Dr. Nichole Fairbrother, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia and lead of the UBC Perinatal Anxiety Research Lab (PARLab), has been awarded the 2025 PWHR Mid Career Excellence in Women’s Health Research Award. This recognition celebrates her influential contributions to understanding perinatal anxiety and related disorders, perinatally-occurring obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and intrusive thoughts, all of which play a critical role in the mental health of expectant and new parents.
Dr. Fairbrother leads the PARLab, one of the few research programs in Canada dedicated specifically to perinatal anxiety disorders. Her work focuses on postpartum OCD, intrusive infant related harm thoughts, and fear of childbirth, with the aim of improving recognition, screening, and treatment for parents experiencing these challenges. These conditions affect many birthing people yet often remain misunderstood or overlooked, making her research essential for breaking stigma and informing compassionate, evidence based clinical practices.
Working with trainees and interdisciplinary partners, Dr. Fairbrother has conducted large scale research studies, validated screening tools, and advanced public and clinical awareness of postpartum OCD. Her work also extends to educating perinatal care providers and shaping approaches that better reflect the realities of postpartum mental health.
Dr. Fairbrother’s achievement reflects the commitment to excellence and impact shared across the Women’s Health Research Cluster. To learn more about her research and the work of PARLab, visit the lab’s website or explore Dr. Fairbrother’s cluster profile.