Our directory of funded grants

An Evaluation of the Acceptability of the Family Check-Up Intervention for Caregivers of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Project Overview

This project looks at the acceptability of the Family Check-up (FCU) program for caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Family Check-up is a brief, evidence-based, assessment-driven intervention that uses a strength-based and motivational interviewing approach to engage care…

Brain-Computer Interface Integrated Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Project Overview

This projects looks at a new method to interface with communication devices through brain activity. A brain interface provides access for individuals with brain injury, or who are not typically developing, who experience limited voluntary muscle control.  Kaela Shea will investigate the possibilit…

Characterization of a novel medulloblastoma tumor suppressor

Project Overview

Medulloblastoma is a pediatric cancer of the brain and is the most common solid tumour in children. Currently, the standard therapy for medulloblastoma remains nonspecific to the cancer subtype and consists of surgery followed by chemotherapy and/or craniospinal irradiation. Due to these treatments,…

Cortical GABAergic interneurons migration impairment in genetic epileptic encephalopathies

Project Overview

This project aims at elucidating the roles of new candidate genes in brain development, particularly in the context of refractory paediatric epilepsies (epileptic encephalopathies) and co-morbid neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual deficiency.  Lara Eid is particularly inter…

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Therapy to Correct Aniridia in a Mouse Model

Dysregulation of integrated stress response (ISR) pathway in Fragile X syndrome and autism

Project Overview

This project is focused on role of the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway in fragile X syndrome as well as autism.  Mehdi Hooshmandi is aiming to figure out the exact ISR pathway abnormalities in different cell types and regions of the brain. Once the altered molecule(s) is identified, it wil…

Early Brain Development Following Prenatal Exposure to SSRI Antidepressants and Maternal Depression

Project Overview

Many women experience depression during pregnancy, and are often faced with challenging decisions surrounding antidepressant use during this critical time for their developing child. Fetal exposure to maternal antidepressant use is poorly understood, and further, the effects are often lef…

Effects of Sex Hormone Therapy on Brain Development in Adolescents Experiencing Gender Dysphoria: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Project Overview

Adolescence is a time of rapid brain maturation that is partly influenced by sex hormones. In this project, magnetic resonance imaging will be used to assess the influence of sex hormones on brain structure and function. Malvina Skorska will examine how the brain structure and function of adolescent…

In utero exposure to glucocorticoids in humans and an animal model: Epigenetic and transcriptional signatures

Project Overview

This project will study blood obtained from babies shortly after birth and in guinea pigs early in life to discover how genes throughout the genome respond to glucocorticoid treatment. This research has important implications for the fundamental understanding of biological responses to glucocortico…

Interleukin-1 blockade along with hypothermia to prevent cerebral palsy arising from refractory neonatal asphyxia

Project Overview

Neonatal asphyxia and subsequent cerebral palsy (CP) is a severe pathology resulting from lack of oxygen and/or infection-inflammation. This disease still leads to mortality or severe brain injuries and long-term disabilities. Therapeutic hypothermia (decreased body temperature to 33-34°C during 3 …

Neurophysiological basis of amblyopia and its treatment

Project Overview

Amblyopia (commonly known as “lazy eye”) is a common developmental visual disorder, caused by eye misalignment, unequal refractive error between two eyes, or visual deprivation, with lifelong consequences on learning and academic achievements that we do not fully understand. It affects 4.7% of C…

Non-infectious inflammation induced by uric acid during pregnancy and the impact on child neurodevelopment

Project Overview

This project focuses on how inflammation, without an infection, can alter brain development when a baby was exposed during pregnancy. Marie-Eve Brien investigates how this sub-optimal prenatal environment programs the developing brain for neurodevelopmental disorders through inflammation in the plac…

Social determinants of prevalence, health service use, and developmental outcomes of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A population-level study

Project Overview

This project is examining the relationship between neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage with prevalence, health service use, and developmental outcomes of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Research shows that health is unevenly distributed across socioeconomic status (SES) – those …

Testing white matter pathway’s influence on neural communication: A combined structural and functional neuroimaging study

Project Overview

Alexandra Decker is interested in understanding how white matter development enables and constrains neural communication, which in turn, facilitates our ability to encode new memories. She will also examine how damage to white matter during development impairs neural communication, and thereby wea…

Three-dimensional Video-based Analysis of Infant’s Movements for Early Detection of Motor Impairment

Project Overview

This project is focused on the development of novel technologies to support clinicians in the assessment and diagnosis of cerebral palsy and motor impairment by studying infants’ movements in the first months of life. Silvia Orlandi will compare atypical and typical spontaneous movements using co…

Understanding how pain varies and its effect on well-being in children and youth with cerebral palsy: A mixed methods study

Project Overview

This research will identify how pain changes over several weeks and will assess how these short-term pain trajectories impact self-reported physical and psychological well-being in children and youth with cerebral palsy. The proposed work aims to improve pain management and the clinical care for tho…