Jason Tabor MSc

PhD candidate

BNR Lab

Jason Tabor

Lilyfire Photography

Jason graduated with his BSc in Biological Sciences in 2015 and completed his MSc in Neuroscience in 2019 at the University of Calgary. Jason’s MSc project investigated the effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on repetitive mild-traumatic brain injury (RmTBI) outcomes in adolescent rats. Jason has experience using behavioural and epigenetic techniques to examine the pathophysiological association between early life RmTBI and neurodevelopmental plasticity in rodent models of TBI. Jason’s PhD work builds upon his pre-clinical research experience by investigating fluid biomarkers of sport-related concussion (SRC) in adolescent athletes.

Working under the national NFL-funded SHRed Concussions project, Jason’s PhD study is measuring blood biomarkers of brain injury (UCH-L1, GFAP, NF-L, Tau), neuroinflammation, and pituitary dysfunction following concussion in pediatric populations. Upon expected completion of his PhD in 2023 Jason hopes to pursue a career in medicine. Building upon his PhD work, Jason is interested in becoming a clinician-scientist with a research focus on fluid biomarkers of neurological injury.

 

Awards and Distinctions

 

2022 Faculty of Kinesiology Presentation Award

2021-2023 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Research Award (CGS-D)

2021 Faculty of Kinesiology Leadership Scholarship

2021 Victoria Traffic Accident Commission Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation – International Neurotrauma Symposium 2020/2021

2020 Hotchkiss Brain Institute REALISE External Module Registration Award

2020 Faculty of Kinesiology Presentation Award

2020 International Neurotrauma Symposium 2020 Early Career Researcher/Student Travel Award

2020 University of Calgary Integrated Concussion Research Program Travel Grant

2020-2021 Harley N. Hotchkiss Doctoral Scholarship in Neuroscience

2019 Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium (CTRC) Travel Award

2019 Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship

2019 Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship

2018 - 2019 University of Calgary Integrated Concussion Research Program Graduate Studentship

2019 University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine – Medical Trainee Funding Travel Award, Faculty of Medicine

2018 University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine – Medical Trainee Funding Travel Award, Faculty of Medicine

