severity and identify the factors that contribute to it.

Objectives: 1. To characterize the degree of discordance between child- and parent-reported OCD severity using a) simple difference scores and b) regression-derived residual scores.

2. To explore the association between sociodemographic characteristics and youth-parent discordance, including a) child-level factors (age, sex, gender, race/ethnicity, language, school status) and b) family-level factors (household income, caregiver education, marital status, immigration history, family functioning, accommodation, and parent tolerance of child distress).

3. To explore the association between clinical and psychiatric factors and youth-parent discordance, including a) psychiatric comorbidities and developmental diagnoses; b) anxiety and depressive symptoms; and c) treatment history.

Methods: Existing data will be extracted from the HealthView database, a clinical registry at BC Children's Hospital, for patients and caregivers assessed between July 2019 and July 2026.

Child- and parent-reported Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S) ratings will be used to quantify discordance, alongside sociodemographic, clinical, family, and psychosocial variables drawn from measures including the Family Functioning Scale, SCARED, RCADS-25, and COIS-R. Multivariable linear regression will be used to identify factors uniquely associated with discordance, with multiple comparisons addressed through regularization or p-value adjustment in consultation with a biostatistician.

Expected Outcomes: While analyses have yet to be completed, we predict meaningful youthparent discordance in OCD severity ratings will be identified, and that greater discordance will be associated with higher internalizing symptoms, poorer family functioning, and greater parental accommodation.

Conclusion: This study will improve understanding of how and why children and parents perceive OCD severity differently, supporting more individualized, family-informed interpretation of multi-informant assessments and more tailored approaches to diagnosis and treatment planning in pediatric OCD. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Gurpreet Kaur

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Zulyniak Research Team TIDES: Trimester-by-trimester Investigation of DHA Supplementation on maternal metabolism and health

Session 13 | Poster 80

Gurpreet Kaur, Michael A Zulyniak Background: Pregnancy is marked by a substantial metabolic and physiological shift to support the growing fetus. Gestational weight gain (GWG) is one adaptation to ensure adequate energy for the offspring; however, GWG outside the recommended guidelines can lead to adverse maternal or infant outcomes. Diet is the mainstay of weight, but is not homogeneously effective across populations. DHA supplementation may modify maternal and fetal health but the underlying biological mechanisms that govern its effectiveness remain unclear.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the association between GWG and infant birth outcomes using maternal plasma phospholipid changes from early to late pregnancy in a DHA-supplemented cohort.

Methods: In this secondary analysis, we used untargeted lipidomic profiling data from 60 participants (20 DHA, 40 placebo) enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial of DHA supplementation (400 mg/d) during pregnancy. Metabolomic and phenotypic data were used from 16 (T1) and 36 (T3) weeks of gestation. Using the metabolic change scores (T3-T1), we performed partial least squares (PLS) analysis, which identified 46 metabolites with variable importance in projection (VIP) greater than or equal to 1.0 associated with the treatment group.

Each variable, including maternal change in weight, gestational age at delivery, infant birth weight, and length, was tested against VIP metabolite change scores (T3-T1) using univariate regression. FDR correction (Q = 0.05) was applied within each outcome.

Results: Baseline maternal characteristics did not differ between groups, confirming randomization. Eight metabolites, predominantly phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) species, survived FDR correction for maternal weight change. No VIP metabolite was nominally associated with gestational age at delivery, and none of the nominally significant metabolites for infant birth weight or length survived FDR correction.

Conclusion: Our findings showed maternal plasma phospholipid remodelling, particularly among PE species, is significantly associated with weight, while association with infant birth outcomes could not survive FDR correction. We are currently investigating the mechanism linking PE remodelling to maternal weight regulation in prenatal DHA supplementation.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Emily Pan

Undergraduate Student, University of Toronto | Hayden Research Team Huntington Society of Canada – Brain Canada Undergraduate Student Summer Fellowship Recipient

Session 13 | Poster 81

Investigating Trans-acting Genetic Modifier Variants’ Association with Loss of Interruption (LOI) Variants and Impacts on Age of Onset in Relation to Canonical Alleles in Huntington’s Disease Emily Y. Pan, Hailey Findlay Black, Jessica Levesley, Michael R. Hayden Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, leading to motor, cognitive, and psychiatric decline. While CAG repeat length largely determines HD age of onset (AO), it does not fully explain the variability in AO observed amongst patients, thereby motivating investigations into genetic modifiers that alter onset and disease progression.

The most impactful cis-acting modifiers are loss of interruption (LOI) variants, which lack one or both of the interrupting CAA and CCA codons present in the canonical sequence ((CAG) n-CAA-CAG-CCG-CCA-(CCG)n), and result in the onset of HD about a decade earlier. However, since LOI variants still do not fully explain AO variability, and some individuals show earlier onset despite having a canonical sequence, trans-acting genetic modifiers, in the form of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located outside the HTT gene, are considered in relation to age of onset.

Objective: This project investigates whether onset-hastening SNPs rs701383, rs79136984, rs150393409, and rs151322829 involved in DNA maintenance are associated with LOI variants, and whether they could explain earlier than predicted AO in HD patients with canonical alleles.

Methods: 194 HD patient samples with early, mean, or late age of onset, and 24 patient samples with LOI variants were genotyped using TaqMan assays, with select samples sequenced via Sanger sequencing to confirm genotype. Major and minor allele frequencies were calculated, and statistical analyses were conducted to determine correlation with clinical age of onset data.

Results: A higher minor allele frequency for rs701383 was observed in canonicals with slightly early onset compared to those with early or late onset. Earlier onset was observed in LOI samples with at least one minor allele at rs701383, suggesting possible additive effects. A higher minor allele frequency for rs79136984 was seen in late onset canonicals, while minor alleles at rs150393409 were only observed in early and mean onset canonicals.

Significance: Investigations into trans-acting modifiers’ association with cis-acting LOI variants and canonical sequences could clarify genetic sources of residual age of onset variability, potential interactions between cis- and trans-acting mechanisms, and the role of specific SNPs in HD progression.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Khayam Siah

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Pike Research Team Benefits and Outcomes of Large-Scale Safety Campaigns Related to Child Restraint Systems: A Rapid Review

Session 13 | Poster 82

Khayam Siah, Ian Pike, Sarah Richmond, Samantha Bruin Background: The rate of child restraint system (CRS) use in children under the age of twelve in high-income countries typically exceeds 90%, yet 40%–50% of all motor vehicle collision (MVC) fatalities in this age category report children were unrestrained or improperly restrained within the vehicle. This demonstrates the need to implement correct and consistent use of CRS, as for children under twelve years old, the use of booster seats alongside seat belts can lower the risk of injury by 71–82% compared to seat belt use alone. In high-income countries, large-scale campaigns have often been used alongside legislation to promote correct and consistent use of CRS. However, in Japan there is currently no legislation requiring the use of CRS, and the evidence supporting the use of campaigns as a policy lever remains poorly explored.

