OUR STAFF
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Margie H. Davenport, PhD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR FUNDED BY: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC), Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada National New Investigator, Alberta New Investigator, and Improving Heart Health for Women Award
Education Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 2010-2012 Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
PhD Integrative Physiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. 2005-2010
Canadian Institutes of Health ResearchBSc Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. 2003-2005
BSc Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada. 1996-2001
Research Interests I have had the pleasure of working with pregnant/postpartum women and their children since 2005. During this time I have developed a keen interest in the role of exercise and healthy living during pregnancy on the short- and long-term health of both mother and children. I am excited to work with Edmonton women and their children to conduct research that could impact Albertan and Canadians health for years to come!
Personal Interests Outside of the lab I love spending time with my husband and daughters, especially in the great outdoors!
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Craig Steinback, PhD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR FUNDED BY: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC), Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Women and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI)
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada National New Investigator, Alberta New Investigator Education Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 2010-2012 NSERC, Alberta Innovates - Health SolutionsPhD Integrative Physiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. 2006-2010
NSERC, Heart and Stroke Foundation of CanadaMSc Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. 2001-2003
BSc Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. 1997-2001
Research Interests I am an exercise physiologist with an interest in adaptations to extreme environments (eg. altitude and diving). Through recent collaborations with Dr. Davenport we have developed a groundbreaking line of research related to the "extreme" (but natural!) adaptations that occur during pregnancy. In particular, my research examines how the brain controls cardiovascular function through the sympathetic nervous system (the body's "fight or flight" response).
Personal Interests In my spare time, I love to play with my wife and daughters, compete in road races and play in the mountains!
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Victoria Louise Meah, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow 2018-present CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship WCHRI Postdoctoral Fellowship
Education PhD Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK. 2012-2018 Graduate Academic Scholarship
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK. 2009-2012 Undergraduate Academic Scholarship
Qualifications British Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists (BASES) – Certified Exercise Practitioner • Specialising in pre- and post-natal women, cardiac rehabilitation and exercise referral patients.
Research Interests I was first interested in the area of pregnancy because of the overlap between cardiac remodelling to exercise and cardiac adaptation to pregnancy. My PhD research investigated how a pregnant woman’s heart responds to different physiological challenges, such as aerobic and isometric exercise. I am interested in understanding the effect of complications of pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus, on a mothers’ cardiovascular function. I am passionate about promoting the benefits of physical activity for both mother and baby.
Personal Interests In my spare time, I like to exercise, yoga and cook! I love being outdoors, having new experiences and exploring new places.
Áine Brislane, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow 2021-present
Education PhD in Peripheral and Cerebrovascular Health and Exercise in Women, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. 2016-2019
MSc in Nutrition and Health, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK. 2013-2014
2009-2013: BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. 2009-2013
Qualifications British Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists (BASES) Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Research Interests My PhD research investigated how peripheral and cerebrovascular structure and functions compare between pre- and post-menopausal women. My research also investigated the influence of moderate intensity exercise on maternal and infant health. I am interested in understanding how different lifestyles including shift-work, stress, sedentary behaviour and physical health influence maternal and infant health in singleton and twin pregnancies. As a member of PPPH, I aim to advance this field of research to benefit maternal and infant quality of life.
Personal Interests I like to gym, bike and hike! I enjoy playing gaelic football and camogie, going to gigs or in socially distanced times, a fictional read and catching up with family and friends.
Rachel Skow, MSc Doctoral Student 2015-present Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canada Graduate ScholarshipWCHRI Graduate Student ScholarshipQueen Elizabeth II Graduate Student Scholarship Andrew Stewart Memorial Graduate PrizeAlberta Innovates Health Solutions Doctoral Research Award
Education MSc, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2013-2015 Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Student Scholarship
BSc Physiology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada. 2007-2012
Research Interests I am interested in integrative physiology and how the cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems interact during stress in humans. Being female, I am especially interested in how these systems work together in females. I am excited to work with the PPPH and a special group of female participants, pregnant women, to better understand how these systems interact during such a physiologically demanding time in a woman’s life. For my PhD, I will be working on a study looking at how the nervous system interacts with the cardiovascular system during exercise in pregnant women.
Personal Interests In my spare time I like to pursue artistic endeavors including scrapbooking , photography, do-it-yourself projects, and making home-cooked meals from scratch.
