Where Great Ideas Grow
4 May 2026
Meghan Riddell (Researcher)
Meghan Riddell studies one of the most essential — and least understood — organs in human health: the placenta.
“Everybody had a placenta,” she says. “Nobody is here without a properly formed and functioning placenta.”
Despite its universal importance, the placenta remains one of the most under-researched areas in medicine — something Meghan has made it her mission to change.
Her connection to WCHRI began early, as one of its first graduate studentship recipients. That initial investment helped launch her research career, opening doors to international training before bringing her back to the University of Alberta to establish her own lab. Today, she leads a growing research program focused on understanding how the placenta develops, functions and sometimes fails — with the goal of improving outcomes for both pregnant people and their babies.
With WCHRI support, Meghan has been able to turn early ideas into funded research, train students and push forward discoveries in a field that has historically been overlooked.
For her, WCHRI isn’t just funding — it’s a community that makes this work possible. It provides the foundation to explore bold ideas in pregnancy research and the support to translate those discoveries into better care.
By investing in the earliest stages of life, Meghan’s work is helping shape healthier futures — long before a child is even born.
The Power of Partner
Meghan Riddell’s journey from graduate student to world-class researcher was made possible by the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation. By providing the critical seed money to launch her research program, the Foundation ensures that the "strength of a woman" is at the center of scientific discovery. Their investment allows researchers like Meghan to uncover the fundamental biology that leads to healthier pregnancies and a lifetime of wellness.
Thrive: Transforming lives for women and children
