Leah Mercier

PhD

Positions

Post Graduate Medical Education

Brain Neurorehabilitation Laboratory | BNR, Post Graduate Medical Education

Contact information

leah.mercier@ucalgary.ca

Background

Educational Background

BSc Pharmacology, McGill University, 2018

PhD Neuroscience, University of Calgary, 2023

Biography

Leah received her BSc in Pharmacology from McGill University. During her summers in undergrad she began research in the Debert lab, which lead her to pursue a PhD upon completing her undergraduate studies. Her PhD thesis was focussed on the ACTBI Trial, evaluating Aerobic exercise for the treatment of Chronic symptoms following mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Leah's research interests include: post-concussive autonomic dysfunction, return to exercise post-mTBI, post-traumatic growth hormone deficiency and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). She is also involved in research related to the Music Therapy program that has been rolled out in Calgary hospitals and is passionate about the roll of music in wellness and rehabilitation. During her time in Grad School Leah was involved in the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) as Chair of the Awards Committee and received several recognitions, including the GSA Volunteer Excellence Award and the Michael Lazar Community Service Award. Leah is currently completing Medical School as part of the Class of 2026 at the Cumming School of Medicine.

Projects

Aerobic exercise for the treatment of Chronic symptoms following mild Traumatic Brain Injury (ACTBI)

Characterizing Supplement Use in Adults with Acquired Brain Injury

Integration of Music Therapy into Inpatient Neurorehabilitation

Awards

Dr. Jo Anne Skeith Medical Elective Award, University of Calgary. 2025
Class of 1999 (Dugongs) Medical Bursary, University of Calgary. 2024
Volunteer Excellence Award, Graduate Students' Association (GSA), University of Calgary. 2023
Faculty of Graduate Studies Doctoral Scholarship, University of Calgary. 2023
Dr. Matthew Galati Brain Changer Award, Brain Canada. 2022
Michael Lazar Community Service Award, University of Calgary. 2022
Women in STEM Scholarship, Government of Alberta. 2022
Graduate Studentship in Patient-Oriented Research, Alberta SPOR Support Unit (AbSPORU). 2022
Dean's Doctoral Scholarship , University of Calgary. 2021
Professional Development Grant (PDG), Graduate Students' Association (GSA), University of Calgary. 2020
Graduate Studentship, Integrated Concussion Research Program (ICRP), University of Calgary. 2019
First Place Overall Poster Award, Canadian Association of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (CAPM&R). 2019
REALISE External Module Registration Award, Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary. 2018
Summer Studentship, Integrated Concussion Research Program (ICRP), University of Calgary. 2017
Summer Studentship, Integrated Concussion Research Program (ICRP), University of Calgary. 2016
Best in the West Scholarship, McGill University. 2014

Publications

Evaluating a 12-week aerobic exercise intervention in adults with persisting post-concussive symptoms. Mercier LJ, McIntosh SJ, Boucher C, Joyce JM, Batycky J, Galarneau JM, Burma JS, Smirl JD, Esser MJ, Schneider KJ, Dukelow SP, Harris AD, Debert CT. Frontiers Neurology. 1482266. (2024)
Characterizing supplement use and dietary behaviors in adults with acquired brain injury. Vergeer MH, Mercier LJ, McIntosh SJ, Bouch C, Madden RF, Shearer J, Debert CT. Brain Injury. 410-419. (2025)
Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Symptom Burden and Quality of Life in Adults With Persisting Post-concussive Symptoms: The ACTBI Randomized Controlled Trial. Mercier LJ, McIntosh SJ, Bouch C, Joyce JM, Batycky J, Galarneau JM, Esser MJ, Schneider KJ, Dukelow SP, Harris AD, Debert CT. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 106(2):195-205. (2025)
Development and integration of a music therapy program in the neurologic inpatient setting: a qualitative study. Mercier LJ, Langelier DM, Buchanan J, Robinson S, Plamondon S. Disability & Rehabilitation. 47(9):2304-2313. (2025)
Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping in Adults with Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An Exploratory Study. Bell TK, Ansari M, Joyce JM, Mercier LJ, Gobbi DG, Frayne R, Debert C, Harris AD. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 46(2):435-442. (2025)
Assessment of sleep parameters in adults with persistent post-concussive symptoms. McIntosh SJ, Mercier LJ, Boucher C, Yip R, Batycky JM, Joyce J, Stokoe M, Harris AD, Debert CT. Sleep Medicine. 119:406-416. (2024)
Effects of music therapy on mood, pain, and satisfaction in the neurologic inpatient setting. Mercier LJ, Langelier DM, Lee CH, Brown-Hall B, Grant C, Plamondon S. Disability & Rehabilitation. 45(18):2964-2975. (2023)
Glutamate, GABA and glutathione in adults with persistent post-concussive symptoms. Joyce JM, Mercier LJ, Stokoe M, La PL, Bell T, Batycky JM, Debert CT, Harris AD. NeuroImage: Clinical. 36:103152. (2022)
Scoping review of music therapy and music interventions in spinal cord injury. Mercier LJ, Grant C, Langelier DM, Plamondon S. Disability & Rehabilitation. 45(10):1736-1749. (2023)
Autonomic dysfunction in adults following mild traumatic brain injury: A systematic review. Mercier LJ, Batycky J, Campbell C, Schneider K, Smirl J, Debert CT. NeuroRehabilitation. 50(1):3-32. (2022)
Characterizing Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Adults With Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Mercier LJ, Kowalski K, Fung TS, Joyce JM, Yeates KO, Debert CT. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 102(10):1918-1925.e1. (2021)
Growth hormone deficiency testing and treatment following mild traumatic brain injury. Mercier LJ, Kruger N, Le QB, Fung TS, Kline GA, Debert CT. Scientific Reports. 11(1):8534. (2021)
Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Adults with Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms. Popov N, Mercier LJ, King R, Fung T, Debert CT. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 49(1):109-117. (2022)
Improving symptom burden in adults with persistent post-concussive symptoms: a randomized aerobic exercise trial protocol. Mercier LJ, Fung TS, Harris AD, Dukelow SP, Debert CT. BMC Neurology. 20(1):46. (2020)
Treatment of Persistent Post-Traumatic Headache and Post-Concussion Symptoms Using Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Pilot, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. Stilling J, Paxman E, Mercier L, Gan LS, Wang M, Amoozegar F, Dukelow SP, Monchi O, Debert C. Journal of Neurotrauma. 37(2):312-323. (2020)
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for chronic dizziness following mild traumatic brain injury. Paxman E, Stilling J, Mercier L, Debert CT. BMJ Case Reports. bcr2018226698. (2018)