WELCOME

Welcome to the first ever 2020 Kids Brain Health Virtual Conference. KBHN is thrilled to share this momentous occasion with you.

April 2020 marked the start of Cycle III for Kids Brain Health Network and the beginning of a new era. This era continues to focus on three significant challenges that are critical across virtually all neurodevelopmental disabilities: early identification, evidence-based interventions, and enhanced family support. Concentrating on each of these challenges ensures that each child reaches their full capacity. Only this time, there is a new emphasis on implementation and the importance of accelerating research findings into practice.

Since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, our community has faced unprecedented challenges. Challenges such as the continuance of valuable research and training, the mobilizing of community agencies to continue services and supports and increased difficulties for children with NDD and their families in accessing such supports from a home base. Navigating in these rapidly developing times calls for new ways of connecting and emerging modes of delivering services and supports.

This focus aligns with our 2020 Virtual Conference’s theme: “New and emerging ways of connecting.” Per our annual conference, KBHN will focus on these challenges and innovative solutions along with the vital role of technology, innovation and policy decision-making in an ever-changing world. In doing so, we will continue to seek solutions to address the challenges faced by children and families impacted by neurodevelopmental disabilities.

With that said, we would also like to take this moment to thank the program committee, KBHN staff, contractors and conference sponsors who have worked tirelessly to provide you an immersive, inspiring and thought-provoking four-day conference.

Without their efforts, this would not be possible.

New and Emerging Ways of Connection (November 9-13, 2020)

The first-ever Kids Brain Health Network Virtual Conference is coming your way. With sessions across four days, the KBHN Conference will focus on these challenges and innovative solutions along with the vital role of technology, innovation and policy decision-making in an ever-changing world. This year, we have four overarching conference themes. Each conference day covers one of the four listed below:

  • DAY 1 – Challenges of building connections and accessing services in a COVID-19 world
  • DAY 2 – Emerging ways of researching and delivering treatments and services differently
  • DAY 3 – Moving online: harnessing the lessons from COVID-19 to improve technology, innovation and family support and build long-lasting benefits
  • DAY 4 – Policy and decision making in a COVID-19 world

Upcoming Conference Highlights

  • Fraser Mustard Lecture – A tradition of our keynote conference has been a keynote speaker to address to honour the foundational work of Dr. Fraser Mustard in the intersection of the biological and social sciences in early childhood development.
  • Research Sharing – Leaders in the field will engage in the research underway within these thematic areas as well as address the overarching and interconnecting concerns and solutions within the areas of basic science research, clinical/community research, community-engaged research and knowledge mobilization activities.
  • Training Lightning Talks – Lightning talks are brief, 3-minute research summaries that present the significant findings from research studies. These virtual presentations will consist of a slideshow and will be part of the “lightning talk” session.
  • Family Engagement Panel – The KBHN Family Engagement in Research Certificate Program brings together families and researchers who have an interest in the co-production of child neurodevelopmental research. Co-developed and co-instructed by parents and researchers, the course aims to develop the next generation of leaders in the field of family engagement in research. In this presentation, instructors and students will share evidence and experiences of researchers and families in this national online training program.
  • Role of Technology and Industry Innovations – Technology serves as an integral role in the delivery of treatment and services. This conference will highlight the co-design and co-development of tools, services, products with patients and families.

You’ll have access to pre-recorded content, links to the live streaming platform and the opportunity to engage in live Q&As with policy and decision-makers. Get ready to share, learn and engage with our extensive network of researchers, trainees and partner organizations.

Dr. Jennifer Zwicker, PhD (Deputy Scientific Officer & Conference Programming Chair, Kids Brain Health Network & Director of Health Policy at the School of Public Policy, University of Calgary)

Nicola Lewis, MSc (Chief Executive Officer, Kids Brain Health Network)

Dr. Douglas Swanson, PhD (Research and Trainee Manager, Kids Brain Health Network)

Dr. Francois Bolduc, MD, FRCPC, PhD (Associate Professor, Pediatric Neurology Adjunct Associate Professor, Medical Genetics, University of Alberta)

Melika Kanharanifarahani, PhD (Student and Occupational Therapist, BC Children’s Hospital)

Dr. Lucyna M. Lach, MSW, PhD (Associate Member, Departments of Paediatrics Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University)

Dr. Laurence Meadows (Strategic Partnerships Manager, Simon Fraser University)

Rachel Martens (Family Engagement Facilitator, CanCHILD)

Beverley Claire Pomeroy (Patient Engagement Specialist, Strategy for Patient Oriented Research, Fraser Health Authority)

Dr. Annie E. Richard, PhD (Research Associate (Pathways in ASD), Autism Research Centre, IWK Health Centre)

Dr. Fakhri Shafai (Research & Evaluation Project Coordinator, AIDE Canada)

Vanessa Tomas (PhD Student, University of Toronto)

Nicola Lewis, MSc (Chief Executive Officer, Kids Brain Health Network)

Dr. Douglas Swanson, PhD (Research and Trainee Manager, Kids Brain Health Network)

Dannielle Piper (Communications Coordinator, Kids Brain Health Network)

Anthony Santelices (Event Planning Consultant & President, SmartLink Strategies)

Dr. Douglas Swanson, PhD (Research and Trainee Manager, Kids Brain Health Network)

Myrah Malik (MSc Candidate, University of British Columbia)

Dr. Fakhri Shafai (Research & Evaluation Project Coordinator, AIDE Canada)

Brittany Finlay (Research Associate, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary)

Celia Kwan (MD Candidate, University of British Columbia)

Zainab Al-Bandari

Vanessa Tomas (PhD Student, University of Toronto)

Dr. Annie E. Richard, PhD (Research Associate (Pathways in ASD), Autism Research CentreIWK Health Centre)

Kaela Shea (PhD Candidate Bloorview Research Institute & University of Toronto)

Sara Izadinajafabadi (PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia)

Melika Kangaranifarahani (PhD Student, University of British Columbia)

Preeti Kar (PhD Candidate, University of Calgary)