Stephen Matthews is Professor of Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Medicine at the University of Toronto and Director of Research at the Alliance for Human Development, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System. Dr Matthews received his PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK. He was appointed to the University of Toronto in 1996 and served as Chair of Physiology (2007-2014). Dr Matthews’ research is focused towards understanding how the fetal environment affects developmental trajectories leading to modified neurologic and endocrine function. He has established that these effects can extend across multiple generations and are linked to altered susceptibility to chronic disease. His research team is determining the mechanisms by which such ‘programming’ can occur. In parallel, his group is investigating transport mechanisms in the placenta and developing brain, with a focus on strategies to protect the fetus. Dr Matthews is also deeply committed to translating fundamental research. He was founding co-director of the MAVAN program, which followed neurocognitive development in children following adverse early experience. He is currently co-leading large pregnancy intervention studies (Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative; HeLTI) in India and Africa focused towards improving maternal, infant and child health. His research has been funded by CIHR, NSERC and the Gates Foundation, and he has published over 220 research papers. Dr Matthews has served as a member and chair of CIHR Peer Review Panels and on the Editorial Boards of several Journals. He is on Council for the Society for Reproductive Investigation and for the International Society of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD); in 2015, he co-founded DOHaD Canada. Dr Matthews has also worked closely with the leadership of UNICEF in the translation of science to policy.