VIVA Awards

Mark your calendars for the VIVA Awards event, which will be held in person at the Douglas on January 29, 2026! This competition will give students and postdocs at the Douglas Research Center the opportunity to gain experience communicating their research topics to a wider audience. The winners of the competition will also be able to participate, on behalf of the Douglas, in the provincial finals of the Science POP competition. 

Here are the topics that will be presented as part of two challenges :

• Media Challenge

• • FARIDA ZAHER
    Speech as window into Mental Health: Using Natural Language Processing to detect changes in mental states
    This presentation explores how speech can carry powerful emotional signals that can reveal changes in mental states using Natural Language Processing. Our study records participants’ speech before and after ketamine infusion, at the beginning and at the end of treatment. Our results show that we can detect the change in their mental state right after infusion, as well as at the end of their treatment, suggesting that speech does have potential in tracking treatment progress, spotting relapse, and can eventually support earlier diagnosis.

  • FREEHA ANJUM
    Finding the source: Brain development in children 2-8 years old with ADHD symptoms
    Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects up to 7% of children and 6% of adults, interfering with daily functioning in ways that can negatively impact work, relationships, academics, health, and more. Although ADHD is one of the earliest detectable mental health conditions in youth, the biological underpinnings of these symptoms at young ages remain unknown. Understanding these mechanisms is especially important for developing more targeted and early interventions, increasing the likelihood that children can lead more normal lives. My study is the first to investigate ADHD symptoms and brain development in children as young as 2 years old. We detected changes in grey matter volume—brain tissue involved in different aspects of our executive function and emotional regulation—between children with and without ADHD problems, brining us one step closer to understanding the early biology of ADHD.
    

  • KELLY ROSIALDA
    Growing up between generations: Differentiating Second- and 2.5-Generation Immigrant Youth
    Immigrant youth, born and raised in Canada to immigrant parent(s), often struggle to resonate with mental health services, underscoring the need to better understand how generational differences shape mental health outcomes. Their experiences, however, can vary depending on whether they have one or two immigrant parents. Despite this, most of the research on immigrant youth will group, second-generation immigrants (youth born to 2 immigrant parents) together with 2.5 immigrants (youth born to 1 immigrant parent). By distinguishing between these groups, mental health services can be better tailored to the unique realities of second- and 2.5-generation immigrant children.

  • ZOEY CHAPMAN
    The Dark Side of Uncertainty
    COVID-19 drastically altered our lives, sending us into a world of uncertainty where we were unsure of what it was, how to stay safe, or when life would return to normal again. Some of us dealt with it by learning to bake or binging Netflix. But for others, that same uncertainty triggered a lot of anxiety that was sometimes expressed as aggression toward their partners. These individuals are what we would call “intolerant of uncertainty”, meaning they fear the unknown in ways that can cause stress and, for some, lead to potentially harmful behaviours. In this talk, we’ll discuss how pandemic uncertainty led to increased intimate partner violence, uncover why that is, and explore how this knowledge can help us better navigate the next wave of uncertainty.

• Outreach Challenge

1. • EMILY DUCHARME
     Chemical conversations : fiber photometry and the brain’s hidden dialogues
     Every thought, every action you take, starts as a spark of activity deep inside your brain – chemical signals spreading through millions of neurons every millisecond. For years, scientists could only imagine: what if we could see our thoughts light up in the brain like a city at night?
     Today, with a technique called Fiber Photometry, this vision becomes reality.
     By using fluorescent biosensors and a thin optical fiber, we can capture the tiny flashes of light produced when neurotransmitters like dopamine or acetylcholine are released. This allows us to watch the brain’s internal conversations unfold in real time while an animal moves, learns, or makes decisions. Fiber photometry opens a new window into how the brain truly works, allowing us to uncover the chemical circuits responsible for emotions, thoughts, and even disease.

   • FEITENG LIN
     Unlocking the Secrets of Depression with Single-Cell Technology
     Understanding the human habenula is vital for treating depression, yet standard research methods often struggle with the quality of post-mortem brain tissue. This presentation outlines our use of the 10X Genomics Chromium Flex v2 platform to solve this issue. By using specialized probes to secure genetic targets in fixed cells, we can bypass the problem of degradation. This allows us to process thousands of cells simultaneously, creating a precise, single-cell atlas of the genes involved in mood regulation and depression.

