Our Team
Dr. Sarah MacEachern MD PhD FRCPC Principal Investigator
Dr. MacEachern is an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Calgary and a Developmental Pediatrician at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. She has a PhD in Neuroscience and specialty training in Pediatrics and Developmental Pediatrics. She leads the Precision Neurodevelopment Lab. Clinically, she sees pediatric patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and has a special interest in children and youth with NDDs who have severe behaviours of concern such as aggression or self-injury. She is also the Medical Lead for the NDD Care Coordination Project.
Dr. Myka Estes PhD MSc
Research Manager
Dr. Estes is a highly experienced researcher with more than 20 years of experience in translational interdisciplinary research. She has a PhD in Neuroscience and a Masters in Immunology. Her research interests include behaviours of concern, sleep difficulties, and patient access to care. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time in the great outdoors with her husband and dog.
Maggie Ryan, BSc
Research Assistant
Maggie was the first student to join the PN Lab, working as an undergraduate researcher and Honours student since 2023. Since completing her Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology at the University of Calgary in spring 2025, she has continued her work in the lab as a research assistant. Outside of work she enjoys painting, listening to music, and playing ringette.
Advisory Council
Research Partners
Our lab Advisory Council is comprised of neurodiverse young people and their caregivers. They oversee all work in our lab to ensure we are staying grounded in the real-world needs of children and families. They are co-applicants on our grant submissions and co-authors on our conference abstracts, poster presentations, and scientific publications. They are also active participants in many of our research projects. We host Advisory Council meetings every three months and ad hoc as needed and provide regular project updates via email. They participate in and present at our weekly lab Journal Club (when feasible) and at lab special events, like our annual research retreat.
Greta Heathcote
Greta is a family research partner with the Precision Neurodevelopment Lab along with her son, Callum. She is currently Associate Director, Work-Integrated Learning for Neurodiverse Students Initiative at the University of Calgary. Greta is interested in contributing to research that supports families of neurodivergent children and creating neuro-affirming work environments.
Callum Heathcote
Callum is an 11 year old youth research partner with Precision Neurodevelopment Lab. Keen to share his lived experiences in the research and co-design process, Callum loves to share stories, drawings, ideas, and his youthful perspectives with the research team. He is passionate about biathlon, Lego, and learning more about history.
Elizabeth Deliscar
Elizabeth is a youth research partner with Precision Neurodevelopment Lab. She is currently in grade 9. Elizabeth loves to share her lived experience, ideas and thoughts through a variety of means, including drawing, painting, and conversations with the research team. Elizabeth is passionate about science experiments, being active, and arts and crafts.
Suzanne Deliscar
Suzanne is a family research partner with the Precision Neurodevelopment Lab along with her daughter, Elizabeth. She is currently a Spanish and French legal translator and an authentication & legalization agent. Suzanne has been involved in a number of hospital and university studies as a research participant and has spent time involved with online groups that support parents of children with special needs and other caregivers.
Current Graduate Students
Noah Bloom
MSc Student, Medical Science
Noah (she/her) is a Masters student in the Medical Sciences program at the University of Calgary. She previously completed her Bachelor of Science - Honours, with a specialization in Biomedical Biology at Laurentian University. Noah has worked with autistic people and children and adults with other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in social, recreation, and long-term treatment settings. Noah is passionate about bridging scientific research with her understanding and experience of youth with NDDs to help further research in the field. Away from school, Noah enjoys playing music, hiking, baseball, and reading.
Ishnoor Nahal
PhD Student, Medical Science
Ishnoor (she/her) is a PhD student in Medical Science at the University of Calgary. She completed her Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences and Native Studies alongside a Research Certificate in Science at the University of Alberta. Her research project involves co-designing a sleep intervention for youth with neurodevelopmental disorders who have behaviors of concern as well as undertaking a clinical feasibility test of the sleep intervention. Outside of the lab, she enjoys knitting, baking, and building her knowledge regarding Indigenous Health.
Garazi Casillas Martinez
MSc Student, Neuroscience
Garazi completed her Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering as she was very interested in improving the quality of life of human beings, and gaining knowledge about the interaction between medicine and biology with technology. She joins us from the Basque Country (Spain), having decided to embark on this unique adventure of travelling to Canada to study Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. In her research project, she investigates the structural and functional properties of the brain in children with severe behaviours, while analysing the application of an innovative mock MRI scanner for the acquisition of their brain images. She is an open-minded, creative, and motivated person who loves painting, being surrounded by nature, travelling and meeting people from all over the world.
Seong Eon Ha
PhD Student, Neuroscience
Seong (he/him) is a PhD student in Neuroscience at the University of Calgary. He has a Masters in Medical Science and a Bachelor of Health Science from the University of Calgary. He has extensive experience working as a therapist for neurodiverse children and has co-founded two public health advocacy organizations.
Past Graduate Students
Simran Chahal
MSc Student, Neuroscience
Simran defended her MSc in April 2025
Current Undergraduate Researchers
Amani Ahmed
Summer Student (2024, 2025) and Undergraduate Researcher
Amani is currently completing a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Neuroscience at the University of Calgary. She joined the PN lab eager to learn more about neurodiversity and has research interests aligning with improving the processes for diagnosing neurodevelopmental disorders. During her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, and volunteering within her community.
Past Undergraduate Researchers
Maggie Ryan
Summer Student (2023, 2024) and Undergraduate Honours Researcher (2023-2025)
Tina Ram
Summer Student (2023)
Anza Momin
Summer Student (2024) and Undergraduate Researcher (Fall 2024)