The Learning Variability Network Exchange (LEVANTE) brings together researchers from around the world aiming to capture the richness and diversity of child development and learning.
Only by conducting open-access, cutting-edge research can we enhance our knowledge on learning and developmental variability.
Delve into the science of learning variability, explore cutting-edge research, and discover practical insights to enhance learning for all.
Home » University of Calgary, Canada
The LEVANTE site, led by Principal Investigator Catherine Lebel from the University of Calgary, is focused on studying child development through the ongoing Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic study. This research follows over 6,500 mother-child pairs and seeks to understand how early life environments, including family structure and parental mental health, impact children’s cognitive development and learning outcomes. By incorporating LEVANTE’s performance-based measures of child cognition at ages 6 and 7, the project aims to enhance the understanding of developmental variability, resilience, and risk factors across diverse contexts. The study also integrates rich datasets, such as MRI scans and parent-child interaction videos, to offer unique insights into the factors that support optimal child development.
Principal Investigator
Catherine Lebel is a Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Calgary in Canada. She leads the Developmental Neuroimaging Lab, where her research focuses on how early life experiences influence brain development and child outcomes. Her work includes longitudinal studies of children’s neurodevelopment, integrating MRI data with behavioral and environmental measures to understand the impact of factors such as prenatal exposures and family context. Lebel’s research aims to identify early predictors of child development and inform interventions that support optimal outcomes.
Co-Principal Investigator
Gerald Giesbrecht is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Calgary. A registered psychologist, his research focuses on the intersection of psychological stress, stress biology, and child development. Giesbrecht investigates how early life exposure to stress becomes biologically embedded in children’s neurodevelopment and mental health, and seeks to identify both risk and resilience factors to inform effective prevention and intervention strategies.
Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia and Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Equity. A registered psychologist, her research addresses psychological and social factors influencing child and parental health. She develops and evaluates prevention and intervention programs aimed at improving mental health outcomes in families, with a strong emphasis on real-world application and lived experience.