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Email: win@uwo.ca
Tel: 519-661-2111 x82205
Western Institute for Neuroscience
Western Interdisciplinary Research Building,
Western University,
1151 Richmond Street,
London, Ontario N6A 3K7
WIN members among thirteen Faculty Scholars recognized for outstanding academic achievements
April 23, 2025
Sarah O’Flanagan
Established in 2005, the Faculty Scholars Award recognizes significant recent scholarly achievements in teaching or research. Nominated by faculty deans and selected by the Faculty Selection committee chaired by the Provost, the recipients have an international presence in their discipline and are considered all-round scholars. Winners hold the title “Faculty Scholar” for two years.
The Western Institute for Neuroscience offers our heartfelt congratulations to the three members recognized with this prestigious award for 2024!
Dr. Ana Luisa Trejos, a Professor and Tier-2 Canada Research Chair in Wearable Mechatronics in the Faculty of Engineering, is pioneering advancements in the integration of technology into healthcare. Her research is centered on the development and optimization of mechatronic systems—an interdisciplinary field combining electrical, mechanical, software, and hardware engineering—for applications in medical care.
Dr. Trejos’ work is focused on enhancing the functionality and usability of existing technological solutions by embedding wearable mechatronic devices within textiles for garments. These garments incorporate electronic sensors directly into the fabric, enabling the continuous monitoring of motion and muscle activity. Coupled with sophisticated software algorithms, these sensors facilitate the detection and analysis of physiological abnormalities, providing a framework for proactive medical intervention.
Dr. Marie Savundranayagam is an Associate Professor in the School of Health Studies at Western University and Director of the Sam Katz Community Health and Aging Research Unit. Her program of research spans both family and formal caregiving, with a particular focus on communication and dementia. By investigating the factors that lead to both poor‑ and high‑quality caregiving experiences, she develops, implements, and rigorously evaluates evidence‑informed interventions designed to enrich those experiences.
Central to her work are Be EPIC and Be EPIC‑VR—innovative, person‑centered communication training programs that immerse frontline healthcare workers in realistic practice scenarios with avatars portraying persons living with dementia. Drawing on implementation science frameworks, she assesses how these interventions align with organizational contexts and sustain adoption across long‑term and home‑care settings.
Dr. Naveen Poonai is a Professor in the Departments of Paediatrics in the Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine and is cross-appointed to the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics. He is a scientist at the Children’s Health Research Institute and serves as the Chair of its Child Health & Therapeutics Division. His research interests include procedural sedation and management of acute pain in children.
Some of his recognitions include the Terry Klassen Young Investigator Award from Paediatric Emergency Research Canada in 2020 and the Young Investigator Award from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in 2017.
