Melanie McConnell

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital

Academic Affiliations

Clinical Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Research Theme

Brain, Behaviour & Development

Research Group

Implementing Knowledge for Equity and System Change

Mental Health and Behaviour

Neurodevelopmental and Neurological Disorders

Research Areas

Anxiety

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Contact

melanie.mcconnell@ubc.ca

Phone

(604) 875-2345 ext. 5576

Mailing Address

4500 Oak St
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3N1

Research: Tic Busters group pilot study
This pilot study evaluates treatment outcomes of a group adaptation of an evidence-based treatment for tics in school age children.

Facing Your Fears treatment outcome study
This study evaluates creative ways to assess anxiety in children with high-functioning autism. It also aims to better understand parent and child factors that increase treatment response to a cognitive-behavioural anxiety treatment group for children with high-functioning autism.

Grants

2012
Mental Health Research Grant ($30,000)

Honours & Awards

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
2001-2004

Stories See all

Research holds out hope for improved Rett syndrome treatment

To mark Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, BCCHR contributes to foster understanding about this complex neurological disorder that affects multiple organ systems and can lead to severe impairments that disrupt key aspects of an individual’s life — most of them female patients.

Continue reading Research holds out hope for improved Rett syndrome treatment

Mind-body connection: How to manage the physical manifestations of back-to-school stress

Returning to school after the summer break can be a source of mixed feelings for students due to a variety of stressors, including the uncertain sense of belonging and academic pressure. Experts in the field state that psychological and emotional stress can show up in the form of physical symptoms, but parents can support. Dr. Amrit Dhariwal explains how.

Continue reading Mind-body connection: How to manage the physical manifestations of back-to-school stress

How MRI innovation is helping researchers understand brain health in preterm babies

A new MRI approach shows how very preterm babies' brains use oxygen, offering fresh insight into how breathing support in the NICU might impact long-term brain health.

Continue reading How MRI innovation is helping researchers understand brain health in preterm babies

Rethinking fetal alcohol spectrum disorder for an equitable diagnosis and support to patients

A group of clinician-researchers have raised concerns about the term used to diagnose alcohol exposure in the womb — fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) — and the requirement of a diagnosis to provide patients who show neurodevelopmental impairments with access to supports and funding.

Continue reading Rethinking fetal alcohol spectrum disorder for an equitable diagnosis and support to patients

Congratulations to the 2025 Outstanding Achievement recipients

The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of our trainees in research aimed at improving the health and well-being of children and families. Generously funded by the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, this program plays a pivotal role in acknowledging and nurturing excellence within our research community. Each year, awards are given to trainees whose research skills and analytical abilities demonstrate strong potential to contribute meaningfully to the scientific community.

Continue reading Congratulations to the 2025 Outstanding Achievement recipients

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