Research Staff
Lauren Griffith, MSc, PhD
Interim National Manager
Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 22393
Fax: (905) 528-8860
E-mail:
griffith@mcmaster.ca
Lauren Griffith completed her PhD in epidemiology at the University of Toronto in the Fall of 2008, and has a Masters degree in biostatistics from the University of Michigan. Her thesis work was in the area of occupational exposures and low back pain. She has also worked on diverse projects as a research biostatistician in clinical epidemiology at McMaster University. She has extensive experience in developing and testing the measurement properties of questionnaires as well as analyzing large datasets. Contributions to the CLSA: Lauren Griffith joined the CLSA team in November 200. She is currently working on the analysis and reporting of study 7 which examines the feasibility of collecting blood and urine specimens in private and hospital-based clinical laboratories. This study examines aspects of logistics, adherence to the specimen collection protocol and participant satisfaction to determine the best setting for collecting biological specimens in the CLSA. In addition to managing the day to day operations at the National Coordinating centre, and overseeing the implementation of the CLSA data collection sites across Canada, Lauren will work closely with the Principal and local investigators, advisory groups, scientists and public partners across Canada to implement the CLSA protocol and build partnerships to support the ongoing success of the CLSA.
Mark Oremus PhD
CLSA Associate Scientific Director,
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics,
McMaster University
Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 22437
Fax: (905) 522-7681
E-mail:
Mark began his tenure at the McMaster University Evidence-based Practice Center (MU-EPC) in July 2005. He served as a task order officer and co-principal investigator on systematic reviews of heparin to treat burn injury and the use of mycophenolic acid to monitor solid organ transplants. In the summer of 2007, Mark was appointed co-associate director of the MU-EPC and as an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CE&B), McMaster University. Mark’s research interests include aging, dementia, care-giving, health economics, and public policy and health. He teaches epidemiology and population health at McMaster. Mark was awarded a Career Scientist Award by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Previously, he held the inaugural Bernie O’Brien Fellowship in CE&B at McMaster.
Ron Harwood
Information Technology Projects Manager
Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 27601
Fax: (866) 248-2972
E-mail:
harwood@mcmaster.ca
Ron is the CLSA IT projects manager with a background that includes web application development, open source technology consulting, systems and infrastructure engineering, systems administration, and project management. He has been involved with research information technology support at McMaster since 2002. Other organizations Ron has worked with include Atomic Energy Canada Ltd., Chapters-Indigo, Lulu.com, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Canadian Football league.
Valeriano DiPietro
Research Assistant/Information Technology
Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 27601
Fax: (866) 248-2972
E-mail:
dipietv@mcmaster.ca
Val joined the CLSA in April of 2010. He graduated from Mohawk College for Software Engineering and completed his Bachelors in Technology at McMaster. Val provides technical support for CLSA project management as well as calling site supervisors and interviewers while performing database administration tasks, system testing, and various other computing related tasks the CLSA has.
Olga Kits, BA(H), MA
Senior Research Associate, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology Dalhousie University
Tel: (902) 494-7635
Fax: (902) 494-1597
E-mail:
Olga brings to the CLSA academic and applied skills in areas such as research, policy development and analysis, and project and resource allocation management. Olga contributed as a research and project manager on a CIHR study on resource allocation in health care systems around the world, as a policy analyst working on regulatory issues at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care working on portfolios such as privacy and patient safety issues, and was part of a small team reviewing the Ontario Regulated Health Professions Act. Olga is ABD in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto and received her MA from Queen’s University. Contribution to the CLSA: Olga started her association with the CLSA in 2004 and was deeply involved with studies 1 (best practices around recruitment and retention in longitudinal studies) and 10 (the return of clinical results to study participants). As a Senior Research Associate, Olga currently works with the PI’s and other CLSA members on a variety of fast-moving projects, including testing the pilot questionnaire and ramping up for the full-blown CLSA.
Kimberley MacDougald
Research Assistant
Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 22445
E-mail:
macdoki@mcmaster.ca
Kimberley joined the CLSA team in December 2009. She brings with her eight years of research experience in an RTC setting coordinating multi-centre international studies. She specializes in data collection, case report form design, quality assurance and database management. Kimberley holds a certificate in Health Sciences, a Diploma in Business Administration and is currently working towards her Honors degree in Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University.
