Dr. Chantel Debert

Principal Investigator

BNR Lab

Associate Professor, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Faculty of Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Canada

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Behavioural Neurosciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Staff Physician, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Physician, Chronic Pain Clinic, Headache Program, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Dr. Chantel Debert is a clinician scientist at the University of Calgary. She completed her undergraduate degree in integrative biology and psychology in 2001 at the University of California, Berkeley. She went on to complete an MSc in Cardiovascular and respiratory Sciences at the University of Calgary (2003), medical doctor (University of Calgary in 2006) and residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation in 2012. Clinically, she is a specialist in acquired brain injury and concussion, seeing patients at at the Foothills Medical Centre and the Chronic Pain Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She currently is a member of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute and integrative concussion research program at the University of Calgary. She is the lead for the Calgary brain injury program and Hotchkiss Brain Institute representative and executive member of the integrative concussion research program. She is the lead for the research program for the Calgary Brain Injury program and brain injury fellowship program. She is the research lead for the Canadian Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Association. She has three amazing children and can be found playing soccer and enjoying the outdoors.

Education:

BA integrative biology from the University of California Berkeley.
BA psychology from the University of California Berkeley.
MSc in cardiovascular & respiratory science from the University of Calgary.
MD medical doctor from the University of Calgary.
Residency training in physical medicine & rehabilitation at the University of Calgary.

Professional Affiliations:

Dr. Debert’s research interests include diagnostic tools and treatments for sequelae of concussion and traumatic brain injury. Her current focus includes exploring fluid biomarkers (saliva, urine, blood and sweat) as tool for diagnosis, prognosis and understanding the underlying pathophysiology of acquired brain injury and concussion. Further research focuses on treatments for post-concussion symptoms specifically post-traumatic headache, dizziness and mental health disorders. Treatment focuses included neuromodulation (transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct stimulation), aerobic exercise, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical interventions. Further focus will include understanding the trajectory of recovery following acquired brain injury and concussion to provide better care for patients living with these brain injury.

Current Funded Projects

Project listing:

Project Title: Treatment of Cervicogenic headache using TDCS: a feasibility trial. SNIP Pilot grant fund. University of Calgary. Role: Principle Investigator (2022-2023).

Project Title: Understanding cervicogenic dizziness: the unexplored culprit. VRP Catalyst Grant. University of Calgary. Role: Co-Principle Investigator with Dr. Kathryn Schneider (2021-2022)

Project Title: Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Injury in first responders: An rTMS approach. Alberta Government Funding 2021. Role: Principle Investigator (April 2022-September 2023).

Project Title: RACE Concussion Study: Rapid, accurate cost-effective assessment of fluid biomarkers using a hand-held biosensor in patients with concussion. CIHR project grant. Role: Co-Principle Investigator with Dr. Amir Nazad (April 2022-2025).

Project Title: Graded Exposure therapy for fear avoidance (GET FAB) following concussion. CIHR Project Grant Spring 2021. Role: Co-Investigator. Principle Investigator Dr. Noah Silverberg (April 2021-2025).

Project Title: Understanding the Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being and care of provision for patients at the University of Calgary Brain and Mental Health Clinics. Cumming School of Medicine clinical research fund (CRF) Rapid response COVID-19 funding competition. Awarded March 2020-2022. Role: Co-Investigator. Principle Investigator Dr. Pamela Roach.

Project Title: Treatment of post-concussion symptoms with exercise: A MR spectroscopy imaging approach to determining treatment response. Awarded March 2019. New frontiers in Research Fund, Government of Canada. Role: Co-Co-principle Investigator with Dr. Ashley Harris (2020-2023).

Project Title: Treatment of Post-traumatic greater Occipital Neuralgia with PRP: a double-blinded randomized trial. HBI DCNS PFUN Grant. Role: Principle Investigator (2021-2023).

Project Title: Treatment of post-concussion symptoms with exercise: A MR Spectroscopy imaging approach to determining treatment response. HBI DCNS PFUN Grant. Role: Co-investigator. Principle Investigator Dr. Ashley Harris (2021-2023).

Project Title: Shred Concussion: Multicenter Cross Canada Assessment of Concussion in High School Student. NFL Funding. Role: Co-investigator. Principle Investigator Dr. Carolyn Emery (2020-2025).

Project Title: Assessment of fNIRS as a diagnostic marker of recovery in pediatric concussion. CIHR project grant. Role: Collaborator. Principle Investigator Dr. Jeff Dunn (2018-2023).

Project Title: Simply Rehab: vestibular therapy treatment for patients with moderate and severe brain injury. International Rehabilitation Society. (PI’s Drs. Kathryn Schneider and Isabelle Gagnon). Role: Collaborator. 2017-2022.

Publications

Published research papers

Dr. Debert's research publications can be viewed on her Google Scholar profile or on PubMed.

Licensure, Certification and Boards:

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, 07/2012
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada), physical medicine & rehabilitation, 07/2012
Canadian Society of Neurophysiologists (CSCN), 06/2012

Medical training exams and qualifications:

MCC qualifying examination 2006
LMCC II May 2007

2021-2022 Teaching Award, Undergraduate medical education, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

2021-2022 Teaching Award, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Calgary

2015-2016 AARP Research Award for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

2013-2014 University of Calgary Undergraduate Medical Teaching Award.

2001-2003 NSERC Graduate Student Award

2001-2003 Heart and Stroke Foundation Graduate Student award (declined).

1996-2001 University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, US. Scholarship

Dr. Chantel Debert

Positions

Biography