Child Health Evaluative Sciences
Our multidisciplinary researchers are focused on four areas to support child health: methods development and data science, knowledge dissemination and implementation, training and education, and patient, family and citizen partnerships.
Filling a gap in paediatric health sciences research, Child Health Evaluative Sciences (CHES) has grown into the largest research program at SickKids Research Institute.
We conduct research and translate findings into clinical practice, systems, and policy to improve the health and well-being of children and their families.
Message from the Program Head
We are committed to being a research program that aims to think big. The CHES program innovates and collaborates with peers both locally and globally on cross-cutting research initiatives, while training the next generation of child health researchers.
Our program aims to improve the welfare of children by enabling health-care decisions to be based on the best possible evidence generated through the integration of research, clinical practice and training, and the development and application of innovative and effective research methods.
Together with our faculty and staff, we developed a strategic framework for the program (PDF) in 2020 that builds on our core expertise and supports the vision and priorities of the SickKids 2025 Strategic Plan. Our main objective continues to be to grow and sustain a high-quality research program, cultivating connections and collaborations among faculty and recruiting new members with expertise aligned with our mission, core research areas, themes, and values.
I believe there is tremendous opportunity within CHES to break new ground. We will continue to focus on our strengths and opportunities, and leveraging the best of CHES into the future.
Sincerely,
Dr. Eyal Cohen, CHES Program Head
Research team
The diverse talent on the CHES team plays a role in improving child health by continuously delivering high-impact research. We encourage collaboration and always welcome new trainees to get hands-on experience with researchers and leaders in kids health research, providing excellent opportunities to further their careers.
We're recognized as a leader among scientific research programs in Canada and internationally by consistently impacting health-care decisions through innovative methodologies. Research from CHES is regularly published in top-tier general medical journals (e.g. NEJM, JAMA, Lancet, BMJ, CMAJ) and paediatric journals (e.g. JAMA Pediatrics, Pediatrics). Several CHES members have been featured in top journals focusing on epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, and more, as well as important media that guides health policy worldwide.
- Dr. Eyal Cohen (Program Head)
- Dr. Samantha Anthony
- Dr. Melanie Barwick
- Dr. Diego Bassani
- Dr. Eric Benchimol
- Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta
- Dr. Catherine Sari Birken
- Dr. Brian Feldman
- Dr. Yaron Finkelstein
- Dr. Peter Gill
- Dr. Astrid Guttmann
- Dr. Robin Hayeems
- Dr. Andrew Howard
- Dr. Abhaya Kulkarni
- Dr. Colin Macarthur
- Dr. Shaun Morris
- Dr. Martin Offringa
- Dr. Christopher Parshuram
- Dr. Petros Pechlivanoglou
- Dr. Eleanor Pullenayegum
- Dr. Daniel Roth
- Dr. Suzanne Schuh
- Dr. Arjumand Siddiqi
- Dr. Jennifer Stinson
- Dr. Lillian Sung
- Dr. Wendy Ungar
- Dr. Julia Orkin
- Dr. Alene Toulany
- Dr. Karen Wong
- Dr. Dylan Bould
- Dr. Gabrielle Freire
- Dr. Pierre-Philippe Piche-Renaud
- Dr. Sandra Pong
- Dr. Devin Singh
- Dr. Amy Zipursky
- Dr. Maru Barrera
- Dr. Eric Bouffet
- Dr. Patricia Parkin
- Sharon Dell
- Andrea Gershon
- Tieghan Killackey
- Cedric Manlhiot
- Linda Rothman
- James Wright
- Sherri Adams
- Olugbenga Akinkugbe
- Brooke Allemang
- Luckshman Bavan
- Christina Belza
- Kaitlin Best
- Zia Bismilla
- Ari Bitnun
- Cory Borkhoff
- Maryse Bouchard
- Michaela Cada
- Paolo Campisi
- Manuel Carcao
- Camila Caro
- Nita Chahal
- Alice Charach
- Jackie Chiang
- Eisha Christian
- Michael Chua
- Erin Chung
- Ashley Danguecan
- Kristen Davidge
- Adrienne Davis
- Jennifer Dermott
- Catherine Diskin
- Karen Frost
- Melany Gaetani
- Nan Gai
- Richard Gardner
- Daniela Gattini Valdes
- Elaine Gilfoyle
- Michelle Gould
- Maram Hassanein
- Andrew Helmers
- Caitlyn Hui
- Jessie Hulst
- Molly Jakeman
- Alisha Jamal
- Krista Keilty
- Rana Khafagy
- Edbert Khong
- Stephanie Kletke
- Fiona Elize Kritzinger
- Kriti Kumar
- Irene Lara-Corrales
- Ronald Laxer
- Armando Lorenzo
- Ivan Lemus
- Caroline Malcolmson
- Tina Martimianakis
- Ashlene McKay
- Kamiar Mireskandari
- Mahendranath Moharir
- Conall Morgan
- Mika Nonoyama
- Krista Oei
- Reena Pabari
- Koyelle Papneja
- Blake Papsin
- Rulan Parekh
- Mercedes Pilkington
- Alyssa Power
- Shirley Quach
- Joshua Ramjist
- Adam Rapoport
- Rodrigo Romao
- Saurabh Saluja
- Winnie Seto
- Amer Shammas
- Sarah Smith
- Joshua Stanley
- Kyle Stevens
- Naiyi Sun
- Roopa Suppiah
- Elana Thau
- Shirley Tse
- Trisha Tulloch
- Ashley Vandermorris
- Suzan Williams
- Connie Yang
- Kevin Thorpe, Scientific Lead, Clinical Trials and Biostatistics
- Antonia Antonopoulos, Research Program Manager
- Keo Chey, Administrative Coordinator
- Andrea Chiaramida, Administrative Coordinator
- Deana De Rango Aquino, Administrative Coordinator
- Poonam Dodia, Administrative Coordinator
- Nadine Francis, Administrative Coordinator
- Cindy Groff, Administrative Coordinator
- Navpreet Kaur, Administrative Coordinator
- Dhayo Khangsar, Administrative Coordinator
- Donna Whitely, Administrative Coordinator
CHES Rounds
CHES Rounds are held in-person every Monday from noon to 1 p.m. unless otherwise specified.
The weekly CHES Rounds bring together scientists, research staff, graduate students, trainees, and clinical fellows and feature many local, national, and international guest speakers. Rounds are a great opportunity for trainees to learn about the types of research that their peers are involved in and how research approaches and technologies can be applied to research studies.
CHES Rounds are an accredited group learning activity as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program Of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
To request a copy of the CHES Rounds calendar or recordings of past rounds, please email us at ches.program@sickkids.ca.
In the Aftermath: Centering Young ACB Survivors in Homicide Bereavement Research and Practice
Monday, April 27
Speakers: Dr. Tanya Sharpe & DeShawn Hibbert
Browse a list of CHES labs to learn more about the exciting research taking place in our program.
The Beverly Antle Trainee Award is a one-time award that recognizes excellence in research and knowledge translation for first-authored research conducted by trainees, such as
- a first-authored published or submitted paper or
- a first-authored conference presentation (poster or oral presentation).
2025 Winners:
- Larry Dong, MSc, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Drs. Olli Saarela and Eleanor Pullenayegum
- Emily Hamovitch, MSW, MPH, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. Natasha Saunders
- Katherine Sawicka, MD, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. Brian Feldman
2023 Winners:
- Julia Brandenberger, MIH, MD, PhD
- Supervisor: Dr. A. Guttmann
- Linke Li, MSc, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. A. Heath
- Madison Argo, MsC(c), MD
- Supervisor: Dr. B. McCrindle
2022 Winners
- Karen O'Callaghan, PhD
- Supervisor: Dr. D. Roth
- Giulia Mesaroli, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. J. Stinson
- Rilla Eve Schneider MSc(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. A. Griffiths
2021 Winners
- Andi Camden, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. A. Guttmann
- Supervisor: Dr. A. Guttmann
- Michelle Gould, M.Sc.(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. C. Walsh
- Jia Lu "Lilian" Lil, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. E. Cohen
2020 Winners
- Kuan Liu, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. E. Pullenayegum
- Supervisor: Dr. E. Pullenayegum
- Tiffany Fitzpatrick, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. A. Guttmann
- Brandon Maser, PhD(c)
- Supervisor: Dr. A. Denburg
Dr. Sumit Gupta received the Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children’s Health Research, celebrating an early-career paediatrician whose research will contribute to improving the health of children and adolescents.
Dr. Eric Bouffet was presented with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre Nationale du Mérite (Order of France).
Dr. Jennifer Stinson was awarded the 2023 Barer-Flood Prize in Health Services and Policy Research, recognizing research excellence among Canadian Senior-Career Investigators.
Dr. Samantha Anthony’s video on the iPeer2Peer program won a special commendation in the 2023 IHDCYH Talks video competition.
Seven CHES members currently hold prestigious Canada Research Chairs:
- Dr. Teresa To (Asthma)
- Dr. Wendy Ungar (Economic Evaluation and Technology Assessment in Child Health)
- Dr. Lillian Sung (Paediatric Oncology Supportive Care)
- Dr. Yaron Finkelstein (Paediatric Drug Safety and Efficacy)
- Dr. Astrid Guttmann (Child Health Policy and Services)
- Dr. Robin Hayeems (Genomics and Health Policy)
- Dr. Anna Heath (Statistical Trial Design)
March 17, 2026
SickKids research shows sustained rise in self-injury among youth globally
Analysis of data from 12 countries over 25 years shows health‑care visits for self‑injury have risen by an average of 3.5% annually, highlighting a growing health concern.
February 24, 2026
Guidelines set new playbook for paediatric clinical trials
Co-developed with youth and family caregivers, the SPIRIT-C and CONSORT-C 2026 guidelines set a new standard for paediatric randomized controlled trials, from the trial protocol to the final report.
February 11, 2026
Meet seven scientists shaping the future of child health research at SickKids
On the International Day for Women and Girls in Science we celebrate the scientific contributions of seven women from each SickKids research program.
