STAFF
Mohammad Alavinia PhD, MSc, MPH
Biostatistician II / Knowledge Translation Officer
As a biostatistician, I collaborate on different projects at Lyndhurst and Rumsey Cardiac Rehabilitation centre, including creating a risk score for fragility fracture and preventing falls among individuals with Spinal Cord Injury. I also joined the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as Knowledge Translation Officer to help medical residents plan, manage, and implement practical and innovative research projects.
Curtis Black BHSc
Research Associate
I am an associate working on the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR). My role primarily involves doing data abstractions as well as conducting community follow-up interviews and assessments. I also contribute to the Pride in Patient Engagement in Research (PiPER) initiative by providing support on the digital implementation aspect of this project.
Lindsie Blencowe HBSc, MSc, CCRA, PhD(c)
Clinical Research Coordinator
Most patients and staff at Lyndhurst know me for my role in coordinating our bone research programs. Currently, I coordinate our CIHR-funded project SCI-FX. SCI-FX is a fracture risk prediction tool we are currently developing through collaborations with the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry and the Department of Veterans Affairs in the US. My research interests are focused on the biochemical changes which contribute to osteoporosis and endocrine metabolic disease.
Andrea Brown BSc
Implementation & Evaluation Specialist & National Mentor
In January 2000, Dr. Craven’s lab research enterprise included one graduate student, two research assistants, and a group of enthusiastic, committed patients. I was one of those research assistants. For over twenty years, I have enjoyed working in a variety of roles. In June 2023, I began to work with the Spinal Cord Injury Implementation & Evaluation Quality Care Consortium (SCI IEQCC) as an Implementation & Evaluation Specialist & National Mentor. In this latest role, I work with on-site specialists to support the ongoing implementation and evaluation of best practices across a number of domains of spinal cord injury rehabilitation. As the Consortium grows to include sites across the province and country, I support the work and development of other specialists at these new sites.
Wagner H. Souza PT, PhD
Scientific Associate
I am a Scientific Associate in Dr. Craven’s lab at Toronto Rehab Lyndhurst Centre. I am a physical therapist with expertise in neurorehabilitation
Parvin Eftekahr OT PhD
Affiliate Scientist
I am an Occupational Therapist by training, Affiliate Scientist, KITE Research Institute and Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto. I have been a practicing occupational therapist since 2001 with areas of expertise in neuro-rehabilitation with a focus on Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury and Acquired Brain Injury. I have been practicing advanced, evidence-based interventions to treat and manage spasticity, with an emphasis on restoring function and improving quality of life. My research interest areas are neuromodulation (sEMG, NMES/FES) coupled with traditional rehabilitation modalities such as exercise, massed practice, splinting/serial casting after upper limb paralysis or nerve transplant in individuals with Stroke or SCI.
Farnoosh Farahani HBSc, CCRP
Clinical Research Coordinator
As the evaluation manager for the Spinal Cord Injury Implementation & Evaluation Quality Care Consortium (SCI IEQCC), I am involved with overseeing the evaluation of prioritized quality improvement initiatives across SCI rehabilitation programs in Ontario and beyond. I also manage the operational activities of the network and liaise with content experts for the implementation of best practices. In addition, I am the manager for the SCI-High Project and support the engagement and collaboration of national stakeholders (clinicians, researchers, administrative leaders, policy makers, patients, and community partners) to facilitate the development of consensus-derived indicators across 11 domains of rehabilitation. I am interested in bringing evidence based knowledge into practice to advance quality of care for individuals living with SCI
Lisa Fong HBSc
Administrative Assistant
In my role, I am responsible for providing a variety of support to the NET Team scientists, staff and students at KITE. Ranging from overseeing the financial activities on grants held by the scientists, payroll for staff, onboarding and offboarding of employees and trainees in addition to performing a number of other essential and adhoc tasks.
Hamed Hami MBBS MD
Research Clerk
I have a background in medical practice, clinical research and pharmacovigilance. I work on the Spinal Cord Injury Implementation and Evaluation Quality Care Consortium (SCI IEQCC) team. My role includes membership within the central team, data abstraction, entry and analysis.
