Dr. Adamo, recently profiled as one of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology’s (CSEP) most notable women, leads a diverse interdisciplinary research program focusing on the ‘early years’ continuum. This period represents an opportune time for encouraging and promoting the adoption of healthy behaviour patterns and appropriate knowledge translation to care providers, educators, parents, and policymakers allied to this period. Her Prevention in the Early Years research program, grounded in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), is unique in its examination of healthy, active maternal behaviours such as physical activity, and intrauterine exposures as they relate to the promotion of optimum health. This distinctive research program, utilizing both population health and molecular approaches, is devoted to the critical period of human growth and development, targeting the vital organ of pregnancy, the placenta.
Key contributions over the last several years fit into 3 categories:
1) exercise, the intrauterine environment & placenta biology
2) contributors to gestational weight gain management
3) guideline development and Public Health
Over the past several years, Dr. Adamo has held research funds from all three agencies of the tri-council (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) as well as the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Department of National Defence for her work related to women’s health and DOHaD.