Dr. Vivian Mushahwar, Director

Dr. Vivian Mushahwar is the Director of the SMART Network. She is also 

a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Functional Restoration and a Professor 

in the Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.

Her work focuses on developing intelligent wearable and implantable neural prostheses that restore mobility and prevent secondary complications. 

She also focuses on developing creative rehabilitation interventions that are 

both efficacious and cost-saving. She pioneered the development of micro-implants for stimulating the spinal cord in restoring standing and walking after paralysis, 

as well as the development of the wearable garments, Smart-e-Pants and the SOCC, for preventing pressure injuries and deep vein thrombosis.

Mahdi Tavakoli is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada. He received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, in 2005. In 2006, he was a post-doctoral researcher at Canadian Surgical Technologies and Advanced Robotics (CSTAR), Canada. In 2007-2008, he was an NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University, USA. Dr. Tavakoli’s research interests broadly involve the areas of robotics and systems control. Specifically, his research focuses on rehabilitation robotics and image-guided surgery. Dr. Tavakoli is the lead author of Haptics for Teleoperated Surgical Robotic Systems (World Scientific, 2008). He is a Senior Member of IEEE, Specialty Chief Editor for Frontiers in Robotics and AI (Robot Design Section), and an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Robotics Research, IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, IEEE TMECH/AIM Emerging Topics Focused Section, and Journal of Medical Robotics Research.

Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell is a Biomedical Engineer and credentialed Clinical Scientist. He has dedicated his academic career to the study of secondary complications of physical disability and their underlying causes. He has also been advancing the implementation of technologies and processes to enable rehabilitation assessments of patients in rural settings. 

As the designer and developer of the Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory (RRL, the Virtual Reality and Robotics Core of the SMART Network) in the Edmonton Clinic 

Health Academy, his team creates advanced virtual reality and augmented reality systems for a wide range of applications in healthcare. The RRL also uses a unique virtual reality ergometer for the biomechanical and physiological conditions faced by long-term wheelchair users and elite wheelchair athletes. 

Dr. Ferguson-Pell is one of the founders of the SMART Network. 

Dr. Nizam Ahmed obtained his MD from Dow Medical College in Pakistan as a Gold Medalist. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine and residency in Neurology at the New York Medical College and Medical College of Wisconsin respectively, followed by a Fellowship in Epilepsy and Neurophysiology at the Yale University School of Medicine.

He is currently a Professor in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Neurology at the University of Alberta. He is also the Medical Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Lab and Visiting Faculty at the Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi, Pakistan. He is a past President of the Canadian League against Epilepsy.

His main areas of focus include epilepsy and epilepsy surgery, electroencephalography (EEG), biological signal processing, and machine learning applied to EEG and MRI. His research projects include computer assisted diagnosis of epileptogenic lesion on the MRI of brain, machine learning and signal processing of the EEG signal and telehealth.

Dr. Jacqueline Hebert is Professor in the Division of Physical Medicine 

& Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, and Research Affiliate at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. She is also the Program Director for NSERC CREATE in Sensory Motor Rehabilitative Technology (SMART)—a world-class, industry-informed, interdisciplinary training program for industry-ready grads in the rapidly expanding field of next-generation adaptive rehabilitation technology.

Her research team studies advanced motor control and sensory feedback systems for upper limb myoelectric devices, under a group of projects known as Bionic Limbs for Improved Natural Control(BLINC). The BLINC Lab is an interdisciplinary lab where medical, science, and engineering researchers collaborate to improve the control and performance of robotic prostheses. 

Dr. Patricia Dolez is an Assistant Professor in Textile Science in the Department 

of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta. She holds an engineering degree 

in Materials Science and a Ph.D. in Physics. Her expertise includes textiles, polymers, and composites. She is especially interested in the application of nanotechnologies, smart textiles, natural fibres, and recycled materials in personal protective equipment and other textile-based products as well as in the aging behavior of protective materials. Her research in the area of nanotechnologies includes the development of graphene-based end-of-life sensors for fire protective fabrics and multifunctionalized dual-electrospun nanocomposite nano-fibrous webs for protection against chemical and biological hazards.

Dr. Dolez has authored more than 100 articles in books, scientific and technical journals, and conference proceedings. She is also the editor of a book entitled “Nanoengineering: Global Approaches to Health & Safety Issues” published 

in 2015 by Elsevier, and co-editor of a book entitled "Advanced Characterization and Testing of Textiles" published in 2017 also by Elsevier. She is a member of 

the Canadian mirror committee on ISO/TC 229 on nanotechnologies and chairs 

the Canadian mirror committee on ISO/TC 94 SC13 on protective clothing. 

She is the Vice-President of the Institute of Textile Science.

As the Operations Manager for the SMART Network, Michelle works with the four cores, Principal Investigators, Research Services Office and other stakeholder members to implement the appropriate framework for planning, prioritizing and developing the network with a business unit that can move products towards commercialization. 

She is also the lead Quality Assurance for our pre-clinical testing facility at the University of Alberta. She has brought many years of experience to help develop the SMART Network’s GLP facility as well as implement a quality management system into existing labs.

Dr. Vanessa Incani is a dedicated professional with a diverse and impressive background in research, administration, finance, and management. With a proven track record of success in various roles, Vanessa has consistently demonstrated expertise in driving organizational growth, optimizing financial management, and facilitating research initiatives.

As an Operation Manager, she is the liaison between the iSMART team and the business ST Innovation teams cultivating client-centric cultures and delivering high-quality products that exceed expectations.

Prior to joining our team, Dr. Incani worked at two start-up companies for medical devices development and green technology applications (Innovotech Inc. and TerraVerda Bioworks Inc.) as a Scientist, Quality Coordinator and Operation & Finance Manager and as a SR&ED Technical Advisor at Newriver Professional Corporation. Within those different roles, she showcased her capacity to cultivate diverse talent pools, implement streamlined processes, nurture cultures of innovation and collaboration and consistently deliver projects punctually and within financial limits.

Furthermore, she also worked at the University of Alberta for 8 years in different capacities and managed multimillion-dollar portfolios in those roles, oversaw research initiatives, adeptly nurtured stakeholder relationships, and gained expertise on the principles of research funding administration, University and sponsor policies and procedures.

Meet Nicole, our Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Nicole brings a passion for visual storytelling and enthusiasm for imaginative and unconventional approaches to traditional challenges. With five years of experience in communications and marketing, Nicole possesses a keen eye for detail and a wide range of specializations.

Prior to joining the iSMART team, Nicole worked with a diverse clientele, including, but not limited to, Indigenous Nations and organizations, educational institutions, responsible resource sectors, and municipal, provincial and federal governments. Her rewarding experiences collaborating with Indigenous communities have enriched her work and instilled a profound appreciation for unique perspectives and values.