Marie-Noelle Simard

Marie-Noelle Simard is an Associate Professor at the School of Rehabilitation, University of Montreal. Her research focuses on child neurodevelopment, particularly in at-risk populations such as children born prematurely or with congenital heart defects. She specializes in neurodevelopmental screening, identification of delays, and designing adapted physical activity programs.

• Education:
  • B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy, University of Montreal (2001)
  • M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences (Rehabilitation Option), University of Montreal (2003)
  • Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Rehabilitation Option), University of Montreal (2009)
  • Postdoctoral Research at Université Laval (2013)

Her main ongoing projects include improving neurodevelopmental screening practices for preterm infants, validating early clinical and biological markers for developmental delays, systematic monitoring of children with congenital heart disease, and developing/evaluating parent-child yoga programs for neurorehabilitation. Her research spans pediatrics, developmental medicine, and rehabilitation sciences.

Selected publications highlight her work on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire validation, motor development in congenital heart disease, sensory assessment in autism, and longitudinal studies of preterm infants. She collaborates with institutions like CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center and Université Laval.