Current Staff Members

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.

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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.

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 Honours 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.

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.

Cindy Sun – Research Assistant

Cindy joined the lab in July of 2025 as a Research Assistant. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) from McMaster University. She has worked for the past two years as a research student in bacteriophage bioengineering, examining the application of phages in medical treatment and food safety, and was an NSERC USRA recipient. Cindy is now working on the Synergic-2 trial as an assessor.

Leena Khatab – Research Assistant

Leena joined the Gait and Brain Lab as a volunteer in 2023. After obtaining her BMSc (Honours) in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences with a Major in Physiology at Western University, she transitioned into her role as a Research Assistant in May 2025, where she has contributed to participant recruitment and cognitive assessments. Currently, her primary focus is coaching participants that are a part of the SYNERGIC-2 clinical trials.

Cassidy Jones – Research Assistant

Cassidy recently graduated from Western University with a BA Honours Specialization in Kinesiology. She has two years of experience working in research where she worked in the R2P lab under Dr. Dalton Wolfe. During her time there she was able to work with assistive device exchanges through the Possibilities Project Plus and gain hands-on experience in the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy gyms. She is excited to continue to learn more by taking on this new role as a Research Assistant in the Gait and Brain Lab working as a coach on the Synergic-2 study.