   • GEORGIA KRUCK
     Getting to the Core of Sex Differences
     This presentation explores the Four Core Genotype (FCG) Mouse model, an elegant experimental tool that allows researchers to untangle the biological roots of sex differences. When sex-based effects emerge in research, identifying their source is challenging: males and females differ fundamentally in both their sex chromosomes (XX vs. XY) and their dominant gonadal hormones (testosterone, estrogens, progesterone). These two factors are normally inseparable, making it difficult to determine which is driving observed differences. The FCG model offers a solution by decoupling chromosomal sex from gonadal sex, enabling researchers to examine each factor’s independent and combined effects. This presentation will explain the logic behind this model in an accessible and engaging way, highlighting not only why studying sex differences matters, but also how this powerful tool opens doors to answering fascinating questions across diverse fields of biology and medicine 

   • MARIA ZIMMERMANN
     Bridging the Gap Between Nature and Nurture: The Epigenome
     All the cells in our bodies contain DNA, made from the genes that we inherit from our parents. This DNA acts like a recipe book for our bodies, determining our appearance as well as aspects of our health. Just as adding notes can change how a recipe is made and spills on the page can make it harder to read, our environment can affect how our bodies follow the instructions in our DNA. This layer of influence is called the epigenome. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as the addition of chemical tags to DNA and changes to the way DNA folds in 3D space, alter the ‘readability’ of our genes in response to positive and negative experiences. These interactions between our life experiences and DNA have broad impacts on our physical and mental health.

   • MATTHEW SCHINWALD
     Association of Cannabis Use with Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidality in Adolescence:
     a Multi-Cohort Genetically Informed Study
     Cannabis use is common among adolescents and young adults, and many studies link its use to depression, anxiety, and suicidality. However, it remains unclear whether these associations are causal or correlational. Genetics also play an important but often overlooked role in shaping vulnerability to both cannabis use and mental health problems. Because mental health issues in youth can have long-lasting consequences, it is essential to understand how cannabis use may influence these risks. My research examines whether cannabis use causally affects depression, anxiety, and suicidality by using genetically informed methods. I also investigate whether cannabis use is only harmful in those with pre-existing genetic vulnerabilities to mental health problems – a mechanism known as gene-environment interaction. Finally, I explore whether these risks differ by sex or gender. Using genetic epidemiology methods such as Mendelian randomization, polygenic risk scoring, and co-sibling modelling, this project aims to clarify the true impact of cannabis use on youth mental health.

   • MICAH PROVOST
     The role of the master clock for our circadian rhythms and our response to light
     Our bodily functions change profoundly throughout the day. Rest and activity, hormones, and our immune system vary with the day-night cycle. These internal oscillations are called circadian rhythms and are generated by tiny clocks that exist in almost all of our cells, and can all be synchronized by a master clock. This circadian master clock is located in a part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, or SCN for short. Just like our wristwatches can be reset by the little button on the side, the SCN clock can be reset by environmental cues, such as light. This resetting is very important because it allows us to adjust our internal rhythms to the day-night cycle of the environment. In my research, I am trying to understand the mechanisms behind the SCN clock’s response to light, and how we are affected when the mechanisms are disturbed, like when we look at our phones in the middle of the night.

   • SALMA BACHIR CHERIF
     Psychotic disorders and experiential knowledge: How to improve professional integration
     Only 20% of people living with a psychotic disorder manage to find and keep a job. Yet they have the necessary skills and motivation. So why so few? There are many obstacles: stigma, lack of appropriate services, and systemic issues. However, there is a promising solution to support the reintegration of this clientele: peer support. This approach emphasizes support among people with shared experiences and values their experiential knowledge. These interventions by and for peers enable the sharing of strategies and the building of trust, in addition to promoting recovery. Integrating this approach into employability services provides a solid foundation for a more inclusive society.

Learn more about 2025-2026 Science Pop