BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose is a physical therapist and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Healthy Aging at the University of British Columbia, Department of Physical Therapy. She directs the Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Health Laboratory and the Vancouver General Hospital’s Falls Prevention Clinic (www.fallsclinic.ca). Dr. Liu- Ambrose is Co-Director of the Centre for Aging SMART at Vancouver Coastal Health.
She leads the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Data Collection Site at UBC and the CLSA COVID-19 Brain Health Study. Dr. Liu-Ambrose also co-leads the Healthy Brains, Healthy Aging Initiative within CLSA.
Dr. Liu-Ambrose’s research focuses on understanding the role of exercise, and other lifestyle interventions, in promoting cognitive and mobility outcomes in older adults. Her research findings have been implemented into clinical practice, community programs, and international practice guidelines or recommendations to promote healthy aging.
What is your interest in clinical trials?
• It’s the primary study design that I use in my research program to advance our understanding on how we can promote healthy aging with lifestyle interventions.
Why do you think clinical trials are important?
• They provide high-quality evidence that have the potential to change or inform clinical practice/decisions.
What is your personal philosophy about clinical trial training specifically or mentorship in general?
• I approach mentorship/training as a partnership – we are working together towards common goals/endpoints. I also view mentorship/training as a journey – there will be good days and bad days and growth comes from both.
• Specific to clinical trial training, nothing replaces actually getting your hands dirty and doing it. A protocol can look amazing on paper, but in reality, not feasible to execute or not accepted by participants or staff.
FUN FACT: My alternate career would be in canine rehabilitation.