Objective: To identify and synthesize evidence on the benefits and outcomes of large-scale public safety campaigns targeting CRS use in high-income countries.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and other sources. Eligible studies included any large-scale public safety campaign, social marketing initiative, mass media campaign, or government-led health promotion program targeting CRS use, conducted in a high-income country and reported in English. Individual-level educational interventions and school-based programs were excluded. To expedite the synthesis, only one reviewer screened all records in Covidence. A total of 1,204 records were identified, with 474 duplicates removed. Title and abstract screening of the remaining 730 records has been completed by one reviewer, resulting in 170 records to be screened for full-text review. Full-text screening is currently underway.

Significance: Conducting this rapid review will offer concrete evidence on the effectiveness of large-scale CRS campaigns in high-income countries and will aid in policy development in Japan and possibly other jurisdictions where there is currently no legislation requiring the use of CRS, contributing to global efforts to reduce preventable pediatric injuries and deaths.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Session #14 Thursday, July 23 3:00 – 4:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Rith Bal Basmah Hendy Aasim Khan Nathan Loo Lori-Ann Pokou Sarah Wissmann

Rith Bal

Medical Student, University of British Columbia | Senger Research Team UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient

Phantom and Residual Limb Pain Prevalence in the Pediatric Population

Session 14 | Poster 83

Rith Bal, Jenna-Lynn Senger Background: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a challenging complication of limb amputation.

Studies of adult populations have shown PLP prevalence rates to be greater than 80%. Similarly, residual limb pain (RLP), the pain that occurs in the remaining part of an amputated limb, has been reported to have a prevalence of about 68% in adult amputees. While existing literature shows that children and adolescent patients can reliably describe their PLP as “uncomfortable”, “throbbing”, or “sharp”, the etiology of PLP and RLP, and more fundamentally, their prevalence in pediatric populations, remains poorly understood.

This gap is clinically important because chronic, persistent pain can impair a child’s physical or psychosocial functioning as well as negatively affect quality of life outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of PLP and RLP in pediatric patients with lower limb amputation to inform future research examining potentially modifiable clinical risk factors.

Methods: Patients five to 18 years old who had undergone lower limb amputations between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2023 at BC Children’s Hospital were eligible for inclusion.

Patients who received surgical treatment for a neuroma at the time of/following their surgery were excluded. A retrospective chart review and cross-sectional survey was then performed.

Demographic data including age, sex, comorbidities, and medications as well as operative and post-operative data such as amputation level, analgesia, and complications were collected.

PROMIS surveys to assess pain intensity, behavior, and interference were then respectively prepared for adults, children, and parents to assess pain experience. An ad hoc survey to clarify participant responses would then be held.

Results: Participant recruitment and data collection are ongoing. 35 prospective participants have been identified.

Conclusion: Findings from this study will establish PLP and RLP prevalence rates in pediatric patients, increase healthcare providers’ awareness of PLP and RLP, and inform the development of guidelines to potentially prevent these conditions in patients.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Basmah Hendy

Medical Student, University of British Columbia | Leveille Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Postoperative Assessment of Sensory Function in Pediatric Patients Receiving an Adductor Canal Block for Knee Surgery

Session 14 | Poster 84

Basmah Hendy, Melody Wu, Ella James, Zoe Ng, Maya Sato-Klemm, Lily Garcia, Lise Leveille Peripheral nerve blocks have grown in popularity as they have been shown to allow more rapid ambulation while providing comparable pain relief to other anesthetic modalities. Specifically, the adductor canal block (ACB) is a common nerve block that targets the saphenous nerve, a sensory branch of the femoral nerve. However, one of the potential risks of the ACB is prolonged postoperative numbness. This is important as prolonged numbness reduces proprioceptive feedback, potentially affecting gait patterns, prolonging return to sport, and increasing reinjury risk. Therefore, this project aims to investigate prolonged numbness in pediatric patients receiving ACBs for knee surgery.

The medical records of 136 patients (<19 years old) who underwent knee surgery between July 2024 and January 2026 were reviewed. Patients were followed at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively where sensory function at the medial malleolus, the most distally innervated area of the saphenous nerve was tested. The primary outcome was the duration until patients regained sensation in the surgical leg. Other study parameters included (1) patient factors: patient age, sex, affected side; (2) surgical details: procedure performed and duration of tourniquet use; and (3) postoperative factors: length of hospital stay, duration of elastomeric catheter placement, and complications. Data was analyzed using an ANCOVA to identify significant covariates which were then accounted for in a log-rank survival analysis.

Thirteen patients (9.56%) had persistent numbness. Five patients (3.68%) reported numbness at 12 months postoperatively, while the remaining 8 patients had not yet reached their 12-month follow up. Sex was the only significant covariate (p= 0.004), with survival analysis showing the restricted mean time to regain sensation was 6.82 weeks 95%CI [5.13, 9.33] in males and 12.92 weeks 95%CI [10.12, 15.83] in females. There was no significant difference in the probability of sensory recovery in males and females at 1 year postoperatively.

This study identified a significant sex-based difference in the trajectory of sensory recovery following ACB for knee surgery. These findings provide important implications for perioperative patient counselling and rehabilitation and warrant further investigation into the mechanisms underlying sex differences in postoperative sensory recovery.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Aasim Khan

Medical Student, University of British Columbia | Giaschi Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Neural Correlates of Attentive Tracking in Children with Amblyopia

Session 14 | Poster 85

Aasim Khan, Alexander Cook, Hee Yeon Im, Deborah Giaschi Background: Amblyopia is a common visual neurodevelopmental disorder that causes reduced visual acuity, usually in one eye. It results from abnormal visual experience during early childhood and cannot be fully corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Although treatment often improves acuity, many children continue to experience deficits in motion perception, visual attention, and higher-level visual processing. These challenges may affect everyday activities such as reading, playing sports, and navigating visually complex environments. Prior behavioural and neuroimaging studies suggest that multiple-object tracking deficits in amblyopia may reflect altered activity in attention-related brain regions; however, the neural basis of these deficits has not been well characterized.

Objective: This study aims to determine whether children with amblyopia show different patterns of neural activation in visual and attention-related brain regions during attentive object tracking compared with children with typically developing vision. In addition, the study will examine whether behavioural deficits in multiple object tracking are associated with deficits in sustained visual attention by correlating performance on a behavioural measure of sustained attention with brain activation magnitude.

Methods: Participants will complete a one-hour functional MRI session. During scanning, participants will perform a multiple-object tracking task requiring them to track 0, 1, 2, or 4 moving targets under binocular viewing conditions. Functional localizer scans will be used to identify visual regions of interest, including retinotopic posterior occipital, motion-sensitive, and the lateral occipital complex. Group differences in activation magnitude across these regions will be assessed to examine how amblyopia affects neural responses during increasing attentional load.

Significance: By identifying brain regions most affected during attentive tracking, this study may help guide future interventions targeting higher-level visual and cognitive deficits in children with Amblyopia.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Nathan Loo

Medical Student, University of British Columbia | Voss Research Team Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Clinical Research & QI Incubator Award Recipient

Acute glycemic responses to free-living physical activity in children with type 1 diabetes

Session 14 | Poster 86

Nathan Loo, Ty Sideroff, Simran Gill, Angelina D’Amico, Christine Voss Background: Physical activity is important for children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but guidelines are often unmet with the risk of hypoglycemia as a barrier. The glucose response to everyday activity in young children remains poorly characterized, as prior work has focused on adolescents and structured activity rather than sporadic play typical in younger age groups.

