Azrieli Accelerator Keystone Programs

Principal Investigator: Dr. Mateusz Ambrozkiewicz, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

This research project investigates how the cerebral cortex - the part of the brain responsible for learning, perception, and decision-making - develops during embryonic life. The work focuses on HACE1, a protein linked to rare neurodevelopmental conditions associated with intellectual disability, epilepsy, and developmental delays. By studying how HACE1 helps guide the formation of early brain circuitry, we aim to uncover fundamental mechanisms of cortical development and understand how disruptions in these processes contribute to pediatric brain disorders. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Billie Au, MD, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine 

This research project investigates how mutations in the HNRNPK gene disrupt brain development and contribute to HNRNPK-related neurodevelopmental disorder (also known as Au-Kline syndrome), a rare condition associated with intellectual disability, brain malformations, and neuromuscular challenges. By comparing cellular changes across variant types and in both fibroblasts and neuron-like cells, the project aims to uncover the biological mechanisms driving disease severity and variability. The findings will help identify potential therapeutic targets, improve diagnosis and prognostic tools, and establish a foundation for future drug screening and precision treatments for affected individuals. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Brandy Callahan, PhD, Faculty of Arts 

Women’s brain health is significantly impacted by perimenopause, a transitional period lasting up to 10 years. “Brain fog” and mood changes are very common perimenopausal symptoms, and have been linked to reduced frontal, temporal and hippocampal brain volumes, indicating that female brains are actually restructured during the menopausal transition. New data suggest that perimenopause may be more challenging for women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but its impacts on brain health have not been directly examined. The proposed pilot project will unfold alongside a larger research project studying the hormonal experiences of female youth with ADHD and will build complementary knowledge about the lifespan impacts of hormonal fluctuations in ADHD. Ultimately, this work will catalyze larger, more ambitious investigations into the brain health of women who are aging with ADHD.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Patrick Whelan, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Faculty of Kinesiology

This research project investigates the brain mechanisms underlying motor difficulties in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common inherited neurodevelopmental condition associated with hyperactivity, poor coordination, gait instability, and low muscle tone. Using advanced techniques, the project will examine how altered brain signaling and imbalances between excitatory and inhibitory neural activity contribute to motor dysfunction and anxiety-related behaviours in FXS. The research aims to uncover new circuit-based therapeutic targets and lay the groundwork for future treatments to improve motor function and quality of life for individuals with Fragile X syndrome. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ning Cheng, PhD, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Fear is an essential survival mechanism that helps animals avoid danger. However, dysregulated fear response can interfere with daily functioning and manifest as anxiety disorders in humans. They pose one of the biggest threats to mental health, and they predominantly emerge early in life, often beginning during childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Gear and anxiety during postnatal development has not been well studied, and existing treatments have been developed based on adult models which highlights the importance of understanding neural mechanisms of fear regulation in children and youth. A deeper exploration of the hardwired circuits for innate fear could provide critical insights into the fundamental survival mechanisms as well as anxiety disorders, and inform the development of mechanism-based interventions.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kara Murias, MD, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

Little is known about how dopamine production in the brainstem may relate to executive function in children, with or without neurodevelopmental conditions. Using a new neuroimaging technique (neuromelanin MRI), this project worked to understand how dopamine production in the brain stem relates to brain networks and EF in children with and without ADHD. Understanding these connections may allow us to understand the effects (both positive and negative) of ADHD medications. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Matthias Wilms, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

Working with partners in the Child and Adolescent Imaging Research group at Alberta Children’s Hospital, this team worked to develop a pediatric brain age prediction model to serve as a valuable tool to assess and analyze brain maturation and to accurately quantify differences from typical development. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Guang Yang, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

Exploring the mechanisms underlying a newly characterized neurodevelopmental syndrome, identified through collaborations between the clinic and the research lab. The research team collected critical in vivo and in vitro functional data concerning the role of a gene (PRPF4B) in neural stem/precursor cell fate decisions to understand the mechanistic impact of patient derived mutations through the creation of a relevant mouse genetic model.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Erik Bakkeren, PhD, Faculty of Science

