Defining and measuring responsible gambling behaviour: National validation of the Positive Play Scale

The recently developed Positive Play Scale (PPS; Wood, Wohl, Tabri, & Philander, 2017) is the first ever questionnaire that can evaluate responsible gambling (RG) beliefs (e.g., knowing the odds of games) and behaviours (e.g., monitoring time and money spent gambling) amongst players. Importantly, however, the PPS was initially developed using exploratory statistical methods and with […]

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Effectiveness of a community based therapeutic writing intervention to improve community sense of self

The Toronto Writers Collective (TWC), a not for profit corporation, aims to empower vulnerable populations by giving them a voice through providing them the opportunity to engage in creative writing. The TWC has received numerous impact statements from attendees and facilitators regarding their involvement in the program. This research project will investigate the effectiveness of […]

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Improving Outcome by Optimizing Illumination (IOOI) Study

Insufficient and mistimed artificial lighting within the hospital environment can disrupt circadian rhythms, adversely affecting patients’ sleep, mood, and recovery. In collaboration with BC Hydro, we will run a study at the Burnaby Center for Mental Health and Addictions to test whether controlled 24-hour lighting with enhanced daytime brightness and restricted nocturnal light exposure can […]

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Visualizing data for Fraser River salmon stocks: Developing tools to promote insight and understanding

For this project, we propose to integrate the data about Fraser River salmon populations into a multi-species, multi-population database, and develop an interactive data visualization tool that allows fisheries scientists and managers to explore this data at different spatial and temporal scales. The objective of this project is to provide fisheries scientists and managers with […]

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Canadian Clubhouse Outcomes Study: Assessing the Impact of Psychosocial Recovery from Mental Illness

Psychosocial rehabilitation is service that supports recovery from mental illness by providing opportunities for skill development, self-determination, and social interaction. One type of psychosocial rehabilitation is the Clubhouse model. Clubhouses provide individuals living with mental illness opportunities to successfully live and work in their communities through a variety of programs and services. The purpose of […]

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The development of monoclonal antibodies for early diagnosis and therapeutic application in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder. The recent immunotherapy brings the hope of treating AD as suggested by several preclinical studies. This project first aims to develop a humanized monoclonal antibody to target the molecules involved in generating a toxic protein of AD, named amyloid ?, and test the application of this antibody […]

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Assessing the Utility of a Commercial Mobile EEG in Detecting Age-Related Differences in the Brain – Year two

The world is aging rapidly and healthy cognitive aging a major healthcare priority. Thus, a better understanding of how the brain changes with normal aging versus pathology is required. Advancements in wearable technologies may allow the assessment of brain function with greater ease, accessibility, and at a lower cost, as compared with traditional neuroimaging techniques. […]

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The potential effects of a carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) inhibitor, SLC-0149, on AD pathogenesis

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder. SignalChem LifeSciences Corp. recently developed a potent small molecule inhibitor (SLC-0149) for targeting CAIX, a hypoxia inducible gene, in the application of treating cancers. Since hypoxia has been implicated as a factor to facilitate AD development, this study aims to explore the potentiality of applying SLC-0149 […]

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Effectiveness of Behavioural Science for Financial Decision-Making

Understanding the factors that influence the financial decisions that individuals make is particularly important in difficult economic times. The proposed research seeks to understand the factors that influence financial decision-making under economic stress, with a particular interest in the efficacy of interventions to influence decision-making and the role of financial literacy and related constructs. The […]

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Pharmacogenetic Biomarker Discovery, Personalized Medicine, and Clinical Test Commercialization in Neuropsychiatry – Year two

Pharmacotherapy is one of the primary treatments for psychiatric disorders. Given the variation in individual response, and the current trial-and-error treatment, a more personalized approach is needed. The Mitacs Elevate postdoctoral fellow project involves the use of pharmacogenetic testing to personalize medication prescriptions for patients, and the commercialization of pharmacogenetic testing. A main component of […]

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