Samantha Stephens

Research

Chronic Illness Health Equity Health Promotion Pediatrics Physical Activity

Latest papers

Pain Rehabilitation Virtual Reality (PR-VR) at Home: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial for Youth with Chronic Pain.
Canadian journal of pain = Revue canadienne de la douleur · 2026
Retinal hyper-reflective foci link retinal and cortical pathology in paediatric multiple sclerosis.
Brain : a journal of neurology · 2026
Racial identity, marginalization, and depression in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) · 2026

All 26 publications

Latest funding

MOvement behaviours and health indicators in children with a chronic MEdical condition or disability: an iNTernational mUlticentre prograM (MOMENTUM)
CIHR · 2025 · Co-investigator
$1,480,276
Examining intersections of biographies & biologies: diversity & outcomes of people with multiple sclerosis in Canada (iBio2Div-MS)
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$19,955
Examining intersections of biographies & biologies: diversity & outcomes of people with multiple sclerosis in Canada (iBio2Div-MS)
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$1,999,180

All 7 grants and awards

26 publications.

01

Pain Rehabilitation Virtual Reality (PR-VR) at Home: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial for Youth with Chronic Pain.

Mesaroli G, Xi R, Hroch Tiessen P, Kurup U, Nishat F, Killackey T, Sucha E, Simons LE, Stephens S, Campbell F, Stinson J

Canadian journal of pain = Revue canadienne de la douleur2026

DOI: 10.1080/24740527.2026.2683648 PMID: 42491691

02

Retinal hyper-reflective foci link retinal and cortical pathology in paediatric multiple sclerosis.

Hay CM, Mahjoub A, Vidarsson L, Soltanieh S, Wagner M, El Naggar I, Stephens S, Khan N, Ertl-Wagner B, Ann Yeh E

Brain : a journal of neurology2026

DOI: 10.1093/brain/awag235 PMID: 42381479

03

Racial identity, marginalization, and depression in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.

Yoo PY, Zarandi A, Stephens S, To T, Marrie RA, Finlayson M, Motl R, Yeh EA

Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)2026

DOI: 10.1177/13524585261453239 PMID: 42366796

04

Built-environment correlates of physical activity in youth with multiple sclerosis.

Kumari S, Stephens S, Yoo PY, Arbour-Nicitopoulos KP, Feldman BM, Finlayson ML, Marrie RA, Motl R, To T, Yeh EA

Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)2026

DOI: 10.1177/13524585251407505 PMID: 41559883

05

The experience of people with multiple sclerosis who receive occupational performance coaching.

Malakouti N, Kessler D, Finlayson M, Stephens S

PEC innovation2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2025.100418 PMID: 40686551

06

Physical activity demonstrates protective associations with structural visual metrics in children with multiple sclerosis through time.

Stephens S, Iseyas N, Yeh EA

Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)2025First author

DOI: 10.1177/13524585251335510 PMID: 40296359

07

Social network characteristics and their relationships with physical activity in children with multiple sclerosis.

Yoo PY, Kumari S, Stephens S, Yeh EA

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105865 PMID: 39243504

08

Social network size and mental health outcomes in youth with neuroinflammatory disorders.

Yoo PY, Kumari S, Stephens S, Yeh EA

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.105046 PMID: 37813072

09

Lengthening sleep reduces pain in childhood arthritis: a crossover randomised controlled trial.

Clairman H, Dover S, Tomlinson G, Beebe D, Cameron B, Laxer RM, Levy D, Narang I, Paetkau S, Schneider R, Spiegel L, Stephens S, Stinson J, Tse S, Weiss S, Whitney K, Feldman BM

RMD open2023

DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003352 PMID: 37914178

10

Unraveling the pathophysiology of lower-limb postthrombotic syndrome in adolescents: a proof-of-concept study.

Avila ML, Bentley RF, Bastas D, Brandão LR, Schneiderman JE, Ward L, Wong G, Stephens S, Liu K, Thomas S

Blood advances2023

DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022009599 PMID: 36763520

MOvement behaviours and health indicators in children with a chronic MEdical condition or disability: an iNTernational mUlticentre prograM (MOMENTUM)

Co-investigatorCIHR2025Project Grant

Principal investigators: Timmons, Brian W; Longmuir, Patricia E; Obeid, Joyce

Keywords: Children And Youth; Chronic Medical Conditions; Exercise Medicine; Health Outcomes; Movement Behaviours; Multi-Centre Study

$1,480,276

Examining intersections of biographies & biologies: diversity & outcomes of people with multiple sclerosis in Canada (iBio2Div-MS)

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Team Gr.: Emb. Diversity to Achieve Precision/Health Eq-Infection & Immunity-LOI

Principal investigators: Marrie, Ruth Ann; Finlayson, Marcia L

Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis

$19,955

Examining intersections of biographies & biologies: diversity & outcomes of people with multiple sclerosis in Canada (iBio2Div-MS)

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Team Gr.: Embracing Diversity to Achieve Precision & Health Equity-General Omics

Principal investigators: Marrie, Ruth Ann; Fakolade, Afolasade; Finlayson, Marcia L; Kowalec, Kaarina A

Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis

$1,999,180

Identifying the Needs and Preferences of Children and Youth with Chronic Medical and Mental Health Conditions for Active Living Programming and Infrastructure in Toronto

Nominated PICIHR2022Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Stephens, Samantha; Yeh, Ann E.

