BrainKids Research Lab UCalgary

Meet the Team: Mohamed Diarrassouba

Mohamed is an undergraduate student researcher in the Brain Kids Lab .

Mohamed is currently involved in the Brain Kids Lab, assisting with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Mohamed has recently started assisting with cognitive testing in the "BrainSTAND," and "Cortical Excitability and Dopamine in ADHD" studies.

He will also be involved in a research project examining brain scans in relation to motor skills and performance in children with and without ADHD.

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‼️NEW STUDY‼️

The is interviewing individuals that care for children with neurodevelopmental conditions to investigate the barriers and gaps to service and supports delivery for these children in Calgary and the surrounding area.

This study involves a short online survey, and a one-hour interview.

To learn more about the study, email [email protected], or call 825-454-8412.

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Exciting news! The KINDTrials Network website has officially launched!

KINDtrials is a national clinical initiative focused on improving health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, adverse neurodevelopmental experiences and onset disabilities. Through strong community partnership and commitment to inclusivity, KINDTrails is building capacity for impactful clinical trials across Canada.

You can visit the website here: https://kindtrials.ca/.. or by clicking the link in our story.

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Discover more about brain stimulation in ADHD!

We’re looking for children aged 10-16 with and without ADHD to participate in our research study.

This study aims to explore the brain regions associated with children’s impulsiveness, restlessness, hyperactivity, and attention issues using brain imaging and magnetic brain stimulation.

📧 Email [email protected] for more info.

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Meet the Team: Tulsi Gupta

Tulsi is an undergraduate student researcher in the Brain Kids Lab .

She is currently in her fourth year at the University of Calgary pursuing a Bachelor of Neuroscience.

In her free time, Tulsi enjoys reading, running, public speaking and anything outdoors!

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We are leading the Calgary site of a nationwide clinical trial testing whether sertraline (Zoloft) can help reduce anxiety in children and teens (ages 8–17) who have a neurodevelopmental condition. This includes ADHD, autism, tic/Tourette’s disorder, or certain genetic conditions like Fragile X, Tuberous Sclerosis, or 22q11 Deletion Syndrome.

Participants will receive either sertraline or a placebo for 16 weeks. During the study, our research team and physician will provide close monitoring and support to ensure the safety of your participation. We will also collect blood and saliva samples to better understand how sertraline works.

Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you are interested!

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On August 26th, two lab members attended the ACHRI and Owerko Summer Student and Trainee Symposium.

Lab member Aditi Ilangovan presented a poster titled “Emotional Face Processing and Social Difficulties in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),” and lab member Tulsi Gupta presented a poster titled “The Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on Motor Function in Children with ADHD.”

What a fantastic way to wrap up the summer! Congratulations to our hardworking student researchers.

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‼️CHECK THIS OUT‼️

Thomas Qiao, Noah Furlani, and Dr. Kara Murias presented “Managing Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs)” on May 1st.

In their presentation, they (1) identified the signs and symptoms of anxiety in children and adolescents with NDDs, (2) examined the current evidence on pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for anxiety in individuals with NDDs, and (3) presented a new clinical trial study that examines the use of sertraline for treating anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with NDDs.

To watch the webinar, click the link in our most recent Instagram story, or go to: https://youtu.be/Q-zugVmZuZ0

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✨ Looking for Research Participants ✨

The Psychiatric Pharmacogenomics (PsychPGx) Lab is currently recruiting youth and young adults for the Pharmacogenetics of Antidepressant-Induced Disinhibition (PGx-AID) Study.

This research aims to better understand whether there is a genetic link to side effects in youth taking medication for anxiety, depression, or OCD.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

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Meet the Team: Hayley Huston

Hayley is the Social Media Coordinator for and also a Study Coordinator with .

She recently completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology at the University of Calgary.

Her research interests center on the lifelong impact of neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and how these conditions shape individual functioning.

Outside of work, Hayley enjoys running, hiking, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.

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