Brittany Matenchuk, MSc Doctoral Student 2021-present
Education
MSc, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2016-2018
BSc Kinesiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2012-2016
Research Interests I am excited to leverage my knowledge of biostatistical and epidemiological methods while working with the PPPH. My research interests lie in studying sleep across the lifespan and how it interacts with lifestyle factors to impact health. My MSc research explored the factors which mediate the relationship between maternal education and infant sleep duration, and the relationship between infant sleep duration and the composition of the infant gut microbiota.
Personal Interests I love spending time in the great Canadian Rockies, learning agility with my dog, and cooking.
Miranda Kimber MSc Student 2019-present
Education BSc, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2015-2019
Research Interests My research converges my interests in women’s health and adapted physical activity. It is currently unknown if women with impairments can safely meet prenatal physical activity guidelines during pregnancy. This knowledge gap has been caused by the historical exclusion of women with impairments from obstetric health research. It is my aim to begin to fill this gap through examining the effect of physical activity in women with impairments throughout their pregnancies, particularly the effects in women with multiple sclerosis which predominately effects women of childbearing age. I am also interested in examining the prenatal care experiences of women with disabilities, with the goal of generating knowledge aimed at improving the level of obstetric care accessed by this population.
Personal Interests I love traveling and exploring new places. In my spare time I like to keep active through fitness, soccer and trips to the mountains.
Ly-Anh Reid MSc Student 2019-present Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship CIHR Masters Scholarship
Education BSc, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Canada. 2016-2018
Research Interests For a long time I have been fascinated by the changes that happen in a female body during pregnancy, and the PPPH perfectly combines this with my interest in exercise and physiology. As well, I am delighted to be able to work with a unique group of females and their children! I am excited to contribute to a better understanding of how exercise affects both mother and baby, and I look forward to helping promote a positive lifestyle during and after pregnancy.
Personal Interests Outside of the lab, I enjoy baking sweets, reading, and playing piano and guitar. I also love going for runs, bike rides, and playing in the Rocky Mountains, whether it be skiing, hiking, or hanging out by a lake!
Jenna Wowdzia MSc Student 2019-present
Education BSc, Kinesiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Jason Lang Scholarship 2016-2018
Qualifications Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology – Certified Exercise Physiologist.
Research Interests My interests in research continue to evolve as I learn more about advancements in female health. In particular, I am very interested in cardiovascular adaptations that occur during pregnancy and the influence physical activity has on promoting positive health outcomes for both the mother and child. As a recreationally active female myself, I am specifically interested in further exploring the potential impacts of high intensity exercise during pregnancy.
Personal Interests I enjoy being physically active, exploring a variety of sports such as paddle boarding yoga, kickboxing, and “spin” classes. On the weekends, I enjoy escaping to the mountains with friends or visiting my family farm.
Brittany Ward MSc Student 2019-present 2019 University of Alberta Graduate Fellowship
Education Graduate Studies & Bachelor of Education, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada. 2017-2018 Bachelor of Kinesiology with Nutrition, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada. 2013-2017
Qualifications Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology – Certified Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP) Exercise is Medicine Canada (EIMC) Provider – Exercise Professional Level II National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) – Multi-Sport Certification St. Mark James & Canadian Red Cross – Standard First Aid Certificate & CPR/AED Level HCP
Research Interests As I am passionate about aiding individuals in accomplishing their goals according to their needs, the focal point of my research interests align with ensuring research transitions into best practice! Specifically, I seek exploring the effectiveness and application of exercise as medicine in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of chronic conditions or complications during pregnancy. Furthermore, my aim is to refine the Canadian Guidelines for exercise during pregnancy so that mothers may optimize the health of oneself and their baby throughout pregnancy.
Personal Interests During my free time, I enjoy being outdoors, dancing, or instructing Pilates! Family and being active in the community are a priority while travelling, people, and cooking are passions. Always seeking new ways to be creative and share positivity!
Morgan Strynadka, Bachelor of Kinesiology Research Assistant 2018-present
BKin, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2015-2020
Research Interests I have long had an interest in women’s health, especially in an exercise environment. I have always liked asking questions and research is the perfect opportunity to learn how to answer things for yourself. I greatly enjoy examining the complex interplay of the natural and social sciences, especially looking at how the context and time of research can impact our research and the populations we are working to help. I first started in the PPPH examining resistance exercise in pregnancy alongside Dr. Meah for the REPS study. Not as much is known about cardiac function during resistance exercise as aerobic exercise, which is important to know for exercise prescribers and obstetric health care providers who suggest exercise. I am currently working on a project examining the exercise experiences of women who have had multiple baby pregnancies, as this is a population who has largely been excluded from previous research due to the perception of significant risk during these types of pregnancies. We are hoping to gain feedback from this population to formulate relevant research studies in the future.
