The CPSP Team

Director

Professor of Pediatrics, Radiology, and Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary

Director, Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program

Pediatric Neurologist, Alberta Children's Hospital

Dr. Kirton is Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary and an attending Pediatric Neurologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. His research focuses on applying technologies including neuroimaging and non-invasive brain stimulation to measure and modulate the response of the developing brain to early injury to generate new therapies. He is an externally funded clinician scientist and CIHR Foundation Grant Recipient. Dr. Kirton directs the Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program, Alberta Perinatal Stroke Project, ACH Pediatric Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Laboratory and University of Calgary Noninvasive Neurostimulation Network (N3).

UCalgary profile      CIHR profile     PubMed

Pediatric Neurologist

Assistant Professor, Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine,

University of Calgary. Attending Pediatric Neurologist, Alberta Children’s Hospital. 

Dr. Mineyko is interested in the use of biomarker technology to determine pathophysiology of pediatric neurological diseases such as perinatal stroke and pediatric vasculopathy. Rare neurological diseases are collectively common, yet often poorly understood in pediatric neurology. They account for enormous health care costs. They result in significant morbidity and family burden. True mechanisms of disease are the unifying target for both understanding pathophysiology and designing new treatments. Inflammation provides a tangible example applicable to all pediatric neurology subspecialties. Modern biomarker technologies provide remarkable opportunities to explore such mechanisms. Such analyses can be performed on minute volumes (100uL) of any body fluid providing immediate and great clinical research potential. We continue to grow collaborations with researchers in other major centers to determine the role of inflammation in neurological diseases of childhood. Major directions poised for growth include pediatric stroke, traumatic brain injury, pediatric demyelinating diseases, medically-refractory epilepsy, primary headache disorders, and applying this knowledge to trial new treatments in childhood neurological disorders.

UCalgary profile      PubMed

Stroke Program Clinical Resource Nurse

Lanna is passionate about caring for the children and families that are seen through the Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program Clinic at the Alberta Children's Hospital. 

Pediatric Neurologist

Dr. Dunbar is a pediatric neurologist with clinical training in pediatric stroke and neurocritical care at Alberta Children’s Hospital, and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Calgary with research focused on perinatal stroke.

PubMed

Pediatric Neuroimager

Assistant Professor (Research), Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. 

Dr. Carlson is the lead for the Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program Imaging Group. Helen is primarily interested in using advanced MRI neuroimaging techniques to examine brain neuroplasticity such as functional connectivity of brain networks (via resting state MRI), neuronal metabolism (via MR spectroscopy) and white matter structural connectivity (via diffusion imaging) in children with stroke. She is also interested in researching new MRI, electroencephalogram (EEG), near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), machine learning, and brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies to unlock the mysteries of neuroplastic compensation after early brain injury. The goal of this research is to examine pre/post treatment modulations in neural networks and to explore development of personalized treatment avenues for kids and families affected by stroke to improve lifelong motor and cognitive function.  

UCalgary Profile     Pubmed    Carlson Imaging

Research Coordinator & Clinical Recruiter

Amalia is the primary clinical recruiter for our research studies and is the main liaison between families involved in research and the pediatric stroke outpatient clinic. She is interested in perinatal stroke research, maximizing quality of life after perinatal stroke as well as family and children's outcomes. How these children function in their daily lives and how we can help them achieve their best given their disabilities is a major focus of her research. 

PubMed

PhD Candidate

Meghan completed a Bachelor of Sciences in Occupational Therapy (BScOT) from the University of Alberta. Meghan is a registered occupational therapist and practices clinically in the area of neuro-rehabilitation. Meghan's research is focused on identifying the structural connectivity of the visual system in children with perinatal stroke, and how this correlates to functional vision in everyday life. Her research utilizes various brain imaging modalities. The primary goal is to map these developmental pathways, with secondary goals to develop diagnostic or treatment tools.

MSc. Neuroscience Student

Anna earned her BSc. in Exercise and Health Physiology (Kinesiology) from the University of Calgary and is currently pursuing a MSc. in Neuroscience. She has a background in high performance sport and is passionate about developing and improving the enjoyment and access to rehabilitation technology and para-sport programming for individuals with disabilities. Her research is centered around patient-input, aiming to design a more engaging therapy for children and teens with perinatal stroke. She is focused on adapting brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to integrate with functional electrical stimulation and social media, aiming to leverage brain plasticity for enhancing functional gains translating into more independence for children with physical disabilities.