Keywords: Chronic Illness; Health Equity; Health Promotion; Pediatrics; Physical Activity

$20,000

A Planning Meeting to Advance Physical Activity Assessment and Reporting for Children with a Chronic Medical Condition or Disability

Co-investigatorCIHR2017Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Timmons, Brian W

Keywords: Accelerometry; Children; Chronic Disease; Database; Physical Activity

$10,000

Sleep and Pain in Childhood Arthritis: A crossover randomized control trial comparing adequate and restricted sleep duration, and its impact on pain in adolescents with arthritis

Co-investigatorCIHR2017Project Grant

Principal investigators: Feldman, Brian M

Keywords: Childhood Arthritis; Paediatric Rheumatology; Pain; Quality Of Life; Sleep

$256,275

CIHR Team Grant in Exercise in Chronically Ill Children

Co-investigatorCIHR2009Team Grant: Physical Activity, Mobility and Health (LOI)

Principal investigators: Feldman, Brian M; Noseworthy, Michael D; Tein, Ingrid; Wells, Greg D

Keywords: Chronic Disease; Exercise Intolerance; Mechanisms; Pediatrics; Psychosocial Constructs

$10,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Co-authors at University of Toronto, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Joseph Beyene

Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact

4 shared papers, latest 2018

Virginia Wright

Bloorview Research Institute

3 shared papers, latest 2008

Kuan Liu

Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation

2 shared papers, latest 2023

Eleanor Pullenayegum

Biostatistics Division

2 shared papers, latest 2022

Indra Narang

Translational Medicine

2 shared papers, latest 2023

Birgit Ertl-Wagner

Neurosciences and Mental Health

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Shelly Weiss

Department of Paediatrics

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Birgit Ertl-Wagner

Biomedical Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Guy Faulkner

School of Kinesiology

1 shared papers, latest 2018

George Tomlinson

Biostatistics Division

1 shared papers, latest 2023

Brian Feldman

Pediatric Rheumatology

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Fiona Campbell

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Greg Wells

Biomedical Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Chronic Illness Dear Professor Stephens, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Pain Rehabilitation Virtual Reality (PR-VR) at Home: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial for Youth with Chronic Pain." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Identifying the Needs and Preferences of Children and Youth with Chronic Medical and Mental Health Conditions for Active Living Programming and Infrastructure in Toronto" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Samantha Stephens

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Pain Rehabilitation Virtual Reality (PR-VR) at Home: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial for Youth with Chronic Pain.

Retinal hyper-reflective foci link retinal and cortical pathology in paediatric multiple sclerosis.

Racial identity, marginalization, and depression in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.

Built-environment correlates of physical activity in youth with multiple sclerosis.

The experience of people with multiple sclerosis who receive occupational performance coaching.

Physical activity demonstrates protective associations with structural visual metrics in children with multiple sclerosis through time.

Social network characteristics and their relationships with physical activity in children with multiple sclerosis.

Social network size and mental health outcomes in youth with neuroinflammatory disorders.

Lengthening sleep reduces pain in childhood arthritis: a crossover randomised controlled trial.

Unraveling the pathophysiology of lower-limb postthrombotic syndrome in adolescents: a proof-of-concept study.

MOvement behaviours and health indicators in children with a chronic MEdical condition or disability: an iNTernational mUlticentre prograM (MOMENTUM)

Examining intersections of biographies & biologies: diversity & outcomes of people with multiple sclerosis in Canada (iBio2Div-MS)

Examining intersections of biographies & biologies: diversity & outcomes of people with multiple sclerosis in Canada (iBio2Div-MS)

Identifying the Needs and Preferences of Children and Youth with Chronic Medical and Mental Health Conditions for Active Living Programming and Infrastructure in Toronto

A Planning Meeting to Advance Physical Activity Assessment and Reporting for Children with a Chronic Medical Condition or Disability

Sleep and Pain in Childhood Arthritis: A crossover randomized control trial comparing adequate and restricted sleep duration, and its impact on pain in adolescents with arthritis

CIHR Team Grant in Exercise in Chronically Ill Children

Frequent collaborators

Marcia Finlayson

Joseph Beyene

Virginia Wright

Jennifer Stinson

Kuan Liu

Eleanor Pullenayegum

Indra Narang

Teresa To

Birgit Ertl-Wagner

Scott Thomas

Shelly Weiss

Tieghan Killackey

Birgit Ertl-Wagner

Shilpa Dogra

Guy Faulkner

George Tomlinson

Brian Feldman

Fiona Campbell

Laura Banks

Greg Wells