The POND network consists of a team of clinicians, scientists, engineers and other stakeholders from the public and private sector located across Ontario.
POND Network Co-Directors:
- Evdokia Anagnostou, MD, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
- Jason Lerch, Ph.D., The Hospital for Sick Children
POND Network Executive Committee:
- Stephen Scherer, Ph.D., The Hospital for Sick Children
- Elizabeth Kelley, Ph.D., Queen’s University
- Jessica Jones, Ph.D., Queen’s University
- Jennifer Crosbie, Ph.D., The Hospital for Sick Children
- Russell Schachar, MD, The Hospital for Sick Children
- Robert Nicolson, MD, Western University
- Karun K Singh, Ph.D., Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Associate Professor, University of Toronto
- Paul Arnold, MD, Ph.D., The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary
- Margaret Spoelstra, Autism Ontario
- Azadeh Kushki, Ph.D., M.A.Sc., Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
- Danielle Baribeau, MD, Ph.D., Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
- Jane Foster, Ph.D., McMaster University
- Chao Wang, Ph.D., Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Jessica Brian, Ph.D., M.A., Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
- Julia Frei, MD, M.Sc., McMaster University
- Elisabetta Trinari, MD, MSc, McMaster University
Clinical Research Leads:
- Jennifer Crosbie, Ph.D., The Hospital for Sick Children
- Robert Nicolson, MD, Western University
Data Management & Analytics Leads:
- Stephen Scherer, Ph.D., The Hospital for Sick Children
- Azadeh Kushki, Ph.D., M.A.Sc., Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Patient Engagement & Integrated Knowledge Translation Leads:
- Danielle Baribeau, MD, Ph.D., Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
- Margaret Spoelstra, Autism Ontario
- Jennifer Crosbie, Ph.D., The Hospital for Sick Children
Industry Partnerships Leads:
- Paul Arnold, MD, Ph.D., The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary
- Azadeh Kushki, Ph.D., M.A.Sc., Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
POND Contributing Clinicians:
There are over 20 participating clinicians across all the sites.
Participating Institutions:
- Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Hospital for Sick Children
- Hamilton, Ontario: McMaster University, McMaster Children’s Hospital, Mohawk College
- London, Ontario: Western University, Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, Lawson Health Research Institute
- Kingston, Ontario: Queen’s University, Ongwanada Resource Center, Hotel Dieu Hospital
Community Partner Organizations:
Autism Speaks, Autism Ontario, Circle 21, Community Living Toronto, Ontario Rett Syndrome Association, Totally ADD, SAAC, and Sick Kids Down Syndrome Clinic. These groups have representatives on our Participant/Patient Advisory Committee, which also has individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, family members and caregivers. Learn more about this committee and how they partner with us in our research below.
Participant/Patient Advisory Committee
POND’s Patient Advisory Committee is made up of community leaders including parents and youth with lived experience related to neurodevelopmental disorders. They provide input and perspectives that are participant-centred and maintain focus on participants and their families, ensuring the POND initiatives and outcomes are participant-driven. The committee is also an important POND partner in public and community engagement, as well as ensuring our research and activities are communicated effectively to individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, their families, and other individuals who can apply this knowledge to improve care and long-term outcomes.
Patient/Patient Advisory Committee Members
Current Members:
- Margaret Spoelstra, CEO at Autism Ontario
- Connie Putterman, ASD activist/parent
- Julia Biondi, POND Advocate and Parent
- Claudine Evangelista, ASD Parent
- Karen Congram, POND Parent, Ontario Rett Syndrome Association
- Cathy Gaboury, Project Consultant
- Mike Barnett, OCD Parent
- Noah Barnett, POND Youth Lead
- Jessica Bethel, Chief Education and Communications Officer at Autism Ontario
- Allison Chang, RSW, POND Parent
- Voula Athanasopoulos, ASD Parent
- Tara Vandertoorn, Teacher at Calgary Board of Education
- Dr. Kira Vimalakanthan, C.Psych. Director of Research and Mental Health Services at SAAC Autism Centre
- Dr. Shivajan Sivapalan, M.D., Director of Early Childhood Development and Special Projects at SAAC Autism Centre
- Alfredo Arias, POND Parent
- Stella Ugbesia, POND Parent, Laurentian University
- Suzanne Deliscar, POND Parent
- Carly Greenberg, Autism Speaks Canada
- Munira Khilji, SAAC Autism Centre
- Cathy Clendenning, POND Parent
- Natalie Richter, POND Parent
- Samantha Levenson, POND Parent
- Gordon Stratford, POND Parent
- Kelly Meissner, Angelman Syndrome Foundation Canada
Past Members:
- Jennifer Crowson, Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton
- Jill Faber, Executive Director, Autism Speaks Canada
- Sue Lynch, Regional Executive Director, Community Living Toronto
- Paul Arnold, POND Principal Investigator, University of Calgary
- James Mitchell, ADHD activist/parent
- Jason Lerch, POND Co-Director, Sick Kids Hospital
- Katharine Buchan, Autism Ontario
- Shannon Pascoe, ASD Parent
- Sangeeta Staley, CDKL5 Canada
- Deanna Strazzella, Community Living
- Esther Rhee, National Program Director, Autism Speaks Canada, www.autismspeaks.ca
- Rick and Ava Green, Totally ADD
- Kevin Morton, Ontario Rett Syndrome Association
- Anthony Evangelista, ASD Parent
- Kathi Cosgrove, Autism Speaks Canada
Contact Information
To learn more about the POND Network please contact Alan Cooper, Research Manager (acooper@hollandbloorview.ca). To learn more about the Participant/Patient Advisory Committee or to inquire about how to get involved, please contact Carla Southward, Manager, Research Engagements (csouthward@hollandbloorview.ca)