Paul van Donkelaar, PhD

(He, Him, His)

Professor

Faculty of Health and Social Development, Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, School of Health and Exercise Sciences
On Leave Until: September 1, 2024
Office: ADM006K
Phone: 250.863.3230
Email: paul.vandonkelaar@ubc.ca

Graduate student supervisor



Research Summary

Dr. van Donkelaar's research focuses on gaining a better understanding of traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to sports concussion or intimate partner violence.

Dr. van Donkelaar is currently not accepting any new graduate students.

Degrees

1987: B.P.E. – University of British Columbia
1990: M.P.E. – University of British Columbia
1994: Ph.D. – University of Calgary

Research Interests & Projects

The research being undertaken by my team focuses on gaining a better understanding of traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to sports concussion or intimate partner violence. For this purpose, we measure cerebrovascular, neurocognitive, sensorimotor, and blood biomarker variables using a suite of state-of-the-art equipment.

For our research on intimate partner violence, we are using an integrated knowledge translation approach with the goal of co-designing and creating TBI-informed tools and resources for those working in a variety of sectors supporting survivors.

Current Lab Members:

Recent Lab Alumni:

Selected Publications & Presentations

Peer-reviewed publications (last 5 years)

Wallace, C., Smirl, J.D., Adhikari, S.P., Jones, K.E., Reiger, M., Rothlander, K., van Donkelaar, P. (2024) Neurovascular coupling is altered in women who have a history of brain injury from intimate partner violence: A preliminary study. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, in press.

Esopenko, C., Jain, D., Adhikari, S.P., Dams-O’Connor, K., Ellis, M., Haag, H., Hovenden, E., Keleger, F., Koerte, I., Lindsey, H.M., Marshall, A.D., Mason, K., McNally, J.S., Menefee, D., Merkley, T.L., Read, E., Rojczyk, P., Schultz, S., Sun, M., Toccalino, D., Valera, E., van Donkelaar, P., Wellington, C., Wilde, E. (2024) Intimate partner violence-related brain injury: Unmasking and addressing the gaps. Journal of Neurotrauma, in press.

Zhang, C., Bartels, L., Clansey, A., Kloiber, J., Bondi, D., van Donkelaar, P., Wu, L., Rauscher, A., Songbai, J. (2024) A computational pipeline towards large-scale and multiscale modelling of diffuse axonal injury. Computers in Biology and Medicine, in press.

Harris-Gendron, S., Dow-Fleisner, S., van Donkelaar, P., Mason, K.(2023) Quality of life instruments for survivors of brain injury from intimate partner violence: A scoping review. Journal of Public Health and Emergency, in press.

Harris-Gendron, S., Dow-Fleisner, S., van Donkelaar, P., Mason, K. (2023) Assessing measures of resilience and posttraumatic growth for use among survivors of intimate partner violence-related brain injury: A scoping review. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 9: 160-179.

Nicol, B., Adhikari, S., Shwed, A., Ashton, S., Mriduraj, A., Mason, K., Gainforth, H., Babul, S., van Donkelaar, P. (2023) The Concussion Awareness Training Tool for Women’s Support Workers Improves Knowledge of Intimate Partner Violence-Caused Brain Injury. Inquiry, in press.

Adhikari, S.P., Maldonado-Rodriguez, N., Smiley, S.C., Lewis, C.D., Horst, M.D., Lai, C.W.J., Matthews, N.L., Mason, K., Varto, H., van Donkelaar, P. (2023) Characterizing possible acute brain injury in women experiencing intimate partner violence: A retrospective chart review. Violence Against Women, in press.

Adhikari, S.P., Maldonado-Rodriguez, N., Smirl, J.D., Boyle, Q., Mason, K., van Donkelaar, P. (2023) Cognitive-motor deficits and psychopathological comorbidities in intimate partner violence-related brain injury. In C. Martin, V.R. Preesy, V.B. Patel (Eds). Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence, 1-27.

Boyle, Q., Illes, J., Simonetto, D., van Donkelaar, P. (2022) Ethicolegal considerations of screening for brain injury in women who have experienced intimate partner violence. Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 9.

Trotman, M., Kennefick, M., Coughlin, S., van Donkelaar, P., Dalton, B.H. (2022) The effect of increased cognitive processing on reactive balance control following perturbations to the upper limb. Experimental Brain Research, 240:1317-1329.

Smirl, J.D., Peacock, D., Burma, J., Wright, A.D., Bouliane, K.J., Dierijck, J., Kennefick, M., Wallace, C., van Donkelaar, P. (2022) An acute bout of controlled subconcussive impacts can alter dynamic cerebral autoregulation indices: A preliminary investigation. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 122: 1059-1070.

Boyle, Q., van Donkelaar, P., Illes, J. (2021) Methods in neuroethics. Encyclopedia of Behavioural Neuroscience, 2nd Ed. (Della Sala, S. (Ed)), pp. 240-245.