Objectives: We aimed to characterize the acute glycemic response to free-living moderateto-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in young children with type 1 diabetes, considering the magnitude and timing of the drop in glucose, and associated hypoglycemia risk.

Methods: Using data from two BC studies (Active Steps and Sick Kids Physical Activity), our sample included 27 children with T1D aged 5-11 years. MVPA was assessed using 7-day waistworn accelerometry, time-aligned with data from continuous glucose monitors. Bouts required ≥5 MVPA minutes, merging gaps ≤10 minutes. Our primary outcome was the glucose drop (baseline to nadir) in relation to MVPA within the preceding active bout. Analyses included linear mixedeffects models and a within-child matched case-crossover.

Results: We identified 510 active bouts, median 20 bouts/child and 9 MVPA mins/bout, with 16.9% reaching hypoglycemia. Each additional minute of MVPA was associated with a 0.044 mmol/L deeper glucose drop (p = 0.001) independent of starting glucose and pre-bout trend.

More MVPA also delayed the nadir (0.78 minutes/MVPA minute, p < 0.001). Activity was associated with a rise in hypoglycemia (odds ratio 1.68, p = 0.014). Hypoglycemia odds were not raised by an increase in MVPA duration but were rather related to starting glucose. 54% of bouts starting below 5 mmol/L reached hypoglycemia compared to 8% starting at 10-15 mmol/L. Conclusion: Longer MVPA duration was associated with a post-activity glucose drop that was larger in magnitude and took longer to reach nadir. Hypoglycemia was more common following activity, but a greater MVPA duration was not associated with greater risk. These findings support the encouragement of regular physical activity in this population, with pre-activity glucose as a consideration for hypoglycemia. Future work should consider factors such as AID use (with activity modes), insulin type and timing, and carbohydrate intake.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Lori-Ann Pokou

Medical Student, University of British Columbia | Verchere Research Team NSERC Student Research Award Recipient

Tolerizing mRNA lipid nanoparticles and islet replacement combination therapy for type 1 diabetes

Session 14 | Poster 87

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Sarah Wissmann

Medical Student, Queen's University | Cohen-Eilig Research Team Sunny Hill Health Centre Research Summer Studentship Recipient

Optimizing the early diagnostic experience for cerebral palsy: A quality improvement evaluation of a standardized clinical pathway

Session 14 | Poster 88

Wissmann, S., Mishaal, R., & Cohen-Eilig, M. Background: Early diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) during infancy allows for interventions to occur during a critical period of neurodevelopment. Timely diagnosis also helps families navigate their child’s diagnosis and creates positive relationships with the healthcare system.

After recognizing that CP diagnoses in BC were occurring later than recommended, the Cerebral Palsy Early Diagnosis Clinic (CPEDC) at Sunny Hill Centre was launched in 2021 to standardize how diagnoses were communicated to families. Our QI project examined families’ experiences receiving a CP diagnosis at the CPEDC compared with the previous system where diagnoses were made across various clinics.

Aims: We aim to understand families’ experiences of the CP diagnostic process through caregiver surveys and interviews to identify opportunities for improvement and ensure that care remains consistent, family-centered, and informed by patients’ needs.

Results: Data collection remains ongoing, but preliminary results suggest that families (N=57) were generally satisfied with the overall patient experience at the CPEDC, mean = 4.6 (where 5 = highest score and 1 = lowest score). Caregivers who received their child’s CP diagnosis through the CPEDC (N =4) had a better experience of the overall process compared to families diagnosed in other clinics (N=8), mean = 3.75 and 2.5, respectively. The areas that demonstrated the greatest room for improvement were the clarity and ease of starting physical therapy and providing hope to families after the diagnosis.

A thematic analysis suggest that families prefer personalized and specialized care. Caregivers of children who received their diagnosis prior to the CPEDC felt that the diagnostic process was a period of uncertainty and confusion and lacking in support. However, they were appreciative of the interdisciplinary care throughout their journey that made them feel supported. Many families expressed frustration over systemic delays that delayed confirmation of their child’s diagnosis and the start of therapeutic interventions.

Significance: Once data collection is complete, our goal is to develop evidence-based recommendations to improve the diagnostic pathway at the CPEDC to ensure a smooth transition for children with CP and their families.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Session #15 Thursday, July 23 3:00 – 4:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Annie Cai Darya Laptieva Raj Saini Ella Wang Chloe Young Nicholas Tjandra & Jane Tjandra

Annie Cai

Undergraduate Student, University of California, Berkeley | Goldowitz Research Team An investigation into the perturbation of the Atoh1 lineage in the loss of Pax6

Session 15 | Poster 89

Annie Cai, Dan Goldowitz, Joanna Yeung, Michael Ke Background: The cerebellum plays an important role in motor coordination, cognitive processing, and social behaviour. During embryonic development, cerebellar progenitors arise from one of two distinct germinal zones: the rhombic lip, marked by the expression of Atoh1, and the ventricular zone, marked by Ptf1a. Pax6 is a crucial cerebellar developmental transcription factor acting on the glutamatergic lineages arising from the Atoh1-positive rhombic lip. It is not well understood what directs the differentiation into different lineages within these germinal zones and how disruptions in gene expression can alter downstream development and circuitry formation. By examining differences in developmental trajectories and gene expression at the single-cell level, this bioinformatics workflow aims to understand how the loss of Pax6 alters the development of Atoh1 lineage.

Methods: Trajectory analysis was performed on single-cell RNA sequencing datasets for E13.5 and E15.5 wildtype and Pax6 knockout mouse cerebellum. Using the trajectory, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) relevant to cerebellum development were determined using regression analysis to evaluate the log fold change between wildtype and Pax6-null transcriptomes.

Results: Trajectory analysis shows varying points of differentiation and relative progression between wildtype and mutant cerebella. Additionally, preliminary regression analyses conducted on the E13.5 dataset revealed significant changes in gene expression (logFC magnitude > 0.25, p-value < 0.01) across 405 genes implicated in cerebellar development in 13 clusters. Of these DEGs, the majority came from clusters of cerebellar nuclei (CN) progenitors (cluster 1), Tbr1+ CN cells (cluster 5), and cells in the subpial stream (cluster 2). The same pipeline applied to the E15.5 dataset yielded 806 DEGs across 11 clusters. This indicates the potential implication of the loss of Pax6 in the development of the CN and its downstream circuitry.

