Stephen Matthews

Our research focuses on understanding how early-life environments shape brain development, lifelong health and disease risk. By integrating molecular, physiological, and clinical approaches, our work aims to uncover biological mechanisms that can be translated into improved outcomes for women, infants and future generations. In particular, our focus is on how molecular changes to the mother’s and infant’s DNA, known as epigenetic regulation, influence brain development. Using advanced molecular approaches, my team also investigates key transport systems within the placenta and the blood–brain barrier that protect the fetus and the developing brain during critical windows of vulnerability. This work lays the foundation for meaningful translation—enabling the development of early diagnostics to identify infants at risk and for whom early intervention will have the greatest impact. Ultimately, our research aims to generate novel strategies that increase brain protection and prevent the long-term negative consequences of early adversity. Complementing this discovery-driven work, our translational program evaluates whether complex, evidence-based interventions delivered before conception and throughout pregnancy can improve both pregnancy outcomes and long-term child health. I serve as the Canadian lead for a landmark international study in rural southern India as part of the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) consortium. This research has the potential to reduce the economic, societal, and personal burdens of early adversity, while advancing health equity in vulnerable populations and enabling children to reach their full developmental potential.

If you have an interest in helping to determine how early experience shapes life long health, email me your CV, transcript, and a short note explaining how your skills and interests would align with our work.

Faculty Appointments

Department of Physiology (Primary)
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Cross-appointed)
Department of Medicine (Cross-appointed)
Senior Investigator, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute