Exploring the Impact of Maternal Sleep Disruption on Fetal Neurodevelopment

Abstract

Jolie Wu was a semi-finalist in the 2026 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Jolie presented the research titled “Exploring the Impact of Maternal Sleep Disruption on Fetal Neurodevelopment.” About 1 in 10 Canadians are affected by neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), yet the reason behind this high prevalence is poorly understood. Research suggests a strong link between environmental exposures during pregnancy and NDDs in offspring. Jolie’s research aims to provide new perspectives on NDDs and reveal novel intervention strategies to help reduce the risk of NDDs, such as changes to policies regarding shift work during pregnancy. Jolie Wu is completing a MSc in Cell and Developmental Biology in the Cell & Developmental Biology Program under the supervision of Dr. Jessica Rosin. #3MT is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. For more information or to participate in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) visit https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca.