Our lab's research spans basic to translational. Our basic research revolves largely around the Toronto Rehab Traumatic Brain Injury Study, a longitudinal, inception cohort study of patients with moderate to severe TBI. Here, we have examined patterns and mechanisms of recovery - and decline - after brain injury, using neuropsychological and clinical psychological assessment tools, and structural and functional MRI. While our basic research has identified and characterized significant neurodegeneration (neural and cognitive) in the chronic stages of brain injury, we have focused extensively on applied clinical research in service of offsetting the progressive declines that we have observed. Applied research has included the following: the identification of modifiable, post-injury treatment targets; the development/refinement of assessment tools; the creation of a novel cognitive intervention highly targeted to the hippocampi; the adaptation/validation of cognitive and mental health interventions for people with cognitive impairments, including remote and group-based delivery. All of this research led to the establishment of the TeleNeurorehab Centre for Acquired Brain Injury @KITE, where we deliver cognitive and mental health interventions across the province of Ontario, free of cost to patients, while conducting research on predictors of lasting treatment response, and develop and test novel treatments.

 

In sum, our work is driven by our interest in discovery, including the advancement of knowledge concerning the protracted, sometimes lifelong neural and behavioural consequences of brain injury. It is also motivated by our goal of improving clinical outcomes of people with chronic neurological disorders, and more broadly, enhancing cognitive, mental health and brain health in younger and older adults without neurological disorders. Please see samples of our research below.​​