_edited_edited_edited.png)
About Us
The mission of the Imagination Centre is to provide access to leading-edge technologies to help individuals living with significant communication and movement challenges achieve greater independence and overall quality of life. The team works directly with patients and their families to discover how BCI technologies can best meet their goals.
The Imagination Centre is located inside the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital—the largest free-standing, comprehensive tertiary rehabilitation hospital in Canada. The program serves patients of all ages who require complex rehabilitation so that they can live life to the fullest.
Meet the Team
The Imagination Centre is a group of clinicians, engineers, researchers, trainees, students, and leaders who are passionate about bringing BCI technologies into the lives of patients. The clinical team is based out of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital (GRH), and the research team is jointly based out of the GRH and the University of Alberta in the Faculties of Engineering and Rehabilitation Medicine. ​
​
​
RESEARCHERS
Dr. John Andersen
Imagination Centre
Medical Lead
Associate Professor (Pediatrics)
University of Alberta
Dr. Andersen is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta and a Developmental Pediatrician at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and Stollery Children's Hospital. He also serves as the Facility Chief of Child Health at the Glenrose and Section Chief of Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics, Alberta Health Services.
​
Throughout his career, he has focused on the effects of brain injury early in life and on therapies and rehabilitation technologies aimed at adding independence and quality to life. John is passionate about advancing rehabilitation interventions, like BCI technologies, to benefit patient, family and provider outcomes and the mentorship of the next generation of innovative and highly skilled clinicians and scientists.
His patients and their families have inspired him to attract a community of experts, including patients, families, clinicians and scientists, to build the Imagination Centre. In 2018, Dr. Andersen co-founded the BCI Program at the Glenrose.
Dr. Hossein Rouhani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta. He is a Research Affiliate at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and is founder and director of the Neuromuscular Control & Biomechanical Laboratory.
He received an MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran, a PhD degree in Biotechnology and Bioengineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto and Toronto Rehab Institute.
Dr. Rouhani’s fields of research are in-field health monitoring using innovative wearable technologies, rehabilitative and assistive technology development, and neuro-musculoskeletal biomechanics.
In his work with the Imagination Centre, Dr. Rouhani is developing sensor technologies for safe BCI control of power wheelchairs.
Dr. Lesley Pritchard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. She is currently an Associate Editor for Pediatric Physical Therapy and previously served as President of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (2022-2023).
Lesley’s research interests are focused on evaluation of pediatric rehabilitation interventions and service delivery for children with cerebral palsy including processes to enhance child engagement in goal-setting, community participation and inclusion, and functional mobility. She uses qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure the voices of children and families inform the design, delivery and evaluation of rehabilitation services and approaches.
In her work with the Imagination Centre, Dr. Pritchard is exploring child and family experiences with BCI-controlled power mobility.
Dr. Lesley Pritchard
Associate Professor
(Rehabilitation Medicine)
University of Alberta
Dr. Kim Adams
Associate Professor
(Rehabilitation Medicine)
University of Alberta
Dr. Adams received her BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering, and after 20 years in clinical practice as a Rehabilitation Engineer, obtained her PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Alberta. She is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
​
Dr. Adams is the director of Assistive Technology Labs, which aims to maximize participation in society by people with disabilities through assistive technology. Her current research is focused on control of robotic systems for play and learning and understanding the role of assistive technology in children's cognitive and linguistic development. She has worked closely with I CAN Centre for Assistive Technology clinicians at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital on these initiatives.
​
In her work with the Imagination Centre, Dr. Adams is evaluating the ability of BCI to facilitate play for children with disabilities. She is also integrating BCI with other assistive technologies to increase accuracy and reliability of BCI control for children.
Dr. Adriana Ríos Rincón
Assistant Professor
(Rehabilitation Medicine)
University of Alberta
Dr. Ríos Rincón is an occupational therapist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta.
Her research focuses on the impact of advanced technologies on the occupational performance, functioning, and social participation of people with disabilities and older adults. She also examines factors influencing the usability and adoption of these technologies.
Dr. Ríos Rincón investigates how technology interventions can improve functional outcomes and promote engagement in play and leisure activities throughout the lifespan of individuals with motor and cognitive challenges.
In her work with the Imagination Centre, Dr. Ríos Rincón is investigating the use of BCI to enhance engagement in play for children with motor impairments.
PROGRAM STAFF
Corinne Tuck
Occupational Therapist
Clinical Lead
STUDENTS
Sara Houshmand
Postdoctoral Fellow
(Mechanical Engineering)
Supervisor: Dr. Rouhani
Project: Safe BCI control of power wheelchairs
Uchechi Ukaegbu
PhD Student
(Mechanical Engineering)
Supervisor: Dr. Rouhani
Project: Sensor systems for safe BCI control of power wheelchairs
Maria Paula Insuasty
MSc Student
(Rehabilitation Medicine)
Supervisor: Dr. Adams
Project: Developing hybrid BCI systems for children with disabilities
Nicholas Mellon
Summer Student
(Computer Science)
Supervisor: Dr. Rouhani
Project: Developing a BCI-controlled music-making app for children with disabilities
Lily Graham
Undergraduate Volunteer
(Neuroscience)
Supervisor: Dr. Andersen
Project: BCI use among children with Rett Syndrome
ALUMNI
GRADUATE STUDENTS
2024
Matin Dokht Taghirad
MSc in Rehabilitation Science
CO-OP STUDENTS
2023
Elena Arnold
Computer Software Engineering
2023
Alex Liu
Computer Software Engineering
2023
Ayan Abbas
Electrical Engineering
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
2023
Carina Siu
BA in Sociology
2023
Manar Aoude
BA in Psychology
