Research themes
1. BRIGHT Beginnings
Early intervention is key in minimizing developmental problems that children may face. Over the past decade, experimental studies have identified fetal, neonatal, and early childhood rehabilitation practices that optimize brain and developmental outcomes. CHILD-BRIGHT’s six research projects under the BRIGHT Beginnings theme focused on bringing these experimental advances to human clinical studies to minimize brain injury and restore brain function. Knowing how these therapies influence brain development allowed our team to identify the most effective practices to promote resilience, improve the child’s physical and mental health, and enhance overall well-being. Our six projects were:
2. BRIGHT Supports
The BRIGHT Supports theme aimed to transform outcomes by integrating mental health support into the care of children and youth with brain-based developmental disabilities who experience behavioural difficulties. Novel information technologies, as well as medical interventions, were evaluated in children with a wide range of developmental disabilities. Health promotion strategies that foster fitness and social participation were also developed. The four BRIGHT Supports projects aimed to fill a critical gap by offering family-centred ‘help-giving’ practices to support parents in their role as caregivers. Our four projects were:
3. BRIGHT Futures
Under the BRIGHT Futures theme, we redesigned key parts of the health care system to be more responsive to the needs of families as their children develop. We focused on key transition periods: discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit, the transition from preschool to school, and the transition into the adult health care system. Our intent was to produce policy-relevant, cost-effective innovations that would transform real-world service delivery to children with brain-based developmental disabilities and their families throughout their growth trajectories. This transformation would both improve children’s physical and mental health and empower their families. Our three projects were:
All Phase 1 projects were completed in 2024.