Esopenko, C., Meyer, J., Wilde, E.A., Marshall, A.D., Tate, D.F., Lin, A.P., Koerte, I.K., Werner, K.B., Dennis, E.L., Ware, A.L., de Souza, N.L., Menefee, D.S., Dams-O’Connor, K., Stein, D.J., Bigler, E.D., Shenton, M.E., Chiou, K.S., Postmus, J.L., Monahan, K., Eagan-Johnson, B., van Donkelaar, P., Merkley, T.L,, Velez, C., Hodges, C.B., Lindsey, H.M., Johnson, P., Irimia, A., Spruiell, M., Bennett, E.R., Bridwell, A., Zieman, G., Hillary, F.G. (2021) A global collaboration to study intimate partner violence-related head trauma: The ENIGMA consortium IPV working group. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 15:475-503.

Maldonado-Rodriguez, N., Crocker, C.G.V., Taylor, E., Jones, K.E., Rothlander, K., Smirl, J., Wallace, C., van Donkelaar, P. (2021) Characterization of cognitive-motor function in women who have experienced intimate partner violence-related brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma, 38:2723-2730.

Nicol, B., van Donkelaar, P., Mason, K., Gainforth, H (2021) Using behavior change theory to understand how to support screening for traumatic brain injuries among women who have experienced intimate partner violence. Women’s Health Reports, 2: 305-315.

Smirl, J.D., Peacock, D., Wright, A.D., Bouliane, K.J., Dierijck, J., Burma, J.S., Kennefick, M., Wallace, C., van Donkelaar, P. (2020) An acute bout of soccer heading subtly alters neurovascular coupling metrics, Frontiers in Neurology, doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00738.

Kennefick, M., McNeil, C.J., Burma, J.S., Copeland, P.V., van Donkelaar, P., Dalton, B.H. (2020) Modulation of vestibular-evoked responses prior to simple and complex arm movements. Experimental Brain Research, 238:869-881.

Dierijck, J.K., Kennefick, M., Smirl, J.D., Dalton, B.H., van Donkelaar, P. (2020) Attention is required to coordinate reaching and postural stability during upper limb movements generated while standing. Journal of Motor Behavior, 52, 79-88.

Selected Grants & Awards

CIHR National Women’s Health Research Initiative – Innovation Fund
Title: Blood biomarkers to detect brain injury due to intimate partner violence
Amount: $149,720
Period: 2024-2025
Principal Investigator: Shultz, S (Vancouver Island University) (Role: Co-I)

Michael Smith Health Research BC Foundation C2 Award
Title: Ethicolegal implications of screening for intimate partner violence-caused brain injury: Co-creating research priorities and practice recommendations
Amount: $15,000
Period: 2023-2024
Principal Investigator: van Donkelaar, P.

College and Community Social Innovation Fund
Title: Applying concussion recovery technology to support survivors of intimate partner violence
Amount: $358,000
Period: 2023-2026
Principal Investigator: Ferns, A (Algonquin College) (Role: Collaborator)

New Frontiers in Research Fund Exploration Grant
Title: Biomarkers and treatment for intimate partner violence: Insights into a shadow pandemic
Amount: $250,000
Period: 2022-2024
Principal Investigator: Shultz, S (Vancouver Island University) (Role: Co-I)

CIHR Project Grant
Title: A prospective and longitudinal investigation of concussive and subconcussive mild traumatic brain injury mechanisms in ice hockey
Amount: $944,776
Period: 2020-2025
Principal Investigator: Wu, L. (UBCV) (Role: Co-PI)

CIHR Project Grant
Title: Using Cerebrovascular Biomarkers to Characterize Traumatic Brain Injury associated with Intimate Partner Violence
Amount: $252,450
Period: 2020-2023
Principal Investigator: van Donkelaar, P.

Department of Women and Gender Equality
Title: Generating and Translating Knowledge on Intimate Partner Violence and Traumatic Brain Injury
Amount: $1,000,000
Period: 2019-2024
Principal Investigator: van Donkelaar, P.

Media

Recent Media Coverage:

1 in 8 Women will suffer a brain injury from domestic violence. CTV News Saskatoon, October 2023

‘This Isn’t My Story’. CTV News Vancouver, May 2023

Former Canuck partners on hair-raising domestic violence awareness video with YWCA. Global News, May 2023.

The legal system works against survivors of intimate partner violence. CBC Daybreak South, April 2023.

‘I Got a Brain Injury and a Life Sentence’: The Hidden Legacy of Male Violence Against Women. The Guardian, April 2023.

Women Suffering Brain Injuries from Intimate Partner Violence At Risk of Injury Being Used Against Them in Court. Globe & Mail, March 2023.

Brain Injury from Abuse Puts Women at Risk in Court. The Tyee, February 2023.

Brain Injury in Intimate Partner Violence. BBC Radio Women’s Hour, February 2023.

Strangulation Clinic in Surrey offers Specialized Care for Survivors of Partner Violence. CBC News, February 2023.

How Does Intimate Partner Violence Affect Women’s Brains. Globe & Mail, December 2022.

Domestic Violence Causes Concussion. Vancouver Sun, October 2022.

The Hidden Epidemic of Brain Injuries from Domestic Violence. The New York Times Magazine, March 2022.

 

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