We are becoming increasingly aware of how the trillions of microbes that colonize our bodies, the human microbiome, influence the onset, severity, and likelihood of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. This project will explore a route to stably introduce a therapeutic microbe, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, into gut microbiomes to ameliorate symptoms that co-occur with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This will provide a map between microbiome composition, the introduction of a therapeutic microbe, and how it affects behaviours in ASD using mouse models. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ann Gregory, PhD, Faculty of Science 

This research project explores how interactions between human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), ancient viral DNA embedded in the human genome, the immune system, and the gut microbiome may contribute to differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Although prenatal alcohol exposure is known to affect brain development, children with similar exposure histories can experience very different cognitive and behavioral outcomes, and the biological reasons for this variability remain unclear. By identifying potential links between HERV activity, microbiome-associated immune responses and neurodevelopment, the project aims to uncover new biological pathways involved in FASD and lay the groundwork for future strategies to better predict risk and support targeted interventions.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Xiaofan Jin, PhD, Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Engineering

This research project investigates how the gut microbiome may influence early brain development and explores a new precision approach for targeting harmful gut bacteria linked to neurodevelopmental conditions. The study focuses on Klebsiella, a bacterial group associated with immune dysregulation, neuroinflammation, and white matter brain injury, which can contribute to conditions such as cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and sensory impairments. The project will test whether a targeted microbiome-editing strategy can safely reduce harmful bacteria linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.  

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tamara Bodnar, PhD, Azrieli Accelerator Assistant Professor in Transdisciplinary Neurodevelopment Research, Faculty of Science 

This project aims to explore the influence of the gut microbiota in prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), which causes the neurodevelopmental disorder Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Important, there is almost a complete scarcity of research examining the microbiome in PAE/FASD, something the current research will begin to address.

Dr. Jane Shearer, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology

Dup15q is a developmental disorder that manifests in infancy. Results have the potential to catalyze new or synergistic treatments for Dup15q symptoms. If results show improvement in the proposed animal models, then it is reasonable to suspect that the targeted probiotic works through a fundamental mechanism (e.g. mitochondria) that could benefit a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Markus Geuking, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

It is well known that viral infections during pregnancy are associated with neurodevelopmental problems in the offspring. This project has investigated how changes in intestinal permeability during viral infection and associated increased dissemination of intestinal microbiota-derived metabolites are involved. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Gerald Giesbrecht, PhD, Cumming School of Medicine

The central aim of this project has been to identify gut microbes or metabolic pathways that are differentially abundant in children at risk for autism compared to typically developing children within the pan-Canadian Longitudinal Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic (PdP) cohort study. By partnering with this cohort study, the project has access to samples for gut microbiome analyses at 3, 12, 24, and 36 months of age. This project introduces a new stream of research in this cohort study and has the potential to derive novel insights into the role of the gut microbiome in autistic children.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, PhD, Professor, Cumming School of Medicine

This project has collaborated with the Alberta BLOOM study, led by Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, which is researching the early-life microbiome of premature and term infants. The team has examined how gut microbiome maturation leads to differences in brain development in animal models. Using MRI (and the expertise of Dr. Jeff Dunn and the Experimental Imaging Centre at UCalgary) and other lab-based techniques, the team has tested for changes in development and microglial activation. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Lara Leijser, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine 

Infants born “moderate to late preterm” (between 32-36 weeks) have a four-fold higher risk of long-term neurodevelopmental, behavioural, and mental health challenges compared to full-term infants. This study has explored inflammatory profiles and their potential role in disrupting brain development. The team aims to enable early prediction of disruptions that can lead to life-long neurodevelopmental challenges through the testing of perinatal biomarkers. Through this work, they seek to identify who is most at risk, and which kinds of therapies can best modify that risk. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Diwakar Krishnamurthy, PhD, Professor, Schulich School of Engineering

This research project aims to improve access to personalized communication support for nonspeaking autistic individuals by developing a clinician-guided AI practice app that helps build independent typing and spelling skills. We will develop and pilot a low-cost, clinician-in-the-loop AI practice system that extends expert support into between-session practice while respecting sensory-motor needs and maintaining clinician oversight. The findings will help lay the foundation for scalable, accessible communication technologies that extend expert support beyond the clinic and increase opportunities for expressive communication and participation in daily life. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Emma Climie, PhD, Associate Professor, Werklund School of Education

