Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
Affiliated Investigator, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Research Interests
Cardiovascular health; Fainting; High altitudeIn 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 major awards and accomplishments include:
- Invited speaker, Translational Cardiac Arrhythmia Day, 18th November 2022. Title: Autonomic Conflict. (2022)
- Session Chair, Translational Cardiac Arrhythmia Day, 18th November 2022. Trainee Session. (2022)
- Robertson Plenary Lecture, Invited speaker, 33rd International American Autonomic Society Conference in Maui, Hawaii, USA. Title: Autonomic regulation in spinal cord injury. (2022)
- Session Chair, Symposium: Towards a solution for autonomic dysfunction (33rd International Symposium of the American Autonomic Society Virtual Meeting, 2022)
- Invited speaker, Simon Fraser University Certificate Program in University Teaching and Learning. Title: Academic Integrity – tales from recent experience. (2022)
- 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
| M.Sc. Students | Ph.D. Students | Postdoctoral Fellows | Research Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stefan Vukovic | Erin Williams | Dr. Vera-Ellen Lucci | Maureen McGrath |
| Matthew Dorton | Janelle Pennington | ||
| Rebekah Lee | |||
| Allison Campbell | |||
| Raffaele Massarotto | |||
| Normand Richard |
*indicates recent graduates
Trainee Awards
| Year | Name | Award |
| 2025 | Rebekah Lee | Poster Prize, SFU BPK Research Day |
| Stefan Vukovic | Science Communication Prize, SFU BPK Research Day | |
| Normand Richard | Gord Sleivert Young Investigator Award, European College of Sports Medicine | |
| 2024 | Stefan Vukovic |
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| Raffy Massarotto | Graduate Fellowship, SFU | |
| Vera Lucci | Oral Presentation Prize, SFU | |
| Rebekah Lee |
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| Erin Williams |
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| E.L. Williams |
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| A. Campbell | Science Communication Award, BPK Research Day, SFU, Canada | |
| V.E. Lucci | Best Oral Presentation Award, SFU Postdoctoral Research Day | |
| R.H.Y. Lee | Best Poster Award, INCREASE BC, CDN $500 | |
| 2023 | Normand Richard | Vanier Scholarship |
| Rebekah Lee | CGS-D, CIGR | |
| A. Campbell | Graduate Fellowship Research Award, SFU, Burnaby, Canada, CDN $7000 | |
| M. Dorton | Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology Annual Research Day Poster Presentation Award | |
| R.H.Y. Lee |
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| R. Massarotto | Graduate Fellowship Research Award (2023), SFU, Burnaby, Canada, CDN $3500 | |
| E. Sober-Williams |
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| E.L. Williams |
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| Matthew Dorton | Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology Annual Research Day Poster Presentation Award | |
| Dr. Vera-Ellen Lucci |
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| Normand Richard | Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2023) (CAD $150,000) | |
| 2022-2023 | Normand Richard |
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| 2022 | Normand Richard | Travel and Minor Research Award, SFU, Graduate Studies, Canada, CDN $1000 |
| Rebekah Lee |
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| E.L. Williams |
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| Dr. Vera-Ellen Lucci |
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| Raffaele Massarotto | Graduate Fellowship Research Award (2022), SFU, Burnaby, Canada, CDN $7000Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2023) (CAD $150,000) | |
| Allison Campbell | Graduate Fellowship Research Award, SFU, Burnaby, Canada, CDN $7000 | |
| Matthew Dorton |
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| Farhaan Khan |
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| Dr. Brooke Hockin |
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| 2020-2022 | E.L. Williams | TriCouncil Canada Graduate Student MSc CIHR award, CAD $36,000 |
| 2021-2022 | Rebekah Lee | TriCouncil Canada Graduate Student MSc CIHR award (2021-2022), CAD $35,000 |
| 2014 | Jessica Inskip |
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| Kimiya Sabbaghan | Poster Presentation Award at the Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology 6th Annual Research Day (Simon Fraser University) | |
| 2013 | Jessica Inskip |
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| 2012 | Jessica Inskip |
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| Rianne Ravensbergen |
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| Brett Shaw |
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| 2010 | Anastasia Dikareva | Best Poster by an undergraduate student (Disabilities Health Research Network) |
| Jessica Inskip |
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| 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:
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
- Richard, NA et al.. 2025. Three weeks of heat maintenance potentiates the benefits of heat acclimation in trained females.. Physiol Rep. doi: 10.14814/phy2.70631.
- Lucci, VM et al.. 2025. Autonomic responses in children and adolescents with orthostatic syncope and presyncope: children are not small adults.. Auton Neurosci. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2025.103340.
- Richard, NA, Cheung, SS, Claydon, VE, Koehle, MS, Coté, AT. 2025. Accuracy and Precision of the SlateSafety BandV2 and CORE Devices in Estimating Resting and Moderate Hyperthermic Exercise Temperature in Eumenorrheic Females.. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0034.
- Williams, EL et al.. 2025. Orthostatic cardiovascular responses to postural sway and discreet counterpressure maneuvers.. Auton Neurosci. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2025.103271.
- Campbell, AJ, Claydon, VE, Liva, S, Cote, AT. 2025. Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use.. BMC Womens Health. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03597-3.
