91Ö±²¥

Jennifer O'Loughlin, PhD

Professor
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine
School of Public Health - Université de Montréa

WHEN: Monday, September 29, 2025, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. 
WHERE: Hybrid | 2001 91Ö±²¥ College, Rm 1140 |
NOTE: Jennifer O'Loughlin will be presenting in-person

The Seminars in Epidemiology organized by the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at the 91Ö±²¥ School of Population and Global Health is a self-approved Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the maintenance of certification program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Physicians requiring accreditation, please complete the Evaluation Form and send to admincoord.eboh [at] mcgill.ca

Abstract

The Nicotine Dependence in Teens (NDIT) study is an ongoing 25-year longitudinal investigation of 1294 students recruited in 1999-2000 from all grade 7 classes in a purposive sample of 10 high schools in Montreal, Canada. Its primary objectives were to study the natural course and determinants of cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence in youth, although the project also embeds studies on obesity, blood pressure, physical activity, team sports, exergaming, sedentary behaviour, diet, genetics, alcohol use, cannabis use, use of e-cigarettes, use of illicit drugs, exposure to second-hand smoke, gambling, sleep and mental health. The main source of data was self-report questionnaires administered in class at school every 3 months from grade 7 to grade 11 (1999–2005), for a total of 20 cycles during high school. Questionnaires were also completed after graduation from high school in 2007–08, 2011–12, and 2017-20 (cycles 21, 22 and 23, respectively) when participants were age 20, 24 and 31 years on average, respectively. Cycle 24, which collected data on COVID-19 was undertaken from December 2020 to June 2021. Cycle 25 started in May 2022 and concluded in March 2023. Cycle 26 is ongoing. Data collection also comprised anthropometric measurements, DNA sampling, parental questionnaires, school environmental scans, lung function, handgrip strength, as well as a pilot study involving children of NDIT study participants who smoke or vape cannabis to assess their lung function and to determine whether second- or thirdhand exposure to cannabis results in cannabis metabolites in their urine.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this talk, attendees will be able to:

• Understand the design and scope of the NDIT study: Participants will be able to describe the structure, duration, and methodology of the 25-year longitudinal NDIT study, including data collection methods and key participant demographics.
• Identify several key findings related to nicotine dependence and other adolescent health behaviours: Attendees will gain insight into major outcomes of the study, including determinants and trajectories of cigarette smoking, nicotine dependence, and associated behaviours such as vaping, cannabis use, and physical activity.
• Evaluate the public health implications of long-term adolescent health research: Participants will critically assess how findings from longitudinal research like the NDIT study inform public health policy, particularly in youth prevention strategies related to substance use and chronic disease risk factors.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Jennifer O'Loughlin is a distinguished researcher in the field of public health in Canada. She serves as a Professor at the School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, and as a Scientist at the Health Innovation and Evaluation Hub of the Université de Montréal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM). Her research focuses on the early determinants of chronic diseases, particularly through longitudinal studies on tobacco use and nicotine dependence among youth. ​Dr. O'Loughlin's scholarly impact is significant, with an h-index of 86, indicating a substantial number of citations for her work. She has published over 360 articles and has presented at more than 500 conferences. Her research has notably influenced public health policies, including those related to tobacco use among adolescents. ​In recognition of her contributions, Dr. O'Loughlin has been elected as a Fellow of both the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the American Academy of Pediatrics Tobacco Consortium. Additionally, she held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in the Early Determinants of Adult Chronic Disease from 2004 to 2021. ​According to the AD Scientific Index​ , which ranks Canadian scientists based on their h-index, Dr. O'Loughlin ranks 28th among medical and health sciences (epidemiology and public health) researchers in Canada. These rankings underscore her influence within the Canadian research community. Overall, Dr. O'Loughlin's extensive research portfolio and her leadership in public health research place her among the leading researchers in Canada.