“Pregnancy can be a challenging time, especially for people with pre-existing conditions. We need research to close knowledge gaps and create the best outcomes for all parents and their babies," said Dr. Darine El-ChaârDr. Darine El-Chaâr’s research focuses on three areas: increasing breast/chestfeeding among patients with diabetes, cannabis use in pregnancy, and COVID-19 in pregnancy.

Breast/chestfeeding can be more difficult for people with diabetes, so Dr. El-Chaâr and her team developed a visual tool of techniques to encourage milk expression that they aim to test in clinical trials. She is also investigating, with other local investigators, the health impacts of cannabis use during pregnancy, particularly on the baby’s brain development, an area where very little is known. 

Another area with many unknowns is how COVID-19 affects pregnant people and their babies, and Dr. El-Chaâr is involved in a variety of projects studying this question. She approaches all her research with a commitment to trainee mentorship, patient partner engagement and collaboration, and has published over 23 peer-reviewed papers.

“Pregnancy can be a challenging time, especially for people with pre-existing conditions. We need research to close knowledge gaps and create the best outcomes for all parents and their babies," she said. 

Dr. El-Chaâr was recently appointed as an associate scientist in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. She is a maternal fetal medicine specialist at The Ottawa Hospital and Clinical Research Chair of Perinatal Research and Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa.

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa.   

Media Contact 
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca