Special Seminar June 2025

Special BAMH & CNH June Seminar

Speaker: Prof Janaina Mourao Miranda, A/Prof Shannon Scratch and A/Prof Sarah Knight

30 June 2025

Special BAMH & CNH June Seminar

Professor Janaina Mourao-Miranda's Bio:

Professor Janaina Mourao-Miranda leads the Machine Learning and Neuroimaging Lab at the Computer Science Department, University College London (UCL). She obtained her first degree in Electronic Engineering at Federal University of Para (Brazil) in 1995. She then pursued an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and a PhD in Neuroscience at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), completing in 2002. After her PhD, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Neural Computation at Siemens, Munich, Germany (2003–2005) and at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, UK (2005–2009). She pioneered the application of machine learning methods to neuroimaging analysis, addressing both cognitive and clinical neuroscience questions. In 2009 she was awarded a Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship to set up her independent research group at UCL and in 2013 she was awarded a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship. Since 2011 she has led the development of the open-source Pattern Recognition for Neuroimaging toolbox (PRoNTo). Her research focuses on developing and applying machine learning models to combine multiple sources of information for patient stratification and outcome prediction in mental health.

Associate Professor Shannon Scratch's Bio:

Dr. Shannon Scratch is a Senior Clinician Scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. She is a practicing Clinical Neuropsychologist and her research program and hospital clinic are dedicated to youth experiencing prolonged symptoms post-concussion and acquired brain injury, and their caregivers and families. She holds foundation and tri-council funding and is especially interested in the development and testing of new interventions for these youths. She holds the Holland Family Professorship in Acquired Brain Injury and is the director of the Neurehab Outcomes via Education & Learning (NOvEL) Lab. She is passionate about fostering youth and family engagement in research and is the past co-Chair of the Research Family Engagement Committee at Holland Bloorview.

Associate Professor Sarah Knight's Bio:
A/Prof Sarah Knight is a clinical neuropsychologist, researcher and educator with over 15 years’ experience. She is a Senior Lecturer within the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne where she teaches paediatric neuropsychology in the postgraduate professional training programs. Sarah is an Honorary Principal Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, and an Honorary Fellow Manager/Team Leader in Neurodisability and Rehabilitation at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. She is co-Chair of the Brain Injury and Rehabilitation Interest Group of the Australian Paediatric Neuropsychology Research Network (APNRN). Sarah’s research focuses on co-developing innovative, interdisciplinary rehabilitation approaches for children with neurodisability. She has a strong commitment to partnering with young people, families, and clinicians in research, and uses inclusive participatory research methods and implementation science to create change and improve systems and services.