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Dr. Lonnie ZwaigenbaumAutism Research Centre Update
Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum is a developmental pediatrician and clinician-scientist, supported by an endowed chair in autism research from the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. His research focuses on early development in autism, including early detection, diagnosis and treatment, as well strategies to improve health care experience.
He has played an active role in establishing practice standards in pediatric autism care in Canada, particularly in early detection and diagnosis, where he was the lead author on Canadian Pediatric Society Practice Statements, and in guiding our national autism policy, where he served as the chair of the Oversight Panel for Autism Assessment at the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Dr. Zwaigenbaum was appointed as the Associate Director and Academic Lead, Children’s Health Research in May 2025 at the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI).
Amanda MonteyThriving with Autism and ADHD
Amanda Montey is a Registered Psychologist who works with kids, teens, and adults who are, or suspect they are ADHD and/or Autistic. Within these populations, Amanda works extensively with folks from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, often helping clients to navigate the unique circumstances presented by the ways that sexuality, gender identity, and neurotype can interact.
Amanda is ADHD, Autistic, non-binary, and queer, and they believe in drawing from their lived experience in combination with the available research, best practices, and experiences of community members to help folks meaningfully understand how best to accommodate their unique needs.
Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with their spouse and their cats, playing video games, crocheting, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends.
Dr. Lori SacreyAutism: A Multilayered Experience
Dr. Lori Sacrey is a Registered Psychologist in the province of Alberta and has been a Research Associate at the University of Alberta and Research Fellow at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital since 2016, where she works with individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.
Lori completed her PhD in Neuroscience in 2012 and was awarded the Governor General's Gold Medal for her thesis. Lori's work, both clinically and in research, is grounded in neuro-affirming approaches. She is a happily married mother of three!
Madison & Jordan FankhanelSibling Experiences in Mixed Neurotype Families
Jordan is an autistic young adult who is a speaker, an athlete, a dog lover, a movie lover, and he could name any dinosaur ever known to man. His favourite dinosaur is a Stegosaurus. Jordan lives with his parents, and his dog, Pearl!
In addition to being Jordan’s younger sister, Madison is a research coordinator at the Autism Research Centre. In her free time, Maddie loves to knit, make art, read, and above all else, hang out with her dog, George Fruit Bat Jones. Maddie is also an avid mental health advocate, as someone who struggles with her own mental illnesses.
(And if anyone was wondering, yes, Pearl and George are best friends.)
Dr. Brea ChouinardNeuroaffirming Research
Dr. Brea Chouinard is a dedicated researcher and licensed speech-language pathologist committed to advancing autism research through a neurodiversity-affirming and social justice framework. With over two decades of clinical and academic experience, she has championed a shift from a traditional deficit model to a strengths-based, equitable approach.
Beyond her formal research, Brea is a passionate advocate for community engagement and knowledge mobilization. Her active participation in initiatives focused on Access, Community, and Belonging, as well as her work supporting community-based engagement, underscores her dedication to making research findings accessible and meaningful to the people they impact.
Dr. Martin MunzGenes in Autism Linked to Brain Development
The research goal of the Munz lab is to address questions of how neuronal circuits form, how they function, and how neurodevelopmental conditions impact the development and function of brain circuits.
Dr. Martin Munz has been interested in the development and function of neuronal circuits since he was a PhD student. He has used and developed cutting-edge in vivo microscopy techniques to study the development and function of cortical circuits. He is a Principal Investigator in the Physiology Department at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Sandeep GuptaEarly Neural Development in Autism
Dr. Sandeep Gupta is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Alberta. His research models human neural development and neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism.
His lab employs advanced human-centric platforms, including stem cells, to directly investigate how autism-linked gene differences influence neural circuit formation, focusing on sensory-motor and cognitive pathways.
Dr. Gupta’s work integrates developmental biology, stem cell technology, and functional analyses to uncover mechanisms underlying autism phenotypes and to establish platforms for the development of personalized therapies for neurodevelopmental conditions.
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