Owerko Centre Conference
Bringing together researchers, trainees and partners to explore important themes in neurodevelopment, mental health and child development.
The Owerko Centre conference is an annual spring event hosted by the Owerko Centre at The Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. Each conference is aligned with the mission statement of the Owerko Centre: To optimize brain and mental health for children and families through research, education, and community engagement.
A distinct theme or focus area is explored at each conference. The themes, agenda, and invited guests are carefully selected and curated by an internal conference organizing committee that meets regularly through the year.
Previous Owerko Centre Conferences
Keynote speakers:
Dr. Francis Vergunst, University of Norway - Climate Change and Children’s Mental Health: What Does the Evidence Show?
Dr. Ripudaman Singh Minhas, University of Toronto - Co-Creating Trust in a Digital Age: Community Engagement Lessons from Our Kids’ Health
UCalgary speaker:
Dr. Sheri Madigan - Growing Up Connected: Screen Use, Relationships, and Development in a Digital World
Panel discussion - How community is navigating to address the needs of children and youth in a changing world
- Dr. Suzanne Tough, University of Calgary
- Sara Austin: Children First Canada
- Dr. Sheri Madigan, PhD: UCalgary
- Ripudaman Minhas, MD: University of Toronto
- Pam Krause: Centre for Sexuality
- Marigold Miroc: Youth Ambassador, United Way of Calgary
Trainee and Postdoc Presenters
- Erika Tjostheim - Characterization of Immune Function, Behavior, and Mental Health in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- Madeline Miller - Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Infant Milestone Attainment
- Jordyn Crawford - Targeting Auditory Hypersensitivity in Fragile X Syndrome: ERK Inhibition Reduces Auditory Hyperexcitability and Seizure Susceptibility
- Rachelle Sass - Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: A Safety and Feasibility Study
- Ishnoor Nahal - A Two-Phase Co-Design Process of Nova Sleepcare: A Real World Solution to Improve Sleep for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders who have Behaviours of Concern
- Li Shu - Bridging Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration Through Shared Genetic Mechanisms
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Azadeh Kushki, PhD, University of Toronto - Personalized Health: From Research Lab to a Learning Health System
UCalgary Speakers:
Dr. Kara Murias, MD, PhD - Brain networks in Attention and ADHD
Dr. Guang Yang, PhD - Connecting the unknown dots in brain cells to understand rare neurodevelopmental disorders
Dr. Tamara Bodnar, PhD - Bridging Lab and Clinic: Translational Approaches to Understanding Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Trainee and Postdoc Presenters:
- Leila Rezaei, PhD - Introducing metabolic modeling and highlight how this novel approach provides new insights into the role of gut microbes in early childhood brain development and mental health
- Marcela Davoli Ferreira, PhD - Linking Clostridium innocuum to ASD Pathogenesis via FMT and Mouse Models
- Marissa Nivison, PhD - Results of an umbrella review (a systematic review of reviews) on the association between caregiver sensitivity and child's developmental outcomes
- Jing Zheng, PhD - Investigating how prenatal gut microbiome shapes the developing suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus and the lasting effects in the mice offspring
- Marybeth Harrod - Pre-pregnancy diet as a predictor of child brain network outcomes, and maternal inflammation as a potential mediator
- Kendra Mueri - Facing Your Fears: Caregivers’ Psychosocial Wellbeing Across a 14-Week Group Intervention for Anxiety in Autistic Youth
- Patricia Basualto - Service utilization for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities with support needs and their families
- Farzaneh Nobakht - Discordant mRNA and protein expression governed by the RNA-binding protein CSDE1 delineates neuronal laminar identity in the developing cerebral cortex
- Shefali Rai - Precision functional mapping brain networks in children
- Meagan Shields - Cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenetic-supported prescribing in youth with mental health conditions
Keynote speakers:
Dr. Samuele Cortese, MD, PhD - Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment for ADHD
Dr. Jennifer Crosbie, PhD - Spit for Science: A population approach to disentangling the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders
UCalgary speakers:
Dr. Brandy Callahan, PhD - ADHD After Childhood: Emerging Findings About ADHD Into Later Life
Dr. Chad Bousman, PhD - Personalized Prescribing of ADHD Medications
Panel discussion:
- Dr. Kara Murias, University of Calgary
- Dr. Heather Baker, CanLEARN Society
- Dr. Elaine Bland, Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network
- Dr. Iliana Ortega, University of Calgary
- Dr. Gabrielle Wilcox, University of Calgary
Trainee Presenters:
- Jennifer Williamson - Understanding the Mental Health Experiences of Autistic Students in Higher Education in Canada: A Mixed Methods Approach
- Oghenefejiro Erome-Utunedi - The Role of CCL2 and its Receptor CCR2 in Vagal Heat Sensitization as Possible Mechanism for Febrile Seizures
- Shefali Rai - How Much is Enough? Optimizing Data Collection for Pediatric Functional Connectivity Research
- Lilit Antonyan - Polygenic Risk Score Analysis of Structural Brain Changes as Candidate Endophenotypes of Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors
- Catherine Lowe - Miss Diagnosed: Girls and Women with ADHD
- Dr. Meaghan Perdue - Altered Markers of Brain Metabolism and Excitability are Associated with Executive Functioning in Young Children Exposed to Alcohol In Utero
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Laura Graham, The City University of New York - Addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth on the spectrum: A call to action
Dr. Kristen Gillespie-Lynch,The City University of New York
Dr. TC Waisman, Autism Training Academy - Neurodiversity & Intersectionality: It Matters
Grant Bruno, University of Alberta - Insights into Autism and First Nations People: Perspectives from a Parent, Community Member, and Researcher
UCalgary Speaker:
Dr. Meredith Maroney - Dual spectrums: The intersectional experiences of sexual and gender minority autistic individuals
Panel Discussion:
- Dr. Carly McMorris, University of Calgary
- Melia Wylie, Centre for Sexuality
- Jess Lopez, University of Calgary
- Dr. Caroline Westwood, Alberta Health Services
- Dr. Kristin Lalji, Alberta Health Services
- Dr. Shylo Cliffe, Alberta Health Services
- Emily Coombs, University of Calgary
Trainee Presentations:
- Samarpreet Singh - Associations and Interactions of Delivery Mode and Antibiotic Exposure with Infant Cortisol level: A Correlational Study.
