Report

Research project aims to increase access to autism therapies

Globalink Research Intern at McGill University compares Brazilian and Canadian standards of care

Enter intern Ingrid Simões Monteiro, from Universidade Federal de Rondônia, in Brazil. This summer, Ingrid has been working with the Global Special Interest Group on Early Identification and Intervention in Autism at McGill University’s Department of Psychiatry. In collaboration with Professor Mayada Elsabbagh and PhD student Afiqah Yusuf, Ingrid is helping to write a research paper that compares support for autism services between Canada and her home country of Brazil. Together, they hope to better understand how children with the disorder and their families can access care, and how governments in each of the countries can make improvements to access, where necessary.

For Ingrid, the research is helping to give her a big-picture perspective of a very personal subject.

I have a cousin who has autism, but his family cannot access suitable care for him because of where they live. Doing this research is helping me to understand more about access to therapies for these children so that maybe one day I could help him, and others too.”

In addition to the research, Ingrid is enjoying a diverse experience in Quebec. “Coming to Montreal has given me a chance to know more about myself and the world. I am learning how to cook, but also cooking foods with the other Globalink students so I am also learning about their cultures.” She hints about a future in clinical psychology that also includes Canada. “Canada is a country that gives us so much potential to grow. I definitely want to come back for more studies in the future.”
 


Mitacs thanks the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec for their support of the Globalink research internship in this story. Across Canada, the Globalink program also receives support from Alberta Innovates, the Government of British Columbia, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Saskatchewan, and Research Manitoba.

In addition, Mitacs is pleased to work with international partners to support Globalink, including the China Scholarship Council, Campus France, India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development, Mexico’s Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Tunisia’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Mission Universitaire de Tunisie en Amerique du Nord.


Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: BD@mitacs.ca

Mitacs Team
Mitacs Team

Mitacs’s website content is created by people throughout our organization, united in their passion for innovation and eager to share their perspectives with others in the innovation ecosystem.