Chanchlani Global Health Research Award Lecture focuses on translating global health solutions into real-world impact

Last week, the annual Chanchlani Research Global Health Research Award Lecture celebrated an outstanding scientist whose research impacts global health.  

This year’s award recipient was Michelle A. Williams, renowned epidemiologist and widely recognized educator, who provided a thought-provoking lecture on the unique methodological challenges of reproductive and perinatal epidemiology.  

Known for her influential studies in maternal and child health, Williams’ integrates epidemiological, biological, and molecular approaches into rigorously designed clinical epidemiology studies. Her research has led to greater understandings of the etiology and pathophysiology of pregnancy complications including placental abruption, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.  

The Chanchlani Global Health Research Award was created by the Chanchlani Family and McMaster University in 2012, to recognize a leading scholar in the area of global health. Each year a scholar within the broad global health domain is chosen from nomination received from inside and outside of McMaster, and an internal review committee selects the awardee. 

Williams’ work has aimed to improve current knowledge about the epidemiology and impact of interventions for preventing maternal and perinatal conditions globally and has built evidence on effective interventions. Her research has evaluated the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors as triggers of placental abruption. Discussing the extraordinary human physiological capacity of women to go through pregnancy, Williams highlighted, “when all goes well, we have a healthy pregnancy outcome, however, we have common and rare adverse pregnancy outcomes such as placental abruption that contribute to prenatal and fetal/infant complications”. 

The lecture provided a worldwide perspective on issues of health equity and Williams emphasized the need for capacity-building in public health, urging that remaining focused on long-term impact is the only way to build a more equitable world. 

“Dedicated to understanding the factors associated with optimizing health in pregnancy, Williams inspires a next generation of health researchers to work towards improving the health and well-being of women, their offspring, and diverse population,” said Sonia Anand, associate vice-president, Global Health and the director of the Chanchlani Research Centre. 

The Andrea Baumann Health Equity Symposium preceded Williams’ lecture and featured local experts and McMaster University faculty who provided perspectives on mobilizing health equity principles and the impact of COVID 19 on racialized communities. This included the local response of two Indigenous communities: Six Nations presented by epidemiologist, Sara Smith and Lac La Rouge Indian Band, presented by public health nursing manager Lisa Mayotte.