Sharon Gabison BSc, BScPT, MSc, PhD
Collaborator
I am the Hallisey Affiliate Scientist in Pressure Injury and Home Care Research with the Engineering Health Team at Toronto Rehab - UHN. I am a collaborator within the CravenLab. My research in spinal cord injury and pressure injuries (also known as “bed sores”) along with my clinical background as a Physical Therapist with additional training in wound care and patient-oriented research has led to my interest in the development of technology and tools to support individuals at risk of developing pressure injuries and the caregivers who support them. I am focused on ensuring that the inter-disciplinary research that I engage in involves a co-design approach, actively engaging end users throughout the research cycle. My overall objective is to improve the lives of those at risk of or living with pressure injuries and the caregivers who support them through the development of tools and technologies.
Suban Kangatharan, BSc, RKin
Research Associate
I am a Registered Kinesiologist (RKin) by background and I joined the CravenLab in October 2021. My desire to contribute to the research team in a patient facing environment has led me to join the Central Recruitment department as a Patient Research Liaison (PRL). As the face of research covering the Acquired Brain Injury, Stroke, Musculoskeletal, and Specialized Dementia units at the Toronto Rehab-University Centre, I am responsible for liaising with researchers and patients to ensure both have equal and fair access to each other. This involves screening, introducing and enrolling patients into ongoing studies.
Masae Miyatani BEd, MSc, PhD
Clinical Research Coordinator
Currently, I am responsible for coordinating a patient and health care provider education project entitled the "Bare Bones of Bone Health". This initiative includes the development of a podcast series and digital education materials to support the dissemination of the recently published Paralyzed Veterans of America Bone Health Guidelines. I have been involved in several cardiometabolic health and osteoporosis related clinical trials such as; Efficacy and Safety of Rosuvastatin for Modifying Bone Mass and Cardiometabolic Disease Outcomes(RoBaCO), Cardiovascular Health / Outcomes: Improvements Created by Exercise and education in SCI (CHOICES), and the Whole Body Vibration and Passive Standing Therapy (WAVE) study.
Shajaky Parameswaran HBSc (c)
Research Assistant
I am a fourth year undergraduate student studying Neuroscience and Health Humanities at the University of Toronto. As a research assistant at the Craven Lab, my role is to conduct community follow-up interviews and assessments for the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR) to assess how individuals with spinal cord injuries are completing their daily activities at home and within their community. I also contribute towards participant recruitment for the C2CARE study.
Maryam Omidvar PharmD, MSc
Research Associate
As an Associate, I have been involved in various research and quality improvement projects. I contribute to the data abstraction for Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR). My role within the Spinal Cord Injury Implementation and Evaluation Quality Care Consortium (SCI IEQCC) includes membership within the central team & contributing to the operational activities of the network. I also support the Toronto site team for the collection of indicator data. My main area of interest and expertise is conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Nahid Raja MRT-N, CDT
Medical Radiation Technologist - DXA Lab
I am a Nuclear Medicine Technologist and am working with the Cravenlab at the Lyndhurst centre as a DXA Lab Tech. I perform Bone Mineral Density (BMD) scans for people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological problems. I have been associated with a number of research studies like Choices, Bone Cohort, Bone Fragility study and the RoBaCO trial scanning the whole body, spine, hip and the knee.
Tishani Thiviyakumar HBSc (c)
Research Assistant
I am a research assistant with Dr. Craven’s research team for 2022. I conduct community follow-up interviews for the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR) study and participate in recruitment for the C2ARE project. I am completing an Honours Bachelor of Science at York University, majoring in Psychology and Biology.
Lori Wong BSc MRT(N) CDBT
Medical Radiation Technologist - DXA Lab
I am one of the medical radiation technologists with Dr. Craven’s research team and a member of Bone Density Lab in the Lyndhurst Centre of Toronto Rehab. My training was done at the University of Toronto and the Michener Institute with a clinical year spent at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the Toronto Rehab team, and I value the patient interactions that have been forged throughout the years. I find the research endeavors exciting and look forward to contributing to the team in any way that I can.