Colorful brain

Research

Our Focus

Our lab focus includes exploring the pathophysiology of acquired brain injury through a variety of modalities including novel fluid biomarkers and imaging techniques.  We explore rehabilitation needs innovative treatments and trajectory of recovery for patients with acquired brain injury and concussion.

 

  1. Transcranial magnetic stimulations

    In partnership with the N3 initiative (non-invasive neurostimulation network) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute we utilize this cutting-edge technology to explore the pathophysiology brain injury, concussion and post-traumatic headache and treatment of post-concussion symptoms, post-traumatic stress injury and sequelae due to brain injury. Areas of interest include single pulse TMS, repetitive TMS and tDCS. 

  2. Fluid biomarkers

    Fluid biomarkers (urine, saliva, sweat and blood) collected acutely and chronically following brain injury can shed light into the neurophysiological changes that occur, providing an understanding of the disruption to normal brain physiology.  Using a variety of techniques our lab explores alterations in hormones, stress markers and markers of central nervous system injury to following concussion and more severe brain injury.

     

  3. Clinical Outcomes

    In partnership with the Brain and Mental Health Research Clinics, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary Brain Injury Program and the Clinical Research Unit we utilize large database sets to explore diagnostic tools, trajectory or recovery and a variety of outcomes measures following concussion and brain injury.

  4. Aerobic Exercise

    Aerobic exercise is known to have many benefits. Our lab aims to explore the benefit of exercise in patients with concussion and brain injury as well as understand the pathophysiology of the brain with exercise.

  5. Neuroimaging

    Utilizing a variety of modalities and in collaborations with neuroimaging lab through HBI, ACHRI and engineering we are able to explore functional neurophysiology of acquired brain injury and concussion. 

Research Projects

These are the current research study projects running in our lab.

RAPID Concussion Study

The Ready Assessment of Prognostic Indicators and Diagnostics (RAPID) Concussion Study is focused on the analysis of analysis of blood biomarkers using a hand-held biosensor for patient with concussion in acute care. Patients presenting to the emergency department with acute concussion will provide blood for assessment of central nervous system injury for diagnosis and to understand the underlying pathophysiology. Biomarkers will be analyzed by a hand held biosensor device and compared to gold-standard analysis.

Find out more

Project Title: Treatment of PTSD with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Canadian Male and Female Military Personnel. DND IDeAS Innovation for Defense Excellence and Security. Awarded December 2019-2021. (PI).

Project Title: Treatment of PTSD with transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Canadian Male and Female Military Personnel. DND IDeAS Innovation for Defense Excellence and Security. Awarded January 2019. (PI).

Project Title: Treatment of post-traumatic headache with rTMS in patients with post concussion syndrome.  May 2017-19. Cumming School of Medicine Seed Grant Funding. (PI).

Project Title: Early Supported Discharge in Traumatic Brain Injury.  January 2016-March 2017. Alberta Health Services Awarded. Value: (PI).

Project Title: Biomarkers, Robotics and Innovative Neuroimaging in sport concussion: The BRAIN study. September 2015-September 2019.  (PI).

Project Title: Prognosticating in Sport Concussion: A Metabolomic Approach.  Hotchkiss Brain Institute Pilot Funding Project. June 2015-2016.  (PI).

Project Title:  UCAN Study. A Novel Approach to Assessing Rehabilitation Recover. March 2015-Jan. 2019. Co-investigator.

 

Research Funding

We received funding from a variety of local, provincial, national and international agencies. These include the Provincial Government of Alberta, Canadian Department of National Defense, Canadian Institute of Health Research, New Frontier's in Research and New Foundation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute.