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Name: Barr, Ronald G.
Titles: Scientist Level 3, CFRI
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia
Fellow, Experienced-based Brain and Biological Development Program, Canadian Institute of Advanced Research
Degrees / Designations: MA, MDCM, FRCPC
Primary Area of Research: Developmental Neurosciences & Child Health
Secondary Area(s) of Research:
Email: rbarr@cw.bc.ca
Phone: 604-875-3568
Fax: 604-875-3569
Laboratory Phone: 604-875-2000 ext. 7474
Assistant: Cheryl Slevin
Assistant Phone: 604-875-2000 ext. 6005
Mailing Address: BC Children's Hospital
Room L408, 4480 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4

Research Areas
  • Developmental/behavioural pediatrics
  • Infant pain
  • Infant crying and colic
  • Inflicted abuse prevention
  • Shaken baby syndrome
  • Nutrient effects on behaviour
  • Infant memory

Summary
My research focuses on understanding the significant interactions between caregivers and infants, on both behavioural and biological levels, that contribute to infants benefiting from the challenges of early development.

Current Projects

Current research projects include:

  • The effect of feeding, nutrients and mother’s voice on infant memory
  • Affective responses to prolonged crying bouts in infants
  • A PDA (Palm Pilot) version of the the “Baby’s Day Diary”
  • “The Period of PURPLE Crying” intervention program to prevent shaken baby syndrome

Selected Publications
Barr RG, Rivara FP, Barr M, Cummings P, Taylor J, Lengua LJ, Meredith-Benitz E.: Effectiveness of educational materials designed to change knowledge and behaviors regarding crying and shaken-baby syndrome in mothers of newborns: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2009 Mar;123(3):972-80.

Barr RG, Barr M, Fujiwara T, Conway J, Catherine N, Brant R.: Do educational materials change knowledge and behaviour about crying and shaken baby syndrome? A randomized controlled trial. CMAJ. 2009 Mar 31;180(7):727-33.

Ouellet-Morin I, Dionne G, Pérusse D, Lupien SJ, Arseneault L, Barr RG, Tremblay RE, Boivin M.: Daytime cortisol secretion in 6-month-old twins: genetic and environmental contributions as a function of early familial adversity. Biol Psychiatry. 2009 Mar 1;65(5):409-16.

Catherine NL, Ko JJ, Barr RG.: Getting the word out: advice on crying and colic in popular parenting magazines. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2008 Dec;29(6):508-11.

Barr RG, Runyan DK.: Inflicted childhood neurotrauma: the problem set and challenges to measuring incidence. Am J Prev Med. 2008 Apr;34(4 Suppl):S106-11.

Barr RG, Rivara F, Barr M, Cummings P, Taylor J, Lengua L, Meredith-Benitz E.  Effectiveness of educational materials designed to change knowledge and behaviors regarding crying and shaken baby syndrome in mothers of newborns:  a randomized controlled trial.  Pediatrics, 2008 (in Press).

Barr RG, Runyan DK.  Inflicted childhood neurotrauma:  the problem set and challenges to measuring incidence.  American Journal of Preventive Medicine, April 2008;34(4S):S106-S111.

Lee CK, Barr RG, Catherine N, Wicks A.  Age related incidence of publicly-reported shaken baby syndrome cases:  is crying a trigger for shaking? Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 2007;28(4):288-293.

Valiante G, Barr RG, Zelazo PR, Papageorgiou, AN, Young SN. A typical feeding enhances memory for spoken words in healthy 2-to-3 day-old newborns. Pediatrics. March 2006;117(3):476-486.

Barr RG, Trent RB, Cross J. Age-related incidence curve of hospitalized shaken baby syndrome cases: convergent evidence for crying as a trigger to shaking. Child Abuse and Neglect. January 2006;30(1):7-16.

Barr RG. Crying behavior and its importance for psychosocial development in children. In: Tremblay RE, Barr RG, Peters RDeV, eds. Encyclopedia on Early Child Development [online]. Montreal, Quebec: Center of Excellence for Early Childhood Development; 2006:1-10

Holsti L., Barr RG. The importance of electronic diary studies for occupational therapy research.  Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 2006;26(2):80-83

Horne P, Barr RG, Zelazo PR, Valiante G, Young SN. Glucose enhances newborn memory for spoken words. Developmental Psychobiology, 2006;48:574-582.

Majnemer A, Barr RG. Association between sleep position and early motor development. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2006;149:623-629.

Barr RG, Paterson JA, MacMartin L, Lehtonen L, Young S. Prolonged and unsoothable crying bouts in infants with and without colic. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Feb.2005;26(1):1-10.

Ghosh S, Barr RG. Colic and gas  In Walker A, et al (eds) Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disease, 4th Edition. Hamilton: BC Decker Inc. July 2004;Section 2:13.


Honours & Awards

Canada Research Chair in Community Child Health Research – 2003-2009
Director, Experience-based Brain and Biological Development, Canadian Institute of Advanced Research – 2003-2008
McGill University Chair in Child Development, McGill University – 2000-2005
Canadian Institute of Advanced Research, Howard Webster Foundation – 2001-2003
Research Award, Ambulatory Pediatric Association – 2001-2002


Research Group Members

Haley Tsui - Research Assistant
Kallista Bell - Research Assistant
Grace Valiante – Doctoral student
Takeo Fujiwara - Post Doctoral Trainee
Nicole Catherine - Research Associate



Last Update: 9/1/2009
 
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