Elizabeth (Anne) Hicks

Summary:

Environmental exposures impact lung development and disease in children. Outdoor air pollution changes lung function and growth. One of my projects follows lung function and overall health of children in Fort McMurray, a community affected by wildfire. Indoor air quality also affects children's health. I am conducting a cohort study of cannabis exposure, children's health and development from pregnancy to 18 months. In partnership with a clinical epidemiologist, I study respiratory health outcomes associated with early childhood adverse and the unique health care needs in the Metis Nation of Alberta. I am also involved in a multisite study on children's asthma, COVID lockdown and air quality. Future projects will evaluate the metabolomic and exposure profiles of pediatric lung disease using a combination of air quality, breath metabolomics, inflammatory biomarkers and lung function, in conjunction with Chemistry and Engineering at several sites across Canada. I am the clinical lead of the Children's Environmental Health Clinic, a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre; in that role I developed a 'volucation' project to link interested students with projects.