Azrieli Accelerator Summer Student Awards

Laeeque Ahmed

I am currently conducting child and adolescent imaging research under the supervision of Dr. Signe Bray. In this research project, we will utilize an affordable and non-invasive technology called EEG to examine the functioning of the brain. The Bray lab has collected data from children born prematurely and full-term, and we may use this data to investigate how the brain connections of preterm babies differ from those of full-term babies. This will help us identify which children are most likely to suffer difficulties in their lives.

This award will provide me with financial support to live and work in my chosen field of research as an international student, as well as cover some of the tuition fees for my undergraduate degree.

Omar Baig

This summer, I am researching Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic condition that is the leading monogenic cause of autism. The syndrome causes a loss of FMRP proteins, which affects synaptic function, neuronal plasticity, and ERK signaling. I am specifically investigating a treatment that can potentially normalize ERK signaling in the brain and brainstem of mouse models of Fragile X Syndrome under the supervision of Dr. Ning Cheng, an expert in the field. I am learning and performing laboratory techniques, such as western blot, Bradford assays, and antibody incubations. Alongside Dr. Cheng, I am being mentored by graduate student, Demi Ma, and both provide immense encouragement and guidance as I work on my project. 

I’m extremely grateful for this award as it allows me to fully dedicate my summer to growing and learning as a researcher while contributing to our understanding of autism, a common condition which we still have much to learn about. As this is my first summer research experience, I hope to make the most of this opportunity!

Rayane Bayoud

Elizabeth Benediktsdottir

This project is a qualitative, interview-based study focused on understanding youth with learning disabilities in a holistic way. I am working with Dr. Jennifer Zwicker to describe how youth with learning disabilities understand their strengths, their disabilities, and their need for accommodations. This project uses a strengths-based framework to understand the effect of disabilities across six functional domains as defined by the ‘F-words’ framework. (Rosenbaum, P., & Gorter, J. W. (2012). Child: Care, Health and Development). Interviews are structured around the domains of Function, Family, Fun, Friends, Fitness and Future. Initial results have shown that family is a strong protective factor for youth with learning disabilities, poor mental health is a concern for youth with learning disabilities and individualized accommodations are key for success. 

This project is a continuation of my Health and Society honors thesis. This award has allowed me to continue working with participants and peruse publication.

Tulsi Gupta

I am a summer student in the BrainKids research lab, supervised by Dr. Kara Murias. The lab is investigating transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a treatment to reduce ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents. TMS is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that involves application of a magnetic field to the skull to change the behavior and function of underlying brain areas. Preliminary evidence collected by the lab shows that TMS may negatively impact motor control in children and adolescents with ADHD. My project aims to quantify and assess how TMS impacts motor function in this population. The collected data will be used for safety monitoring and to identify immediate changes in motor function as a result of TMS treatment.

I am extremely passionate about children’s health and hope to pursue a career in research pediatrics one day! Receiving the Azrieli Accelerator Studentship Award enables me to gain first-hand experience working with a pediatric patient population and brings me one step closer to my long-term career goals. I am tremendously grateful for support and encouragement that this award has provided!

Dakota Hofforth

I am conducting research through the Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program at the Alberta Children's Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Helen Carlson, investigating how stroke in early-life impacts sensorimotor networks and proprioception in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy. The goal of my project is to use resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to construct functional connectivity maps within the sensorimotor network. I will be examining how these patterns relate to upper-limb proprioceptive function, measured by a Kinarm robotic exoskeleton.

The Azrieli Accelerator Studentship Award supports my ongoing research by enabling me to contribute more meaningfully to our understanding of brain connectivity, while also preparing me for a future in neuroscience research.

Aditi Ilangovan

I am an undergraduate student in the BrainKids Lab, led by Dr. Kara Murias. My research broadly focuses on neurodevelopment and psychopathology, with my studentship project utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate whether neural patterns of anxiety differ between children with and without co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I aim to uncover how these conditions interact at a neurobiological level, with the goal of informing more targeted and effective interventions. Importantly, the high prevalence of anxiety among children with ADHD highlights the significant impact these findings could have on this population.

I am truly grateful to have received the Azrieli Accelerator Studentship Award. This support empowers me to contribute meaningfully to science, advancing research that deepens our understanding and improves care for children both with and without neurological conditions.