This project aims to gather insights into the experiences of girls and women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a group that is often mis- or under-diagnosed. There is an urgent need to better understand the social and emotional needs of this population to provide targeted supports and interventions. The data being gathered will serve as a critical first step in informing the development of interventions at both the individual and group levels, ultimately fostering positive changes in community and educational services for girls and women with ADHD across the lifespan.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ami Tint, PhD, Azrieli Accelerator Assistant Professor in Neurodiversity & Intersectionality, Faculty of Arts

Autistic adults experience high rates of co-occurring mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Despite the significant need for mental health support, there are surprisingly few evidence-based mental health treatments available for this population. The project is an important first step towards implementing an innovative and neuro-affirming ACT-based mental health support, tailored to the needs of autistic adults. Results from this project will catalyze future evaluation and implementation efforts to increase accessible and effective mental health treatment options for autistic adults.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Rosslynn Zulla, PhD, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social Work

This team seeks to identify promising strategies that can enhance this support ecosystem to better support the needs of Black migrant young persons with NDD and their families. They will begin with a needs assessment of the Black immigrant and refugee youth and young adults who have an NDD and their families. In gathering perspectives from Black migrant families (e.g., caregiver and young person with an NDD) and community providers, this study expands knowledge on the experiences, support needs, hopes and assets that both Black migrant families and community providers have. 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Julia Kirkham, MD, Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine; Dr. Dallas Seitz, MD, PhD, Professor, Cumming School of Medicine

The researchers identified siloed clinical care and various separate services - NDD, mental health, home care services, for example - all with separate agendas, and a growing number of persons with NDD in continuing care where staff have little knowledge and training in NDD. Using provincial administrative data, they are describing characteristics of adults with NDD in the community and examine transitions to continuing care settings, such as supported living and long-term care, including identifying risk factors for transitions to continuing care. This work is a first step in establishing data collection that will inform healthcare planning, delivery, and interventions to support individuals aging with NDD, with a focus on both supporting aging in place and better quality of care in continuing care settings.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Diwakar Krishnamurthy, PhD, Schulich School of Engineering

About 30% of autistic individuals are nonspeaking, i.e., they cannot communicate reliably through speech alone. Many nonspeaking autistic individuals have learned to communicate using a letterboard. With this technique, a trained Communication and Regulation Partner (CRP) holds a plastic letterboard and reads aloud the letters an individual is pointing toward. Training to communicate in this manner is typically a lengthy process and the cost and availability of a professional CRP can be a limiting factor to an individual’s ability to progress. To address this problem, this project aims to build a system that allows an individual to wear an Augmented Reality (AR) headset and engage in spelling exercises on a holographic letterboard supported by a fully embodied, virtual CRP. The virtual CRP will be customized to the unique preferences of an individual by using AI techniques that leverage data collected from real-life interactions between that individual and their human CRP. This project will open doors for nonspeakers to practice various aspects of spelling-based communication in the absence of a human CRP, thereby fostering increased independence and privacy.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alan Martino, PhD, Assistant Professor, Cumming School of Medicine

Exploring and enhancing sexual health education for Autistic adults through creative workshops and interviews, this research aims to dismantle stereotypes, embrace unique perspectives, and craft more inclusive, impactful educational materials.

Principal Investigators: Dr. Tamara Pringsheim, MD, Professor, Cumming School of Medicine; Davide Martino, MD, PhD, Professor, Cumming School of Medicine

Speech and language disorders impact all areas of day-to-day functioning and respond well to interventions during early development. This research will provide needed information about the nature of speech and language disorders in young people with Tourette Syndrome and will provide a foundation for planning appropriate early interventions.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Meadow Schroeder, PhD, Associate Professor, Werklund School of Education

This project is designing, piloting, and evaluating a self-paced online tutorial to support the transition to postsecondary education for students with learning disabilities and ADHD. The gamified tutorial will target high school students in grades 11 and 12 who are planning to attend postsecondary institutions. The game will be evaluated with partners from Foothills Academy School, a private school in Calgary dedicated to students with learning disabilities.