Lauren Ndupuechi
Research Assistant
Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 22748
E-mail:
ndupuec@mcmaster.ca
Lauren Ndupuechi completed a Hons. B.A in Gerontology & Sociology from McMaster University and a MSc. in Gerontology from King’s College in London England. Her post graduate research experience revolved around a review of relevant policy directives under the UK National Service Framework for Older People’s care. In addition she also worked as part of a multidisciplinary team based at the Guys and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust London, UK assessing the implementation and impact of care pathways delivered via a pilot Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment model. Her research and academic background is complemented by practical experience in care provider settings both in care-giver and managerial roles.
Amelie Pelletier, PhD (on leave)
Senior Research Associate, Division of Clinical Epidemiology McGill University
Tel: (514) 934-1934, ext. 44745
Fax: (514) 934-4458
E-mail:
Amélie Pelletier was recently awarded her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the Université de Montréal. Her expertise lies primarily in the field of basic science. She has extensive training in the conduct of laboratory research, focusing primarily on diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Amélie also has specific knowledge regarding ethical procedures due to her past experience as a committee member on the ethics board at the University of Montreal health centre. Finally, she began her research career by working on several clinical research projects related to neurodegenerative diseases and sleep disorders. Contributions to the CLSA: Amélie joined the CLSA team in January 2007. She is a Senior Research Associate currently working on Phase II of the CLSA. As a part of McGill’s team, she is participating in the development of the clinical protocol for the second phase of the study and the survey modules. Amélie is also collaborating with Jennifer Uniat for the translation of CLSA documents. Her expertise will be very useful for the development of the biological specimen collection protocol.
Nancy Pyette BA, RN, MSW
Research Coordinator, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics McMaster University
Tel: (905) 525-9140, ext. 22790
Fax: (905) 528-8860
E-mail:
Nancy Pyette’s academic background is in nursing, social work and adult education. With over twenty years of project management experience within the context of organizational development and health services research initiatives, Nancy’s primary interest is in the co-creation of human systems that support individual health and personal/professional growth. As the CLSA transitions from it’s planning and feasibility phase to it’s implementation phase, her accumulated knowledge and experience in this area will contribute to the development and execution of strategies and plans to ensure a successful project field launch.
Jennifer Liane Uniat, MSc
Senior Research Associate, Division of Clinical Epidemiology McGill University
Tel: (514) 934-1934
Fax: (514) 934-4458
E-mail:
Jennifer Liane Uniat’s educational training has given her extensive knowledge in the fields of clinical exercise physiology and nutrition. Her interests reside primarily in lifestyle behaviours and their relationship to health prevention and promotion. Pursuing graduate studies, she obtained a Graduate Diploma in General Management from McGill University and a M.Sc. in Public Health from the Université de Montréal. As part of her research experience, she is also involved in a project related to multiple sclerosis. Her expertise allows her to bring a unique mix of skills to the CLSA team. Contributions to the CLSA: Jennifer Liane Uniat joined the CLSA team in March 2005. Her responsibilities for Phase I of the CLSA included coordinating the translation process for the documents required for each of the developmental studies and working closely with her team on the submission requirements for each study to the Ethics Committee. She also participated in the development of the questionnaire for the Tracking cohort. In Phase II, she is working with the team at McGill to elaborate the clinical protocol for the Comprehensive cohort and to develop survey modules. In addition, she is responsible for coordinating and developing the Standard Operating Procedures and training manuals. Finally, Jennifer continues to coordinate the translation procedures.
Marie-Eve Veilleux
Translation Coordinator
Tel: (514) 398-6433
E-mail:
Marie-Eve.Veilleux@clinepi.mcgill.ca
Marie-Eve Veilleux completed a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology in 2007 and then pursued graduate studies in Translation to become a medical translator. She has experience as a freelance translator for studies in Epidemiology and in Rheumatology. Marie-Eve is also very involved with different arthritis advocacy groups and other organizations providing services to people with disabilities. Her role in the CLSA is to coordinate the translation process of all CLSA documents.