Ram Mishaal

Overview: As the Senior Medical Director of Child Development and Rehabilitation at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH)/ Sunny Hill Health Centre , and the Medical Director of the Neuromotor Program , Dr. Mishaal’s main clinical research interests involve neuromotor rehabilitation and cerebral palsy for children and youth. He leads the CP Early Diagnosis Initiative, including the provincial Early Motor Screening Program and the CP Early Diagnosis Clinic, he is the BC site investigator for the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry, and is an investigator on multiple CP, rehabilitation and child development projects. He has also been the founder and lead of the Specialized Pediatric Rehabilitation OUTpatient (SPROUT) program at BCCH.
Publications: Baclofen and Botulinum Toxin A Use in Tone Management for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Review of Current Literature and Research Gaps in Pre- and Perioperative Care
Pediatric Neurology
Michael Li and Naama Rozen and Kate Wortley and Ram Mishaal
DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2025.07.018
11/2025
Investigating Pediatricians’ Practice, Knowledge, and Barriers in Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy
Children
Vivian Wong and Stacey D. Miller and Olivia Scoten and Mor Cohen-Eilig and Stephanie Glegg and Angie Ip and Chetna Jetha and Kishore Mulpuri and Maureen O’Donnell and Ram Mishaal
DOI: 10.3390/children12091274
09/2025
A new care pathway for the diagnosis of cerebral palsy among community pediatricians
Paediatrics & Child Health
Olivia Scoten and Vivian Wong and Mor Cohen-Eilig and Ram A Mishaal
DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxae108
08/2025
Trying to be an Early BIRD: An exploration of factors impacting British Columbia’s intervention referral and diagnosis of cerebral palsy
Paediatrics & Child Health
Taylor McIntosh and Vivian Wong and Akshdeep Sandhu and Mor Cohen-Eilig and Ram Mishaal
DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxae076
06/2025
Stability of the Gross Motor Function Classification System over time in children with cerebral palsy
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Menal Huroy and Tarannum Behlim and John Andersen and David Buckley and Darcy Fehlings and Adam Kirton and Nicole Pigeon and Ram A. Mishaal and Ellen Wood and Michael Shevell and Maryam Oskoui
DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15375
08/2022
Appraising the need for audiological assessment before autism spectrum disorder referral
Paediatrics and Child Health (Canada)
Mishaal, R.A. and Weikum, W.M. and Brooks, B. and Derry, K. and Lanphear, N.E.
DOI: 10.1093/pch/pxab097
2022
Oxytocin for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children,Ocytocine pour le traitement du trouble du spectre de l'autisme chez les enfants
Canadian Family Physician
Griffiths, J.L. and Mishaal, R.A. and Nabetani, M. and Goldman, R.D.
DOI: 10.46747/cfp.6802106
2022
Oxytocin for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children
Canadian Family Physician
Griffiths, J.L. and Mishaal, R.A. and Nabetani, M. and Goldman, R.D.
DOI: 10.46747/cfp.6802103
2022
Baclofen Toxicity in Children With Acute Kidney Injury: Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Child Neurology Open
Ram A. Mishaal and Nancy E. Lanphear and Erez Armarnik and Esias R. van Rensburg and Douglas G. Matsell
DOI: 10.1177/2329048X20937113
01/2020
Age of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is associated with child's variables and parental experience
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Mishaal, R.A. and Ben-Itzchak, E. and Zachor, D.A.
DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2014.04.001
2014
Is there clinical benefit to routine enzyme testing of patients on statins?
Expert Opinion on Drug Safety
Elhayany, A. and Mishaal, R.A. and Vinker, S.
DOI: 10.1517/14740338.2012.630659
2012
Renal failure and low molecular weight heparins. A dangerous liaison? The case of retroperitoneal hematoma
Israel Medical Association Journal
Szyper Kravitz, M. and Mishaal, R.A. and Shoenfeld, Y.
2005
Research: Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry
The national Canadian Cerebral Palsy (CP) Registry is a nation-wide collection of medical and social information about children with cerebral palsy. BC Children’s Hospital is the partner representing the province of BC where Dr. Mishaal has been the primary site investigator since July 2020. His team is currently undertaking an analysis using data from the Registry with the hopes of creating a general profile of BC children and youth diagnosed with CP, and exploring how different medical and environmental factors impact the age of diagnosis and the age of referral for interventions.
Understanding the Etiology of Cerebral Palsy and the Influence of Genetic Etiology on Hip Displacement
A project in collaboration with Child Health BC to explore the etiologies of cerebral palsy in the hip surveillance registry population. Data analysis stage. Co-investigator since Aug 2021.
Estimating Prevalence and Incidence of Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Children and Youth in BC
In collaboration with Child Health BC, this study uses multiple, linked, health administrative databases and predictive modelling to estimate the prevalence and incidence of CP in children and youth in BC. These estimates will inform recruitment into the Hip Surveillance Clinical Program, and select indicators will be collected for ongoing population-level surveillance.
BCI- Brain Computer Integration Study
As part of the Canadian BCI group (Led by Dr. Adam Kirton, University of Calgary). The technology has been used in 3 sites in Canada and currently we are working on doing a pilot in 3 other sites.
Evaluating the Early Motor Screening Program (EMSP)
Data analysis of outcomes, correlation between age of diagnosis, risk factors and socio-demographic factors, and analysis of the potential environmental and economic benefits of doing remote assessments (virtual)
Baclofen - Pilot (Non-Randomized) Trial
Using an intervention and control group, to provide evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of increasing Baclofen dose prior to Orthopedic surgery.
Experiences of Parents and Caregivers with the Remote General Movement Assessment for Early Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis.
Virtual CIMT Study
Development of virtual reality functional Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) module and neuro/biofeedback based treatment for hemiparesis in cerebral palsy. Partnered with Tel-Aviv Medical Centre, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.

Research Group Members

Anshvir Bhangoo, Undergraduate student
Joel Ewert, Medical student
Mia Francl, Clinical Fellow, Department of Pediatrics
Olivia Ireland, FLEX program medical student
Michael Li, BCCHER medical student
Naama Rozen, ARU&NMP Research Manager
Nadia Ulanowska, Research Assistant student
Isabelle Vaux, FLEX program medical student
Arshdeep Waring, FLEX program medical student
Vivian Wong, Graduate Academic Assistant

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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