The Adamo Lab

COVID - 19 Updates

The PLACENTA study is still active, however, due to the current COVID-19 situation we have temporarily halted participant recruitment until we are otherwise advised from Public Health. that it is safe to resume participant recruitment. L’étude du PLACENTA est toujours active, cependant, en raison de la situation actuelle de la COVID-19, nous avons temporairement interrompu le recrutement des participants jusqu’à ce que la Santé Publique nous informe autrement.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, we are only accepting students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. En raison de la situation actuelle de la COVID-19, nous n’acceptons que les étudiants étant citoyens canadiens ou résidents permanents.

Volunteers Needed!

SmartMoms Canada:
An evaluation of a pregnancy-specific mobile health application to manage gestational weight gain

What is the study about? This project aims to test a mobile application, developed by the Adamo Lab at uOttawa, at various health care sites across Canada. The purpose of the app is to guide women through a healthy pregnancy and help women manage gestational weight gain throughout their pregnancy.

What participation involves? Participation will require you to use mobile apps installed on your phone or electronic device (if you do not have one, we will provide you with one), answer various questionnaires, and provide body weight measurements while participating in six sessions (≤20 wks gestation, 24-28 wks, 36-40 wks, 6 wks postpartum, and 6 and 12 months postpartum). The final two assessments will only require you to submit responses by email or by using online questionnaires.

Who can participate?

Pregnant women (less or equal 20 weeks; singleton fetus)
18-40 years
Wi-Fi access

This research project has been reviewed and received ethics approval by the Research Ethics Board of the University of Ottawa (file number H09-19-4795). For more information about this study, please contact:

Kevin Semeniuk
Research Coordinator
ksemeniu@uottawa.ca
or smartmomscanadaapp@gmail.com

Volontaires Recherchés !

SmartMoms Canada :
Évaluation d’une application mobile de santé destinée à aider les femmes enceintes à gérer le gain de poids pendant leur grossesse

Quel est l’objet de cette étude ? Ce projet vise à tester une application mobile canadienne, développée par le labo Adamo à l’Université d’Ottawa, chez divers centres de soins de santé au Canada. L’objectif de l’application est d’aider les femmes enceintes à mener une grossesse saine et à gérer le gain de poids tout au long de leur grossesse.

Qu’implique la participation ? Votre participation à cette étude exigera l’installation ainsi que l’utilisation d’applications mobiles sur votre téléphone cellulaire ou tout autre appareil mobile (si vous n’en possédez pas, nous vous prêterons un). Il vous sera également demandé de compléter divers questionnaires, de fournir des renseignements sur votre poids corporel et d’assister à six séances d’évaluation (avant la 20e semaine de votre grossesse, entre la 24 et 28e semaine de votre grossesse, entre la 36 et 40e semaine de votre grossesse, 6 semaines après votre grossesse, et entre le 6 et 12e mois suivant votre grossesse). Pour les deux dernières séances, il vous sera uniquement demandé de soumettre vos réponses en ligne ou par courriel.

Qui peut participer ?

Femmes enceintes (≤ 20 semaines de grossesse ; grossesse monofœtale)
18 à 40 ans
Accès Wi-Fi

Ce projet de recherche a été révisé et approuvé par les Comités d'éthique de la recherche à l’Université d’Ottawa (no. de dossier H09-19-4795). Pour plus d’information sur cette étude, veuillez contacter :

Kevin Semeniuk
Coordonnateur de recherche
ksemeniu@uottawa.ca
ou smartmomscanadaapp@gmail.com

About Us

Under the lead of Dr. Kristi Adamo, the Prevention in the Early Years research program at the University of Ottawa focuses on early intervention and upstream prevention of the intergenerational cycle of obesity and metabolic disease. Specifically, we investigate the relationship between pregnancy and downstream health, and the impact of healthy active living on placental biology. We also explore the applicability of healthy active living intervention strategies during key phases of growth, development and determination of long term health (i.e. intrauterine, preschool).

Our Mission

Through research and collaboration we aim to explore relationships between pregnancy and downstream health, and the impact of healthy active living on placental biology. Furthermore, we strive to discover healthy active living intervention strategies for children and mothers-to-be. By offering a healthy start to society's youth and future generations to come, we aspire to reduce the health care burden faced by society. We are motivated to ensure that young children begin life with a healthy foundation from which they can live a long, healthy, and prosperous life. We are driven to pursue our vision of a healthier future.

Our Current Research Focus

Dr. Adamo’s research program is aimed at the early prevention of obesity and promotion of long-term health and includes projects related to the impact of healthy active living on placental biology, the relationships between pregnancy and downstream health, the impact of physical activity (PA) adoption in the early years, and positive practices for lifestyle interventions during pregnancy.

