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Principal Investigator

Alison C. Novak, PhD

EnABL Director and Principal Investigator

alison.novak.@uhn.ca

Dr. Alison Novak is a Scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-Univeristy Health Network, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Therapy and Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto. Dr. Novak received a BSc in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, a MSc in Neuroscience from Queen’s University, and PhD in Rehabilitation Science from Queen’s University.

 

Dr. Novak’s primary research focuses on understanding mobility in challenging environments (such as stairs, ramps, bathrooms) to reduce fall risk across the lifespan, with an emphasis on biomechanical evaluation of movement. Current research investigates the impact of environmental design on biomechanical risk factors of falls and balance recovery reactions in persons with and without mobility impairments. Dr. Novak is an advisory committee member for the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre, a member of the CSA Standards Committee on Accessibility of the Built Environment, and actively contributes to National Building Code of Canada technical task groups and Accessibility Standards Canada.

Staff

Scientific Associate, Iris Levine

Iris joined the Home and Community Team as a post-doctoral fellow in 2017. Dr. Levine’s primary research goal is to evaluate fall hazard—what differs between those who fall and those who fracture? Iris received her BS in Exercise Science from SUNY University at Buffalo, and her MSc and PhD in Kinesiology (Biomechanics) from University of Waterloo. Her doctoral research linked falling configuration and individual faller characteristics with mechanical risk of injury. Iris is currently developing new ways to assess hazards associated with slips in indoor, outdoor and occupational environments, in real-time. Her goal is to inform building code and accessibility standards, improve assistive device recommendations and support design of more effective interventions to allow people to fall more safely.

Iris Levine, PhD

Scientific Associate | iris.levine@uhn.ca

Research Associate, Roger Montgomery

Roger joined the Home and Community Team in November of 2013. He completed his M.Sc. in Kinesiology at Brock University where his research centered on the effect of cold temperature on the lower extremities in relation to dynamic balance and muscular strength. He also has experience conducting applied, industry driven, research investigating the impact of varied garment insulations with respect to their thermal performance in cold environments. Roger works in a support role as part of EnABL to assist with building experimental environments for the different research studies, operating the motion simulator, and assisting with all aspects of motion capture among other responsibilities.

Roger Montgomery, MSc

Research Associate | roger.montgomery@uhn.ca

Research Associate, David Houston

​David Houston is a Research Associate in the EnABL lab helping to lead the "Anthropometrics Project". He completed his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo and then went on to complete his Master’s in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Dr. Kristin Musselman. David had the opportunity to complete a co-op placement with Dr. Novak during his undergrad which opened the door to pursing a career in research. He is excited to be a part of the EnABL Team once again after his previous roles as a Clinical Research Coordinator within the KITE Research Institute.

David Houston, MSc

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Hanaan Deen completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Waterloo in 2023. While completing her degree, she had the opportunity to complete a co-op term with the EnABL team in 2022 assisting on projects related to grab bar installation and efficacy which lead to an interest in research. Hanaan continued to work with the lab part-time and rejoined the EnABL team full-time in 2023 as a Research Analyst. Currently, she works on research related to bathing safety and slip risk within the bathtub with the hopes to inform building code and accessibility standards.

Hanaan Deen, BASc

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Elham Khodabandehloo is a post-doctoral fellow with EnABL.

Elham Khodabandehloo, PhD

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Jackson Lordall is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the EnABL lab supporting our bathing safety research. Jackson completed an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the University of Regina (2019) and a PhD in Kinesiology (Biomechanics) at the University of Saskatchewan (2024). Jackson's dissertation research investigated the influence of individual-, task-, and environment-based characteristics on walking balance control. Jackson will be supporting two projects in the lab: 1) A project characterizing the structural strength requirements of grab bars to inform changes to the National Building code; and 2) A project characterizing the effectiveness of aftermarket non-slip products for reducing slip risk and severity during bathtub entry and exit transfers.

Jackson Lordall, PhD

Current Students

Elizabeth Chee-Hing, BSc

Elizabeth Chee-Hing is a Rehabilitation Science Masters student at the University of Toronto. After completing an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at Wilfrid Laurier University, she joined the EnABL team. Elizabeth’s research interest is primarily in fall prevention - specifically within the elderly population. Over the next two years, she will be working under the supervision of Alison Novak to determine the utilized friction in older adults with or without bathing difficulties during various bathing tasks. Their goal is to help identify the minimum friction levels used by individuals with or without bathing difficulties and how certain surface friction interventions will improve slip risk.

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Ranna Napoles, BSc

Ranna Napoles is a Rehabilitation Science Masters student at the University of Toronto. 

Eleanor Furtado, MScOT

Eleanor Furtado is a Doctoral Candidate in the Rehabilitation Science progam at the University of Toronto and a Registered Occupational Therapist.

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EnABL Alumni

PhD Alumni 

Marko Bjelica, PhD | : 2019

Vicki Komisar, PhD | 2018:

Philippa Gosine, PhD | 2015:

Masters Alumni

Rebecca Greene, MSc | 2020:

Jenny Bautista, MSc | 2019:

Konika Nirmalanathan, MSc | 2019:

Sanaz Agha, MSc | 2019

Bella Boyaninska, MSc | 2018

Danny Cen, MSc | 2018

Coop Students

Madison Brown - University of Waterloo | 2024

Ella Catena - University of Waterloo | 2024

Sharmila Das - University of Waterloo | 2024

Anusha Kathiravel - University of Waterloo | 2024

Thianna Edwards - University of Waterloo | 2023

Rianna Khaki - University of Waterloo | 2023

Chantelle Ng - University of Waterloo | 2022

Katie Costanzo - University of Waterloo | 2023

Anna Guenther - University of Waterloo | 2023

Risha Loungani - University of Waterloo | 2023

Laraib Abrar - University of Toronto | 2022

Hanaan Deen - University of Waterloo | 2022

Alessandro Adorante - University of Waterloo | 2022

Mara Primucci - University of Western Ontario | 2022

Aadam Nanji - University of Waterloo | 2021

Deborah Tewelde - University of Waterloo | 2021

Minahil Khan - University of Waterloo | 2020

Allegra Gracile - University of Waterloo | 2019

Victor Tran - University of Waterloo | 2019

Abhishesh Homagain - University of Waterloo | 2019

Mackenzie Collins - University of Waterloo | 2018

Tyler King - University of Toronto | 2018​

Aarohi Parthak - University of Toronto | 2017

Angela Lam - University of Toronto | 2017

Parker Stonehouse - University of Waterloo | 2016

David Houston - University of Waterloo | 2016

Jane Wheeler - University of Toronto | 2016

Khaleeq Khan - University of Toronto | 2014

Contact Us

phone: (416) 597-3422 ext: 7713

550 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada

Logo of KITE Research Institute
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