Profile
While working as an occupational therapist at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in Chatham, ON, Brenda learned just how important driving an automobile was to her patients, particularly her older clients. The lack of research evidence to address the issue of driving for older Canadians propelled her return to academic studies in 2002 and completion of her doctorate in Rehabilitation Science in 2006.
Brenda is the lead investigator of the McMaster-Candrive team, a Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)-funded initiative (www.candrive.ca). Her passion for promoting safe and functional mobility across the lifespan is the theme that “drives” her research. The Candrive longitudinal study involves six other Canadian centres as well as a site in Melbourne, Australia. She is also co-principal investigator of another project involving premature infants and car seat safety (www.auto21.ca) and a co-investigator on the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (http://www.clsa-elcv.ca/). The principles of ageing-in-place and universal design inform her current and future program of research.
Fun Fact
And… for fun… Brenda enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, tennis, golf…(well any sport really) and making the trek to any one of Hamilton’s gorgeous waterfalls (http://www.waterfalls.hamilton.ca). She’s also been known to frequent auto shows in Toronto and Detroit to check out the latest automotive designs and gadgets.
Taking Graduate Students
Yes
Lab/Research Institute
AUTO21 – Network for the Centres for Excellence.
Canadian Driving Research Initiative for Vehicular Safety in the Elderly (CanDRIVE).
Courses Taught
Undergraduate, McMaster University
2010-2011
B.HSc. - HTH SCI 4A09 – Honours Thesis Student
2008-2009
B.HSc. - HTH SCI 4A09 – Honours Thesis Student
2008
B.HSc. – HTH SCI 2HS3 - Controversies in Health: Collaborations for Health Initiative
MSC OT, McMaster University
2006 – 2010*
Term 2: Person, Environment & Occupation, OT 628 - Course Coordinator, Professional Roles & Experiential Practicum (PREP)
*Beginning in 2011 – Brenda will be Term 5 – OT 728 PREP Course coordinator
2007 – present
Term 1: Wellness, Health & Occupation, OT 617 - Course Coordinator - Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
Term 1: Wellness, Health & Occupation, OT 617 - Tutor - Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
Term 4: Youth and the Development of Self, OT 747 – Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) – Guest Facilitator
Term 6: Complexities of Contemporary Practice, OT 737 – Supervisor – Professional Practicum
Recent Research
Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR). $6,786,227. 2008-13. CIHR Team in Driving in Older Persons (Candrive II) . Marshall, S., Man-Son-Hing, M (Co-PIs),
Vrkljan, B. (1 of 23 Co-Investigators).
- A ) Common Cohort Study – Longitudinal Study of Older Drivers (5 years):
Role: Vrkljan, B. , Lead Site Investigator, Hamilton, Ontario [$321,750. (2008-2013)]
- B) Advancements in Automotive Design: Development of a Vehicle Rating System
Role: Vrkljan, B. & Polgar Miller, J. (Co-PIs) [$143,658. (2008-2013)]
Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF). $146,788. 2009-2011. Evaluating Policies and Procedures in Canada for Determining Fitness-to-Drive and Licensure Recommendations. Vrkljan, B. & Myers, A. (Co-PIs), Marshall, S., & Blanchard, R.
Transport Canada. $24,668. 2010. Addition of Canadian data to the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAFTS) online web database. Myers, A. (PI), Vrkljan, B. , & Marshall, S.
Auto21-Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE). $310,000. 2009-2011. Innovations in Child Safety. Snowden, A., Altenhof, W., & Vrkljan, B. (Co-PIs), Kobti, Z, Kent, R., Moussa, W., Cretu, E., & Boyd, H.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). $23,500,000. 2008-12. Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Raina, P., Wolfson, C. Kirkland, S. (Co-PIs),
Vrkljan, B. et al. (1 of 160 Co-Investigators and Collaborators).
Auto21-Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE). $ 237,450. 2009-11. Safe Transportation for Seniors. Bédard, M., & Polgar Miller, J. (PIs), Hagler, P., Johnson, M., McAuliffe, J., Michaud, F., Porter, M., Shaw, L., Vrkljan, B. |