In collaboration with US-based colleagues, her team is also customizing a pregnancy-focused mHealth app called SmartMoms-Canada. Continuation of this work will include an evaluation of the effectiveness of this app-based program to reduce excessive gestational weight gain and optimize maternal health and offspring growth.

In parallel, her team is embarking on an exciting project examining potential physical activity-induced changes in placenta biology. The PLACENTA study is the first of its kind to take a comprehensive look at the role of PA during pregnancy in regulating gene expression and metabolic function in the placenta. This novel project will use a multi-tiered approach including; global gene expression using transcriptional and ribosomal profiling, transport kinetics using the ex vivo placenta perfusion model, and systemic maternal and fetal mass spectrometry-based metabolomics.

Recently, Dr. Adamo and her research team at the University of Ottawa are working to provide an understanding of why women experience higher rates of overuse musculoskeletal injury (MSKi), and subsequently develop strategies to mitigate these risks in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Injuries, generally musculoskeletal, are the most common cause of medical release in the military and the rates of MSKi are higher in women than men. The high proportion of medical release must be addressed, and reducing the prevalence of MSKi injuries represents a suitable target for increasing retention if the CAF intends to meet the goal of reaching 25% representation of women.

Recent Publications

Bhattacharjee J, Mohammad S, Goudreau AD, Adamo KB. Physical activity differentially regulates VEGF, PlGF, and their receptors in the human placenta. Physiol Rep. 2021 Jan;9(2):e14710. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14710. PMID: 33463910.
Piccinini-Vallis H, Nerenberg K, Bell R, Pereira L, Adamo KB. Weight Management over the Reproductive Years for Adult Women with Obesity. In: Obesity in adults: A clinical practice guideline https://obesitycanada.ca/guidelines/reproductive/
Wharton S, Lau DCW, Vallis M, Sharma AM, Biertho L, Campbell-Scherer D, Adamo KB, Alberga A, Bell R, Boulé N, Boyling E, Brown J, Calam B, Clarke C, Crowshoe L, Divalentino D, Forhan M, Freedhoff Y, Gagner M, Glazer S, Grand C, Green M, Hahn M, Hawa R, Henderson R, Hong D, Hung P, Janssen I, Jacklin K, Johnson-Stoklossa C, Kemp A, Kirk S, Kuk J, Langlois MF, Lear S, McInnes A, Macklin D, Naji L, Manjoo P, Morin MP, Nerenberg K, Patton I, Pedersen S, Pereira L, Piccinini-Vallis H, Poddar M, Poirier P, Prud'homme D, Salas XR, Rueda-Clausen C, Russell-Mayhew S, Shiau J, Sherifali D, Sievenpiper J, Sockalingam S, Taylor V, Toth E, Twells L, Tytus R, Walji S, Walker L, Wicklum S. Obesity in adults: A clinical practice guideline. CMAJ. 2020 Aug 4;192(31):E875-E891. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.191707. PMID: 32753461
Nagpal TS, Bhattacharjee J, da Silva DF, Souza SCS, Mohammad S, Puranda JL, Abu-Dieh A, Cook J, Adamo KB. Physical activity may be an adjuvant treatment option for substance use disorders during pregnancy: A scoping review. Birth Defects Res. 2020;10.1002/bdr2.1803.
Loiselle J, Fatica T, Tzaneva V, Vuong N, Holcik M, Adamo KB. Maternal physical activity significantly alters the placental transcriptome. Placenta. 2020 Aug 23; 100:111-121.
Nagpal TS, Everest C, Souza SCS, da Silva DF, Mohammad S, Bhattacharjee J, Adamo KB. Does “Sitting” Stand Alone? A Brief Report Evaluating the Effects of Prenatal Sedentary Time on Maternal and Newborn Anthropometric Outcomes. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2020 Aug 17;1(aop):1-5.
Nagpal TS, Goldfield GS, da Silva DF, Souza SCS, Burhunduli P, Liu RH, Naylor PJ, Adamo KB. The effects of intervening with physical activity in the early years (ages 3–5) on health-related quality of life: a secondary analysis of the Activity Begins in Childhood (ABC) trial. Quality of Life Research. 2020 Jul 22:1-7.
Hutchinson K-A, Vuong NH, Mohammad S, Everest C, Leung ML, Bhattacharjee J, Adamo KB. Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with increased placental FATP4 protein expression. Reproductive Sciences. 2020; 27:1909–1919.
da Silva DF, Mohammad S, Hutchinson KA, Adamo KB. Cross-validation of ratings of perceived exertion derived from heart rate target ranges recommended for pregnant women. International Journal of Exercise Science. 2020; 13(3):1340-1351.

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