Infants born two to four months early are exposed to mildly painful procedures in the NICU that are essential to monitor their health. As research shows that exposure to daily pain is associated with poorer behavioural and cognitive outcomes later in life, a common pain management strategy is to give those babies sucrose, but a BCCHR study shows evidence that a sugar solution doesn’t reduce these negative effects of pain exposure in the long term.

A recent study led by Dr. Osman Ipsiroglu found evidence that sleep-wake behaviours are characteristics associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism. Additionally, a family history of iron deficiency increases the risk of sleep-wake disorders.

An anxiety disorder is more than just a phase or a normal feeling of nervousness or worry. Understanding anxiety disorders and recognizing the signs early is crucial because the sooner a child receives help, the better their chances are for managing their anxiety effectively.

Congratulations to the investigators and their teams who were awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fall 2024 Project Grant competition!

Researchers at BC Children’s Hospital and UBC are investigating pain in autistic youth to better understand how pain manifests uniquely for them, aiming to improve treatment and prevention options. By capturing pain data throughout the day and collaborating with autistic researchers and families, the study seeks to address gaps in knowledge, challenge outdated assumptions, and guide more inclusive, autism-informed clinical care.