Principal Investigators
Dr. Matthew Kwan
Dr. Kwan is Associate Professor in the Department of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University, and a holder of a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Youth Mental Health and Performance. He is Co-Director of the INfant Child and youth health (INCH) lab, and Adjunct Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Kinesiology at McMaster University. Dr. Kwan has formal training in Kinesiology with a specific focus in health and exercise psychology, but his current research interests reflect a broader interdisciplinary science comprising behavioural medicine, health and exercise psychology, and population health.
PublicationsCanada Research Chair (Tier II) Youth Mental Health and Performance
Associate Professor Brock University
Dr. Denver Brown
Dr. Brown’s research focuses on understanding and promoting physical activity across the lifespan, with an emphasis on adolescence and emerging adulthood. His interdisciplinary background in kinesiology, exercise psychology, and behavioral medicine provides the foundation for an integrative research program that advances both theory and application in behavioral science. Guided by a behavioral epidemiological framework, his work centers on two core pillars: advancing and applying theory to explain physical activity behavior and guide intervention development, and quantifying the health consequences of physical (in)activity, with a particular focus on internalizing disorders. Over the past five years, his program has evolved toward a “whole day” approach that examines sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity collectively as 24-hour movement behaviors.
PublicationsAssociate Professor Kansas State University
Affiliated Scientists
Dr. Sara King-Dowling
Dr. King-Dowling is a Research Associate working jointly at the INCH lab and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Division of Oncology. She completed her PhD in Kinesiology in the INCH lab and her postdoctoral training in the Child Health and Exercise Medicine Program at McMaster. Her research focuses on exploring the multifaceted predictors and health benefits of physical activity engagement in children with neuro-developmental disorders and chronic health conditions. Sara’s favourite ways to get active are going to an F45 class and hiking!
PublicationsSenior Research Scientist, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist, American College of Sports Medicine
Dr. John Cairney
Dr. Cairney is the co-director of the INCH lab and is the head of School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland in Australia. Dr. Cairney is also an Adjunct Professor in the Departments of Public Health Sciences and Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and a core scientist with the Offord Centre for Child Studies, CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research at McMaster University, and the independent Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. He is an academic leader in the field of paediatric exercise medicine and child health research and is particularly well-known for his work on developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its impact on the health and well-being of children. He has held, among other research leadership positions, a Canada Research Chair in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and a Professorship in Child Health, and subsequently a Research Chair, in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University.
PublicationsHead of School, UQ Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences
Deputy Executive Director, UQ Office of 2032 Games Engagement
Director, Queensland Centre of Olympic and Paralympic Studies
Dr. Sujane Kandasamy
Dr. Kandasamy is a health research methodologist, mixed methods and knowledge mobilization researcher, and intersectional environmentalist. She conducts research that is community-centered, builds on the principles of co-design, and brings together multi-sectoral partners and leaders. Her work centers on improving health of people and the planet.
PublicationsAssistant Professor, Medicine, McMaster University
Research Team
Sarah Wellman-Earl
Sarah is a Research Coordinator with the INCH Lab, where she has been a valued team member since 2014. She began her work on a longitudinal cohort study exploring how poor motor coordination affects physical activity and fitness in young children. As the lab’s research expanded, Sarah contributed to a range of community-based projects involving diverse populations, including youth and young adults. Her work has incorporated emerging methodologies, such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and more recently, has focused on promoting physical literacy among newcomer communities. In addition to her work at INCH, Sarah has a strong interest in family-centred healthcare, particularly the experiences of families raising a child with a disability. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa and an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto.
PublicationsINCH Lab Trainees
Ann-Marie McNutt
Ann-Marie is a Master of Science candidate in the Department of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University. She completed her undergraduate studies at Brock, earning an Honours Bachelor of Public Health degree. Her research interests center on physical activity, physical fitness, and child development. As an undergraduate student, Ann-Marie pursued these interests through her honours thesis, which examined how developmental coordination disorder influences physical fitness trajectories in young children. Building on this foundation, Ann-Marie is eager further to integrate these research interests into her graduate work. Beyond her academic pursuits, Ann-Marie is passionate about being actively engaged within her community. She volunteers with Positive Living Niagara, Niagara North Family Health Team, Kids Help Phone, the BFIT fitness center and serves on the Social Science Research Ethics Board at Brock University. She is also a competitive equestrian who dedicates her free time to caring for and riding her horses: Cooper, Abbey, Sage, and Bentley.
Taylor Rowe
Taylor Rowe is a PhD student in the Applied Health Sciences program at Brock University and a Research Assistant in the INCH Lab. She previously completed her master’s degree in Child and Youth Studies at Brock. As an immigrant from Barbados, Taylor brings a personal lens to her research on equity in physical activity. Her work explores the psychological and emotional experiences of physical activity among newcomer girls in Canada, with a focus on understanding how feelings of discomfort, self-consciousness, and emotional tension can influence their participation. She is especially interested in identifying the psychosocial determinants that influence whether girls feel safe, confident, and supported in movement spaces.
Ava Hsieh
Ava is a Master’s student in the Child and Youth Studies program at Brock University, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in the same field. During her undergraduate thesis, supervised by Dr. Kwan, Ava investigated the relationship between adolescence and organized sport participation on mental health and well-being in emerging adulthood. Her research interests center on understanding how young people engage in physical activity and how their participation supports and shapes healthy development. This interest is largely drawn from her experience working with children as a gymnastics instructor. Promoting accessible and enjoyable opportunities for children to be active and thrive is one of Ava’s strongest motivations, and she hopes her research will further this goal.
Jayden Miller
Jayden Miller is a Master’s student in Applied Health Sciences at Brock University, where her research focuses on physical activity promotion, inclusive health, and built environments. She completed her Honours B.A.Sc. in Arts & Science and Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University, graduating summa cum laude. Alongside her academic work, Jayden is a certified personal trainer and group fitness coach, passionate about creating supportive, inclusive spaces for movement. Her broader goal is to bridge research and practice to foster healthier, more connected communities
Sophia Alongi
Sophia Alongi is currently in her fifth year of studying psychology, with a deep passion for developmental psychology in children. She has always been fascinated by how early life experiences shape who people become, and that curiosity has grown into a strong academic and personal commitment to understanding childhood development in all its complexity. At present, she is in the process of reworking her thesis in child development, a journey that has proven both challenging and rewarding. Her research is motivated by a desire to contribute to meaningful change, particularly in the ways children and families are supported through more compassionate and equitable systems. In addition to her focus on developmental psychology, Sophia is deeply interested in issues surrounding the mistreatment of minorities in child protection agencies, the importance of harm reduction, and the integration of trauma-informed approaches in both research and practice. She believes psychology has a responsibility not only to understand people but also to advocate for them, especially those who are often unheard or underserved. Outside of academics, music plays an important role in her life, with Lady Gaga being her all-time favorite artist. Ultimately, Sophia aspires to pursue a career that combines research, advocacy, and direct impact, working toward a future where all children, regardless of background, are supported in safe, inclusive, and nurturing environments.
Ryan Chen
Ryan Chen is a second year MSc student studying under the guidance of Dr. Harris at the University of Waterloo. His research aims to understand how effort related processes impact physical activity decision making.
Ryan Wood
Malak is an MSc candidate in the Applied Health Sciences department at Brock University. She completed her undergraduate degree at Brock University, where she attained an Honours Bachelor of Child Health with a minor in English Language and Literature. Malak has always been fascinated by the way children practice their cognitive abilities and emotional regulation in different contexts. She is interested in a variety of topics that pertain to children’s mental health, attachment, learning, and development. During her bachelor’s degree, Malak worked on a rapid review that explored the impact of developmental coordination disorder on positive mental health factors (such as self-confidence and self-esteem) in children. Over the years, she has been involved in a variety of child-centred programs within her community, including Brock’s Children’s Movement Program, Reading Rocks, and Let’s READ. Malak is currently involved in work with the Learning Disabilities Association of the Niagara Region as a program facilitator, and is a member of the Social Sciences Research Ethics Board at Brock University. She is interested in research ideologies that value the voice of participants, the uniqueness of individual experiences, and interdisciplinary approaches to data collection and synthesization. When Malak isn’t immersed in the world of academia, she keeps herself afloat by going on long walks and treating herself from local cafes.
Carah Holesovsky
Carah Holesovsky is a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology at Kansas State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ohio Northern University and a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Carah’s research focuses on understanding how physical activity is maintained during major life transitions, such as the transition to university. She is particularly interested in how post-intentional processes, including habit and identity, support sustained physical activity behavior during these periods of change. In her free time, she enjoys cycling or hiking with her two golden retrievers.