Inflammatory Brain Diseases Research Program - BrainWorks
An international, multi-centre precision medicine program that aims to increase recognition, transform care and optimize outcomes for children and adults living with CNS vasculitis and inflammatory brain diseases.
Clinicians:
Dr. Susanne Benseler, Program Lead
Program Coordinators:
Jeanie Quach, Research Coordinator
Blake Farion, Research Coordinator
Research Staff:
Ashley Choo
Brianna Ghali
Robin Hao
Jordan Kelly
Tanya Siddiqui
Doctors around the world caring for children and adults with inflammatory brain disease have teamed up with basic science researchers, families, medical specialists and supportive organizations to establish the web-based, password secured innovative registry BrainWorks. BrainWorks is an international prospective cohort of patients with brain inflammation treated with standardized treatment protocols and assessed using standardized outcome measures.
Active Research:
Biomarker Research:
- von Willebrand Factor antigen: predicting disease activity in childhood CNS vasculitis
- Development of histopathology diagnostic approach and biomarkers in childhood small vessel vasculitis
- Biomarker discovery in inflammatory brain diseases
- Inflammatory pathways in brain biopsies of children with CNS vasculitis
Long-term Outcomes Research:
- Predictors of quality of life in childhood inflammatory brain disease
- Long-term cognitive outcomes in childhood CNS vasculitis
- Comparative effectiveness research: treatment of CNS vasculitis
Knowledge Translation:
- BrainWorks website: www.brainworksstudy.ca