Significance: Understanding the role that transcription factors, such as Pax6, play in the development of the cerebellum and how it impacts differentiation at the cellular level can help in potentially identifying the underlying causes behind neurodevelopmental diseases, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and provide insights into future therapeutics.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Darya Laptieva

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Levings Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Childhood Diseases Summer Studentship Recipient

Designing islet-specific TCR Tregs for Type 1 Diabetes

Session 15 | Poster 90

Darya Laptieva, Karoliina Tuomela, Sonya Mangat, Emily Leong, Lorna Leon, Majid Mojibian, Jana Gillies, Paul Orban, Francis Lynn, Maki Nakayama, Megan Levings Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in maintaining peripheral self-tolerance, and changes in their function or phenotype are associated with autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Due to their key immunoregulatory role, Tregs are promising candidates for adoptive cell therapy in T1D. Islet-specific Tregs can delay or prevent diabetes in NOD mice, but designing antigen-specific Tregs for human application remains a challenge. Antigen recognition

by CD4⁺ Tregs is reliant on HLA class II, which is highly polymorphic and lowly expressed in islet cells compared to HLA class I. Thus, HLA-I-restricted T cell receptors (TCRs) may more effectively target Tregs to pancreatic islets. Our aim is to engineer stable HLA-I-restricted TCRTregs targeting preproinsulin (PPI) peptides, with the objective of suppressing islet-autoreactive T cells in human T1D. Three HLA-A2-restricted TCRs (1.C8, 172.C8, and 179.G6) were isolated from islet-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells and cloned into lentiviral vectors. TCR function was validated in Jurkat cells stimulated with HLA-A2⁺ K562 cells pulsed with exogenous peptide. Validated TCRs were expressed in CD8 T cells, resulting in peptide dose-dependent killing of HLA-A2⁺ K562 cells. Moreover, the TCRs mediated killing of stem cell-derived β-cells and cadaveric islets

by CD8+ T cells, confirming the function of PPI-specific TCRs. TCRs were then expressed in T conventional cells and Tregs, showing activation in a peptide dose-dependent manner when co-cultured with HLA-A2⁺ K562 cells. Furthermore, TCR-transduced Tregs showed activation when co-cultured with stem cell-derived islets, confirming their ability to bind native PPI peptide.

To investigate the requirement of the CD8 co-receptor in CD4+ cells for HLA-I-restricted TCR function, CD8α and CD8β co-receptors were expressed in T conventional cells and Tregs.

Co-expression of CD8α and CD8β enhanced TCR avidity in conventional CD4+ T cells and Tregs compared to CD8α alone or no CD8. Future studies will investigate the ability of the validated TCRs to induce Treg-mediated suppression of CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells in the presence of stem cell-derived- and primary β-cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Raj Saini

Undergraduate Student, Simon Fraser University | Görges Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Summer Studentship Recipient

Representative of Whom? A Tool for Measuring Who's Missing from Health Research

Session 15 | Poster 91

Raj Saini, Nicholas West, Matthias Görges Background: The utility of health research results depends, in part, on how well a study’s participant population represents the population it draws from (sampling bias). When enrolled participants over- or under-represent particular subgroups, findings may not generalize to the people a study aims to help, who may already be underserved. Yet representativeness is rarely quantified systematically, and no accessible tool allows research teams to assess it routinely.

Objective: To determine preliminary requirements for a reusable, interactive tool that enables researchers to compare a study sample with a chosen reference population across sociodemographic indicators, and to demonstrate proof of concept using a pediatric pilot cohort at BC Children’s Hospital.

Methods: Using a pilot cohort (a pain-prediction study, N≈500), we compared the enrolled sample’s age and household income with reference populations, computing the participationto-prevalence ratio (PPR), standardized differences, total variation distance, and chi-square goodness-of-fit tests. To illustrate how the choice of reference shapes conclusions, we compared the same sample against two references: the hospital surgical population (the source population) and the 2021 BC Census (the general population).

Results: We determined that the tool must harmonize differently coded study variables into a common schema, allow users to select a reference relevant to their study, and report percategory over- and underrepresentation with effect sizes and significance. Age illustrated why the reference matters: compared with the surgical population, the sample under-represented <1-year-olds and over-represented 1–2-year olds, but compared with the BC Census, it also under-represented 6–11- and 12–17-year-olds, appearing more representative of the hospital population it was drawn from than the general population. Household income, available only for the census, showed marked under-representation of lower-income families (lowest band PPR≈0.4).

Significance: These preliminary results show that representativeness can be quantified simply, and that reference choice is a core design question: the surgical population tests representativeness relative to potential eligibility, the census helps test generalizability, and researchers may require both. As study data increasingly train AI models, such imbalances risk amplification, making representativeness a prerequisite for generalizable research and fair AI. Next steps include exploring different reference dataset options and building the user interface.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Ella Wang

Undergraduate Student, McMaster University | Joharifard Research Team Development and Evaluation of a Storybook to Educate and Support Families of Children with Anorectal Malformations in sub-Saharan Africa

Session 15 | Poster 92

Ella Wang, Shahrzad Joharifard Introduction: Significant language and health literacy barriers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) limit caregivers’ ability to understand complex medical conditions. Anorectal Malformations (ARMs) are anatomically varied congenital disorders and typically require multiple surgeries to correct. We aimed to develop a storybook to provide caregivers with a culturally relevant tool to understand their child’s condition and the steps needed to repair it.

Methods: In order to identify gaps in current caregiver education for ARMs in SSA, we conducted a literature search, consulted with surgeons who treat ARMs in SSA, and reviewed existing North American educational materials for families of children with ARMs. We applied these findings to create storybook illustrations that mitigate caregiver challenges while guiding families through important stages, including birth, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and post-surgical care.

Results: From our analysis of caregiver education gaps, four key themes emerged: 1) high illiteracy rates and language barriers between caregivers and medical staff in SSA limit effective information transfer; 2) lower health literacy among caregivers in SSA impede the understanding of complex medical information; 3) caregivers of children with ARMs benefit from reassurance during a prolonged and emotionally charged medical journey; and 4) no culturally relevant educational resources exist for caregivers of children with ARMs in SSA. Over 12 weeks, we developed 40 illustrations and diagrams, in addition to an audio-recorded transcript to narrate the storybook. The final product addresses all four themes by using limited text, relying on simplified anatomical diagrams, incorporating emotionally expressive characters to offer solidarity, and including culturally relevant elements.

Conclusion: We developed a storybook and accompanying audio narration to address key caregiver education challenges for ARMs in sub-Saharan Africa and to equip families with a clear, relevant and patient-centered learning tool. A pilot test of the storybook will be conducted in South Sudan to collect family feedback and inform further refinements.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Chloe Young

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Blydt-Hansen Research Team Metabolomic Profiling for Discovery and Validation of Biomarkers of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Children

Session 15 | Poster 93

Chloe Young, Tom Blydt-Hansen Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by impaired kidney function, which may progressively decline, leading to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Many factors may contribute to the progression of CKD in children, including whether the cause of the disease is glomerular or non-glomerular. Other factors known to contribute to kidney function decline include age, CKD stage, primary disease, registration year, hypertension, corrected phosphorus, corrected calcium, albumin, hematocrit, and medication proxies for anemia and short stature.

Systemic inflammation from any source contributes to CKD progression, particularly in immunemediated glomerular diseases. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important mediators of inflammatory processes, but have not been evaluated in relation to their association with CKD progression.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate whether PUFA levels are associated with the rate of kidney function decline in pediatric CKD patients. We also wish to investigate whether omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid ratios play a role in the level of inflammation caused to the kidneys.

Methods: The Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study is a retrospective cohort study of children with CKD. Plasma samples from participants at visit 1b (n=702) underwent metabolite profiling. Patients were excluded if testing did not yield valid PUFA measurements or if they did not have ≥ 2 years of follow-up after testing, leaving 527 patients for analysis. The outcomes of this study are the rate of kidney function decline, which is measured by the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over time, and the time to reach ESKD (dialysis or a transplant). The exposure variables tested include the omega-3 PUFAs: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), stearidonic acid (SDA), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), as well as the omega-6 PUFAs: linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA), and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA).

