CHRI Scientist & Deb Comuzzi Trainee of the Year: Dr. Emma Duerden and Kendrick Lee

The Children’s Health Research Institute (CHRI), a program of Lawson Health Research Institute, has a long and proud history of discovering ways to prevent and treat diseases affecting infants, children and youth, and of determining ways to promote happy, healthy lives. Each year, CHRI awards a Scientist and Trainee of the Year. These awards are sponsored by the Children’s Health Foundation. 

Dr. Emma Duerden
CHRI Scientist of the Year
2022 Recipient

Dr. Emma Duerden is recognized with the Children’s Health Research Institute (CHRI) Scientist of the Year Award for her research on the growth and development of the brains of newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Dr. Duerden and her research team use imaging techniques called functional MRI and near infrared spectroscopy to investigate the brain development of newborns born prematurely who have experienced bleeding in the brain called intraventricular hemorrhage, as well as newborns who have experienced a brain injury following a difficult birthing process. Using these new technologies, Dr. Duerden’s team has discovered that some newborns have the capacity to recover from these injuries due to recovery potential called plasticity. The team hopes to use these findings to improve outcomes for newborns who experience these injuries.

Kendrick Lee
CHRI Deb Comuzzi Trainee of the Year
2022 Recipient

Kendrick Lee, a graduate student working in Dr. Dan Hardy’s lab, is recognized with the Children’s Health Research Institute (CHRI) Deb Comuzzi Trainee of the Year Award. His research is focused on the impact of maternal cannabis use during pregnancy on fetus metabolism and brain development. Less has used preclinical models to study fetuses exposed to cannabidiol, the primary non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, throughout pregnancy. His findings show that maternal use of cannabis may have long term consequences in offspring.