RESEARCH

My program of research is a reflection of my personal commitment to improve the lives of children and youth who live with mental health challenges and those who have been exposed to violence. I incorporate socio-cognitive and ecological models, implementation science, and mixed method research designs to: (a) characterize the experiences of violence and mental health challenges among children and adolescents; (b) develop and evaluate health professional education interventions to improve practitioner recognition and response to those affected by violence and mental health challenges; (c) implement and evaluate clinical interventions to reduce the recurrence of childhood victimization, as well as associated mental health impairment; and (d) educate new health professionals and scientists in each of the aforementioned areas.

CURRENT GRANTS AS PRINCIPAL & CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

2022-2024 “Fostering Child and Adolescent Resilience through Emotion (‘Families CARE’) Project.” Principal Investigator: Melissa Kimber; Co-Investigators: Harriet MacMillan, Gina Dimitropoulos, Andrea Gonzalez, Gillian England-Mason, Paul Arnold. Hamilton Health Sciences New Investigator Award: $50,000

2018-2023 “Preparing Providers to Recognize and Respond to Family Violence.” Principal Investigator (PI): Melissa Kimber; Co-Principal Investigators: Donna Stewart & Meredith Vanstone; Co-Investigators: Delphine Collin-Vezina, Gina Dimitropoulos; Consultants: Christine Wekerle; Dawn Martin-Hill; Advisor: Harriet MacMillan. Public Health Agency of Canada: $798,225

2021-2023 “Psychological First Aid Training to Address COVID-19 Related Stressors.” Principal Investigator: Melissa Kimber; Co-Principal Investigators: Sheila Harms & Noam Soreni; Co-Investigators: Harriet MacMillan, Maggie Inrig, Ellen Lipman, Roberto Sassi, Anita Acai, David Streiner, Alexander Drossos. Canadian Institutes of Health Research: $143,204

2021-2023 “Evaluating an Educational Intervention for Improving Residents’ Recognition and Response to Child Maltreatment – A Mixed Method Acceptability and Feasibility Study with a Pilot Randomized Trial.” Principal Investigator: Melissa Kimber; Co-Investigators: Donna Stewart & Meredith Vanstone; Co-Principal Knowledge User: Harriet MacMillan. Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada Medical Education Research Grant: $49, 985

2021-2023 “Evaluating an Educational Intervention for Improving Provider Recognition and Response to IPV Experienced by Veterans and their Families – A Mixed Method Pilot Randomized Trial.” Principal Investigator: Melissa Kimber; Co-Investigators: Donna Stewart & Meredith Vanstone, Fardous Hosseiny, MaryAnn Notarianni, Ashlee Mulligan. Advisor: Harriet MacMillan. Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families: $100,268.

2021-2022 “Psychological First Aid Training to Address COVID-19 Related Stressors in Hospital Staff & their Patients.” Principal Investigator: Melissa Kimber; Co-Principal Investigators: Sheila Harms & Noam Soreni; Co-Investigators: Harriet MacMillan, Steven Selchen. Joseph Brant Hospital Mental Health Research Program (Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation): $100,147.