Sunnybrook’s Twins Research Centre receives national award

Multiple Births Canada has awarded the Twins Research Centre the “Making a Difference Award” in the corporate category. The award is presented to an individual, business, corporation or organization creating national awareness of the challenges faced by Canada's multiple birth children and their families, and/or for making a significant impact on the multiple-birth community.

Sunnybrook’s Twins Research Centre is transforming care for vulnerable babies by engaging in research to prevent the many complications associated with twin pregnancies.

“Twin pregnancies are roughly five times more likely to be complicated by preterm birth, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and other complications, compared with single-baby pregnancies,” says Dr. Nir Melamed, Head of the Twins Research Centre. “There is an urgent need to promote research in the field of twin pregnancies to increase our understanding of how and why these pregnancy complications occur in twin pregnancies, and to develop treatment and care plans to decrease the risk of complications.”

Sunnybrook’s DAN Women & Babies Program is a recognized world leader in improving outcomes for the sickest babies and their mothers. Drawing on the hospital’s expertise in high-risk maternal fetal medicine, including the country’s first and largest Twins Clinic, the centre is advancing care for families with a twin pregnancy.

“It’s our privilege to continue to serve Canada’s multiple birth families. We are committed to providing comprehensive evidence-based clinical care, together with ground breaking research, enabling us to provide the best care when it matters most,” says Dr. Jon Barrett, Division Head of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Sunnybrook and Medical Director of the Twins Clinic at the hospital. Dr. Barrett is also holds the Waks Family Chair in Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research at Sunnybrook.

The Twins Research Centre is supported by the Waugh Family Foundation.

“We know firsthand the risks associated with a twin pregnancy and delivery,” says Steve and Stacey Waugh, who welcomed fraternal twins in 2018 and have since established the Waugh Family Chair in Twin Fetal Medicine Research at Sunnybrook. “Our story could have been very different and we owe so much to Sunnybrook for bringing our twins Chelsea and Aiden to this world happy and healthy. Sunnybrook’s Twins Research Centre is working to ensure other families expecting twins have a positive start too. It was gratifying to learn of the award from Multiple Births Canada.”