Professor

Dr. Andrea Haqq is a Pediatric Endocrinologist at the Stollery Children’s Hospital and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta, Canada. As a clinician-scientist with an established international collaborative research program, she explores the genetic and metabolic foundations of pediatric obesity. Dr. Haqq is an internationally recognized expert in the study of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and childhood obesity. She has become known and sought after as a specialized pediatric endocrinologist for such children. She is PI for several clinical trials of novel anti-obesity drugs in severe childhood obesity (Rhythm Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly). Her expertise spans the interface of basic, clinical and translational research and my novel studies have incorporated biochemistry, physiology, genetics, human microbiota, and clinical trials.

CIHR Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Flavio Vieira is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Alberta cross-appointed in the Departments of Pediatrics and Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science. Dr. Vieira is a recipient of the Canadian Nutrition Society Postdoctoral Award and Postdoctoral Fellowships from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Innovates, and the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute. Dr. Vieira completed his BSc, MSc, and PhD in Human Nutrition at the University of Brasilia, Brazil, his home country, and holds credentials as a Dietitian both in Canada and Brazil. Dr. Vieira also completed a Residency in Clinical Nutrition and a Postgraduate Diploma in Epidemiology. Dr. Vieira’s main research interests are obesity and obesity-related conditions, with work spanning prevention and treatment from pediatrics to older adults, encompassing all aspects of obesity management: nutrition, exercise, behavioural changes, pharmacology, and metabolic bariatric surgery. Primary research outcomes are body composition, muscle health, and energy expenditure.

Postdoctoral Fellow.

Ava Gholibeigian, MD, is a physician and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta. She is the recipient of the CAN-TAP-TALENT Clinical Trial Postdoctoral Fellowship (2025). Ava earned her medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and has clinical and research experience across multiple areas of medicine, including neurology, pediatrics, and rare genetic disorders. Her research focuses on improving care and quality of life for individuals and families affected by rare and genetic conditions, with particular emphasis on caregiver support, health education, and patient- and family-centered care. Ava’s work integrates mixed-methods research with digital health approaches, including web-based platforms and technology-enabled educational tools, to translate clinical evidence into accessible, real-world supports. Through her work, she aims to bridge clinical medicine, research, and innovation to strengthen care experiences and outcomes for patients and families.

PhD Student in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Alberta 

Giovanna is a first-year PhD student in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Alberta, supervised by Drs. Andrea M. Haqq and Carla M. Prado. She completed her academic training in Brazil, her home country, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from Centro Universitário São Camilo – São Paulo, a Postgraduate degree in Hospital Nutrition, and a Master’s degree in Health Sciences from Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein – São Paulo. She is a member of the Alberta Diabetes Institute Trainee Working Group Council, serving as Vice-Chair of Engagement & Communications. Alongside her academic studies, she worked for seven years at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Brazil as a registered dietitian in the Clinical Nutrition department. She was also an active member of the diabetes multidisciplinary team—an experience that directly connects with her current research, which aims to investigate the effects of a 6-month semaglutide intervention on changes in energy expenditure and body composition in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

PhD Student

Alice is a PhD student in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Alberta. She completed a BSc in Human Nutrition at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil—her home country—where she is a registered dietitian. She also completed a postgraduate diploma in Pediatric Hospital Nutrition, when she worked as a dietitian in the pediatric ward and pediatric intensive care unit. After, she graduated as MSc in Child and Adolescent Health at UNICAMP, with research focused on hypophosphatemia in critically ill pediatric patients receiving oral and enteral nutrition. Alice has contributed to peer-reviewed publications on electrolyte disturbances, sarcopenia, and protein intake in critically ill children, having her work presented at national and international conferences. In her current PhD, Alice is conducting a complex, three-arm, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigating the effects of metformin and dietary fiber on improvements in insulin resistance in adolescents with obesity.

MSc Student

Camilla Fonseca is a MSc student at the University of Alberta. Camilla is a recipient of the One Child Every Child Graduate Future Leaders Award (2025), Women & Children’s Health Research Institute Graduate Studentship (2025), Dr. Elizabeth A. Donald MSc Fellowship in Human Nutrition (2025) and the Alberta Diabetes Institute Graduate Studentship Award (2024). Camilla completed her Bachelor's in Nutrition at the Federal University of Goias, Brazil, her home country. Camilla holds Postgraduate diplomas in Oncology (Residency Program), Palliative Care and in Multidisciplinary Nutritional Therapy. Camilla’s research interests center on body composition and its role in the management of chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic conditions. Her work integrates clinical and public health perspectives to enhance nutritional care across the lifespan, with a focus on assessing and optimizing body composition, dietary strategies, and lifestyle interventions for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

Research Coordinator

Rachel Skow did her graduate training (MSc and PhD) in the faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation. Her Master's focused on investigating sympathetic nervous system responses to low oxygen and her PhD investigated the role of exercise training during pregnancy on cardiovascular health. She then spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow in Texas studying blood flow and oxygen consumption responses to a specialized exercise training program for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction before returning to Edmonton to work on a project investigating how exercise affects the aorta in people who have aortic disease. She started in the Haqq lab in January 2026, and is excited to be a part of the ongoing and future research in body composition obesity. In her spare time, Rachel is an avid reader, taking part in multiple monthly book clubs, and helps plan a local annual book signing for romance authors/readers. 

Research Assisstant

Lucila obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition with a Dietetics specialization from the University of Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina, her home country. She later earned her Master’s degree in Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Alberta. She has been involved in academic research since the beginning of her undergraduate training. Lucila has been a member of Dr. Haqq’s research team in the Department of Pediatrics since 2015 and has worked remotely since 2020. In this role, she supports the overall operational and administrative aspects of Dr. Haqq's research program. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and is an avid Disney enthusiast.