The purpose of this study is to learn more about how health problems faced by adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) differ from those of adults without FASD. The study involves completing questionnaires about your health/mental health, background information, and school/work details. You will also be asked to complete some assessments on an iPad/computer and provide a small blood sample and a small fecal (poop) and salive sample (both collected at home). The study will take approximately 6 hrs of your time (2.5 hrs required in person) and you will be compensated with a gift card for your participation.

Our study wants to learn more about how two brain-related conditions, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), affect the gut (microbiome), the immune system, and mental health. The study includes one visit in person at the Owerko Centre, which is part of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI). During this visit, our research team will ask some basic questions about your child (like age, gender, etc.). You and your child will also fill out a few questionnaires about their general and mental health. The team will measure your child’s face, take a heart tracing (ECG), and collect a small blood sample. You’ll also get a take-home kit to collect a small poop sample and a saliva (spit) sample from your child. The main goal of this study is to better understand how health is affected in kids and young adults with brain-related conditions. This could help us find better ways to treat these conditions in the future.

This study aims to compare two different sole technologies in FitFlop shoes to see how they affect foot pressure, comfort, and tiredness during walking. FitFlop has a technology called Microwobbleboard, which uses three different densities in the sole to make shoes comfortable. They also developed a newer technology called Microbubbleboard, which uses a specially designed foam to achieve a similar comfortable feeling while using only one type of foam. The goal of this research is to test these two shoes against each other to see which one performs better in terms of comfort, how pressure is spread across the foot, and how tired participants feel after walking. The study involves female participants walking on a treadmill while wearing shoes with either the Microwobbleboard or Microbubbleboard soles. Researchers will measure foot pressure and ask participants about their comfort and fatigue levels. The results will help FitFlop understand how well their new Microbubbleboard technology works compared to their traditional Microwobbleboard.  

This study aims to compare two different shoe insole technologies in an uphill treadmill walking task. The goal of this research is to test these two insoles against each other to see which one performs better in terms of comfort, how pressure is spread across the foot, and how tired participants feel after walking. The study involves male participants walking on a treadmill while wearing shoes with either a standard or prototype insole. Researchers will measure foot pressure and ask participants about their comfort and fatigue levels. The results will help industry partner Dr. Scholls understand how well their new insole technology works compared to traditional insoles.

This study is about understanding how people experience sexual function and sexual distress, especially those who are transgender or gender diverse. Right now, most questions about sexual health focus on cisgender men and women, and don’t include the wide range of experiences that people of different genders may have. We are looking at two specific questionnaires that ask about things like sex drive, arousal, and satisfaction with sexual activity. However, the way these questions are written might not make sense to everyone, and people might understand them in different ways. In this study, participants will complete the questionnaires and then talk to us about their answers. We want to know why they chose certain answers and how they interpreted the questions. By doing this, we can learn how to improve these measures so they are more inclusive and better reflect the experiences of all genders. The goal is to make sure future research on sexual health includes everyone, not just cisgender people.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a debilitating chronic blood disorder with multi-system end-organ damage that leads to morbidity and early mortality. The only cure for SCD is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which given the risks with unrelated HSCT, is only an option for a minority of patients who have a matched sibling donor. Currently, patients with a matched related major ABO-incompatible donor are not eligible for treatment with nonmyeloablative (NMA)-HSCT. This phase II pilot study will enroll SCD patients with a matched related major ABO-incompatible donor to determine the safety and efficacy of NMA-HSCT. Biological studies will include a plan to study and monitor red cell engraftment in this population.

This study aims to improve pelvic health care. We want to learn about experiences with pelvic health care and how it can be better. Open to women, transgender men and non-binary people. Must have had pelvic health care experience in the past five years. Must have experience with medical or sexual trauma. Trauma should not be recent (within the past year).

This research project examines the experiences of immigrant international medical graduates (I-IMGs) in their first five years of practice after Canadian postgraduate training. We will conduct interviews with potential participants. In these interviews, we will explore how their immigrant status and identities influences their transition at work and in social settings. Our goal is to use these insights to improve professional development programs and better support I-IMGs during this period.

Children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) face a variety of problems that affect their lives. Some children with SCD have trouble making friends. We want to better understand the social abilities and friendships in children with or without SCD so that we can learn the best ways to support those who need it.

This research explores the experiences of nurses who work or have worked with children with autism in acute care settings. Going to the emergency room is an anxiety provoking situation for most people. For children with autism the experience can be overwhelming and lead to considerable distress. This distress can complicate the provision of healthcare pose safety risks for the child, caregiver, and health professionals. Children with autism need hospital care, but the acute hospital environment does not accommodate their sensory or behavioural needs. Children with autism experience difficulties in hospital related to sensory overstimulation, ineffective communication between nurses and child/parent, and being cared for by nurses who may not understand, anticipate, or meet the needs of children with autism. This study will explore the insights and experiences of nurses work/have worked with children with autism to understand more fully the complexities and tensions as well as helpful practice with children with autism.