The CAMCCO-L platform aims to provide training in English and French that complements the disciplinary academic training offered in universities by creating a virtual training environment that supports the development of skills essential to translational and transectorial research as well as interdisciplinary collaboration in perinatal research on medications.
CAMCCO-L is a new transdisciplinary virtual learning model offered at no cost that will help develop leaders in perinatal research on medications who will be then able to meet the complex interdisciplinary challenges of the current environment of this field of research.
As part of the CAMCCO-L training, selected trainees will also have the opportunity to participate in a Summer School on Drug Development and complete a research internship.
None, this track is open to all who wish to further their interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise in perinatal research on medications.
None, this track allows you to benefit from the CAMCCO-L training without commitment or obligation.
The internship and Summer School are optional steps in the 1-year curriculum.
OR
AND
Formal academic supervision by a CAMCCO-L mentor throughout the track
Mandatory enrollment in the Overarching Principles Module and at least 2 other modules complementary to the university training field
• Webinars
• Journal Clubs
Online courses offered on CAMCCO-L will be given live weekly (synchronous) via the CAMCCO-L Member Area.
After each course, the presentations and recordings of the majority of courses will be accessible in the archives of the CAMCCO-L Member Area to those registered for the courses.
Depending on the teaching language, a translation by subtitles in English or French will be offered for the recordings of all archived courses.
To access the archived material of a course, you must have registered for the course in your Member Area.
Presenter: Anick Bérard
Presenter: Anick Bérardlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will present all the basic definitions, and overarching concepts and principles in perinatal pharmacoepidemiology. This will be given as a formal lecture with time for questions at the end.
Define all basic terminology used in perinatal pharmacoepidemiology, i.e., gestational age, prematurity, low birth weight, gestational diabetes and hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, Apgar score, malformations, etc.
Definition and importance of organogenesis
Medication exposure time-windows of interest for important adverse pregnancy outcomes
Teaching Language: English
This course, led by two patient partners involved in perinatal research, will explore how to engage patients and public partners and knowledge users in research going through the main steps and elements to consider for co-creation of research with patients and other partners.
At the end of this course, you will have a basic understanding of:
What patient engagement in research is and basic terminology
How to identify and engage with patients and other partners
Appreciation and disclosure policies
Training all team members for effective patient and public engagement
Evaluation and reporting practices on patient and public engagement
How to consider ethics and equity, diversity, and inclusion in patient engagement
Presenter: Anne-Marie Ouellet
Presenter: Anne-Marie Ouelletlink
Teaching Language: English
Understanding the concepts behind equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is fundamental to achieving EDI goals and taking a more proactive approach to ensuring that different demographics are better represented in society at large. Addressing the dynamics of EDI is becoming a must and requires a shift in the way we work and deliver health care. Developing an EDI plan that incorporates a vision, mission, concrete actions and evaluation measures is key. Adopting and implementing a scientific and reasoned approach to EDI becomes essential for students, faculty, and health care providers to prevent discriminatory bias against people with different backgrounds and characteristics. By being more aware of our beliefs, committing to change our environment, and taking action, we will help individuals and organizations be more inclusive for those who work there and those who receive health care.
Gain a better understanding of the concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion and the various laws that frame it
Identify our implicit biases and how they can affect the way we provide health services
Identify the risks, blind spots and benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion
Reflect on action plans to integrate equity, diversity and inclusion into our practices
Presenter: Anaïs Lacasse
Presenter: Anaïs Lacasselink
Teaching Language: English
This course will outline importance and methodological considerations surrounding the integration of sex and gender in pharmacoepidemiology through lectures, group discussions and examples drawn from the medical literature.
Understand the importance of integrating sex and gender in pharmacoepidemiology
Overview the different options for measuring sex and gender in existing databases studies or in the context of prospective data collection
Know best practices in terms of sex- and gender-based statistical analysis
Presenter: Louise Winn
Presenter: Louise Winnlink
Teaching Language: English
This course is the first part of a two-part series that will introduce trainees to the basic principles of drug discovery and development. In this first part, an overview of a pharmacologic product from drug discovery to full development will be covered followed by a focus on target identification, drug design and synthesis, and efficacy determination.
Understand the critical role of basic science research in drug discovery
Articulate the principles of pre-clinical pharmacology studies
Describe how the components of ADME studies are assessed
Summarize how the principles of drug discovery are used to select appropriate lead candidates
Presenter: Louise Winn
Presenter: Louise Winnlink
Teaching Language: English
This course is the second part of a two-part series that will introduce trainees to the basic principles of drug discovery and development. In this second part, a very brief overview of a pharmacologic product from drug discovery to full development will be reviewed, followed by a focus on required toxicology studies, and clinical trials.
Describe the principles of preclinical studies and how they support clinical trials
Articulate the types of toxicology studies needed with respect to drug development
Compare and contrast the study design of different types of clinical trials
Discuss the issues involved in drug discovery and development as they pertain to the use of medications in pregnancy
Presenter: Bruno Giros
Presenter: Bruno Giroslink
Teaching Language: English
In this course, basis for neuropharmacology will be covered and we will have an overview of the cellular and molecular brain, to understand why receptors and transporters represent more than 50% of all therapeutical targets and what are the future directions.
At the end of this course, trainees will be able to understand:
Brain cells and organization
Neurotransmitters
Anatomy
Metabotropic and ionotropic and receptors and their characterization
Plasmic transporters
Vesicular transporters
Presenter: Bruno Giros
Presenter: Bruno Giroslink
Teaching Language: English
Since 10-15 years, reverse pharmacology and the use of state of the art molecular tools allowed to decipher the role and function of any given protein and to deconstruct brain circuitry organization in complex behavior.
At the end of this course, trainees will be able to understand:
Transgenesis
Homologous recombination
Optogenetics
Chemogenetics
CRISPR/Cas 9
Presenter: Bruno Giros
Presenter: Bruno Giroslink
Presenter: Bruno Giros
Teaching Language: English
No archived video recordings for journal clubs
This journal club aims to deepen critical appraisal skills and develop critical thinking for analyzing and reading scientific articles as it pertains to the study of adverse effects of environmental perturbations on behavior in animal models (in vivo). This session will provide an interactive and social opportunity for peer-to-peer learning, with time for questions and group discussion.
Additional Information
The trainees in our 2025-2026 cohort will be divided into 2 groups, and each group will present a review of one of the following articles during the journal club.
✓ Mourlon V et al. Maternal deprivation induces depressive-like behaviours only in female rats. DOI
✓ Baudin A et al. Maternal deprivation induces deficits in temporal memory and cognitive flexibility and exaggerates synaptic plasticity in the rat medial prefrontal cortex. DOI
Develop critical appraisal skills for analyzing and reading scientific articles
Identify and analyze the main methodological strengths and weaknesses of scientific articles
Develop collaborative and teamwork skills with respect to discussions surrounding scientific articles
Demonstrate enhanced presentation skills with respect to summarizing scientific articles
Presenter: Bruce Carleton
Presenter: Bruce Carletonlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will cover basic pharmacogenomic terminology, research methods and key limitations of these studies.
Pre-readings
✓ Blumenfeld YJ et al. Maternal-fetal and neonatal pharmacogenomics: a review of current literature. DOI
✓ Crisafulli C et al. Pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic discovery strategies. DOI
Define basic terminology used in pharmacogenomic studies
Describe pharmacogenomic research methods used in discovery research
Identify key limitations in pharmacogenomic research
Understand why genetics matters in perinatal pharmacoepidemiology and drug outcome studies
Presenter: Bruce Carleton
Presenter: Bruce Carletonlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will summarize value and limitations of Big and Small data drug outcome studies and why both study types improve the rigour of each other.
Pre-readings
✓ Bissel M. Reproducibility: The risks of the replication drive. DOI
✓ Allison DB & Fineberg HV. EPA's proposed transparency rule: Factors to consider, many; planets to live on, one. DOI
Summarize the value and limitations of Big Data drug outcome studies
Summarize the value and limitations of Small Data drug outcome studies
Appraise the value of both study designs examining the same outcome
Presenter: Bruce Carleton
Presenter: Bruce Carletonlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will explore key methods of implementation science in both perinatal epidemiology and pharmacogenomic studies and will have participants designing implementation science methods for a perinatal pharmacogenomic study.
Pre-reading
✓ Phillips CA et al. Implementation science in pediatric oncology: A narrative review and future directions. DOI
Describe key methods of implementation science in perinatal epidemiology studies
Describe key methods of implementation science in pharmacogenomic studies
Design implementation science methods for a perinatal pharmacogenomic study
Presenter: Bruce Carleton
Presenter: Bruce Carletonlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will describe key thresholds for evidence-based pharmacogenetic testing as well as limitations and value of commercial panels.
List three key thresholds for the use of evidence for clinical pharmacogenetic testing
Describe key limitations of commercial pharmacogenetic testing panels
Determine the value of pharmacogenetic testing from clinical examples
Presenter: Bruce Carleton
Presenter: Bruce Carletonlink
Teaching Language: English
No archived video recordings for journal clubs
This course will evaluate the quality of a perinatal outcome study and appraise the value of a fetal pharmacogenomic study. The use of both study types in succession will be discussed.
