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Mabbott Lab

Brief Biography

I received my PhD in Developmental Psychology at the University of Alberta in 1998, and then completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Paediatric Neuropsychology at The Hospital for Sick Children with Dr. Mary Lou Smith. Immediately prior to taking my current position at Sick Kids I worked with the Northern Alberta Children's Cancer Program at the Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta. At The Hospital for Sick Children I am part of the Paediatric Brain Tumour Program in the Division of Haematology/Oncology.

Research Interests

• Developmental neuropsychology
• Neuro-cognitive late effects of paediatric brain tumours.
• Quantitative MRI to examine white matter integrity

Research Activities

I am evaluating brain/behaviour relations in normal and impaired neurodevelopment using cognitive data and quantitative MRI methods. Currently, I am examining neurocognitive outcome following diagnosis and treatment with radiation for brain tumours: cranial radiation is associated with intellectual decline.

Specific objectives of my program include: (a) to determine whether the use of lower doses and/or focal fields of radiotherapy significantly reduce neurocognitive late effects, and (b) to examine processing speed, attention, and working memory to determine if deficits in these core neurocognitive domains underline the decline in intelligence.

Determining the underlying causes of the decline in intelligence associated the treatment is necessary for developing appropriate and effective rehabilitation programs to mediate the effects of neurocognitive effects and improve quality of life.

Future Research Interests

I am beginning to examine the relations between white matter integrity and neurobehavioural functioning using Diffusion Tensor MRI. Specifically, my goal is to determine whether quantitative DT-MRI values within regions of interest in the brain are related to neurocognitive outcome. Using MRI imaging methods to identify changes in the brain that are predictive of later neuropsychologic toxicity may make it possible to modify treatment among patients at risk, perhaps avoiding severe sequelae.

External Funding

The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation/Institute of Human Development Child and Youth Health - CIHR

Changes in white matter integrity and cognitive function following cranial radiation for pediatric brain tumors.  Mabbott DJ, Bouffet E, Noseworthy M, Laughlin S, Kulkarni A, Laperriere N, Sharpe M, Montour-Proulx I, Keene D, Briere ME, Strother D, Witol A, Wilson B, Chafe S, McConnell D, Hukin J, Fryer C: National Cancer Institute

Neuro-imaging of white matter and neuro-cognitive outcome following cranial radiation for pediatric brain tumours.  Mabbott DJ, Bouffet E, Noseworthy M, Laughlin M, Kulkani A, Laperriere N, Sharpe M, Montour-Proulx I, Keene D, Briere ME, Strother D, Witol A, Wilson B, Chafe S, McConnell D, Hukin J, Fryer C: C17 Research Network.

Predictors of functional and neuro-cognitive outcomes in long term survivors of pediatric low grade gliomas. Tabori, U., Mabbott, D.J., Rubin, J., Gutmann, D., and Bouffet, E.  Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States.

The neuro-protective effects of exercise in children treated with cranial radiation for brain tumors.  Mabbott, D.J., Bartels, U., Bouffet, E., Courneya, K., Noseworthy, M., Piscione, J., and Tabori, U.  Canadian Institute for Health Research.

Using White Matter Integrity To Predict the Speed of Neural Processing and Cortical Maturation in Healthy Children and Children with Brain Tumours.  Mabbott, D.J., & Dockstader, C. Paediatric Oncology Group of Ontario.

Examining the Relationship Between White Matter Integrity and the Speedo of Neural Processing in Healthy Children and Children with Brain Tumours. Mabbott, D.J., Dockstader, C., Tabori, U., Bouffet, E.  Pitblado ‘New Ideas’ Cancer Research Funds, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children.

Publications

Mabbott D, Spiegler S, Greenberg M, Rutka J, Hyder D, Bouffet E: Serial evaluation of academic and behavioral outcome after treatment with cranial radiation in childhood.  Journal  Clinical Oncology 2005: 23(10): pp 2256-2263.  

Mabbott DJ, Noseworthy MD, Bouffet E, Rockel C, Laughlin S: Diffusion tensor imaging of white matter after cranial radiation in children for medulloblastoma: correlation with IQ.  Neuro-Oncology 2006: 8(3): pp 244-52.

Mabbott DJ, Noseworthy MD, Bouffet E, Laughlin S, Rockel C: White matter growth as a mechanism of cognitive development in children.  Neuroimage 2006: 33(3): pp 936-946.

Mabbott DJ, Barnes M, Laperriere N, Landry S, Bouffet E: Neuro-cognitive function in same sex twins following focal radiation for medulloblastoma.  Neuro-Oncology 2007: 9 (4): pp 460-4.

Mabbott DJ, Bisanz J: Computational skills, working memory, and conceptual knowledge in older children with mathematical disability.  Journal of Learning Disabilities.  2008: 41 (1): pp15 -28.

Mabbott, D.J., Penkman, L., Witol, A., Strother, D., Bouffet, E. (2008). Attention, processing speed, and working memory in children treated for posterior fossa tumours, Neuropsychology, 22(2), 159-168

Mabbott, D.J., Snyder, J., Penkman, L., Witol, A., & Neufeld, S.  (2009).The effects of treatment for posterior fossa brain tumors on selective attention. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 15, 1 – 12.

Mabbott, D.J., Rovet, J., Noseworthy, M., Smith, M.L., & Rockel, C. (2009). The relations between white matter integrity and declarative memory in older children and adolescents. Brain Research, 1294, 80-90.

Lafay-Cousin, L., Huang, A., Hawkins, C., Amid, A., Bouffet, E., Mabbott, D.J. (2009).  Impact of radiation avoidance on survival and neurocognitive outcome in infant medulloblastoma.  Current Oncology, 16(6), 1-8.

Gaetz, W., Scantlebury, N., Widjaja, E., Rutka, J., Bouffet, E., Rockel, C., Dockstader, C., & Mabbott, D. (2010) Mapping of the cortical spinal tracts using magnetoencephalography and diffusion tensor tractography in paediatric brain tumor patients.  Child’s Nervous System, 26(11):1639-45.      

Mabbott DJ, Noseworthy M, Laughlin S, Bouffet E, Rockel C. (2006). White matter growth as a mechanism of cognitive development in children. Neuroimage, 33, 936-946.

Mabbott DJ, Noseworthy M, Bouffet E, Rockel C, Laughlin S. (2006). White matter and IQ after radiation for pediatric medulloblastoma: A diffusion tensor imaging study. Neuro-oncology, 8, 244 - 252 .

Mabbott DJ, Spiegler B, Greenberg M, Rutka J, Hyder D, Bouffet E. (2005). Serial evaluation of academic and behavioral outcome after treatment with cranial radiation in childhood. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22, 2256-2263.

Spiegler B, Bouffet E, Greenberg M, Rutka J, Mabbott DJ. (2004). Change and Stability in Neurocognitive Functioning Following Treatment with Cranial-Spinal Radiotherapy in Childhood. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22, 706-713.

Mabbott DJ, Spiegler BJ, Greenberg M, Rutka J, Bouffet E. (2003). Stability and Change in Neurocognitive Function Following Treatment with Cranial-Spinal Radiotherapy in Childhood. Neuro-oncology, 5, 359.

Mabbott DJ, Smith ML. (2003). Memory in children with temporal or extra-temporal lobectomies. Neuropsychologia, 41, 995 – 1007.

Mabbott DJ, Bisanz J. (2003). Developmental change and individual differences in children’s multiplication. Child Development, 74, 1-17.