Research Corner

Funded by Michael Smith Health Research BC, this study is being led by VBIS Research Coordinator Isla Shill as part of her Master’s research in the Christie Lab at the University of Victoria. The project is exploring how cognitive training with NeuroTracker® can improve outcomes for people living with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

• Adults aged 19 and older
• Individuals with a self-reported history of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury

Participants are randomly assigned to either a five-week NeuroTracker® training program or a waitlist control group. Cognitive assessments and blood and saliva samples are collected before, after, and one month following the program.

To learn more or participate, contact jamiemorrison@uvic.ca with the subject line “Brain Injury Study.”

Led by Taylor Snowden-Richardson in collaboration with the Christie Lab at the University of Victoria, this study is investigating how concussions may affect long-term brain health. Researchers are recruiting adults with and without a history of concussion to better understand the long-term effects of brain injury.

• Adults aged 50–90
• Normal or corrected vision
• Less than one hour of aerobic activity per week
• Able to participate in 30 minutes of walking
• Individuals with or without a history of concussion (if applicable, the concussion must have occurred at least one year before enrolling)

Participants will complete cognitive assessments, MRI scans, blood and saliva collection, and a 12-week intervention program.

In partnership with the Christie Lab, we developed and delivered a brain injury education program for high school students across Greater Victoria. Students completed a knowledge quiz before and after the presentation to measure its impact.

• Brain injury knowledge among students was lower than expected before the program.
• Students showed a significant increase in brain injury knowledge after participating.
• Knowledge levels were consistent across grades and genders.

This research led to the creation of VBIS’s ongoing student neuroeducation program. As of August 2026, we’ve delivered brain injury education to 160+ classrooms, reaching more than 5,800 students.

With thanks to Dr. Brian Christie, Taylor Snowden, Jamie Morrison, Madison Yanish, Emily Bosdachin, Briar Mayoh, Emma Skaug, Pam Prewett, and Ian Bermeo for their contributions to this research.

In partnership with the Christie Lab, we explored how NeuroTracker®—a 3D cognitive training program originally developed for elite athletes—could support people living with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants completed NeuroTracker® training twice a week for five weeks to measure its impact on cognition and daily functioning.

• People living with TBI improved their NeuroTracker® performance at the same rate as participants without brain injury.
• After five weeks of training, participants reported fewer brain injury-related symptoms and fewer challenges in daily life.
• Participants also showed improvements in working memory, attention, and verbal fluency.

This research demonstrated that NeuroTracker® is a promising, low-cost tool for supporting cognitive recovery after brain injury. It also led to the creation of VBIS’s Train Your Brain program, bringing this evidence-based approach directly to our community.

With thanks to Dr. Brian Christie, Taylor Snowden, Lisa Ohlhauser, Briar Mayoh, Jamie Morrison, Sydney Waddington, Andrew Varghese, Emily Bosdachin, Pam Prewett, and Jodie Gawryluk for their contributions to this research.

After demonstrating the benefits of NeuroTracker®, we launched the Train Your Brain program at VBIS, offering free cognitive training to clients. In partnership with the Christie Lab, we evaluated how well the program worked in a real-world setting, including its accessibility, effectiveness, and participant experience.

• Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the program and felt it was a valuable addition to their recovery.
• Weekly sessions were more manageable for participants than twice-weekly appointments.
• Participants experienced fewer brain injury-related symptoms and fewer challenges in daily life after completing the program.

This research confirmed that the Train Your Brain program is an effective and valuable service for the VBIS community. Participant feedback also helped us refine the program, making it even more accessible and enjoyable for future clients.

With thanks to Dr. Brian Christie, Jamie Morrison, Taylor Snowden, Anna Dansereau, Radana Latushkina, Riya Chitroda, Grace Trapler, Lauren Faulkner, and Pam Prewett for their contributions to this research.