Our 2023-2024 graduate student award recipients are advancing knowledge and creating innovative solutions in the field of childhood disability and developmental differences. From developing exoskeleton-powered gait rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy and other mobility impairments, to teaching high school educators about acquired brain injury (ABI), and much more innovative work in between, these students are leaving a lasting impact at Holland Bloorview and beyond through their research.

The Kimel Family Fund has made available two Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarships in Pediatric Rehabilitation and two Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarships in Pediatric Disability Research, with one specializing in imaging research. The Whipper Watson Graduate Research Studentship Award is in memory of Whipper “Billy” Watson, a Toronto legend and wrestler, known for his charitable work for children with disabilities. These awards will allow the following students opportunities to advance and disseminate their research.

Christine Muscat
Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarship in Paediatric Rehabilitation
Supervisor: Dr. Shannon Scratch

First-year PhD student in Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto

“I am incredibly honoured to be the recipient of the Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarship in Pediatric Rehabilitation.

“As a Speech-Language Pathologist working with children and youth following brain injury, I have observed the large gap in knowledge and resources available for educators and families to aid in the transition of children and youth returning to school post-brain injury. Dr. Shannon Scratch and her team have developed a professional development program for educators called ‘Teach-ABI’ designed to help re-integrate students into their classroom and create a more inclusive classroom environment.

“This award will support my doctoral work with Dr. Scratch and her team, to help ensure educators are provided with the appropriate strategies for their students to reduce obstacles faced in the classroom following acquired brain injuries.”  

Mahya Mirbagheri
Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarship in Paediatric Rehabilitation
Supervisor: Dr. Tom Chau

Fourth-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto

“Receiving the 2023-2024 graduate student award is an immense honor, one that fills me with gratitude and determination. This award signifies not only recognition of my research endeavors but also the immense potential of our quest to enhance communication for individuals with complex communication needs. It empowers me to delve deeper into this vital field, armed with the resources needed to turn innovative ideas into reality.

“With this award, I can further develop the optimal eye-gaze-based text entry system, alleviating the struggles faced by those relying on eye-gaze interaction. This funding will facilitate the evaluation of our proposed system's effectiveness and the creation of a tailored language model. These endeavors are crucial steps toward revolutionizing communication for a vulnerable population, reducing barriers, and promoting inclusivity.

“In the grand tapestry of my research career, this award is a pivotal thread. It shaped my journey by providing the means to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with complex communication needs. It fuels my commitment to fostering accessible and meaningful connections through innovative technology, underscoring the significance of my work in the realm of communication accessibility and assistive technology.”

Jenny Tou
Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarship in Pediatric Disability Research (Imaging)
Supervisor: Dr. Tom Chau

Fourth-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto

“I would like to share this honour with all the people I work with, including PRISM Lab members, clients and families, the BCI clinic, schools and community partners. I am humbled to receive this award, but it is really the collaboration that makes the project possible.

“The award supports my team and I to build a brain-computer interface music therapy program for children to improve their attention, as well as taking brain scans (MRI) and measuring brainwaves (EEG) to understand how the brain responds to the therapy. The generous support from the Kimel family drives me to continue inventing rehabilitation tools that empower universal participation and creativity for children. I can't wait to see what the children will create!”

Daniela Testani
Kimel Family Graduate Student Scholarship in Pediatric Disability Research
Supervisor: Dr. Darcy Fehlings

Third-year PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
 

“I am incredibly grateful to the Kimel Family and the Bloorview Research Institute for their generous donation and continuous support. This award will contribute to the third project in my PhD research to develop a mixed-method, solution-focused coaching intervention, to empower parents to promote community participation for their young child with cerebral palsy. I am immensely thankful for this opportunity, and I am excited to share the positive impact that this generosity will bring to the field of paediatric disability research and the Holland Bloorview community.”

Stefanie Bradley
Whipper Watson Graduate Research Scholarship
Supervisor: Dr. Tom Chau

Fourth-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto

“I am so grateful to be the recipient of the Whipper-Watson Graduate Research Scholarship Award! This award is a testament to the unwavering support of Holland Bloorview and Bloorview Foundation in funding childhood disability research. This scholarship will help fund research exploring mobility opportunities for children with cerebral palsy, specifically through exoskeleton-powered gait rehabilitation. We hope to speak to the potential feasibility, body-wide impacts, and adoption of this therapy in outpatient and school settings.”   

Our students contribute greatly to the hospital, the Bloorview Research Institute, and to our clients and families. Their research is sure to leave a lasting impact. Congratulations and good luck to these dedicated and talented students!