Meet Our Researchers
Meet the team members that works in the Stroke and Cognition Research Group
Principal Investigator
The founder and head of our operations
Philip Barber
Dr. Philip A. Barber is an Associate Professor of Neurology in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary where he co-directs the Stroke Prevention Clinic and is a member of the Calgary Stroke Program. Dr. Barber’s major interests are dementia and infarct maturation.
As the Principal Investigator of the PREVENT study, Dr. Barber aims to detect dementia in subjects at risk of the condition many years before it develops. By taking this approach, we hope to be able to do something about it at the earliest opportunity.
Dr. Barber enjoys the outdoors with his family during his free time. He is usually so invested in his work that he forgets to switch on his office lights after sunset and works in the dark, using his laptop as the only source of light!
Research Assistants
Dhanae Mogan
Dhanae is an undergraduate student at the University of Calgary, where she is working towards a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She fell in love with research after joining the Stroke and Cognition in 2022 as an Alberta Innovates funded summer student. Since then, she has continued to be involved with both neuroscience and psychology labs. Dhanae is passionate about transdisciplinary research which explores preventative interventions that target the intersection between the mind and body for vulnerable populations. Her goal is to pursue a master's and PhD in psychology to become a research-clinician so she can develop evidence-based interventions to support the mental, physical, and social health of neurodivergent students. In her free time, Dhanae enjoys playing piano with her band from church and bouldering. She also loves reading fairytale retellings and she is always on the hunt for her new favourite book.
Shayla Kassam
Shayla Kassam is a Research Assistant in Dr. Barber’s lab, contributing to research on brain health biomarkers within cognitive neuroscience and clinical psychology. She holds a BA (Honours, First Class) in Psychology from the University of Calgary, where she was awarded the 2025 Medallion in Psychology for graduating with the highest distinction in her department. Shayla plans to pursue a Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, focusing on prognostic tools for cognitive decline through neuropsychological assessment, immunological profiling, and neuroimaging techniques. Outside the lab, Shayla is a dedicated powerlifter and part-time server who believes nothing builds resilience quite like lifting heavy weights and balancing plates—sometimes at the same time.
Peyton Slavin
Peyton is a recent graduate of the Psychology program at the University of Calgary, where she earned her BSc (Honours, First Class) studying clinical psychology and public health. During her undergraduate studies, Peyton worked with children with neurodevelopmental delays and contributed to research on care provision in Alberta’s long-term care sector. Her research interests include lived experience in public health care, evaluations of care interventions, and advancements in intervention for both neurodevelopmental and cognitive disorders. When she’s not in the lab, Peyton enjoys playing golf, beach volleyball, and baking. She is also working on her green thumb, with mixed reviews from her plants.