York University’s Knowledge Mobilization (KMb) Unit has joined forces with NeuroDevNet, a Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE), to provide knowledge translation (KT) leadership and services within the University of British Columbia-based network.
“York’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit is continuing to make an impact by supporting transformative research through knowledge translation,” said Robert Haché (left), York’s vice-president research & innovation. “We are proud of the important work York’s leading KMb Unit is providing to NeuroDevNet, and warmly welcome the new members of the knowledge translation team.”
“For seven years, York’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit has been providing professional knowledge mobilization services to York’s researchers, students and their partners to maximize the economic, social and environmental impacts of research,” said 
David Phipps (right), executive director, research & information services at York University. “I am delighted to be the knowledge translation lead for NeuroDevNet and provide services to accelerate the impact of their research and training programs on the lives of children and families living with neurodevelopmental disorders.”
Anneliese Poetz, NeuroDevNet knowledge translation manager, and Matt Calverley, knowledge translation coordinator, are being hosted in York’s KMb Unit, in suite 201, Kaneff Tower, as of this month.
“This is an exciting development for NeuroDevNet,” says Dan Goldowitz, the organization’s scientific director. “With NeuroDevNet moving strongly towards a translational phase, we are going to have many great stories to tell and then move toward important outcomes. The expertise present at York University’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit and our new KT lead, David Phipps, is hugely welcome and the network members are enthusiastically looking towards engagement with his team.”
NeuroDevNet is in its fourth year as an NCE, and has drawn together world-class researchers and clinicians across the country with expertise in three initial areas of focus, in autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy. Translation of research into practice and commercial ventures, as well as engagement with policy makers, are key elements of the NCE mission. Knowledge translation is a central pillar of the NeuroDevNet initiative, funded for an initial period of five years by the NCE and Industry Canada through the Tri-Councils.
One in six Canadian children is affected by a brain-based developmental disorder. “NeuroDevNet exists to help these children and their families overcome the challenges that stem from neurodevelopmental conditions,” adds Goldowitz. “NeuroDevNet’s research is making important strides towards that objective. I am confident our new KT team will help ensure our findings reach stakeholders who share our commitment and can put that knowledge into action.”
For more information, visit the NeuroDevNet website.