2010 University of Calgary Entrance Scholarship

Publications

  1. Tabor, J.B., McCrea, M.A., Meier, T.B., Emery, C.A., & Debert, C.T. (2022). Hiding in Plain Sight: Factors Influencing the Neuroinflammatory Response to Sport-related Concussion. Neurotrauma Reports. DOI: 10.1089/neur.2021.0081
  2. Machan, M., Tabor, J.B.*, Sutter, B., Wiley, P., Mychasiuk R., & Debert C.T. (2022). The Impact of Concussion, Sport, and Time in Season on Salivary Telomere Length in Healthy Athletes. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.816607 *Co-Lead Author
  3. Seeger, T., Tabor, J., Sick, S., La, P., Schneider, K., Talai, A. S., Mouches, P., Rajashekar, D., Jenne, C., Forkert, N., Emery, C. A., & Debert, C. T. (2020). The Association of Saliva Cytokines and Pediatric Sport-related Concussion Outcomes. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. DOI: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000605
  4. Tabor, J., Wright, D., Christensen, L., Zamani, A., Collins, R., Shultz, S.R., & Mychasiuk, R. (2020). Examining the Effects of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids and Exercise on Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (RmTBI) Outcomes in Adolescent Rats. Brain Sciences. 10(5), 258. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10050258
  5. Christensen, J., Eyolfson, E., Salberg, S., Bhatt, D., Weerawardhena, H., Tabor, J., & Mychasiuk, R. (In Press). When Two Wrongs Make a Right: The Effect of Acute and Chronic Alcohol Consumption on TBI Outcomes in Late Adolescent Female Rats. Journal of Neurotrauma. DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6656
  6. Tabor, J., Collins, R., Debert, C., Shultz, S.R.*, & Mychasiuk, R. (2019). Neuroendocrine Whiplash: Slamming the Breaks on Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids Following Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats May Worsen Outcomes. Frontiers in Neurology. 10, 481. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00481
  7. Tabor, J., Griep, Y., Collins, R., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Investigating the Neurological Correlates of Workplace Deviance Using a Rodent Model of Extinction. Scientific Reports. 8(1), 17316. DOI: 0.1038/s41598-018-35748-y.
  8. Salberg, S., Christensen, J., Yamakawa, G., Lengkeek, C., Malik, H., Tabor, J., Hazari, A., & Mychasiuk R. (2018). A Bump on the Head or Late to Bed: The Behavioural and Pathophysiological Effects of Sleep Deprivation Following Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescent Rats. Journal of Neurotrauma. 35(16), 1895-1905. DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.5744.
  1. Tabor, J.B., Penner, L., Cooper, J., Ghodsi, M., Weelington, C., Fraser, D.D., Emery, C.A., & Debert, C.T. (2022). Examining the influence of age, sex, previous concussion, and menstrual cycle on blood biomarkers of sport-related concussion in healthy youth athletes. HBI Research Day. Calgary, AB.
  2. Penner, L., Tabor, J.B., Godfrey, H., Galarneau, JM., Debert, C.T., Wellington, C., Emery, C.A., & Smirl, J. (2022). Effects of interval exercise on commonly studied fluid biomarkers for sport-related concussion. Canadian Concussion Network (CCN) 2nd Annual Meeting. Montreal, QQ.
  3. Tabor, J.B., Debert, C.T., Wellington, C., & Emery, C.A. (2022). CTRC Project Update: Pediatric blood biomarkers of sport-related concussion: neuroinflammation, pituitary dysfunction, and brain injury. 12th Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium Scientific Meeting. Virtual (Online) Meeting.
  4. Tabor, J.B. Piitz, M., Ho, C., Whelan, P., Dukelow, S.P., & Debert, C.T. (2021). Kinarm robotic assessment of stroke and traumatic brain injury across severities at sub-acute and 6-month post event timepoints. Society for Neuroscience (SFN) Global Connectome: A Virtual Event. Online Conference.
  5. Tabor, J.B., Debert, C.T., & Emery, C.A. (2021). CTRC Project Update: Sport-related concussion in youth: Are symptoms and recovery informed by inflammatory or endocrine biomarkers? 10th Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium Scientific Meeting. Virtual (Online) Meeting.
  6. Joe N., King R., Tabor J., Esser M., Chester H., Dukelow S., & Debert CT. (2020). Serum Cytokine Concentration and Clinical Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury. HBI, ACHRI & Owerko Centre Summer Student Symposium. Calgary, AB.
  7. Ruschkowski J., Tabor J., Machan M., Schneider K., Sick S., Vijayan V., Mychasiuk, R., Emery CE., & Debert CT. (2020). The relationship between salivary cortisol levels and telomere lengths following pediatric sport-related concussion. HBI, ACHRI & Owerko Centre Summer Student Symposium. Calgary, AB.
  8. Tabor, J.B., Emery, C.A., & Debert, C.T. (2020). SHRed Concussions…with Biomarkers: Assessing Multiple Neuroinflammatory Serum Biomarkers in Adolescent Sport-related Concussion. HBI Research Day. Calgary, AB.
  9. Tabor, J., Wright, D., Christensen, L., Zamani, A., Collins, R., Shultz, S.R., & Mychasiuk, R. (2020). Anabolic Steroids, Exercise, and Concussions in the Developing Brain: A Preclinical Study. 2020 CASEM-AQMS Sport Medicine Conference. Banff, AB. *Conference cancelled due to COVID-19.
  10. Tabor, J., Wright, D., Christensen, L., Zamani, A., Collins, R., Shultz, S.R., & Mychasiuk, R. (2020). Concussions on Steroids: A Behavioural, Molecular, and Imaging Analysis of Anabolic Steroids in the Developing Brain. International Neurotrauma Symposium 2020. Melbourne, Australia. *Delayed due to COVID-19
  11. Tabor, J.B., Debert, C.T., & Emery, C.A. (2020). CTRC Project Proposal: Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Inflammatory Cytokines and Metabolites: Are these Potential Serum Biomarkers for Concussion in Adolescents? 8th Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium (CTRC) Scientific Meeting. Lake Louise, AB.
  12. Tabor, J.B., Debert, C.T., & Emery, C.A. (2019). Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Inflammatory Cytokines and Metabolites: Are these Potential Serum Biomarkers for Concussion in Adolescents? Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute Research Retreat. Banff, AB.
