Lawrence Richer

Dr. Lawrence Richer is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, and serves as Associate Dean of Research for the College of Health Sciences. He is also the Director of the Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research Center (NACTRC) and works as a Pediatric Neurologist at the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta.

Dr. Richer's research focuses on three interrelated areas:

• Evaluation of functional changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in children with autonomic disorders
• Development or evaluation of treatment strategies for children with autonomic disorders or headache including digital health interventions
• Application of real-world evidence and data-enabled algorithms in child health

His specific research interests include exploring the autonomic, neuroimaging, metabolic and inflammatory underpinnings of disorders with overlapping neurological and autonomic symptoms (headache, brain fog, postural intolerance, and fatigue). He studies conditions such as chronic migraine, concussion, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Long COVID, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) to identify shared biological mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Dr. Richer is also involved in clinical trials for new therapeutics and innovations in clinical trial methodology.

Dr. Richer's clinical interests center on Pediatric migraine and headache disorders and Pediatric Autonomic Disorders and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. His work spans multiple disciplines including neurology, pediatrics, autonomic neuroscience, and healthcare economics.

His recent publications demonstrate expertise across several domains:

• Neurological disorders research (migraine, concussion, POTS, multiple sclerosis)
• Healthcare economics and resource utilization studies
• Clinical trial methodology and real-world evidence generation
• Autonomic nervous system dysfunction across multiple conditions

Dr. Richer has been involved in numerous collaborative research projects across Alberta, often utilizing the province's comprehensive healthcare data systems to conduct population-based studies. His work has significant implications for improving diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare delivery for children with neurological conditions.