Significance: By investigating whether PUFA levels have an association with kidney function decline, we can determine if dietary changes that modify the PUFA profiles may slow the progression of CKD. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Nicholas Tjandra & Jane Tjandra Session 15 | Poster 94

Undergraduate Students, Simon Fraser University | Oldani Research Team Radiomics and Artificial Intelligence for Opportunistic Detection of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma on Portal Venous CT: A Systematic Review Nicholas Tjandra, Jane Tjandra, Mina Kolahdouzmohammadi, Raha Nikoumaram, Kevan Wu, Graziano Oldani Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) carries a five year survival of approximately 13 percent, driven largely by late stage diagnosis. Pancreatic abnormalities are detectable on CT in up to 38 percent of scans obtained years before clinical diagnosis, and expert re-review identifies suspicious features in over half of prediagnostic scans originally read as normal. Artificial intelligence (AI) and radiomics based methods applied to routine abdominal CT may enable opportunistic detection of PDAC at an earlier, more treatable stage, without additional imaging burden. No existing systematic review has specifically evaluated these methods for opportunistic detection or compared their performance directly against standard radiology interpretation.

Objectives: The primary objective is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of AI and radiomics based methods for PDAC detection on portal venous CT performed for non-pancreatic indications, compared with standard radiology interpretation and/or expert re-review. Secondary objectives include comparing AI performance directly against radiologists, characterizing PDAC missed on prior CT, describing the opportunistic detection context, and assessing clinical outcomes including lead time to diagnosis and stage at detection.

Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-DTA guidance, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL will be searched for studies published from January 2016 onward. Eligible studies include adults aged 18 and older undergoing abdominal CT for non-pancreatic indications, with AI or radiomics analysis applied for PDAC or pancreatic lesion detection. Two reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data, and assess risk of bias using QUADAS-2 with the QUADAS-AI extension. Narrative synthesis will follow SWiM guidance, with bivariate randomeffects or HSROC meta-analysis where at least four studies report comparable data. Certainty of evidence will be assessed using GRADE. Discussion: This review will provide the first synthesis of diagnostic accuracy evidence for AI and radiomics based opportunistic PDAC detection, appraise study quality, and clarify whether current methods are sufficiently accurate and robust to support clinical deployment.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Session #16

Presenters Anaïk Ferradini Liam Lahiffe Mason Poitras Ruoxi Qu Kendra Wang Kevan Wu & Raha Nikoumaram

Thursday, July 23 3:00 – 4:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Anaïk Ferradini

Undergraduate Student, McGill University | Lavoie & A. Lee Research Teams BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Healthy Starts Summer Studentship Recipient

Genomic analysis of neonatal sepsis causing bacterial isolates from Malawi

Session 16 | Poster 95

Anaïk Ferradini, Michael Trimble, Amy Lee, Pascal Lavoie Background: Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening dysregulated immune response, typically due to bacterial infections, that occurs in newborn infants under 28 days of life. It is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Diagnosis typically relies on blood culture. With the exception of the Burden of Antibiotic Resistance in Neonates from Developing Societies (BARNARDS) study, the majority of studies in LMICs have limited whole genome sequencing of the bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, these studies do not characterize the associated neonatal immune responses using transcriptomic analyses.

Between 2018-2020, approximately 400 infants under 3 months with suspected sepsis admitted to the Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi were included if they did not receive antibiotics for less than 4 hours prior to enrollment. Blood cultures (to isolate potential pathogens) and whole blood transcriptome (to assess neonatal immune responses) were collected from those infants. Only 10% of the infants had culture-positive samples, with bacterial pathogens including: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Acinetobacter baumannii.

Objective: This project aims to characterize bacterial isolates obtained from neonatal sepsis patients in Malawi using long-read Oxford Nanopore whole-genome sequencing. The genomic analyses will enable species-level identification and investigation of the genetic factors associated with invasive disease, including virulence genes, antimicrobial resistance determinants, and to perform potential genomic epidemiology and phylogenetic analyses.

Method: Pure bacterial isolates recovered from blood cultures underwent genomic DNA extraction. DNA extraction protocols were optimized and adapted to the diverse bacterial species.

DNA quality was assessed for suitability for Oxford Nanopore whole-genome sequencing.

After sequencing, genomic analysis will allow us to identify the bacterial species, and detect the virulence-associated genes and antimicrobial resistance determinants. We will be able to compare isolates through phylogenetic analysis to find shared genetic characteristics among the neonatal sepsis-associated strains.

Expected Outcomes/Implications: This work will establish a genomic resource for neonatal sepsis pathogens from Malawi and will improve our understanding of bacterial factors associated with invasive disease. The results will be integrated with the associated neonatal immune responses to potentially improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of neonatal sepsis.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Liam Lahiffe

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Verchere Research Team Canucks for Kids Fund Childhood Diabetes Laboratories Summer Studentship Recipient

ProIAPP processing as a marker of functional maturity in stem cell derived beta cells

Session 16 | Poster 96

Liam Lahiffe, Jack Pirie, Joshua Awoke, Paul C. Orban, Francis C. Lynn, C. Bruce Verchere Transplanting stem cell derived insulin-producing beta cells (SC-beta cells) is an emerging treatment approach for type 1 diabetes (T1D), having been found to restore insulin independence in T1D patients in clinical trials. While a promising treatment, it can be difficult to verify the functional maturity of these SC-beta cells. It is known that maturity of SC-beta cells is critical for their success following transplantation. Insulin and another beta cell peptide hormone, islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), are first synthesized as larger precursors, proinsulin and proIAPP respectively, and are processed by enzymes in beta cells to their active forms. We hypothesized that prohormone processing efficiency of SC-derived beta cells is a good indicator of functional maturity, and that SC-beta cells that are not fully mature will have disproportionately high levels of proIAPP. To address this hypothesis, we first optimized sensitive immunoassays that were developed in house, enabling detection of two proIAPP forms (proIAPP1-48, proIAPP1-67) and mature IAPP. We achieved improved sensitivity and low cross-reactivity between (pro)IAPP forms following changes in assay conditions. SC-beta cells at different levels of differentiation (Stage 6 and 7 after 1-11 weeks) were analyzed for their proIAPP and IAPP content. The proIAPP1-48:IAPP ratio decreased between stage 6 and 7 SC-beta cells suggesting improved proIAPP processing between these stages of maturation. While proIAPP1-67 content was lower than that of proIAPP1-48 or IAPP in all samples, it increased as stage 7 SC-beta cells aged, suggesting decreased proIAPP processing efficiency in older SC-beta cells. In a separate model, prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) knockout SC-beta cells displayed elevated proIAPP1-67 relative to controls, suggesting that PC1/3 is responsible for processing proIAPP1-67, and suggesting that PC1/3 expression/activity may have value as a marker of functional SC-beta cell maturity. Given the different proIAPP:IAPP ratios between stage 6 and 7 SC-beta cells, our data suggest that proIAPP processing may reflect functional maturity, possibly helping inform the optimal stage for transplantation. Given the apparent decrease in proIAPP processing efficiency in older SC-beta cells, our data further suggest that stage 7 SC-beta cells may lose functional maturity in longer term culture, potentially due to decreased expression/activity of PC1/3.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Mason Poitras

Undergraduate Student, University of Calgary | Turvey Research Team BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Functional Characterization of Novel STAT6 Gain-of-Function Variants Associated with Primary Atopic Disorders

Session 16 | Poster 97

Mason Poitras, Simran Samra, Stuart E. Turvey Introduction: Primary atopic disorders (PADs) are a monogenic subgroup of inborn errors in immunity (IEI) that exhibit severe early-onset atopy. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 6 (STAT6) is a transcription factor downstream of IL-4 and IL-13 signaling. It plays a central role in type 2 immune responses (Th2 mediation) and drives allergic inflammation. STAT6 gain-of-function (GOF) disease is a rare autosomal dominant IEI recently discovered by the Turvey Laboratory that results in a hyperactive immune system. Additional potentially pathogenic STAT6 variants remain functionally uncharacterized, thus, the aim of this study is to aid an international consortium in identifying and documenting more variants that cause STAT6 GOF disease.