  13. Kolstad, A., Pankow, P., Tabor, J., & McCallum, J. (2019). Baseline Measures Relation to Sustaining a Game Concussion in Youth Ice Hockey Players Aged 13-17. Essentials of Biostatistics Micro-Conference. Calgary, AB.
  14. Christensen, J., Eyolfson, E., Salberg, S., Bhatt, D., Weerawardhena, H., Tabor, J., & Mychasiuk, R. (2019). Getting Slammed: The Effects of Acute and Chronic Alcohol Consumption on TBI Outcomes in Late Adolescent Female Rats. Neurotrauma 2019. Pittsburgh, PA.
  15. Tabor, J., Collins, R., Debert, C., Shultz, S., & Mychasiuk, R. (2019). Pumping the brakes on anabolic-androgenic steroids post-RmTBI may worsen outcomes in rats. Canadian Spring Conference in Behaviour and Brain. Fernie, BC.
  16. Tabor, J., Griep, Y., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Underperformance in the Workplace: Using a Rodent Model to Explore the Neural Mechanisms of Lost Productivity. Hotchkiss Brain Institute Research Day. Calgary, AB.
  17. Collins, R., Tabor, J., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Brains AND Brawn: Effects of anabolic androgenic steroids on traumatic brain injury recovery in adolescent rats. Hotchkiss Brain Institute Summer Student Symposium. Calgary, AB.
  18. Tabor, J., Collins, R., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Performance- or Concussion-Enhancing Drugs? Investigating the Interactions Between Anabolic Steroids & Repetitive mTBI. Joint Symposium of the International and National Neurotrauma Societies and AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care. Toronto, ON.
  19. Salberg, S., Christensen, J., Yamakawa, G., Lengkeek, C., Malik, H., Tabor, J., Hazari, A., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Investigating the Neurological Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Post Concussion Symptomology in Adolescent Rats. Joint Symposium of the International and National Neurotrauma Societies and AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care. Toronto, ON.
  20. Tabor, J., Griep, Y., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Underperformance in the Workplace: Using a Rodent Model to Explore the Neural Mechanisms of Lost Productivity. Canadian Association for Neuroscience. Vancouver, BC.
  21. Salberg, S., Christensen, J., Hazari, A., Lengkeek, C., Malik, H., Tabor, J., Wang, M., Yamakawa, G., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Behavioural and Pathophysiological Effects of Sleep Deprivation Following Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescent Rats. Canadian Association for Neuroscience. Vancouver, BC.
  22. Tabor, J., Griep, Y., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Broken Promises Break the Bank: The Neurological Correlates of Corporate Time-Theft. Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain. Fernie, BC.
  23. Collins, R., Tabor, J., & Mychasiuk, R. (2018). Effects of steroid use on post-concussive symptomology in adolescent rats. Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain. Fernie BC.
  24. Salberg, S., Christensen, J., Hazari, A., Lengkeek, C., Malik, H., Tabor, J., Wang, M., Yamakawa, G., & Mychasiuk, R. (2017). The effects of sleep deprivation following mild traumatic brain injury in adolescent rats. Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute Summer Student Research Day. Calgary, AB.
  1. Pediatric blood biomarkers of sport-related concussion: neuroinflammation, pituitary dysfunction, and brain injury. (January 2022). 12th Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium Scientific Meeting. Virtual (Online) Meeting.
  2. Biomarkers and Concussion: The Hunt for Objectivity. (August 2021). Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre Summer Workshop Series: Introduction to Undergraduate Research. Calgary, AB.
  3. Live Panel Discussion: Neuropsychological outcomes after pediatric TBI. (Invited Guest Panelist; February 10th, 2021). International Neurotrauma Symposium 2021. Virtual (Online) Meeting.
  4. Sport-related concussion in youth: Are symptoms and recovery informed by inflammatory or endocrine biomarkers? (January 2021). 10th Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium Scientific Meeting. Virtual (Online) Meeting.
  5. Inflammatory and Endocrine Biomarkers of Sports-related Concussion in Youth. (August 2020). Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre Summer Workshop Series: Introduction to Undergraduate Research. Calgary, AB.
  6. Concussions on Steroids: A Behavioural, Molecular, and Imaging Analysis of Anabolic Steroids in the Developing Brain. (*Accepted April 2020 – **Presented online February 2021). International Neurotrauma Symposium 2020/2021. Melbourne, Australia. *Delayed due to COVID-19. **Invited Talk
  7. Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Inflammatory Cytokines and Metabolites: Are these Potential Serum Biomarkers for Concussion in Adolescents? (January 2020). 8th Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium Scientific Meeting. Lake Louise, AB.
  8. SHRed Concussions: Fluid Biomarkers. (January 2020). NFL SHRed Concussions Annual Scientific Meeting. Calgary, AB.
  9. Pumping the brakes on anabolic-androgenic steroids post-RmTBI may worsen outcomes in rats. (February 2019). Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain. Fernie BC.
  10. Broken Promises Break the Bank: The Neurological Correlates of Corporate Time-Theft. (February 2018). Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain. Fernie, BC.

Media Mentions of Academic Work

 

“Why professional wrestlers are more likely to die young” By Dr. Jonathan Gelber, MD, MS. (Published March 14, 2021). Salon.com. Link: https://www.salon.com/2021/03/14/why-professional-wrestlers-are-more-likely-to-die-young/

  • News article cites Tabor, et al. (2019). Neuroendocrine Whiplash: Slamming the Breaks on Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids Following Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats May Worsen Outcomes. Frontiers in Neurology. 10, 481.