Research Team
Cindy Hénault Robert MSc
Study Coordinator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being
Working on projects to improve women and girls’ health and well-being is what gets Cindy up in the morning. After 10 years focused internationally, most recently managing a project helping midwives to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, she’s shifted her attention closer to home and to a topic near and dear to her heart: Mental health.
Cindy has an MSc in Migration, Mobility and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) and a BA in International Development from the University of Calgary.
When she’s not at work, you can find Cindy hanging out with her dog, Louis, at the pottery wheel or cooking up a frenzy in her kitchen.
Julia Barnwell MSc
Clinical Research Coordinator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
From her grandmothers to her mother who raised their families while building successful careers in healthcare, Julia grew up surrounded by strong female role models who showed her first-hand the values of hard work, determination and humility.
In the hopes of one day following in their footsteps, Julia recently graduated from McGill University with a BSc in Biology and with a second major in International Development. During her undergrad, she spent a semester studying abroad at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which consolidated her interest in how genetic and social factors combine and interact differently to shape individuals.
Outside of work, Julia is a competitive Irish dancer; she practices up to 5 times a week, performs in various shows, and travels for competitions. You can always find Julia cozied up at home, planning her next adventure and snacking on food.
Kelsey Davis
Research Assistant, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Kelsey’s passion for healthcare began from a young age. Having grown up with a chronically ill sister, she was frequently exposed to the health care system early on. Her interests lie in improving treatment and resources available to those, especially women, affected by illness.
Kelsey recently graduated with her Honours BSc. in Psychology from the University of Ottawa and spent the last year of her studies researching female adolescent mental health at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in the department of Psychiatry. She hopes to continue her academic career making valuable advancements to the mental health field.
When she’s not working, you’ll most likely find her travelling abroad, meeting new people, or snuggling her dog, Lexie.
Chloé Gratton
Research Assistant, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
At a young age, Chloé was exposed to the love and passion for research. Inspired by her grandfather, a retired McGill professor, she aspired to one day reflect in her future career the care and compassion for others that he demonstrated in his research. Over the years, the field of mental health has developed profound personal meaning and become deeply cherished.
Chloé has recently graduated from McGill University with her BA in Psychology and double minor in Behavioural Science and German Language. She strives to continue her academic career in the field of mental health to further research on the susceptibility of women’s mental health problems in relation to hypersensitivity.
In her free time, you’ll most likely find her spending time with her dogs, baking traditional German breads, and travelling in search of the perfect café au lait.
Investigators
Tina Montreuil PhD
Lead Researcher, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Tina Montreuil is Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Counselling & Psychiatry at McGill University. She is a researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre. Dr. Montreuil's current research focuses on investigating the role of emotion regulation, attitudes, and beliefs on the development and intergenerational transmission of psychopathology and how symptoms of mental health problems might interfere with self-regulated learning in a group context and ultimately, educational achievement. Mediators and moderators of emotion regulation and resiliency such as the role of parental socialization of emotions on the use of emotion regulation strategies in children are also investigated.
Kieran O’Donnell PhD
Lead Researcher, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Kieran is fascinated by the remarkable feat that is pregnancy. He has spent his career trying to understand the biological pathways that connect a mother’s mental health to child brain development. Kieran is hopeful by the progress we are making towards creating a world where the importance pregnant women’s mental health is recognised…but he also feels that there is so much more to do!
In his spare time Kieran can be found spending time with his family back in Ireland and generally being beaten by his nieces and nephews at pretty much every game that has ever been invented!
Robert Hemmings MD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Dr. Hemmings is the Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief at St Mary's Hospital Centre and Chief Ob-GYN at the CIUSSS-ODIM. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McGiil University. He is a graduate of the University of Sherbrooke in medicine and physiology (MSc). He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at McGill University. Besides his clinical activities, he devotes a significant portion of his time to medical research. He has published more than 100 scientific articles and abstracts.
