Owerko Centre Community Connections
Building stronger connections between research and community
Owerko Centre Community Connections is an event for the community to discover some of the research happening at UCalgary in neurodevelopment, brain science, child development and child mental health. Open to children, youth, families and curious community members, this engaging gathering showcases innovative work of researchers through interactive activities and presentations.
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Triwood Community Association (2244 Chicoutimi Dr NW)
This event strengthens connections between researchers and the community by making research approachable, understandable and relevant to everyday life. Guests will have the opportunity to learn how research discoveries are improving the lives of children and families, meet the people behind the science, and see firsthand how community involvement helps drive meaningful advances.
Participants
Along with family-friendly activities, food and drinks, the following groups will be participating in Owerko Centre Community Connections 2026:
Developmental Neuroimaging Lab
Led by Dr. Catherine Lebel, PhD, the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab generates and shares knowledge of brain development across childhood that serves to help prevent, identify and treat brain and mental health problems in children.
Little Red Reading Van
The Owerko Centre is proud to steward the Little Red Reading House and Little Red Reading Van. The Van will be making a visit to the Owerko Centre and guests can explore its mobile library and enjoy story times.
Pregnancy During the Pandemic (PdP) Cohort
Led by Dr. Gerald Geisbrecht, PhD, the PdP Study is seeking to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental and physical wellbeing of pregnant individuals and their babies.
Healthy Generations Lab
Led by Dr. Tamara Bodnar, the Healthy Generations Lab studies how our early environments influence health throughout life - from infancy to older adulthood. By combining perspectives from neuroscience, psychology and the biological sciences, the lab takes a collaborative approach to understanding lifelong health and development.
All Our Families Study
Led by Drs. Suzanne Tough and Sheila McDonald, the All Our Families Study explores how early life experiences shape child development, family well-being and lifelong health. Following thousands of families from pregnancy through adolescence, the study brings together information on health, development and social experiences to generate evidence that improves research, healthcare and policies for children and families.
P3 Cohort
Led by Drs. Amy Metcalfe, Donna Slater and Lara Leijser, the P3 Cohort (Prediction, Prevention and Interventions for Preterm Birth) studies the causes and impacts of preterm birth to improve outcomes for children and families. The study brings together expertise from medicine, epidemiology, psychology and child development to better predict preterm birth, identify opportunities for prevention and support healthier futures for children born too soon.
The Yang Lab for Brain Development and Disease
Led by Dr. Guang Yang, the Yang Lab studies how the brain develops and how changes during early development can contribute to neurodevelopmental conditions. By combining stem cell research, genetics and neuroscience, the lab works to better understand brain development and uncover new insights that could lead to improved treatments for autism and other genetic conditions.
Precision Neurodevelopment Lab
Led by Dr. Sarah MacEachern, the Precision Neurodevelopment Lab studies how to improve care for children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders. By combining precision medicine with family-centred research, the lab works to better understand complex challenges, such as aggression and self-injury, and develop practical solutions that improve everyday life for children and their families.
Determinants of Child Development Lab
Led by Dr. Sheri Madigan, the Determinants of Child Development Lab studies how early life experiences shape children's social, emotional and cognitive development. By bringing together expertise in psychology, child development and public health, the lab explores the factors that influence child and family well-being and generates research that helps improve programs, policies and support for children and families.
Family First Responder
Led by Dr. Kelly Schwartz, the Family First Responder team studies how the unique stresses of first responder work affect spouses, partners and families. By combining expertise in psychology, family resilience and mental health, the team develops and evaluates evidence-informed programs that strengthen well-being and support healthier outcomes for first responder families.
APrON Study
Led by Dr. Nicole Letourneau, the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) Study explores how nutrition, mental health and early life experiences during pregnancy influence child development and family health. By following thousands of Alberta families over time and bringing together expertise from nutrition, psychology, medicine and child development, the study generates evidence to support healthier outcomes for parents and children.
ATTACH Program
Led by Dr. Nicole Letourneau, the ATTACH Program develops and evaluates parenting programs that strengthen the parent-child relationship in families experiencing stress and adversity. By combining expertise in child development, mental health and attachment research, the program helps parents build stronger connections with their children to support healthy development and family well-being.
“Developing Brains” Lab
Led by Dr. Deborah Kurrasch, the Kurrasch Lab for Developing Brains studies how the brain develops and how early life experiences can influence lifelong brain health. By combining genetics, neuroscience and developmental biology, the lab works to better understand neurodevelopment and discover new approaches to treating conditions such as epilepsy, autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
The ENHANCE Lab
Led by Dr. Carly McMorris, the ENHANCE Lab studies the mental health and well-being of children and youth with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy. By exploring the challenges these children and their families face, the lab works to better understand their needs and improve supports and interventions that promote healthier outcomes.
Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation
Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation connects the generosity of the community with programs, care and research that help children and families thrive. As the primary charitable fundraiser for the Alberta Children’s Hospital and Child Health and Wellness Research at the University of Calgary, the Foundation supports everything from family-centred programs and specialized equipment to innovative research. This community support also helps advance research at the Owerko Centre, creating new knowledge and improving care for children and families.
BrainKids Lab
Led by Dr. Kara Murias, the BrainKids Lab studies the brain processes that influence learning and behaviour in children with developmental and neurological conditions. By exploring brain development, risk factors and responses to treatment, the lab works to better understand why outcomes can differ from child to child and improve care for children with neurodevelopmental concerns.
PONI Lab
Led by Dr. Elizabeth Condliffe, the Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments (PONI) Lab studies conditions that affect movement in children and how they can impact health throughout life. By bringing together clinical research, rehabilitation, neuroscience and technology, the lab develops and studies new approaches to improve movement, function and quality of life for children, youth and their families.
The Thrive Lab
Led by Dr. Perri Tutelman, The Thrive Lab works to understand and improve experiences of children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with cancer and other serious health conditions. We use digital technologies and partner with people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and community organizations to conduct research that matters most for patients and their families.
Psychiatric Pharmacogenomics Lab
Led by Dr. Chad Bousman, the Psychiatric Pharmacogenomics Lab (PsychPGx) studies how a person’s genes can influence the way they respond to medications for mental health. By exploring the connection between genetics and medication response, the lab works to improve medication selection and dosing and support more personalized mental health care for children and youth.