Dr. Victoria Claydon

Principal Investigator

Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
Affiliated Investigator, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute 

Research Interests

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In addition to the well-known motor and sensory consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI), cardiovascular pathways can also be affected, which can cause life-threatening problems in cardiovascular control. In fact, a leading cause of mortality in SCI patients is cardiovascular disease. Through her research, Dr. Claydon hopes to shed light on the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular dysfunction after SCI.

Dr. Claydon also studies the patterns of cardiovascular adaptation that occur in response to permanent residence at high altitude. These studies have important implications for the millions of people who live and work at high altitude.

Another area of interest concerns the mechanisms underlying fainting spells, where affected individuals experience unexplained loss of consciousness, and their optimal treatment and management.

Dr. Claydon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University. She is also a Principal Investigator at ICORD.

Affiliation with organizations and societies:

  • American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)
  • American Autonomic Society
  • Physiological Society

Awards

Some of Dr. Claydon’s recent major awards and accomplishments include:

  • Travel Award (Physiological Society, 2011)
  • New Investigator Award (Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2009)
  • Best Paper Award for Excellence in Spinal Cord Injury (ASIA, 2006)
  • Best Poster Award (American Paraplegia Society, 2005)
  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship (Rick Hansen Man in Motion Research Foundation, 2005)
  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship (National Health Services, 2001)

Current Lab Members

Undergraduate Students M.Sc. Students Ph.D. Students Research Staff
Ryan Wu Farhaan Khan Elin Sober-Williams Maureen McGrath
Bianca Te Erin Williams Matthew Dorton Janelle Pennington
Rebekah Lee Brooke Hockin
Allison Campbell
Raffaele Massarotto

Recent graduates include: Esther Maas (M.Sc.), Matthew Lloyd (Ph.D.)

Trainee Awards

Year Name Award
2014 Jessica Inskip
  • Panerai Award for Best Graduate Student Poster Presentation in the category of Experimental Biology (Cerebral Autoregulation Network)
  • CIHR Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health Young Investigator Forum Travel Award (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
Kimiya Sabbaghan Poster Presentation Award at the Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology 6th Annual Research Day (Simon Fraser University)
2013 Jessica Inskip
  • Institute of Circulatory & Respiratory Health Young Investigator’s Forum Travel Award (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
  • Graduate Student Award of Merit (Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada)
2012 Jessica Inskip
  • Frederick Banting & Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship, 2012-2014 (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
  • Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health Young Investigator’s Forum Travel Award (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
  • Graduate Fellowship Research Award (Simon Fraser University)
Rianne Ravensbergen
  • Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health Young Investigator’s Forum Travel Award (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
  • Graduate Fellowship Research Award (Simon Fraser University)
  • President’s PhD Scholarship (Simon Fraser University)
  • Skills Development Travel Award (CIHR)
  • Graduate Student Society Professional Development Grant (Simon Fraser University)
Brett Shaw
  • Graduate Fellowship Research Award (Simon Fraser University)
  • Sulzer Bingham Pumps Graduate Scholarship (Simon Fraser University)
  • Mahama Ghandi Graduate Scholarship in Kinesiology (Simon Fraser University)
  • Institute Community Support Travel Award (CIHR)
  • Best Master’s Poster at the Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology Research Day (Simon Fraser University)
2010 Anastasia Dikareva Best Poster by an undergraduate student (Disabilities Health Research Network)
Jessica Inskip
  • Certificant of Excellence for Outstanding Poster Presentation (CIHR)
  • CD Nelson Entrance Award (Simon Fraser University)
  • Commemorative Medal and Diploma (International Paralympic Committee)
Indejeet Sahota Best poster by a master’s student (Disabilities Health Research Network)
2009 Inderjeet Sahota  Graduate Fellowship (Simon Fraser University)

Current Opportunities in the Lab

Dr. Claydon is actively seeking graduate trainees at both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels. Please contact Dr. Claydon with inquiries.

Funding

Dr. Claydon’s research program is supported by funding from the following agencies:

vc-christopher-dana-reeve-foundation-logo          vc-craig-h-neilsen-foundation-logo

vc-heart-stroke-foundation        vc-CIHR-logo

Funding has also been provided from an ICORD Seed Grant made possible with the support of the Rick Hansen Foundation, ICORD and the BICP.

Recent publications

  • Williams, EL, Khan, FM, Claydon, VE. 2022. Counter pressure maneuvers for syncope prevention: A semi-systematic review and meta-analysis.. Front Cardiovasc Med. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1016420.
  • Sahota, IS, Lucci, VM, McGrath, MS, Ravensbergen, HJCR, Claydon, VE. 2022. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to urodynamics testing after spinal cord injury: The influence of autonomic injury.. Front Physiol. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.977772.
  • Wu, REY et al.. 2022. Correction to: Faintly tired: a systematic review of fatigue in patients with orthostatic syncope.. Clin Auton Res. doi: 10.1007/s10286-022-00886-x.
  • Wieling, W et al.. 2022. Diagnosis and treatment of orthostatic hypotension.. Lancet Neurol. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(22)00169-7.
  • Wu, REY et al.. 2022. Faintly tired: a systematic review of fatigue in patients with orthostatic syncope.. Clin Auton Res. doi: 10.1007/s10286-022-00868-z.
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