- Ceilidh MConnell - Preventing Youth Suicide with a Virtual Human Training: Best Practices for Establishing a Youth Advisory Group.
- Madison Long - Trajectories of gray matter volume development in toddlers and young children with prenatal alcohol exposure.
- Mashiat Zaman - Investigating the mechanistic basis of Mitofusin2 variants leading to disease.
- Dr. Stephanie Chipeur - Paying Family Caregivers of Children with Disabilities.
- Stefan Kurbatfinski - Community Health Sciences; Stalking and Harassment Manifest Uniquely Within 2SLGBTQQIA+ and Rural Women Intimate Partner Relationships: Albertan Victim/Survivor and Service Provider Experiences.
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Stelios Georgiades, McMaster Children’s Hospital Chair in Autism and Neurodevelopment - Autism Chronogeneity: What does it mean for Research, Policy, and Practice?
Dr. Lucy Lach, McGill University
UCalgary Speakers:
Dr. David Nicholas - Considering Social Determinants of Health When Navigating Access to Services and Supports: Implications for ALL Stakeholders
Dr. Carolyn Emery and Dr. Brianne Redquest - Evidence-informed Adapted Physical Activity Programs for Youth with Disabilities: Calgary Adapted Hub Research Opportunities
Panel Discussion:
- Karen Orser, Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre
- Tanya McLeod, The Sinneave Family Foundation
- Nicki Wilson, Renfrew Educational Services
Trainee Collaborative Translational Research Presentation
Anything you can do, I can do better! Comparing and contrasting questions asked by model organism research and human neuroimaging studies to better understand the developing brain.
- Dr. Kathyrn Manning, PhD, Human imaging researcher
- Dr. Gillian England-Mason, PhD, Child neurodevelopmental researcher
- Dr. Deepika Dogra, PhD, Zebrafish/human organoid researcher
- Dr. Jing Zheng, PhD, Mouse/human imaging researcher
Trainee Presenters
- Kaylan Burns - Solving the mystery of a rare neurodevelopmental disorder
- Dr. Parisa Moazen - Battle of the sexes for vasopressin development
- Christiane Roth - Measure what matters - identifying key indicators to align policy and service delivery with child health and well-being
- Sarah Williams - Changes in student mental health and adaptive functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic: does age matter?
- Dr. Elnaz Vaghef Mehrabani - The association between maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and child behavior: The role of inflammation
- Rayyan Zuberi - Impact of cannabinoid use on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor efficacy and tolerability in adolescents
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Joanne Weinberg, University of British Columbia - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Fetal Programming, and Vulnerability Over the Life Course: A Translational Approach."
Dr. Michael Kobor, University of British Columbia - Epigenetic Embedding of Early Life Experiences - How Environments Get "Under the Skin
Dr. Ben Gibbard, Alberta Children's Hospital and Christina Tortorelli -Understanding the Complexity of Adverse Exposures in the Lives of Children and Families.
UCalgary Speaker:
Dr. Deborah Kurrasch - Sensing Maternal Challenges in the Developing Rodent Brain.
Keynotes:
Dr. Russell Schachar, The Hospital for Sick Children - Genetics of ADHD: Scientific Progress and Clinical Implications.
Dr. Yona Lunsky, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - Family Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: Challenges and Innovations.
UCalgary Speakers:
Dr. Catherine Lebel - Altered Brain Development in Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure.
Dr. Carly McMorris - Anxiety in Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effectiveness of Facing Your Fears.
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. John F. Cryan, University College Cork - A Gut Feeling About the Brain - Microbiome as a Key Regulator of Neurodevelopment and Behaviour.
Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, Bloorview Research Institute - Thinking Differently About Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Lumping vs Splitting.
UCalgary Speakers:
Dr. Jane Shearer - Dietary Modulation in Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Translational Perspective.
Dr. Gerald Giesbrecht - Sins of the fathers’ and the Psychobiology of Stress: How Good Triumphs over Adversity in the Intergenerational Transmission of Stress.
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Erik Willcut PhD, University of Colorado - Neuropsychological and Neurobiological Studies of ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and Their Comorbidity: Implications for Clinical Diagnosis and Translational Research.
Dr. Jonathan Weiss, York University - Thinking Differently About Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Lumping vs Splitting.
Dr. Tamara Pringsheim, Alberta Children's Hospital
UCalgary Speaker:
Dr. Richelle Mychasiuk