Additional Information
The trainees in our 2025-2026 cohort will be divided into 2 groups, and each group will present a review of one of the following articles during the journal club.
✓ Moriello C et al. Off-label postpartum use of domperidone in Canada: a multidatabase cohort study. DOI
✓ Raymond M et al. Fetal pharmacogenomics: A promising addition to complex neonatal care. DOI
Evaluate the quality of a perinatal outcome study
Appraise the value of a fetal pharmacogenomics study
Interpret the value of using pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacogenomic methods examining the same outcome
Presenter: Sherif Eltonsy
Presenter: Sherif Eltonsylink
Teaching Language: English
This course will introduce trainees to basic pharmacoepidemiology principles and concepts, including study designs and their basic features. The course will also provide an understanding of bias and confounding in pharmacoepidemiology.
Introduce the basic principles, concepts, and study designs in pharmacoepidemiology
Provide an overview of the basic features of cohort and case-control designs
Provide an introduction of bias and confounding in pharmacoepidemiology
Explore how bias and confounding are introduced, and how they can be avoided or controlled
Presenters: Brandace Winquistlink and Anick Bérardlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will explore common data sources used in pharmacoepidemiology and methodological considerations through didactic lectures, group discussions, and examples from the medical literature.
Pre-reading
✓ Dormuth CR et al. Comparison of Pregnancy Outcomes of Patients Treated With Ondansetron vs Alternative Antiemetic Medications in a Multinational, Population-Based Cohort. DOI
Introduce the concept of real-world data in the context of perinatal pharmacoepidemiology
Provide an overview of common data sources and pregnancy cohorts
Review coding classification systems and data definitions
Explore harmonization of data models across jurisdictions and quality considerations in data linkage
Validation studies done using the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort
Presenters: Gillian Hanleylink and Azar Mehrabadilink
Teaching Language: English
This intermediate phamacoepidemiology course will build upon the first course in this module and present methods used to correct for confounding, including propensity score matching, instrumental variables, time-varying exposures in pregnancy, etc. This will be given as a formal lecture with question periods built in and some breakout group work.
Review common sources of bias in pharmacoepidemiologic studies during pregnancy, immortal time bias, and selection bias (e.g. left-truncation bias)
Introduce methods for addressing these sources of bias, including, but not limited to propensity score matching, instrumental variables, time-varying exposures, etc.
Discuss study designs that reduce the risk of these sources of bias
Presenters: Gillian Hanleylink and Azar Mehrabadilink
Teaching Language: English
This follow-up course to Part I of intermediate pharmacoepidemiology will introduce quasi-experimental methods that can be used to better target causal research questions. This will be given as a formal lecture with question periods built in and some breakout group work.
Introduce the role of quasi-experimental designs in pharmacoepidemiology
Cover some novel uses of quasi-experimental designs to address important perinatal epidemiology research questions
Outline some useful quasi-experimental designs for pharmacoepidemiology research in pregnancy, including, but not limited to regression discontinuity design, interrupted time series, etc.
Presenter: Anick Bérard
Presenter: Anick Bérardlink
Teaching Language: English
No archived video recordings for journal clubs
This course will use published manuscripts to review and summarize all concepts seen within the Pharmacoepidemiology Module. This session will be interactive with questions and answers.
Additional Information
The trainees in our 2025-2026 cohort will be divided into 2 groups, and each group will present a review of one of the following articles during the journal club.
✓ Cleary B et al. Methadone, Pierre Robin sequence and other congenital anomalies: case-control study. DOI
✓ Andersen SL et al. Maternal Thyroid Function, Use of Antithyroid Drugs in Early Pregnancy, and Birth Defects. DOI
Develop critical appraisal skills for analyzing and reading scientific articles
Identify and analyze the main methodological strengths and weaknesses of scientific articles
Develop collaborative and teamwork skills with respect to discussions surrounding scientific articles
Demonstrate enhanced presentation skills with respect to summarizing scientific articles
Presenter: Steven Hawken
Presenter: Steven Hawkenlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will target statisticians, epidemiologists, data scientists and other quantitative researchers/students with a basic familiarity with regression modeling. The course will cover general strategies for fitting prediction models for continuous, categorical and time-to-event outcomes, including: exploratory analysis/data visualization; missing data imputation; covariate selection; model specification; model validation/calibration; handling non-linearity; and choosing between conventional statistical models and machine learning models (and the differences between these types of models). Extensive use of R, RStudio and Frank Harrell’s Hmisc and rms r-packages will be used in the course material and casestudies/examples. The course will follow the general philosophy of Regression Modelling Strategies - 2nd Edition textbook by Frank Harrell (Optional, but recommended course textbook; all necessary readings/lecture notes will be provided for participants).
