Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) is proud to announce that Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, pediatric neurologist and senior clinician scientist was one of the 346 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at 52 institutions across Canada for research excellence. Dr. Anagnostou’s renewed Canada Research Chair in Translational Therapeutics in Autism Spectrum Disorder (effective until 2024) involves translating basic science findings into treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developing new therapies and treatments for personalized medicine.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Anagnostou’s Canada Research Chair in Translational Therapeutics in Autism Spectrum Disorder has been renewed. The renewal recognizes the trailblazing work that she and her team are leading in autism spectrum disorder,” says Dr. Tom Chau, vice-president of research, Holland Bloorview. “We are grateful to the Canada Research Chairs Program for supporting Dr. Anagnostou, who is engaging in life-changing, translational research for children and youth with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders."
A leading autism researcher in clinical trials and translational neuroscience, Dr. Anagnostou is internationally recognized for her significant contributions to the neurodevelopmental and ASD fields. Over the last five years, Dr. Anagnostou has dedicated her career to challenging the field of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) to rethink diagnostic categories and focus on underlying biology rather than labels. Current funding will enable Dr. Anagnostou to build upon her research begun during her first term as a Canada Research Chair. She will employ genomic, environmental, imaging, and phenotypic data to understand different biology and trajectories; driving the translation of research into effective treatments for kids, youth, and families with autism worldwide.
“Neurodevelopmental disorders are prevalent, and persistent. Although the field has made significant gains, our ability to change or even predict long term outcomes remains limited. With this chair funding, we will focus on understanding the underlying biology of neurodevelopmental disorders and developing targeted treatments according to the principles of precision medicine to improve functional and quality of life of individuals with these conditions” says Dr. Anagnostou.
To date, Dr. Anagnostou has secured exceptional funding for her groundbreaking work. This includes the renewal of the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorders (POND) Network by the Ontario Brain Institute in the amount of $13 million. The POND Network, led by Dr. Anagnostou is the first clinical trials network in Canada dedicated to investigating the biology underlying neurodevelopmental disorders to create new opportunities for improved care and long-term outcomes for children.
Dr. Anagnostou has also led several translational initiatives with direct impact on both research and clinical care. For example she received a $1.5 million grant from MOHLTC to implement ECHO (Extension of Community Health Care Outcomes) in Ontario to improve clinician capacity in managing children and youth with NDDs. A first in Ontario, Dr. Anagnostou and team aim to build province-wide community ability to screen, diagnose, and manage children with ASD to significantly reduce wait times.
Dr. Anagnostou has secured over $40 million in funding, published over 108 peer-reviewed articles, and presented at over 50 international conferences (most recently including chairing the last International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) in Montreal). With the goal of precision medicine to ensure the best care and treatment for all children and families, Dr. Anagnostou’s research in understanding individual differences in neurodevelopmental disorders is leading to better individualized treatments and more meaningful and healthier futures for all.
