ENHANCE or ‘Exploring the natural history of chronic disease self-management and health resource utilization after stroke’ is now recruiting participants!
For more information on this study please contact Dr. Elise Wiley at elise.wiley@ubc.ca or ok.strokeresearch@ubc.ca
The UBC Okanagan Stroke Research Lab recently held an open house during H20 Kelowna’s monthly Mix and Mingle event. Individuals were invited to ask questions, learn about advancements in research, gain information for participating in clinical trials, and obtain resources for after-stroke supports.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support!
The POWER intervention is a 10-week progressive strength training. It was developed in recognition of the small body of research that has focused on strength training after stroke, and even smaller one focused on building muscle power. The results from our initial feasibility study of POWER (POWER-Feasibility) were very promising, showing that the exercise program was safe for community-dwelling people living with chronic stroke, and may improve stroke recovery. We are now conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial of POWER (POWER-Pilot) and currenting recruiting participants!
For more information or to enroll in POWER please contact kenny.noguchi@ubc.ca
As Kelowna’s homepage for news, CASTANET reaches many individuals within the Okanagan. Read their story “Kelowna woman launches lawn bowling event to heighten awareness about women’s heart health” to learn more about the event and our patient partner, Jennifer Monaghan!
Lab members Dr. Brodie Sakakibara, Dr. Elise Wiley, and Michelle Yang recently attended the 2025 World Physiotherapy Congress in Tokyo, Japan!
Listen to Dr. Sakakibara’s recent CBC radio interview talking about our upcoming ‘Understanding Stroke Research in the Okanagan‘ event in Vernon, BC!
At the ORL branch Vernon Library, panelists dicussed the latest in stroke research advancements, clinical trials, resources and supports!
An evening of friendly competition and heartfelt purpose at the Lawn Bowling Social Fundraiser in support of The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance. Hosted at the beautiful Kelowna Lawn Bowling Club in City Park, this casual summer night out included lawn bowling, a silent auction, raffle prizes, and a BBQ, with all proceeds supporting life-saving research, education, and awareness through the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance!
The event was led by our patient partner, Jennifer Monaghan, a passionate women’s heart health advocate. At just 43, Jennifer experienced a life-altering stroke and diagnosis of cardiomyopathy—despite having no prior symptoms or risk factors. Her recovery journey led her to advocacy and volunteering, and she now channels her story into action, awareness, and support for others. Learn more about Jennifer’s story here: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/stories/heart-failure-heart-function-jennifers-story
Congratulations to Dr. Elise Wiley, who received two prestigious postdoctoral fellowship awards from Michael Smith Health Research BC and StrokeCOG!
Dr. Wiley is looking at one-year self-management and health resource use trajectories among individuals who have had a recent stroke. Her primary research area is chronic disease self-management after stroke with a particular focus on health resource utilization and sex-based considerations.
Dr. Wiley received the Michael Smith Health Research BC trainee award for her work in ‘Exploring the natural history of chronic disease self-management and health resource utilization after stroke’.
Additionally, she received the StokeCOG clinical trail training program award for her work in ‘Optimizing stroke recovery in women through accessible modalities of health service delivery: A sex-and-gender-based analysis of the TeleRehabilitation with Aims to Improve Lower Extremity Recovery (TRAIL) Clinical Trail’.
