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SRI Profiles

Associate scientist
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
2075 Bayview Ave., Room A4 42
Toronto, ON
M4N 3M5
Administrative Assistant: Ophelia Shen
Phone: 416-480-4473
Email: ophelia.shen@sunnybrook.ca
Education:
- B.Sc., 2002, University of Toronto, Canada
- MD, 2006, U of T
- FRCP(C), 2011, adult neurology residency, U of T
- CSCN(EEG), 2012, Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, electroencephalography, Canada
- M.Sc., 2013, stroke and sleep neurology, U of T
- Clinical research fellowship, 2013, stroke and sleep neurology, U of T
Appointments and Affiliations:
- Affiliate scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Staff neurologist, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- Clinician-investigator, department of medicine, U of T
- Assistant professor, department of medicine, U of T
Research Foci:
- Association of sleep disorders with cerebrovascular disease including:
- Prevalence, impact and characterization of sleep disorders after transient ischemic attack and stroke
- Exploring links between various sleep issues, vascular risk factors, incident vascular events and brain imaging
- Neurophysiological aspects of sleep and cerebrovascular disease (e.g., electroencephalography, eye and limb movement detection)
- Home and in-hospital sleep monitoring of patients with cerebrovascular disease
Research Summary:
The majority of patients who have sustained a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke complain of sleep-related troubles, or are found to have evidence of a sleep disorder if evaluated using objective measures. Dr. Boulos’ research seeks to explore the prevalence and characteristics of sleep disorders after TIA and stroke.
Dr. Boulos is also investigating the use of portable sleep monitors following a TIA or stroke. He is developing innovative techniques that assess the largest number of patients possible using simple, convenient tools that reliably measure sleep problems such as fragmented sleep, periodic limb movements and obstructive sleep apnea.
Furthermore, Dr. Boulos is studying the association of sleep disorders with brain imaging findings, daytime fatigue and vigilance, cognition, quality of life and incident vascular events.
His research has been funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Stroke Network, Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Academic Health Science Centre Alternative Funding Plan Innovation Fund, and Sunnybrook Education Advisory Council and Education Research Unit.
Selected Publications:
See current publications list at PubMed.
- Boulos MI, Murray BJ, Muir RT, Gao F, Szilagyi GM, Huroy M, Kiss A, Walters AS, Black SE, Lim AS, Swartz RH. Periodic Limb Movements and White Matter Hyperintensities in First-Ever Minor Stroke or High-Risk Transient Ischemic Attack. Sleep. 2017 Mar 1;40(3).
- Kendzerska T, Kamra M, Murray BJ, Boulos MI. Incident Cardiovascular Events and Death in Individuals With Restless Legs Syndrome or Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep: A Systematic Review. Sleep. 2017 Mar 1;40(3).
- Boulos MI, Elias S, Wan A, Im J, Frankul F, Atalla M, Black SE, Basile VS, Sundaram A, Hopyan JJ, Boyle K, Gladstone DJ, Swartz RH, Murray BJ. Unattended hospital and home sleep apnea testing following cerebrovascular events. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2017 Jan;26(1):143–149.
- Boulos MI, Wan A, Im J, Elias S, Frankul F, Atalla M, Black SE, Basile VS, Sundaram A, Hopyan JJ, Boyle K, Gladstone DJ, Murray BJ, Swartz RH. Identifying obstructive sleep apnea after stroke/TIA: evaluating four simple screening tools. Sleep Med. 2016 May;21:133–9.
- Berezuk C, Ramirez J, Gao F, Scott CJM, Huroy M, Swartz RH, Murray BJ, Black SE, Boulos MI. Virchow-Robin spaces in the basal ganglia and white matter: correlations with sleep quality in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Sleep. 2015 Jun 1;38(6):853–8.
Related News and Stories:
- Eight-hour sheep movie Baa Baa Land is meant to put you to sleep: Torontonian producer doesn’t expect — or want — audiences to get through all of Baa Baa Land awake (Toronto Star, July 29, 2017)
- Why Canadian docs are warning kicking in your sleep may increase your risk of stroke (Global News, March 21, 2017)
- Sleep pills and you: Sleeping pills shouldn’t be used as long-term solutions to sleep problems, but they can help when all you need is a goodnight sleep (Toronto Star, June 20, 2016)
- 4 ways to make your bedroom sleep-friendly (Canadian Living, Nov. 1, 2015)
- Sleep deprived? 7 tips for staying awake when you're exhausted (Best Health Magazine Canada)
- How to get through one day with no sleep (Men's Journal, September 2015)
- When to take sleeping pills (Men's Journal, July 2015)
- All in a good night's rest (June 1, 2015)
- Not enough sleep? Your brain may be paying the price: study (CTV News, May 29, 2015)
- Poor sleep linked with enlarged spaces around brain’s blood vessels (May 29, 2015)
- Which comes first: sleep problems or stroke? (The Globe and Mail, April 17, 2014)
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