Methods: In collaboration with the global consortium, several novel STAT6 variants were compiled for further assessment. In-silico prediction tools, including CADD scores will be used to assess potentially pathogenic STAT6 variants. These variants will be transiently overexpressed in HEK293 cell lines alongside wild type (WT) STAT6 and known pathogenic variants.

STAT6 expression and activation will be assessed using western blots, flow cytometry and immunofluorescent microscopy. Cells will be measured under basal and IL-4-stimulated states to quantify phosphorylated STAT6 (p-STAT6), the protein's active form.

Preliminary Results: We identified two candidate STAT6 variants in two individuals: p.Asn420Ser (c.1259A>G) located in the DNA-binding domain (a known pathogenic hotspot) and p.Pro643Leu (c.1928C>T) located in a linker (SH2 – TA) domain. Both patients experienced severe atopy and elevated IgE, with additional manifestations including eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID), food allergy, and glomerulonephritis. Data collection and characterization of these variants are underway.

Conclusion: Verifying the effect of these variants on STAT6 expression and function will confirm diagnoses for the two candidates. The results will be published in international literature and deposited in public genomic databases. This will aid physicians in more quickly and accurately diagnosing and treating STAT6 GOF. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Ruoxi Qu

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Devlin Research Team Undergraduate Student Research Award

Characterization of T-cell Subpopulations in Spleen and Liver in a Mouse Model of Pediatric Diabetes: Implications for Vascular Injury

Session 16 | Poster 98

Ruoxi Qu, Puja Biswas, Angela Devlin Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at an increased risk of early‑onset cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms underlying the initiation of vascular damage and timing of these events remain poorly understood. Preliminary single-cell RNA-sequencing data of the whole aorta from C57BL/6J-Ins2+/Akita (Akita) mouse model of pediatric diabetes revealed that at diabetes onset, male Akita mice exhibited reduced T-cell populations that became elevated four weeks post diabetes onset compared to age-matched control mice. Female Akita mice showed no changes in T-cells compared to control mice. However, pathway analysis of aortic endothelial cells demonstrated upregulation of immune activation pathways at diabetes onset in male Akita mice and at post-onset in female Akita mice. Given T-cells play a crucial role in inflammatory responses and the development of atherosclerosis, we hypothesized that early T-cell-mediated immune activation in secondary lymphoid (spleen) and non-lymphoid (liver) tissue alters the aortic immune environment, thereby promoting the initiation of vascular injury in pediatric diabetes. Flow cytometry was used to identify T‑cell subpopulations (helper T-cells, cytotoxic T-cells) in male and female Akita mice and control mice at diabetes onset and four weeks post‑onset (n=32 mice; 4 mice/sex/age/genotype). Freshly harvested spleen and liver tissue were processed into single-cell suspensions and incubated with anti-mouse CD16/32 to block Fc receptors. Cells were then stained with anti-mouse fluorescent monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD45-fluorescein isothiocyanate, anti-CD19-phycoerythrin/cy7, anti-CD3-Alexa Fluor 647, anti-CD4-Pacific Blue, anti-CD8-phycoerythrin to target leukocytes, B-cells, T-cells, helper T-cells, and cytotoxic T-cells, respectively). These stained subpopulations were then quantified using the Symphony-A1 Flow Cytometer. To date, we have collected a total of 21 spleen samples from female control (n=5), male control (n=7), female Akita (n=6), and male Akita (n=3) mice.

Preliminary data show no differences in T-cell subpopulations (helper T-cells, cytotoxic T-cells) in spleen across both control and Akita mice. Further experiments and characterization of T-cell subsets in other lymphoid tissues will guide future studies investigating vascular-associated T-cell subpopulations. Collectively, this work will improve understanding of immune mechanisms that initiate vascular damage in early T1D and may identify biomarkers to detect cardiovascular risk in children with T1D. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditoriumm

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Kendra Wang

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Mak Research Team Canadian FAIT (Food Allergy Immunotherapy) Foundation Summer Studentship Recipient

Sublingual Immunotherapy: A Second-Chance Treatment Pathway After Failed Oral Immunotherapy

Session 16 | Poster 99

Kendra Wang, Lianne Soller, Mary McHenry, Elissa Abrams, Sara Leo, Joanne Yeung, Sarah Lohrenz, Edmond S. Chan, Tiffany Wong, Raymond Mak Introduction: Food allergy represents a public health concern, affecting over 600,000 children and one in two households in Canada. In food allergy management, oral immunotherapy (OIT) has expanded treatment access by increasing allergen tolerance and reducing severe reactions.

However, OIT is not tolerated by all patients. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) may offer an alternative pathway, though predictors of successful SLIT following OIT failure remain poorly understood. This study investigates predictors of successful SLIT after OIT discontinuation in paediatric patients with food allergy.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for paediatric patients transitioning from OIT to SLIT following OIT discontinuation. Data were compiled from the FAIT registry at BC Children's Hospital and from allergists affiliated with the Canadian Food Allergy Immunotherapy (CAN-FAIT) group (n=24). Demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics included atopic comorbidities, OIT reaction history, and SLIT dosing and adverse events. Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests evaluated associations between candidate predictors and SLIT success, which was defined as reaching and remaining on maintenance dosing.

Results: Among 24 patients who transitioned from OIT to SLIT, 17 (71%) successfully tolerated and maintained SLIT, while 7 (29%) did not. Adverse reactions and anaphylaxis accounted for 79% (19/24) of OIT failure, while SLIT non-success was predominantly due to non-adherence or loss to follow-up (6/7), suggesting different treatment barriers. Peanut as the SLIT allergen showed a trend toward higher success (13/15 [87%] vs. 4/9 [44%]; p=0.061), though not statistically significant. Peanut-treated patients were treated for fewer foods overall (mean 1.67 vs. 2.44), suggesting treatment complexity may contribute to this trend. Age, sex, asthma, eczema, and rhinitis did not differ between groups.

