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Recipients of the Gray Centre 2022 Catalyst Grant Competition
The Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity recently completed the 2022 Catalyst Grant Competition. Catalyst grants are intended to provide seed funding to develop innovative research and clinical ideas and better position these projects to secure subsequent larger grants from external agencies. The Catalyst Grant Evaluation Committee reviewed several very strong proposals and selected four studies for funding:
Evaluation of a novel technique for lumbar medial branch denervation to treat chronic mechanical low spinal pain originating from the facet joint:
Lead Investigator: Dr. Eldon Loh
A common treatment for chronic mechanical low back pain is to guide a small radiofrequency electrode towards specific joints in the spine and destroy the surrounding sensory nerves that are signaling pain to the brain. When successful there is substantial pain relief for the patient but the results are inconsistent, likely due to inaccurate site targeting of the electrode. In this work, Dr. Eldon Loh and his colleagues will first test in cadavers the safety and efficacy of a potentially more accurate method of guiding the electrode to these spinal joints. If successful, this method will then be used clinically in a small cohort of consenting patients to determine whether a larger randomized control trial testing this novel method should be conducted.
Pilot of an online, integrated behaviour change and physical activity program for those with neurological conditions:
Lead Co-Investigators: Swati Mehta PhD, Dalton Wolfe PhD
There is significant disparity in access to physical activity programs for people with mobility impairments, which greatly impacts mobility, function and long-term wellbeing. Swati Mehta, PhD, Dalton Wolfe, PhD, and their colleagues will test an online, group-based intervention consisting of exercise and behaviour activation strategies targeting these and other outcomes. Importantly, this programming will be applied to patient groups across several clinical programs at Parkwood Institute.
Study into the effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on upper limb function in individuals with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury
Lead Co-Investigators: Drs. Keith Sequeira, Eldon Loh, and David Allison, PhD
The vagus nerve normally plays an important role in many of the body’s functions. Unfortunately, following spinal cord injury the activity of the vagus nerve is commonly reduced. Artificially stimulating the vagus nerve through a process known as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can help to increase the activity of this nerve and new evidence from animal models has shown that this treatment can improve physical recovery after spinal cord injury. For this study, Drs. Keith Sequeira, Eldon Loh, and David Allison, PhD, will test whether VNS in addition to traditional rehabilitation services lead to better mobility outcomes for patients with spinal cord injury compared to traditional rehabilitation services alone.
Evaluation of the perspectives of individuals with chronic neurological conditions regarding existing activity programs at Parkwood Institute:
Lead Investigator: Janelle Unger, PhD
One of the main goals of the Gray Centre is to expand the mobility and activity programming that Parkwood Institute offers to community members living with chronic conditions. A critical component to this expansion is evaluating existing programs to identify their strengths and challenges. In this work, Janelle Unger, PhD, and her colleagues will conduct a large series of interviews to explore the lived experiences of individuals participating in Parkwood Institute’s existing activity programs. The research team will then develop recommendations for how to best modify these current programs and optimally develop future program and service provisions.
The Gray Centre is excited to support these innovative projects. Congratulations to all the 2022 catalyst grant recipients.
Rehabilitation following lower limb loss
The fastest growing age group in Canada are those over 80 years old. This age demographic is most likely to have chronic medical conditions such as vascular disease and diabetes, which are also two of the primary causes for why individuals undergo lower limb amputation. Unfortunately, very little research focuses on the rehabilitation and long-term health outcomes of this oldest age cohort following this life changing procedure.
The Gray Centre’s Mobility Experts, Drs. Michael Payne, Ricardo Viana and Susan Hunter (PhD), along with their collaborators, Drs. Courtney Frengopoulos and Katherine Fuller, recently published an article in Prosthetics and Orthotics International, which synthesized all the existing scientific knowledge regarding prosthetic rehabilitation for those over 80 years old after lower limb amputation. Although much more research is needed, the research group found that this oldest age cohort can often perform normal activities of daily living and be discharged to home following a rehabilitation program but may need support from a caregiver or family member. Dr. Frengopoulos explains the full scope of their findings in the video below.
Sandy Jansen
Sandy Jansen
Vice President, Patient Care and Risk Management, St. Joseph's Health Care London
Sandy is currently the Vice President, Patient Care and Risk Management for St. Joseph's Health Care London. In this role, Sandy provides executive leadership to the clinical operations at Parkwood Institute Main Building and Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, as well as Corporate Risk Management, Privacy and Patient Relations.
Prior to joining St. Joseph's, Sandy was the President and and CEO of Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital and Alexandra Hospital Ingersoll where she was responsible for leading the day to day operations of the hospitals; establishing systems for assuring that high quality care; assuring sound fiscal operation of the hospitals; ensuring compliance with regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies; and ensuring optimal fulfillment of the hospitals' mission, philosophies, and strategic plan to support the care needs of the communities served.
Siobhan Schabrun
Siobhan Schabrun, PhD
Professor, School of Physiotherapy
Siobhan Schabrun is the William and Lynne Gray Endowed Research Chair in Mobility and Activity and Professor in the School of Physical Therapy. Her research program is focused on understanding, treating and preventing persistent pain – a major cause of reduced mobility and activity amongst otherwise healthy individuals and those living with musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. In addition, Professor Schabrun explores the use of non-invasive brain stimulation technologies to boost neuroplasticity and improve outcomes following traditional forms of rehabilitation such as exercise, functional electrical stimulation and virtual reality training. Professor Schabrun is passionate about improving the translation of research evidence into practice and about promoting the participation of women and girls in science.