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| Successful interventions for a healthy future: KBHN and DOHaD convene global scientists on the Pacific Northwest Coast for the 2022 World Congress
Participants joined from the Philippines, Pakistan, Australia, the Netherlands, and many more countries and Indigenous nations worldwide, sharing expertise across a vast range of developmental health sciences.
In the longstanding debate of “nature versus nurture,” conference presenters were clear that the intersections between nature and nurture (DNA and genetics, as well as environment and epigenetic factors) are where the power lies to improve developmental health.
The partnership with the DOHaD Congress expanded KBHN’s global audience and reach. The presence of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families, as well as community partners, powerfully demonstrated KBHN’s commitment to bridging family-engaged research and implementation science.
Also representing the Network were trainees and researchers with presentations and posters, keynote sessions with global developmental science leaders, presidential plenary sessions co-chaired by KBHN CSO Dr. James Reynolds, and inspiring remarks at the opening and closing ceremonies by KBHN Board Chair Geoff Pradella, and KBHN CEO Nicola Lewis. |
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| KBHN and DOHaD Put the Spotlight on Canadian Health Research for a Global Stage
Leading up to the 2022 World Congress for the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) this August, Research Canada announced the DOHaD-KBHN partnership on its Health Research Innovation Portal.
Nicola Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of KBHN said, “Our partnership with DOHaD symbolizes a strong alignment between our collective visions […] to ensure optimal care and better outcomes for all children and their families. We feel the congress will offer real potential for creating new projects and partnerships.” |
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| KBHN Conference 2022: Strategic Board Meeting & KBHN Research Day
Gathering Again for the Kids Brain Health Network Conference
KBHN hosted its 12th annual conference in partnership with the 2022 DOHaD World Congress—the first in-person gathering for trainees, researchers, families, partners, Board members and staff since meeting in Ottawa in December, 2019.
Led by Board Chair Geoff Pradella, the Board of Directors met to discuss KBHN’s next steps on fund development, to ensure sustained, collaborative work that has lasting impacts for children, families and community partners working in neurodevelopmental sciences in Canada.
For Research Day 2022, our partners travelled to Vancouver from all across the country to connect with their colleagues and share the latest developments in research and implementation. Project presentations focused on training, eHealth and technology, and support for families and communities.
Research Day also had a prominent highlight with the presentation of the Fraser Mustard award to Dr. Vikram Patel, a renowned global scholar, scientist, psychiatrist and advocate for child development and mental health supports in low-resource settings.
Dr. Patel said interdisciplinary gatherings help ensure crucial collaborations, enabling scientific progress in child research and family health—and that he was pleased to participate in KBHN’s efforts toward this goal. |
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| To maximize impact for Canadian children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families, KBHN is extending funding support from the Network for Centres of Excellence, to implement initiatives on the cusp of delivering concrete, lasting results:
These projects are moving beyond discovery research and working to actively implement their programs in practice. We invite you to learn how these projects are preparing effect widescale change in the areas of early identification, evidence-based intervention and family wellbeing. |
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| Cracking the Code of Mental Health & Social Supports for Kids with Autism
Vivian Lee, KBHN and Carleton University Bring the Secret Agent Society (SAS) App to Ottawa
Vivian Lee, PhD, started as a postdoctoral trainee with KBHN in 2017. Now she holds a faculty position at Carleton University, where she works as an autism researcher, connecting with children on the spectrum and their families in the spirit of reciprocity. She is collaborating to implement a virtual program that uses spy-themed activities to help kids on the spectrum regulate their emotions, while improving their mental health and interpersonal relationships.
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| Weathering the Storm: Aggression toward Family/Caregivers in Childhood and Adolescence (AFCCA)
Maude Champagne, KBHN and Adopt4Life Create a New AFCCA Family Support Program
Maude Champagne is a neurosciences PhD candidate at Queen’s University, specializing in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). She is also a psychotherapist, scientist, program developer, mom, advocate and speaker. Her research, and her work with Adopt4Life, is bringing promising innovations to the community, helping children with complex brains and families with complex stories.
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Meet the Latest KBHN-Mitacs Awardees
We invite you to meet the most recent recipients of the KBHN-Mitacs awards, which fund collaborative projects between researchers and non-academic partners. Congratulations to Dr. Christine Gervais, Dr. Elisa Romano, and Danika DeCarlo-Slobodnik!
The new awardees will be conducting urgent research into the needs of families affected by aggression toward family/caregivers in childhood and adolescence (AFCCA). By listening to the voices of children and youth, they will help to inform greatly needed services, supports and prevention strategies.
New applications for this award are always very welcome and will be reviewed every three months.
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| Early Career Investigator & Mentorship Awards Recipients
We’re pleased to congratulate and introduce you to the 2022 recipients of the Early Career Investigator & Mentorship Awards: Dr. Elizabeth Condliffe, and Dr. Tatiana Ogourtsova. Valued at $100,000 over two years, each award supports capacity building in neurodevelopmental disability research. Aligned with KBHN’s goals to deliver impactful supports and increase funding for talented new scientists, these family-centered research projects are driven by real-world challenges, and solution-oriented implementation science.
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Impact Report for
2020-2021
For everyone involved in KBHN, 2020-2021 was unprecedented in many ways. We found our way forward, even in light of uncertainty and changes. Together with our network of researchers and partners, we showed resilience by adapting programs, creating new paths, and delivering impactful innovations.
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| We are proud to showcase our latest impact report, with thanks to our staff, researchers, trainees, partners, and communities. We are especially grateful to the children living with neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as families and caregivers. You are at the centre of everything we do. |
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KBHN Shortlisted for the Strategic Science Fund
Kids Brain Health Network is one of 35 organizations invited to submit a full application for the first-ever competition of the Strategic Science Fund (SSF)— the federal government’s new approach to investing in not-for-profit science and research organizations. This exciting prospect would equip the Network to scale up its crucial work in the years ahead.
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Announcements: KBHN Board of Directors
Our KBHN Board of Directors is a team of skilled and dedicated professionals across the country. All are rich in experience and have an active interest in helping Kids Brain Health Network realize its vision.
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| Thank You and Farewell: Bonnie Healy
Our heartfelt thanks Bonnie Healy, a Blackfoot woman of the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) for supporting KBHN’s mission as a Board member. Bonnie is known for her expertise in First Nations information systems, and her strong passion for using data as a tool for igniting change. We wish Bonnie every success as she moves on from the KBHN Board toward new ventures.
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| Celebrating Excellence in Science
It is our distinct pleasure to share the announcement that Angela Brooks-Wilson has been appointed as the new Dean at SFU’s Faculty of Science. A former KBHN Board member, Angela served as the SFU host institution representative. Her term as Dean of Science begins October 31, and we offer our warmest congratulations for this well-deserved appointment.
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| Welcoming a New Host Institution Representative: Dr. Michael Richards
We are pleased to welcome SFU’s new Associate Vice President, Research (AVPR) Dr. Michael Richards as the representative for our host institution—Simon Fraser University (SFU). Dr. Richards is professor of archaeology and a Canada Research Chair in Archaeological Science, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada—Canada’s highest academic honour. We look forward to collaborating with Dr. Richards as a member of the KBHN Board.
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| Celebrating National & Global Engagement
It is with great pleasure that we share the news of KBHN Board member Emmanuel Kamarianakis being appointed as the Canadian Ambassador to Brazil. The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the announcement in August. Emmanuel is pleased to continue serving on the KBHN Board in his personal capacity, and we extend our thanks and heartiest congratulations to him.
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