Conclusion: SLIT represents a viable and well-tolerated immunotherapy pathway for paediatric patients unable to tolerate OIT, with most safely achieving maintenance dosing and no observed cases of anaphylaxis. A non-significant trend toward higher success among peanut-only patients suggests treatment complexity may influence SLIT outcomes. As SLIT failures were primarily driven by non-adherence, optimizing adherence support may improve treatment success. These findings support SLIT as a personalized treatment option for children unable to tolerate OIT. Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Kevan Wu & Raha Nikoumaram Session 16 | Poster 100

Undergraduate Students, University of British Columbia | Oldani Research Team Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Approaches for Early Detection or Prediction of Drug Induced Liver Injury: A Systematic Review Kevan Wu, Raha Nikoumaram, Mina Kolahdouz, Graziano Oldani Background: Drug-induced liver injury, also known as DILI, is one of the leading causes of acute liver failure. DILI can occur in individuals taking medications where the drug or drug metabolite results in toxicity to the liver. There is no singular definitive biomarker for the detection of druginduced liver injury, leading to difficulty in detecting and distinguishing it from other liver diseases.

In recent years, advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning models have made them increasingly compatible with early detection and prediction of medical conditions through their ability to integrate diverse data sets and sources and recognize complex patterns. With these advancements and as artificial intelligence and machine learning models are increasingly used, validation of their predictive performances is important in making informed decisions regarding diagnosis and prognosis as they are applied in real-world contexts. The following research aims to synthesize the current evidence on the predictive performances of artificial intelligence and machine learning models in relation to early detection and prediction of druginduced liver injury on adult and paediatric patients taking medications.

Methods: A systematic literature review search was conducted of existing research investigating artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches for early detection or prediction of drug induced liver injury. Articles were restricted by search date from 2015 onwards with no end date restrictions. Key words including DILI, artificial intelligence, machine learning, prediction, and diagnosis were used in reference to human models. Animal models, in silico models, and in vitro models were excluded.

Objectives: Adult and paediatric patients taking medications will be considered for the predictive performances of artificial intelligence and machine learning models. These models will be compared with conventional prediction models, including clinician judgements and usual rulebased criteria, at detecting drug-induced liver injury. Predictive performance, including sensitivity, specificity, clinical utility, and calibration of artificial intelligence and machine learning models used for drug-induced liver injury will be evaluated.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Session #17 Thursday, July 23 3:00 – 4:15 PM SHY Auditorium

Presenters Aarya Gokhale Mei Lin Hambley Omar Jamal Lucy Peng Carolina Rivero

Aarya Gokhale

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Houghton Research Team UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 17 | Poster 101

Physical Activity Guidance in Juvenile Myositis: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Providers and Families Aarya Gokhale, Stephanie Wong, Vanessa L. Carbone, Sirirat Charuvanij, Selen Duygu Arik, Tomas Dallos, Adam Huber, Sarah James, Bianca Lang, Dasa Misiková, Megan McAllister, Ishani Perera, Amy Rakestraw, Christiaan Scott, Susan Shenoi, Stacey Tarvin, Y. Ingrid Goh, Kristine Risum, Helga Sanner, Kristin Houghton Background: Although physical activity (PA) is considered safe and recommended for children and adolescents with juvenile myositis (JM), pediatric rheumatology healthcare providers (HCPs) do not consistently provide structured PA guidance, particularly for patients with active disease. This study aimed to: (1) characterize pediatric rheumatology provider practices related to PA recommendations and referral patterns; and (2) examine patient participation in PA and preferences for receiving PA guidance.

Methods: Cross-sectional paired surveys were administered to HCPs and patients/caregivers from October 2025 to February 2026. HCP surveys were distributed via email through the Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) and the Pediatric Rheumatology European Society (PRes).

Patient/caregiver surveys were distributed through the BC Children’s Hospital Rheumatology clinic and the Cure JM patient advocacy group. Data were collected using REDCap and analyzed descriptively, with visualizations generated in R. Results: 92 HCPs—pediatric rheumatologists and allied health professionals (including occupational therapists, and physiotherapists)—and 93 patients/caregivers completed the surveys in full. Most respondents were from North America (84% of HCPs; 85% of patients/caregivers), and most HCPs practiced in academic settings (93%).

Across all JM disease states, HCPs most commonly advised patients to “be more active”, while structured exercise plans were rarely provided.

Patients/caregivers reported greater safety concerns about PA than HCPs (70% vs. 17%). Among HCPs, the most commonly reported barrier to providing PA guidance was lack of knowledge and training, followed by time, cost, and access barriers. The main patient/caregiver concerns about PA participation were fatigue (64%), weakness (48%), and pain (38%).

Physiotherapy referral was the most common source of PA guidance among HCP, whereas patients/ caregivers preferred receiving PA guidance from pediatric rheumatologists (84%), followed by physiotherapists (52%).

Conclusion: Structured PA guidance is infrequently provided in pediatric rheumatology care for JM and many HCPs report insufficient training to offer specific recommendations. The marked discrepancy in safety concerns between HCPs and patient/caregivers highlights a gap between clinical practice and patient needs, supporting the need for standardized PA counseling and targeted provider education.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium Table of Contents

Mei Lin Hambley

Undergraduate Student, University of Victoria | Sadarangani Research Team BC Children's Hospital Research Institute Summer Studentship Recipient

Session 17 | Poster 102

Investigating the Feasibility of Measuring Gene Expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae During Infection Mei Lin Hambley, Kaitlin Winter, Ken H. Chu, Zeshawn Smikle, Bianca Benedicta, Mandy Lo, Michael Trimble, Alexandra Redey, Jonathan Ho, Amy Lee, Manish Sadarangani Background and Objective: Klebsiella pneumoniae causes serious infections in both community and healthcare settings, including pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infections.

These illnesses often require hospitalization and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Many infections are multi-drug resistant making them increasingly difficult to treat. The high global burden and mortality of K. pneumoniae highlights the need for a vaccine, and identifying bacterial antigens is critical for vaccine development. RNA sequencing is a powerful tool that can be used to analyze bacterial RNA and identify genes that are actively expressed during infection. However, it remains unknown whether K. pneumoniae RNA can be reliably detected among the abundant host RNA in infected tissue. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of this approach.

Methods: 4 female and 4 male 6-week-old BALB/c mice were infected intraperitoneally with a lethal dose of 4.4 × 107 colony-forming unit counts of K. pneumoniae. Mice were assessed for changes in weight, behaviour, appearance and symptoms 2 hours post-infection. At 6 hours postinfection, blood, liver, and spleen samples were collected. Liver homogenates and blood samples were plated on solid media to quantify bacterial burden by colony-forming unit (CFU) counts and compared using a 2-way ANOVA. Results: Two hours post-infection, mice exhibited signs of infection including pain (mean score = 4.5/5), irregular breathing (1.9/5), weight loss (0.9/5), abnormal appearance (2.6/5), and slowed behaviour (3.4/5). There were no significant differences in bacterial burden between male (blood: 1.9 x 107 CFU/mL; liver: 2.3 x 108 CFU/g) and female (blood: 1.7 x 108 CFU/mL; liver: 3.1 x 108 CFU/g) mice. RNA sequencing will be performed on blood, liver, and spleen samples to quantify K. pneumoniae gene expression during infection.

Significance: If RNA sequencing successfully detects K. pneumoniae RNA, it will establish a foundation for future studies of bacterial gene expression during infection. These data may identify vaccine antigens and improve candidate selection, contributing to the development of a K. pneumoniae vaccine that could save lives in Canada and prevent an estimated 400,000 cases of neonatal sepsis globally each year.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Omar Jamal

Undergraduate Student, McMaster University | Joseph Research Team BC Children's Hospital Research Institute Healthy Starts Summer Studentship Recipient

Quantifying the contributions of twins, congenital anomalies and other factors to cerebral palsy

Session 17 | Poster 103

Omar S. Jamal, Emma Wen, Sid John, Neda Razaz, Sarka Lisonkova, K.S. Joseph Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a leading cause of childhood-onset disability resulting from brain injury, brain malformations, genetic causes, and other risk factors. We quantified the contributions of maternal chronic disease, pregnancy complications, twin pregnancy, congenital anomalies and other risk factors to CP occurrence.

Methods: The study included all singleton and twin live births and stillbirths at ≥22 and ≤43 weeks’ gestation born in British Columbia, Canada, between April 2008 and March 2021. A longitudinal cohort of infants was created by linking the British Columbia Perinatal Database Registry (BCPDR) to subsequent hospital records, outpatient physician visits and vital statistics records. Maternal and neonatal information was obtained from the delivery/birth records in the BCPDR and CP diagnoses were obtained from outpatient physician visits and hospital records from 27 days to a minimum of 3 years of age. Primary outcomes included CP and a composite outcome of stillbirth, neonatal death, and CP. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), which were used to calculate population attributable fractions (PAFs).

Results: The study population included 565,876 mothers, 572,246 live births and 1,660 CP cases (CP rate 2.9 per 1,000 live births). CP rates ranged from 3.2 per 1,000 live births among male infants to 3.4 per 1,000 among infants of mothers with chronic disease, 6.3 per 1,000 among infants of mothers with pre-eclampsia, 8.4 per 1,000 among twins, and 15.8 per 1,000 among infants with congenital anomalies. Logistic regression showed that ORs for CP were 1.18 (95% CI 1.07-1.30) for males, 1.31 (95% CI 1.19-1.45) for infants of mothers with chronic disease, 1.57 (95% CI 1.25-1.99) for infants of mothers with pre-eclampsia, 2.42 (95% CI 2.042.88) for twins, and 7.08 (95% CI 6.38-7.87) for infants with congenital anomalies. PAF estimates showed that male infants, infants of mothers with chronic disease, infants of mothers with preeclampsia, twins, and infants with congenital anomalies contributed to 9%, 12%, 2%, 5%, and 28% of CP, respectively.

Interpretation: CP has a multi-factorial etiology, and a substantial fraction of cases are associated with maternal chronic disease, congenital anomalies and twin pregnancy.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Lucy Peng

Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia | Broemling & Morrison Research Teams

Session 17 | Poster 104

Understanding parental experience of the Magic Glove (a hypno-analgesic technique) as an additional modality to reduce pain and anxiety during preoperative IV insertion: A Qualitative Study Lucy Peng, Asli E. Ozer, Gillian Lauder, Nicholas West, Steffanie Fisher, Lynnie Correll, Randa Ridgway, Christa Morrison, Natasha Broemling Introduction: The Magic Glove is a hypno-analgesic technique that employs touch with hypnotic suggestion to reduce anxiety before and during IV insertion. Despite its relevance and effectiveness in pediatrics, the Magic Glove is currently under-utilized. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the Magic Glove when applied before pediatric surgical procedures and to explore caregiver perspectives on how to best implement the technique.

Methods: This study includes children ages 6-12 and their caregivers attending for elective surgical procedures and having the Magic Glove applied prior to IV insertion. Data collection involves a caregiver survey before the Magic Glove intervention, researcher observation during the intervention, and semi-structured caregiver interviews following the intervention and IV insertion. Recruitment will continue until thematic saturation is achieved, with an anticipated sample size of 20-30 participants. Patient anxiety is scored using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale- Short Form (mYPAS-SF) at consent, during Magic Glove placement, immediately before IV insertion, and during IV insertion. Open-ended survey responses and interviews will be analyzed using an inductive thematic approach.

Results: Recruitment and data collection are ongoing. Two participants, an 11-year-old female and a 6-year-old female, have been recruited. The Magic Glove was applied, and the interviews were completed as planned. Thematic analysis is underway.

Discussion: We anticipate surveys and interviews will provide practical considerations for broader application of the Magic Glove in pediatric practice. Implementation of nonpharmacologic interventions in pediatric anesthesia requires consideration of patient/family acceptance, provider integration, and incorporation into clinical workflows. The Magic Glove provides a low-cost, low-barrier, family-centred approach that complements existing strategies for IV insertions. A major benefit of this technique is its potential to be easily taught, translated to different languages and learnt not just by providers but also patients and their caregivers.

Conclusion: The Magic Glove is a low-resource and relevant strategy for reducing anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing IV insertion. Acceptance by caregivers and demonstration of feasibility in the perioperative space may indicate its potential for widespread implementation in pediatric institutions.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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Carolina Rivero

Undergraduate Student, Queen's University | Matsell Research Team Estimating baseline kidney function in babies with CAKUT- towards better prediction of long-term outcome

Session 17 | Poster 105

Carolina Rivero, Douglas G. Matsell Introduction: Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) represent leading causes of pediatric kidney disease. Early estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a strong predictor of outcome. However, estimating equations differ in accuracy, strengths, and limitations.

We hypothesized that different estimating equations of initial GFR would render different predicted risks of developing chronic kidney injury.

Methods: Using a retrospective historical CAKUT cohort (n=451), binary logistic regression models were developed to predict chronic kidney disease (CKD) and composite outcomes (proteinuria, hypertension, or CKD). Among the independent clinical variables included, we substituted eGFR1 values calculated from the modified Schwartz, U25, and EKFC estimating equations. We evaluated the performance of these models using test accuracy, c-statistic, and median prediction risk score. Using a prospective cohort (n=249), we then calculated risk of composite and CKD outcomes by applying the prediction models generated from the eGFR estimating equations.

Results: In the retrospective cohort, eGFR1 values were 75±37, 73±36, and 67±30 ml/min/1.73 m2 (mean ± SD) (P<0.001 repeated measures ANOVA) for the modified Schwartz, U25, and EKFC estimating equations respectively. When incorporated into logistic regression models, they had a similar test accuracy in predicting the CKD outcome (85-86%), a c-statistic of 0.887, 0.884, and 0.894, and a median prediction score of 0.18, 0.18, and 0.14, respectively. Among the 249 enrolled cases in our prospective CAKUT cohort, 219 (77%) were newly referred cases.

Of those included in the analysis (n=108), diagnoses included multicystic dysplastic kidney (25%), unilateral renal agenesis (26%), renal hypodysplasia (38%), and posterior urethral valve (11%). When we applied the logistic regression model to the cases using eGFR1 values from the estimating equations, the median probability risk for the composite outcome was 0.183, 0.185, and 0.203 for the modified Schwartz, U25, and EKFC equations respectively.

Conclusion: While all 3 eGFR estimating equations yielded similar results when incorporated into kidney injury prediction models in CAKUT, the EKFC equation resulted in the best prediction test performance. In addition, eGFR1 results using the EKFC equation were significantly lower than the other estimates, resulting in higher prediction scores for the development of CKD and composite outcomes.

Presentation: July 23, 2026 | 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm | SHY Auditorium

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