by Julie Dufresne | Nov 7, 2025 | Conference, Students
From October 15-18 October, some students from the IMPACTS Lab had the opportunity to present their research at the CSEP 2025 Conference in London, Ontario. Here’s an overview of their research contributions in the areas of mobility, aging, and frailty:
- Jocelyn Waghorn (Poster) – Examining the Relation Between Lower-Limb Functional Performance Measures and Knee Osteoarthritis Outcomes by Varying Frailty Levels
🔍 Lower-limb function strongly relates to osteoarthritis outcomes, especially in frailer individuals. Strategies are needed to help vulnerable adults maintain function and joint health.
- Sophie Rayner (Poster) – The association between physical activity and frailty index within the British cohort study
🔍 More sedentary time = higher frailty. Replacing just 30 minutes of sedentary time with light or moderate-to-vigorous activity can make a difference.
- Madeline Shivgulam (Free Communication) – Characterizing posture in long-term care & the relation of habitual postures with frailty
🔍 Older adults in long term care spend most of their day sitting or lying. Promoting upright time, sit-to-stand transitions, and knee-bent sitting rather than lying are warranted for frailty management.
- Molly Courish (Poster) – The Relationship Between Walking Speed & Frailty Among Those Living With and Without Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Study of Adults from the COMPASS_ND Study
🔍 Faster gait speed is linked to lower frailty levels in neurodegenerative populations. Enhancing gait speed may be key to reducing frailty in vulnerable groups.
- Emily MacDonald (Poster) – Relation of Sit-to-Stand Transition Frequency and Velocity on Executive Function in Young Adults
🔍 Surprisingly, faster transitions may be linked to poorer cognitive performance. A fascinating look at mobility and cognition in youth.
👏 Congratulations to all presenters for sharing their work.
by Julie Dufresne | Oct 30, 2025 | Award / Prize, cardiac health, Students
Pamela Tanguay, a postdoctoral fellow from the Université de Sherbrooke at the New Brunswick Medical Training Centre, has received the Canadian Heart Function Alliance Trainee Award valued at $30,000 for her project Healthy Heart 💓. This project aims to implement a community-based exercise program for individuals with or at risk of cardiovascular disease. Under the supervision of Professor Myles O’Brien, this funding will support research activities and strengthen connections between research and clinical settings. Bravo Pamela !
by Julie Dufresne | Oct 27, 2025 | Award / Prize, cardiac health, Students
Congratulations to Daniel Saucier, postdoctoral fellow at the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, recipient of the Mitacs Elevate Fellowship. His research project investigates the impact of an in-hospital mobilization program on frailty in patients with cardiovascular disease. In collaboration with a kinesiologist, the study aims to determine whether simple interventions can improve overall health, shorten hospital stays, and prevent readmissions. This partnership between academia and industry, made possible by Mitacs, highlights the power of applied research to transform healthcare. Daniel is working under the supervision of Professor Myles O’Brien, also from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Université de Sherbrooke.
by Julie Dufresne | Oct 22, 2025 | Conference, MATCH, Students
Pierre Philippe Wilson REGISTE had the opportunity to present his doctoral research at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) annual conference in Prince Edward Island from October 2–4. Based on data from the MATCH Study, his presentation explored how the timing and consistency of physical activity during adolescence are associated with mental health outcomes in early adulthood.
🔍 Key takeaway: Sustained physical activity—especially in late adolescence—can support better mental health in early adulthood. Given today’s context, interventions that boost physical activity in late adolescence may help foster better mental health later in life.
Pierre is supervised by Pr Mathieu Bélanger and Pr Said Mekari de la Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé – Université de Sherbrooke.
by Julie Dufresne | Oct 22, 2025 | Award / Prize, Students
Congratulations to Emily MacDonald on receiving one of the Brain Health Care Master Trainee Scholarships from the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Training Program, a prestigious award that supports research on brain health and care for aging populations living with cognitive impairment. Under the supervision of Professors Myles O’Brien (Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé – Université de Sherbrooke) and Olga Theou (Dalhousie University), her master’s project addresses a key public health issue: the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the relationship between frailty and cognitive health among older adults, both in community settings and long-term care. By exploring how movement influences physical and cognitive outcomes, Emily aims to identify practical strategies to promote healthy aging and mitigate the effects of cognitive decline. Well done, Emily, on this well-deserved recognition!
