Research & Science
ARBI has a unique approach, blending science and compassion.
We are passionate about the latest findings in neuro-science and rehabilitation. Information enables us to offer the most up-to-date technology and programs to our clients.
Our team of research advisors and staff are dedicated to our clients’ road to recovery, paving each step with leading research and developments.
ARBI has two major research projects: SaeboFlex® and CAMMRI (Comprehensive Assessment Measure for Minimally Responsive Individuals). We share our results at various national and international conferences.
Research Advisors
Dr. Sean Dukelow
ARBI Research Advisor, MD, PHD, FRCPC Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of Clinical Neurosciences
Sean Dukelow is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience with cross-appointment to the Faculties of Medicine and Kinesiology. He was born and raised outside of Windsor, Ontario. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Guelph before pursuing his Medical Doctorate and PhD (Neuroscience) at the University of Western Ontario.
He then went on to complete his residency specialty training at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, obtaining certification as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Following his residency training he completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Robotics and Stroke Rehabilitation with Dr. Stephen Scott at Queen’s University. He came to the University of Calgary in October of 2008 where he started the Stroke Robotics laboratory. His research involves the use of robotic tools for assessment of sensory, motor and cognitive function in individuals with stroke and traumatic brain injury. Currently he receives funding from Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, NWT and Nunavut, Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Alberta Innovates Health Solutions.
Dr. Saklofske
ARBI Research Advisor
Don Saklofske, Ph.D., is Professor and Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Education, University of Calgary. He is a registered psychologist in Alberta and an elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and the Canadian Psychological Association. His research and teaching focuses on psychological assessment, intelligence, personality, and individual differences. He has published extensively in these areas as well as consulted on the development of tests and measurement techniques. Don has served as a consultant in the development of new measures to assist in the diagnosis and prognosis of our clients at ARBI.
Bios of research leaders
Mary Anne Ostapovitch, B.Sc. PT
Program Director, ARBI
Mary Anne has extensive background as a Physical Therapist in the field of brain injury rehabilitation. She is presently the Program Director for ARBI. Mary Anne has been involved with ARBI since 1984 and is passionate about making life better for individuals and their families.
Mary Anne was a founding member for the following organizations:
Brain Injury Association of Canada, Southern Alberta Brain Injury Society and the Brain Injury Association of Alberta.
Presentations:
-
Okanagan Brain Injury Conference, May 2011 – Naramata, BC
-
Making Life Better: Positive Outcomes in Long-term Rehabilitation for Individuals with Severe Acquired Brain Injury:
-
8th World Congress on Brain Injury, March 2010 – Washington, DC
-
National Brain Injury Conference, October 2010 – Regina, Sask.
-
The Body, the Mind, the Spirit: A Successful Community Rehabilitation Model for Adults with Severe Brain Injury:
-
Alberta Provincial Brain Injury Conference: 2007, Edmonton, Alberta
-
A Successful Community Rehabilitation Model using a Comprehensive Measure to Assess Progress in Response Level:
-
International Symposium on the Vegetative and Minimally Conscious State: 2007, Cambridge, England
Ana Gollega, Ms., B.Sc.O.T. (c)
Ana has been leading ARBI’s Research Team since 2003. She graduated in 1991 with a B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Ana specialized in Hand Therapy in 1993 and completed her Masters degree in Anatomy in 2000. She has 12 years of experience working in a public hospital and private practice in Brazil. She taught Neuro-anatomy to the Medical and Rehabilitation Schools in Sao Paul, Brazil for three years.
Ana moved to Calgary in 2001, and since that time, she has been treating brain injured patients at ARBI. She is interested in clinical research and had a chance to present results of ARBI’s research projects to other professionals in conferences in Canada and other countries.
Member of:
- CAOT – Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
- ACOT – Alberta College of Occupational Therapists
- CSHT – Canadian Society of Hand Therapy
Presentations:
- Poster presentation: Development of a Severe Brain Injury Recovery Scale
- The Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference: 2004, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Poster Presentation: Development of a Severe Brain Injury Recovery Scale.
- CANN – Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses Conference: 2005, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Oral Presentation: Pilot Test Results of a New Comprehensive Measure for Minimally Responsive Individuals.
- Eight World Congress on Brain Injury: 2010, Washington DC, USA.
- Oral Presentation: Early Results of a New Comprehensive Assessment Measure for Minimally Responsive Individuals
- Annual Conference of the Brain Injury Association of nada and Brain Trust of Saskatchewan Health: 2010, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Publications:
- Pilot Test Results of a New Comprehensive Measure for Minimally Responsive Individuals. Brain Injury, March 2010; 24(3).
- SaeboFlex® – An Innovative Tool to Improve Arm/Hand Function Following Stroke. Canadian Society of Hand Therapists Newsletter: 2011.
Welcome to our new website!
Welcome to ARBI’s new website. Join our network on Facebook and Twitter and let us know what you think. We look forward to hearing from you.