Cognitive Neurorehabilitation Sciences Lab @Kite Research Institute, University Health Network, and University of Toronto
Principal Investigator
Robin Green
Dr. Robin Green, Senior Scientist at KITE-UHN, is the Saunderson Family Chair in Acquired Brain Injury and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto. Dr. Green’s program of research addresses brain and behavioural mechanisms of recovery from serious brain injuries and the development of treatments to improve brain, cognitive and mental health recovery. One of her lab’s key findings is that following a moderate-severe brain injury, the brain ages at an accelerated rate. Importantly, this finding opens up new avenues for treatment. In this regard, Dr. Green’s team has identified potential treatments to offset decline and improve outcomes, which they are embarking on testing and scaling up. Dr. Green founded the Teleneurorehabilitation Centre for Acquired Brain Injury, a unique centre that integrates remotely delivered clinical care and research for patients across Ontario in the chronic stages of a neurological disorder, such as mild (concussion) to severe traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and other disorders. The Centre addresses a very significant gap in clinical care in Ontario as well as research for these vulnerable patients. Dr. Green is the former Canada Research Chair (II) in Traumatic Brain Injury Cognitive Neurorehabilitation Sciences, co-lead of the Schroeder Brain Institute and head of the Brain Discovery & Recovery Team at KITE. Dr. Green has university and scientific appointments at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine- Psychiatry, University of Toronto (https://psychiatry.utoronto.ca/faculty/robin-green); Graduate training in Clinical Psychology at University of Toronto Scarborough (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/psych/robin-green-phd-cpsych); Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temetry Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto (https://rsi.utoronto.ca/faculty/robin-green); KITE at University Health Network (https://kite-uhn.com/scientist/robin-green).
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Staff
Brenda Colella
Brenda Colella is the Clinical Research Manager for the Teleneurorehab Centre for ABI and in this role she oversees the day-to-day operations of the Centre. The Centre addresses a significant gap in current treatment for individuals living with the enduring effects of brain injury, and provides access to treatment for patients regardless of their geographic location or any mobility restrictions. As a registered Psychological Associate practicing in the area of Clinical Neuropsychology she also provides assessment and treatment to Centre clients and participants in the larger clinical research program at the Cognitive Neurorehabilitation Sciences lab. Brenda completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Toronto.
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Kadeen Johns
Kadeen is the study coordinator for the Allocentric Spatial Navigation Project, and the administrative assistant for the Cognitive Neurorehabilitation Sciences Lab. Kadeen has worked in clinical research at Toronto Rehab for over 10 years. She holds an Honors BA in Biology and Chemistry from Wesleyan College in Macon, GA.
Eliyas Jeffay
Dr. Eliyas Jeffay is a member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario registered as a Clinical Neuropsychologist, and a member of the Psychological Association, Canadian
Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium, and International Neuropsychology Society. He earned his Honours B.Sc., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Toronto. He completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in the Brain Discovery and Recovery Research Program at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute where he performs clinical assessments, provides cognitive intervention, and conducts research related to the assessment and treatment of individuals after acquired brain injury. His research interests include exploring physical exercise, behavioural therapies, and new technologies to advance clinical neuropsychological assessment and treatment.
Nithin Jacob
Nithin is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Cognitive Neurorehabilitation Sciences Lab. He earned his Master’s in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Toronto under the supervision of Dr. Robin Green. Currently, he is working on a Long-COVID trial that compares two online interventions on the ability to self-manage persisting COVID-19 symptoms, and is also involved in an exercise study on patients with traumatic brain injury. Outside of the lab, he enjoys bike rides, leisure reading, and playing table tennis with friends.
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Lesley Ruttan
Dr. Lesley Ruttan is a registered psychologist practicing in the areas of Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from York University. Dr. Ruttan has been a part-time staff neuropsychologist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute/University Health Network (TRI/UHN) since 2002 having worked with inpatient and outpatient acquired brain injury populations. Dr. Ruttan served as Practice Leader for Psychology at TRI/UHN and is involved in the training of practicum students and clinical interns. She is involved in clinical research with a particular interest in the area of traumatic brain injury and concussion and has been working with the Canadian Concussion Centre developing/delivering education for patients suffering with persistent post-concussive symptoms and their families. More recent interests include Long-COVID with involvement in research examining education and self management interventions. She holds an Adjunct Lecturer position at the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science. She is also engaged in ongoing part-time private practice work at Main St. Psychological Centre.
Julia Rybkina
Julia joined the Green Lab in 2018 as a graduate student, completing her Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science in 2021. Her project focused on (i) investigating the association between hippocampal atrophy and memory decline in people living with Multiple Sclerosis and Traumatic Brain Injury, and (ii) testing an online allocentric spatial navigation intervention aimed at offsetting neurodegeneration and improving memory function. Since then, Julia has been working as a Clinical Research Coordinator continuing to support the Spatial Navigation Intervention project as well as co-managing an RCT assessing the feasibility and efficacy of an 8-week education program for people experiencing Long COVID. Julia is also a current first-year medical student at McGill University. In her spare time she enjoy reading, jogging, podcasting and learning new languages.
Adrienne Li
Dr. Adrienne Li is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who completed her doctoral training at University College London in the UK. She has been involved with the Teleneurorehab Centre for ABI and research since 2020, running groups on concussion symptom management, cognitive behavioral therapy and conducting research assessments. She also holds a postdoctoral fellowship at York University researching spatial navigation and episodic memory.
Jejociny Consalas
Jejociny recently graduated from UofT scarborough. Her current position in the lab is research analyst for a Long COVID study. In her spare time Jejociny enjoys reading books and listening to music. Her academic interest is in public health and her future career interest is in global health.
Nora Bou-Chamoun
Nora is a Clinical Research Assistant for the Teleneurorehab Centre for Acquired Brain Injury. She’s involved in data capture/management and tech support, as well as participant recruitment for the Telerehab Feasibility and Efficacy study. She completed her H. BSc in Biology in 2018 and her Ontario Graduate Certificate in clinical research in 2019.
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Michelle Panozo
Michelle is the intake coordinator for the Teleneurorehab Centre for ABI. Her role involves coordinating referrals and the intake process, supporting clinic operations, as well as administering neuropsychological assessments. Michelle is also involved in assisting patients in setting up their in-home technology in order to participate in group teletherapy via videoconference. Michelle has been part of Dr. Green’s Cognitive Neurorehabilitation Sciences Lab since 2017 and holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology from York University.
Liesel-Ann Meusel
Dr. Liesel-Ann Meusel is a registered psychologist in Ontario (license # 5735) in the area of clinical neuropsychology. For the Centre, she is involved in the day-to-day operations of both assessment and treatment.
Greg Noack
Greg Noack is a rehabilitation therapist who has worked at the Toronto Rehabilitation for over 17 years. He has been involved with Dr. Green’s Cognitive Neurorehabilitation Sciences Lab for the past 7 years and is currently involved in the Teleneurorehab Centre for ABI as a patient liasion. Being a person with a brain injury he is excited for others to continue to recover from brain injury with the interventions the center provides.
Current Volunteers
Dhruva Nilakantan, Alana Changoor, Gina D’Souza, Leanne Monteiro, Sonia Persaud, Thomas Worthington, Ryan Keshet, Abigail Sandler
Current Trainees
Laura Heath, Iulia Niculescu, Sadhna Ramquar
Alumni Trainees
Zorry Belchev, Bhanu Sharma, Mary Boulos, Michael Bray, Tuck-Voon How, Isis So, Julia Rybkina, Nithin Jacob, Layan Elfaki