Methods for exploring, describing and understanding your data in preparation for regression modeling
Fitting multivariable regression models appropriate for continuous, categorical, and time to event outcomes
Address issues of sample size and overfitting
Approaches to addressing missing data
Handling complex non–linear or non–additive relationships
Testing/quantifying associations between one or more predictors and the response, and interpreting the fitted model
Model validation and calibration to evaluate predictive accuracy and identify overfitting
Learn the differences between machine learning and statistical models, and how to choose the best approach for a given problem
Presenter: Steven Hawken
Presenter: Steven Hawkenlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will target statisticians, epidemiologists, data scientists and other quantitative researchers/students with a basic familiarity with regression modeling. The course will cover general strategies for fitting prediction models for continuous, categorical and time-to-event outcomes, including: exploratory analysis/data visualization; missing data imputation; covariate selection; model specification; model validation/calibration; handling non-linearity; and choosing between conventional statistical models and machine learning models (and the differences between these types of models). Extensive use of R, RStudio and Frank Harrell’s Hmisc and rms r-packages will be used in the course material and casestudies/examples. The course will follow the general philosophy of Regression Modelling Strategies - 2nd Edition textbook by Frank Harrell (Optional, but recommended course textbook; all necessary readings/lecture notes will be provided for participants).
Methods for exploring, describing and understanding your data in preparation for regression modeling
Fitting multivariable regression models appropriate for continuous, categorical, and time to event outcomes
Address issues of sample size and overfitting
Approaches to addressing missing data
Handling complex non–linear or non–additive relationships
Testing/quantifying associations between one or more predictors and the response, and interpreting the fitted model
Model validation and calibration to evaluate predictive accuracy and identify overfitting
Learn the differences between machine learning and statistical models, and how to choose the best approach for a given problem
Presenters: Michal Abrahamowiczlink and Marie-Eve Beauchamp
Teaching Language: English
This, relatively advanced, course in applied biostatistics is designed for graduate trainees and researchers in (bio-)statistics, (pharmaco-)epidemiology, data science, as well as public health, who have good understanding of multivariable regression and some knowledge of applied survival analysis (especially of the Cox model).
The 1st part will focus on the non-technical conceptual introduction to relevant statistical modeling methods and real-life applications (mostly in pharmacoepidemiology), with an overview of different modeling approaches that may be considered to analyze associations between a time-varying drug exposure and time to a clinical endpoint (e.g., an adverse event or death). Then, the importance of considering potential (i) latency between exposure and change in risk and/or (ii) cumulative effects of past exposures will be discussed. Next, the Weighted Cumulative Exposure (WCE) methodology will be explained in a way accessible for participants without formal background in statistics or biostatistics.
The 2nd part will focus on practical issues related to the use of the R package WCE to analyze real-world pharmacoepidemiology data. The way data have to be prepared for WCE analyses and the steps necessary to carry out these analyses will be explained.
To understand the methodological challenges related to the time-varying aspects (within-subject & between-subjects variation in timing, dosage and duration of drug use), of drug exposure in real-world pharmacoepidemiology research, and its potential cumulative effects
Get a ''non-technical'' conceptual overview of the rationale and general features of flexible statistical modeling of cumulative effects
To illustrate the practical usefulness of the methods introduced in the previous learning objective, and the new insights offered by these methods, through 3 specific real-world examples, involving safety (adverse effects) or effectiveness of particular drugs
To get practical instructions regarding the use of the software that implements the methods introduced and illustrated in previous learning objectives
Presenter: Christopher Gravel
Presenter: Christopher Gravellink
Teaching Language: English
This course will discuss the fundamentals for applying propensity score methods in observational research with a focus on pharmacoepidemiology. We will cover the basic principles behind causal inference concepts and motivate their use for reducing the impact of confounding due to observed covariates. The emphasis of the course will be on the practical application of these methods using examples in the R programming language and will focus specifically on matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting. Strategies to address common complications in propensity score analyses will be discussed.
Understand the principles underlying inferring causal effects in observational data
Understand the concept of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) and confounding
Obtain a conceptual understanding of propensity score analysis and the circumstances under which they may be used
Using R based examples, learn how to implement propensity score matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting
Understand how to compute and diagnostics and interpret the findings of propensity score analyses
Presenter: Catherine Stratton
Presenter: Catherine Strattonlink
Teaching Language: English
This course will explore how to engage with knowledge users in research by covering different types of knowledge synthesis methods for decision-making. The main steps and elements to consider for co-creation of research with knowledge users will be discussed.