Celia Greenwood PhD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Celia Greenwood is a Senior Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, QC, and Associate Professor at McGill University in the Departments of Oncology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational Health, and Human Genetics. Her research interests lie in the development and application of appropriate statistical methodology for the analysis of data in the fields of genetics, genomics and high dimensional data. She has particular interest in analysis methods for rare genetic variation, and epigenetic data.
Richard Brown MD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Dr Richard Brown is an Associate Professor and Director of the divisions of Obstetrics, Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound at McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre. He trained in London, England, completed a fellowship in fetal medicine at the Harris Birthright Research Center at King’s College Hospital, London and practiced as a consultant in London before moving to Montreal in 2006. He has a particular interest in prenatal diagnosis and fetal therapy.
Michael Meaney PhD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Michael Meaney is the Co-Scientific Director at the Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health at the Douglas Research Centre and the Director of the Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology. He is also a James McGill Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery and in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University. His research interests lie in early environmental regulation of gene expression and brain development. His research seeks to understand how early experience exerts a sustained influence on neuronal function. Meaney is also interested in the development of individual differences in behavioural and endocrine responses to stress, and environmental and neuroendocrine mechanisms influencing maternal behaviour.
Sylvana Côté PhD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Sylvana Côté is a researcher at the CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre. She is a Professor at the School of Public Health of the University of Montreal and Director of the Research Group on Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Children. Professor Côté's work is rooted in an intergenerational perspective and focuses on the fields of developmental psychopathology and the epidemiology of mental health over the lifespan. Her ongoing studies focus on the associations between family risks and the development and intergenerational transmission of physical and mental health problems by looking at the child's life course.
Lucie Morin MD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Dr. Lucie Morin is Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Obstetrician-Gynecologist at CHU Sainte-Justine. She is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the Université de Montréal.
Sarah Lippé PhD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Dr. Lippé completed a master's degree in neuropsychology and a Ph.D in neuropsychology in clinical and research at the University of Montreal. In addition, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at the Commissariat de l’Énergie Atomique (France) as well as a postdoctoral fellowship at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care (Toronto). Her research program aims to better understand the cerebral and cognitive development of children and infants. Dr. Lippé is specifically interested in learning mechanisms adopted by healthy children and children with various types of developmental disorders The research methods used are varied and noninvasive (EEG, eye tracking, neuropsychology, observations, structural and functional MRI).
Isabelle Boucoiran MD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Dr. Isabelle Boucoiran is an obstetrician-gynecologist at CHU Sainte-Justine. She is head of research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at CHU Sainte-Justine. She is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the School of Public Health of the Université de Montréal and responsible for research at the Program Committee of Residents in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Université de Montréal.
Hannah Schwartz MD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Dr. Schwartz completed her residency in psychiatry at McGill University and a fellowship in perinatal and early childhood psychiatry at L’Université de Montréal. Currently, she acts as a perinatal mental health consultant and works within general outpatient psychiatry at St Mary’s Hospital. Dr. Schwartz is an Assistant Professor at McGill University and the site Co-Chief for the Department of Psychiatry at the St. Mary’s Hospital Center (CIUSSS ODIM). Dr. Schwartz’s research interests are focused on experiences of women with perinatal mental health problems, the implementation of a Perinatal Multisite Databank in Quebec, and the possible impact and accessibility of virtual prenatal internet interventions in the COVID-19 context.
Deborah Da Costa PhD
Investigator, Montreal Antenatal Well-Being Study
Dr. Da Costa’s research focuses on the interplay between modifiable psychosocial and behavioural (e.g. exercise) factors and health status in various chronic illnesses and in relation to depression in populations at risk, guided by a biopsychosocial framework. This has laid the foundation for the knowledge-transfer phase of her program which focuses on tailoring and evaluating evidence-based e-health interventions to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to optimize their health and wellness. Dr. Da Costa’s research activities focus on: 1) maternal and paternal mental health during the transition to parenthood - identifying predictors and developing e-health psychoeducational interventions 2) delineating the role of behavioural and psychosocial variables on health outcomes and quality of life in patients with chronic conditions; and 3) developing and testing gender-tailored tools to help individuals initiate and sustain healthy lifestyle behaviours over the lifespan.