Personal Interests I have been a synchronized swimmer for 14 years and just finished my last season with the University of Alberta team. I have also been a youth synchro coach for 6 years and spend a lot of my free time at the pool working! I love planning training and exercise regimes that help athletes to be successful and fall in love with sport and physical activity. Although I don’t have a ton of free time, I usually spend it reading or cooking new (spicy!) food.
Former Trainees
Chenxi Cai, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow 2018-2020
Laura Reyes, MD PhD Postdoctoral Fellow 2017-2020Molly Towell Perinatal Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
Sauleha Farooq Undergraduate Research Assistant 2018-2019Women and Children's Health Research Institute Summer Studentship
Frances Sobierajski Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015-2018Sobierajski F., Purdy GM, Usselman CW, Skow RJ, James MA, Chari RS, Khurana R, Stickland MK, Davidge ST, Devolin M, Steinback CD, Davenport MH. (2018). Maternal physical activity is associated with improved blood pressure regulation during late pregnancy. Canadian Journal of Cardiology In Press.
Women and Children's Health Research Institute Summer Studentship
Albert Innovates Health Solutions Summer Studentship
Amariah Kathol Undergraduate Research Assistant 2016Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism Undergraduate Research Excellence Award Winner
Ashley McCurdy Undergraduate Research Assistant 2016-2017McCurdy A., Boule N., Sivak A., Davenport M.H. (2017). Effects of Exercise on Mild-to-Moderate Depressive Symptoms in the Postpartum Period: A Meta-analysis. Obstetrics and Gynecology. In Press.
Brittany Matenchuk Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014-2016Usselman C.W., Skow R.J., Matenchuk B.A., Chari R.S., Julian C.G., Stickland M.K., Steinback C.D. and Davenport, M.H. (2015). Sympathetic baroreflex gain in normotensive pregnant women. JAP. 119(5):468-74.
Women and Children's Health Research Institute Summer Studentship
Charlotte Usselman Postdoctoral Fellow 2014-2015Usselman C.W., Wakefield P.K., Skow R.J., Stickland M.K., Chari R.S., Julian C.G., Steinback C.D. and Davenport, M.H. (2015). Regulation of sympathetic nerve activity during the cold pressor test in normotensive pregnant and nonpregnant women. Hypertension. 66(4):858-64.
Usselman C.W., Skow R.J., Matenchuk B.A., Chari R.S., Julian C.G., Stickland M.K., Steinback C.D. and Davenport, M.H. (2015). Sympathetic baroreflex gain in normotensive pregnant women. JAP. 119(5):468-74.
Sydney Schmidt Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014-2015
Fraser G.M., Morton J.S., Schmidt S.M., Bourque S., Davidget S.T., Davenport M.H. and Steinback C.D. (2015). Reduced uterine perfusion pressure decreases functional capillary density in skeletal muscle. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 309(12):H2002-7.
Schmidt S., Chari R.S., and Davenport M.H. (2015). Exercise During Pregnancy: Current recommendations by Canadian maternity health care providers. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. In press.
Paige Wakefield Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014-2015
Usselman C.W., Wakefield P.K., Skow R.J., Stickland M.K., Chari R.S., Julian C.G., Steinback C.D. and Davenport, M.H. (2015). Regulation of sympathetic nerve activity during the cold pressor test in normotensive pregnant and nonpregnant women. Hypertension. 66(4):858-64.
Alberta Diabetes Institute Summer Studentship
Women and Children's Health Research Institute Summer Studentship
American Physiological Society David S. Bruce Award for Outstanding Abstract
American Physiological Society David S. Bruce Award for Outstanding Undergraduate presentation
Henry Wiebe Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014
Wiebe H.W., Boule N.G., Chari R. and Davenport, M.H. (2015). The effect of supervised prenatal exercise on fetal growth: A meta-analysis. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 125(5):1185-94.
Emily King Undergraduate Research Assistant 2013-2014Steinback C.D., King E.C. and Davenport, M.H. (2015). Longitudinal cerebrovascular reactivity during pregnancy: a case study. APNM. Jan 20:1-4.
Alberta Diabetes Institute Summer Studentship
“As a mother of two young daughters I understand the importance, difficulties and benefits of healthy living during pregnancy. Our goal is to provide women with the knowledge and guidance to achieve a healthy pregnancy. After all, a healthy pregnancy lays the foundation for a healthy future for you and your baby."