Dr. Frederico Pieruccini-Faria – Lab Deputy Director
Frederico is a Postdoctoral fellow in medicine at University of Western Ontario/Parkwood Institute supervised by Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso, having previously obtained a PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. He is currently investigating the influence of depression on balance control of individuals with mild cognitive decline and also the impact of obstacle negotiation on walking stability in the same population. Frederico has been recently awarded a Postdoctoral fellowship from Lawson Foundation to research the neural correlates of obstacle negotiation during walking in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, he is co-investigating the benefits of combined interventions using physical exercises, cognitive training and vitamin D supplementation on cognition and mobility deficits in seniors with mild cognitive impairment. Overall, his research aims to unveil and fix the underlying mechanisms of falls in older populations with cognitive impairments.
–
Dr. Yanina Sarquis-Adamson – Lab Manager
Yanina Sarquis-Adamson, PhD is a Research Coordinator at the Gait and Brain lab. Yanina obtained her Bachelors from University of Buenos Aires, and a PhD from the Biology Department at the University of Western Ontario in 2016. Her role at the Gait and Brain Lab involves creation and management of study databases, as well as analysis of research findings and reporting of results. Yanina also leads grant preparation for the lab. In addition, she assists other members of the lab with project support.
–
–
Diana Amaris – Research Coordinator
Diana Amaris recently joined Gait and Brain Lab as a Research Student. She obtained her BSc (Honours) in Medicine in Colombia. After working in clinical practice and clinical research for several years, she moved to Canada to expand on her education. She completed a post-graduate diploma in Clinical Trials Management at Western University. Diana will be part of SYNERGIC-2 clinical trial.
Teresa Ford – Research Coordinator
Teresa joined the lab as a Research Coordinator in September, 2022. She has a BSc in Nutritional Science and worked as a Clinical Research Associate in the pharmaceutical industry for many years. She is a certified Mayo Clinic Wellness Coach who draws on behavioural change science to support individuals seeking to improve their lifestyle habits. She recently became a certified Senior Fitness Instructor. Her primary role is to coach SYNERGIC-2 participants. She also conducts cognitive assessments for a variety of studies within the lab.
Areej Hezam – Research Coordinator
Areej Hezam joined the Gait and Brain Lab in June 2024 as a Research Coordinator. She obtained her BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto and a MSc in Epidemiology from the University of Western Ontario. Areej has extensive experience in various types of research, including knowledge syntheses, health services research, and qualitative studies. Her diverse skill set and academic expertise make her a valuable addition to the team.
Jackie Liu – Research Assistant
Jackie joined the Gait and Brain Lab in October 2022 as a Research Assistant. Jackie obtained her Bachelor’s (BMSc) in Honors Specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Science at Western University in 2022, and she is currently enrolling in the Entry to Practice Doctor of Pharmacy program (PharmD) at the University of Alberta. She will be responsible for the development and regulation of the Gait and Brain, World Falls Guideline, and the SYNERGIC-2 websites. She will also help with the media relation aspect within the lab.
Melissa Calleja – Research Assistant
Melissa joined the Gait and Brain Lab as a Research Assistant in January, 2024. She obtained both her BKin (Honours) and MSc in Applied Health Sciences at Brock University. In her undergrad, she took independent study courses in the area of balance and gait where she assisted on researched projects involving gait, balance, and cognitive assessments. During her Masters, her research project was an intervention study involving both diet and exercise components. She then went on to pursue a Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science for Health and Performance at Niagara College. This program ultimately led to her certification as a CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist. Melissa will be primarily coaching participants as part of the SYNERGIC-2 clinical trial.
Kherto Ahmed – Research Assistant
Kherto Ahmed holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Western University and a Bachelor of Science from McMaster University. Kherto’s research in neuromuscular physiology focused on force variability and neural control differences in muscles. She has extensive experience developing and implementing physical activity programs for seniors, promoting healthy lifestyles and well-being. Kherto is also committed to supporting individuals in marginalized communities. She co-founded a grassroots organization dedicated to youth mentorship and community safety with hopes to continue driving meaningful change.
Jenny Kang – Research Assistant
Jenny joined the Gait and Brain lab in September 2024 as a Research Assistant. She completed her Bachelor of Medical Sciences followed by her Master of Science, both from in the department of Microbiology and Immunology at Western University. She also worked on a qualitative research project focused on health equity and creating tailored resources for underrepresented communities in Canada. Jenny is now working on the SYNGERGIC-2 trial, where she will be mainly coaching participants, while also assisting with cognitive assessments and recruitment.
Lina Mohammed Fahmi – Research Assistant
Lina joined the lab in May of 2024 as a research student. She completed her BS in biology (honours) at Western University and then decided to pursue the clinical trials management program at the university. She completed the practicum for the program through the lab and obtained her GDip following its completion. Lina continued to work at the lab as a research assistant following her practicum, mainly focusing her efforts on the SYNERGIC-2 study as an assessor.
Charmaine Dusic – Research Assistant
Charmaine Dusic joined the Gait and Brain Lab in January 2023 as a Medical Secretary, providing administrative support to Dr. Montero-Odasso. After a brief period exploring other employment opportunities, Charmaine continued with the lab as a part-time Research Assistant until December 2024, when she returned to her role as Medical Secretary. Prior to joining the Gait and Brain Lab, Charmaine worked in the Administrative team in Pathology Department at University Hospital.