10/11/2020
Ottawa, Ontario — Tuesday November 10, 2020
The Martin Osmond Early Investigator Award was created in 2019 in honour of Dr. Osmond’s indispensable contribution to the CHEO Research Institute as CEO and Scientific Director from 2009 to 2019. The award will be given annually to one up-and-coming researcher at the CHEO Research Institute to support their work and help to encourage the next generation of leaders in research at CHEO.
The inaugural grant was awarded in July 2020. The recipient, Dr. Andrée-Anne Ledoux is a Scientist whose research focus lies in the area of concussions. She was awarded $30,000.00 for her research project titled, “Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.“
The study will combine state-of-the-art, advanced MRI scans with patient self-reports to determine if MBI delivered via a smart-phone application (‘app’) results in a lower risk of persistent post-concussion symptoms and improved brain function compared to the current standard of care.
“We believe that using the app will foster coping skills with the goal of regulating brain function and emotions thus reducing post-concussive symptoms,” says Dr. Ledoux. “We will measure brain blood flow using advanced MRI scans and monitor post-concussion symptoms using standard concussion self-report questionnaires. Our results will validate the app-based MBI which promises an innovative preventive and accessible concussion treatment which has the potential to be in the hands of all youth, increasing access to cutting-edge therapies.”
Concussion in youth is a public health concern. Children are not only at higher risk of sustaining concussions than adults, but recovery often takes longer. A concussion can affect a youth’s confidence in their abilities to manage stressful events, lower children’s quality of life and may prevent or curtail participation in activities such as schoolwork, socializing, and sports. Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) has been shown to improve coping skills, depression, anxiety and attentional focus. Rather than solely relying on patient self-report to determine recovery, studies that also include objective measures of recovery are urgently needed.
Being the first recipient of the Martin Osmond New Investigator Award means a lot to Dr. Ledoux. “My team and I are thrilled to have received the first-ever Martin Osmond Award. It’s heartwarming to know that my research project is considered innovative and worth funding. The preliminary neurophysiological results, funded by this new grant, will support a future CIHR application to examine MBI in a multicentre trial through the CIHR-funded Canadian Concussion Network. We want to thank everyone who so generously donated to this important research that will directly impact the lives of youth and their families around the world.”
The inaugural grant was awarded in July 2020. The recipient, Dr. Andrée-Anne Ledoux is a Scientist whose research focus lies in the area of concussions. She was awarded $30,000.00 for her research project titled, “Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.“
The study will combine state-of-the-art, advanced MRI scans with patient self-reports to determine if MBI delivered via a smart-phone application (‘app’) results in a lower risk of persistent post-concussion symptoms and improved brain function compared to the current standard of care.
“We believe that using the app will foster coping skills with the goal of regulating brain function and emotions thus reducing post-concussive symptoms,” says Dr. Ledoux. “We will measure brain blood flow using advanced MRI scans and monitor post-concussion symptoms using standard concussion self-report questionnaires. Our results will validate the app-based MBI which promises an innovative preventive and accessible concussion treatment which has the potential to be in the hands of all youth, increasing access to cutting-edge therapies.”
Concussion in youth is a public health concern. Children are not only at higher risk of sustaining concussions than adults, but recovery often takes longer. A concussion can affect a youth’s confidence in their abilities to manage stressful events, lower children’s quality of life and may prevent or curtail participation in activities such as schoolwork, socializing, and sports. Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) has been shown to improve coping skills, depression, anxiety and attentional focus. Rather than solely relying on patient self-report to determine recovery, studies that also include objective measures of recovery are urgently needed.
Being the first recipient of the Martin Osmond New Investigator Award means a lot to Dr. Ledoux. “My team and I are thrilled to have received the first-ever Martin Osmond Award. It’s heartwarming to know that my research project is considered innovative and worth funding. The preliminary neurophysiological results, funded by this new grant, will support a future CIHR application to examine MBI in a multicentre trial through the CIHR-funded Canadian Concussion Network. We want to thank everyone who so generously donated to this important research that will directly impact the lives of youth and their families around the world.”