UBC, Children’s Hospital researchers launch “BC Wildfire Study”

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A group of researchers is searching for British Columbia mothers to study the health impacts of wildfires on young kids.

The University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute have partnered on the “BC Wildfire Study,” which will assess the effects of prenatal wildfire exposure on children’s health and development.

Mothers who were pregnant with their children between 2016 and 2023 are eligible to participate in the study as long as they were pregnant and gave birth in BC.

The study will require mothers to fill out an online survey, which is expected to take 90 minutes. 

They’ll also need to allow the researchers to access medical information about themselves and their child from a government database and consent to the researchers accessing a blood sample collected from their child at birth.

According to the researchers, participants will be compensated with an “e-gift card” for their time.

The flyer below has further information and a QR code that leads to a screening survey to determine eligibility.

Energeticcity.ca has contacted the researchers requesting an interview to learn more about the study.