Miriam Beauchamp

Keynote Lecture: Early Childhood Concussion: A Voice for the Vulnerable Through Developmental Innovation

Young children have the highest incidence of head injury visits to the emergency department and the annual Traumatic Brain Injury rate in children under six years old substantially exceeds that in older children and adolescents. Yet, the early childhood developmental group is one of the least studies in the field of concussion, creating an important knowledge gap in diagnostic, management, intervention and prevention approaches. This talk will shed light on this important topic by presenting findings from two longitudinal cohort studies to provide an evidence base for understanding the impact of these injuries at young ages. The study methods will highlight the ways in which developmentally-appropriate approaches can help to tease out brain- and age-specific concussion effects. Given the central role parents play at young ages, the work presented will also focus on the importance of considering caregiver perspectives in studying this population and in developing tools and treatments. Overall, the presentation will address the current state of knowledge, identify unique features and highlight misconceptions and obstacles that hinder early childhood concussion knowledge advancement, as well as suggest research, practice, and mobilisation pathways to move forward.

Bio:

Miriam Beauchamp, PhD is a neuropsychologist, Full professor in the Department of Psychology at the Université de Montréal and Head of the Brain & Development Axis at the Sainte-Justine Hospital Azrieli Research Center.  She holds the Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). With her research group of 25 members (ABCs Laboratory, https://abcs.umontreal.ca/), she conducts clinical research projects aimed at better understanding the diagnosis, prognosis and consequences of pediatric TBI and concussion, as well as validating intervention and prevention programs. Her research at the crossroads of social neuroscience and neuropsychology also contribute to the development of new assessment and intervention methods in social cognition, including dynamic, immersive technologies such as virtual reality and serious video games. These efforts have led to over 200 publications, numerous knowledge transfer initiatives for the general public, and the validation of several neuropsychological measures.

In 2017, she received the Prix du Québec “Relève scientifique”, the highest distinction awarded by the Quebec government for an early career scientist. She has received Early Career Awards from the International Neuropsychological Society (2015) and the International Brain Injury Association (2017). In 2019, she was named to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Researchers and Creators in Arts and Science, she was awarded the Quebec-Belgium Research Chair, and received the Expertise & Compétence award at the CHU Sainte-Justine recognition gala. In 2024, she was awarded the Brenda Milner Prize from the Quebec Association of Neuropsychologists (AQNP).