Traumatic Brain Injury Research Unit
The TBI Research Unit is part of an award winning multidisciplinary team that is well-established as hard-working collegial specialists & experts.
The MUHC Research Institute enjoys world class recognition, and the TBI Research Unit is now a contributing partner of this organization, adding to its positive profile for recruitment and financial support.
It has published over 60 journal articles and presented frequently at provincial, national and international forums on TBI.
The TBI Research Unit promotes Multi-center Research. Majority of research projects are multidisciplinary in nature:
- McGill University departments of neurology and neurosurgery, biomedical engineering
- Genome Quebec and McGill University Innovation Center
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
- Other university centers & partners at the national and international levels
Ongoing Projects
Acute intervention following mild traumatic brain injury
Who are the researchers?
Elaine de Guise, Simon Tinawi, Selma Greffou, Maude Lague-Beauvais, Mitra Feyz.
What is the research question?
What is an individual and brief intervention based on sleep, stress-anxiety, on memory and attention is effective to reduce persistent post-traumatic symptoms following a mild TBI?
What are we doing?
The individual intervention will be conducted during the first weeks post mTBI when symptoms persist and will be composed of five educational modules of one hour each aimed at the most common symptoms following a TBI such as sleep disorders and fatigue, anxiety and stress as well as the attention and memory difficulties. A battery of tests and questionnaires will be administered before and after the intervention as well as 6 months and one year post-treatment in order to measure the effect of the intervention.
How is this project funded?
This project is funded by internal grants from University of Montreal and the MUHC Research Institute.
When will we have results?
We will begin recruitment for this study in May 2014 and are expecting to present results from this study in September 2017.
Cortical Plasticity and Reactivity After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Humans
Who are the researchers?
Hugo Théoret, Elaine de Guise, Alvaro Pascual-Leone
What is the research question?
What are the early neurophysiological markers of mild TBI to facilitate diagnosis, gather prognostic insights, test treatment efficacy, and establish objective criteria on which to base return-to-work decisions?
What are we doing?
We will evaluate two brain regions defined by preferential involvement in concussion based on anatomical considerations (prefrontal orbito-polar cortex) or common symptomatology (motor cortex). Participants will also undergo a brain MRI for morphometric analysis, diffusion tensor imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to correlate the neurophysiologic findings with anatomical integrity data and neurometabolism, and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation to correlate neurophysiologic findings with cognitive impact. All participants will undergo a careful neurophysiologic study of local cortical reactivity, plasticity, and network dynamics using TMS-EEG within one week following the concussion, one week later (wk 2), two weeks thereafter (wk 4), and twice more one month apart each (wk 8 and wk 12).
How is this project funded?
This project is funded by a research grant from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
When will we have results?
We will begin recruitment for this study in the Summer of 2014 and are expecting to present results from this study in September 2019.
Depression 2 to 4 years after traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal study of psychosocial predictors, impacts, and barriers to access mental health resources.
Who are the researchers?
Marie-Christine Ouellet, Elaine de Guise, Nathalie LeSage, Lyne Moore, Josée Savard, Marie-Josée Sirois, Bonnie Swaine
What is the research question?
What are the psychosocial risk factors for developing a depression following TBI and what are the available treatments?
What are we doing?
Interviews with a psychologist or graduate student in psychology will take place in person or by phone at 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months post-injury (± 2 weeks). We will use several questionnaires evaluating psychosocial impact of TBI and the services received.
How is this project funded?
This project is funded by a research grant from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
When will we have results?
We will begin recruitment for this study in May 2014 and are expecting to present results from this study in September 2017
Workshop on Traumatic Brain injury and Mental Health: Strategies to Promote Better Health Service Delivery Who are the researchers?
Elaine de Guise, Frederic Banville, Annie Bourgouin, Monique Desjardins, Debbie Feldman, Stéphane Gagnier, Marie-Chrisitne Ouelllet, Yvonne Richard, Bonnie Swaine.
What is the research question?
What are the concrete and practical solutions to optimize the mental health care services delivered to TBI patients presenting mental health issues.
What are we doing?
Focus groups will comprise eight work groups (n=18-20) where participants will discuss strategies and action plans to promote better mental health service delivery in the province. A systematic method for recording the discussions will be used. It involves using a software called DRAP15 (Démarche Réflexive d’Analyse du Partenariat). This software was designed specifically to collect quantitative and qualitative data during discussions in which participants share ideas about possible solutions, what works, and how to overcome obstacles to meet the intended goals. It also facilitates the analysis by grouping the data according to multiple criteria and by offering several ways of sorting information.
How is this project funded?
This project is funded by a research grant from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
When will we have results?
We will begin this study in the February of 2013 and are expecting to present results from this study in September 2014
Olfactive and cognitive consequences following TBI
Who are the researchers?
Elaine de Guise, Johannes Frasnelli, Simon Tinawi, Maude Lague-Beauvais, Judith Marcoux, Razek Tarek, Mitra Feyz,
What is the research question?
What are the consequences of TBI on olfaction and cognitive functions?
What are we doing?
We will evaluate the sense of smell as well as the mental and behavioral consequences of head injury or traumatic injuries within 2 weeks after the accident, within six weeks following your discharge and one year post accident.
How is this project funded?
This project is funded by an internal grant from the MUHC Research Institute.
When will we have results?
We will begin recruitment for this study in the May 2014 and are expecting to present results from this study in September 2017.
Our orientation:
- Prevention
- Resuscitation and innovative interventions and technology
- Diagnostic and prognostic models
- Aging
- Complex TBI
- Functional and structural neuroimaging
- Post traumatic stress
- Pharmacology
- Neuronal regeneration
How we have improved the quality of care that patients receive :
- Better understanding of the physical, cognitive and psychological profiles of TBI patients
- Improved access to best validated, standardized and ecological tools of cognitive screening in an acute care setting after TBI of all severities
- Improved efficiency of new cognitive rehabilitation and pharmacological approaches inorder to maximize the outcome of TBI patients
- anosmia Dear-TCC