Grants and Contributions:
Title:
Virtual reality cognitive remediation in depression: efficacy of the bWell-D Cognitive Care Platform
Agreement Number:
1000551
Agreement Value:
$343,585.00
Agreement Date:
Feb 8, 2023 - Dec 31, 2025
Description:
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of global disability.
Cognitive remediation, a behaviorally based cognitive training method,
improves performance on cognitive tests in MDD, but benefits have limited
transfer to real world settings. Immersive virtual reality (VR), which presents
tasks in interactive and naturalistic environments, has the potential to
enhance the real world applicability of cognitive remediation. As part of a
previous R&D effort, the University of British Columbia and NRC have
collaboratively developed the bWell Cognitive Care Platform for Depression
(bWell-D), which addresses cognitive deficits associated with MDD.
In this Project, a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted to
acquire evidence that bWell-D meets feasibility criteria to advance to a largescale definitive RCT to fully validate clinical efficacy. Preliminary estimates of
efficacy and outcome variance will optimize the protocols for the large-scale
trial. Comprehensive datasets will be collected, including clinical rating
scales, functional/quality of life measures, neurocognitive testing, highly
grained VR exercise logs and electroencephalography (EEG). Using
multivariate and machine learning techniques, brain based predictors and
mediators of cognitive change will also be examined, with the potential to
open the door to individualized remediation strategies.
Organization:
National Research Council Canada
Expected Results:
In the short term, anticipated outcomes will be strengthened collaborations across industry, academia, and government to support research excellence. In the medium term, anticipated outcomes will be the development of new and potentially disruptive technologies with collaborators. In the long term, find collaborative solutions to public policy challenges and create stronger innovation systems.
Location:
Vancouver, British Columbia, CA V6T 1Z3
Reference Number:
172-2022-2023-Q4-1000551
Agreement Type:
Grant
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Recipient Business Number:
108161779
Recipient Type:
Academia
Recipient's Legal Name:
Simon Fraser University
Federal Riding Name:
Vancouver Quadra
Federal Riding Number:
59039
Program:
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Program Purpose:
Collaborate on multiparty research and development programs to catalyze transformative, high-risk, high-reward research with the potential for game-changing scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs in priority areas.
NAICS Code:
541710