Studies Related to Brain Injury

MIMIC Study

Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB), Robarts Research Institute (RRI), University Hospital (UH), or Victoria Hospital (VH)

Advances in life-saving medical technology have dramatically increased survival rates for patients after severe brain injury. The recovery and continued care of these individuals often require extensive stays in intensive care units (ICUs), where critical treatment decisions are made to maximize the likelihood of recovering consciousness and cognitive function. These decisions are typically based on unreliable behavioural responses, rather than on objective and quantifiable indicators. Our goal is to combine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), advanced electroencephalography (EEG), and time-resolved functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to improve diagnosis and prognosis in the ICU. To do so, we are seeking healthy control volunteers to image brain activity to compare to the imaging we will do in the patient population.

PREDICT-ABI Study

Children's Hospital (London Health Sciences Centre)

Our team is studying ways to improve care for children who slip into coma after brain injury. This work involves comparing brain's response to sounds of such unresponsive brain-injured children with that of age-matched healthy children. As a healthy child volunteer in this study, you’ll be helping researchers understand how the brain responds to sounds, stories, and instructions, things we all experience every day. Your participation will help us compare typical brain responses to those of children with brain injuries, so we can learn more about hidden awareness and improve care for kids who are seriously ill.