Describe co-creation and why it is important in research
Identify knowledge users who can be engaged in research
Identify different types of knowledge synthesis for decision-making (systematic review, meta-analysis, network meta-analysis, scoping reviews, overview of reviews, rapid reviews)
Describe how to select a knowledge synthesis method for a particular research question
Demonstrate the basic principles of pairwise meta-analysis
Identify effect measures used in meta-analysis for dichotomous and continuous outcomes
Presenter: Marc Lanovaz
Presenter: Marc Lanovazlink
Teaching Language: English
This course involves an introduction to the use of machine learning in applied research. Specifically, the instructor will review the assumptions and concepts underlying the application of machine learning to conduct research with health and behavioral data.
Define machine learning and basic related concepts
Describe, in words the general functioning of at least one machine learning algorithm
Explain the logic underlying the research methodology used in machine learning
Identify research questions that can be investigated using machine learning
Presenter: Padma Kaul
Presenter: Padma Kaullink
Teaching Language: English
This course will showcase examples of how artifical intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods are being used in perinatal research. The instructor will discuss AI-ML methods, common challenges, and solutions. The attendees will get exposure to several examples from published and ongoing research projects within the Canadian Mother-Child Cohort (CAMCCO) that utilize AI-ML methodology.
Become familiar with commonly used AI-ML methodologies in perinatal research
Identify strengths and limitations and common challenges of using AI-ML in perinatal research
Understand the steps involved in designing an AI-ML study
Presenter: Gabra Nohmie
Presenter: Gabra Nohmielink
Teaching Language: English
This lecture will allow students to understand the applications of machine learning models using real-world administrative health data such as the Québec Pregnancy Cohort. Attendees will dive into a protocol developed for the use of machine learning models to predict pregnancies at risk of major congenital malformations. Attendees will go through the steps of building machine learning models, analyzing and evaluating outcomes.
Understand when to apply artificial intelligence algorithms, their strengths and weaknesses
Acquire the skills to anticipate and navigate potential pitfalls and complexities of machine learning models
Gain an understanding in the metrics necessary to evaluating machine learning models
Presenter: Kevin Dicklink
Presenter: Kevin Dick
Teaching Language: English
This course will provide a comprehensive journey through the historical development of artificial intelligence (AI), showcasing its pivotal role in enabling advancements in perinatal research. Attendees will gain insights into applied examples, including the use of health administrative data for maternal-fetal healthcare and computer vision applications for outcome prediction using ultrasound imaging. The session will conclude with a visionary framework for the future of AI in medicine and practical guidance for conceptualizing future AI research studies.
Understand the historical evolution of AI and its impact on healthcare, with a focus on perinatal research
Analyze real-world applications of AI in maternal-fetal healthcare and computer vision techniques for ultrasound-based outcome prediction
Develop a forward-looking perspective on AI in medicine, including strategies for designing impactful AI research studies based on emerging trends
Presenter: Takoua Boukhris (Epidemiologist, Health Canada)
Teaching Language: English
This webinar will provide you insights on career development in Canada’s public service environment with regards to post-market regulation of pharmaceutical drugs as well as vaccination surveillance and monitoring systems.
During this webinar, key information to be conveyed includes:
✓ Tangible actions you can take to navigate and grow your career in the public service, especially vaccination surveillance and monitoring;
✓ Career growth mindset, factoring in fulsome career development approach in the field of epidemiology from regulation towards to surveillance and monitoring, with concrete example(s) from personal experience within Public Health sector portfolio;
✓ Supports available to you to help you plan, prepare, and take career action steps tailored to your career expectations.
Takoua Boukhris was trained in pharmacoepidemiology at the University of Montreal. She holds a PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences – Option Medications and Population Health. Moreover, she obtained a MSc in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Montreal. She is an Epidemiologist, starting her career with Health Canada within the Health Products and Food Branch. Takoua brings over 5 years of experience in post-market drug regulation and vaccine surveillance within the federal government (Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada) to inform policy development and guide public education and awareness initiatives.
Biography Coming Soon!
Presenter: Maxim Lemelin (Market Access Manager, Pfizer Canada – Oncology)
Teaching Language: English
Biography Coming Soon!
The next Summer School (SSM16) will take place in the summer of 2026 at the University of Toulouse (France).
People wishing to apply for an internship within the Mitacs Accelerate Program can also apply for a Mitacs bursary.