Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext: 27817
Fax: (905) 521-0069
Office: Rm. 450, IAHS
Email: vrkljan@mcmaster.ca
Curriculum Vitae: Download

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.

Research Specialty

Brenda's area of research is in driver rehabilitation and community mobility across the lifespan as well as technology use and participation in older adulthood.

Fun Fact

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

MSc OT, McMaster University
2010-2011
Term 1: Wellness, Health & Occupation: PBL, Course Coordinator and Tutor
Term 4: Youth & Development of Self: Evidence-Based Practice, Guest Facilitator         
Term 5: Adulthood, Community & Participation: PREP, Course Coordinator & Guest Facilitator 
Terms 4-6: Evidence-Based Practice Research Study, Supervisor

2009-2010
Term 1: Wellness, Health & Occupation: PBL, Course Coordinator and Tutor
Term 2: Person, Environment & Occupation: PREP, Course Coordinator
Term 4: Youth & Development of Self: Evidence-Based Practice, Guest Facilitator         
Term 5: Adulthood, Community & Participation: PREP, Course Coordinator & Guest Facilitator 
Terms 4-6: Evidence-Based Practice Research Study, Supervisor

2008-2009
Term 1: Wellness, Health & Occupation: PBL, Course Coordinator and Tutor
Term 2: Person, Environment & Occupation: PREP, Course Coordinator
Term 4: Youth & Development of Self: Evidence-Based Practice, Guest Facilitator         
Term 6: Complexities of Contemporary Practice: Professional Practicum, Supervisors (2 students), at role emerging placement at Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
Terms 4-6: Evidence-Based Practice Research Study, Supervisor

Recent Research

• 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)]

Project Title: Evaluating Policies and Procedures in Canada for Determining Fitness-to-Drive and Licensure Recommendations
Investigators: Vrkljan, B. & Myers, A. (Co-PIs), Marshall, S., & Blanchard, R.
Funding Agency: Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF)
Amount: $146,788
Funding Period: 2009-2011.

Project Title: Addition of Canadian data to the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAFTS) online web database
Investigators: Myers, A. (PI), Vrkljan, B., & Marshall, S.
Funding Agency: Transport Canada
Amount: $24,668
Funding Period: 2010

Project Title: Innovations in Child
Investigators: Snowden, A., Altenhof, W., & Vrkljan, B. (Co-PIs), Kobti, Z, Kent, R., Moussa, W., Cretu, E., & Boyd, H. 
Funding Agency: SafetyAuto21-Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE)
Amount: $310,000
Funding Period: 2009-2011

Project Title: Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)
Investigators: Raina, P., Wolfson, C. Kirkland, S. (Co-PIs), Vrkljan, B. et al. (1 of 160 Co-Investigators and Collaborators)
Funding Agency: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Amount: $23,500,000
Funding Period: 2008-2012.

Project Title: Safe Transportation for Seniors
Investigators: Bédard, M., & Polgar Miller, J. (PIs), Hagler, P., Johnson, M., McAuliffe, J., Michaud, F., Porter, M., Shaw, L., Vrkljan, B.
Funding Agency: Auto21-Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE)
Amount: $237,450
Funding Period: 2009-2011