Teresa Liu-Ambrose

Canadian physical therapist

Teresa Liu-Ambrose

Academic background
Education	BSc, 1994, MA, 1998, PhD, 2004, University of British Columbia
Thesis	Studies of fall risk and bone morphology in older women with low bone mass (2004)
Academic work
Institutions	University of British Columbia

Teresa Yeong Lih Liu-Ambrose is a Canadian physical therapist. She is a Canada Research Chair of Physical Activity, Mobility, and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia.

Early life and education

Liu-Ambrose completed her Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy in 1994 at the University of British Columbia and remained at the institution for her Master's degree in 1998 and PhD in 2004.^[1] During her post-doctoral fellowship at UBC,^[2] she was the recipient of the Alice Wilson Award from the Royal Society of Canada^[3] and a 2006 Career Investigator Award.^[4]

Career

Upon completing her post-doctoral fellowship in 2006, Liu-Ambrose joined the faculty at UBC as an assistant professor in their Department of Physical Therapy.^[5] While serving as an assistant professor, she focused on preventing both neurocognitive and physical decline in older adults. In 2010, she led the Brain Power Study which found that "12 months of once-weekly or twice-weekly progressive strength training improved executive cognitive function" in women between the ages of 65 and 75 years old. The follow-up study became the first to prove that both cognitive and economic benefits were sustained after formal cessation of a tailored exercise program.^[6] Two years later, her research team also led the first randomized controlled trial to "compare the efficacy of both resistance and aerobic training to improve executive cognitive functions necessary for independent living." The results showed that implementing a seniors’ exercise program could improve their neurocognitive and physical decline. ^[7]

As a result of her research into preventing both neurocognitive and physical decline in older adults, Liu-Ambrose was appointed a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair of Physical Activity, Mobility, and Cognitive Neuroscience in 2012.^[8] Following her appointment, Liu-Ambrose was also named the co-director of the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility alongside David Wilson and Pierre Guy.^[9] She was later elected to the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.^[10]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Liu-Ambrose was one of three principal investigators of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Covid-19 Study: Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Brain Health.^[11] The aim of the project was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function, brain structure and brain function in adults aged 55 to 80 years.^[12] In 2021, Liu-Ambrose was elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences^[13] and named the recipient of the John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award.^[14]

References

^ "Teresa Liu-Ambrose, BSc (PT) '94, MSc '98, PhD '04". University of British Columbia. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Post Doctoral Fellows". The Province. June 4, 2003. Retrieved November 12, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Past Award Winners". Royal Society of Canada. 21 October 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "2006 Career Investigator Awards". The Province. October 31, 2006. Retrieved November 12, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
^ Thomson, Hilary (September 6, 2007). "New Study Examines Impact of Resistance Training on Cognitive Ability and Risk of Falling". University of British Columbia. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Strength training for seniors provides sustained cognitive function and economic benefits". University of British Columbia. December 13, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Preventing dementia: new research by VCH and UBC shows the trajectory of cognitive decline can be altered in seniors at risk for dementia". University of British Columbia. April 13, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Thirteen Canada Research Chairs valued at $11 million appointed at UBC". University of British Columbia. October 12, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "TERESA LIU-AMBROSE AND DAVID WILSON JOIN PIERRE GUY AS CO-DIRECTORS AT THE CENTRE FOR HIP HEALTH AND MOBILITY". University of British Columbia. 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Four members of Faculty of Medicine elected to Royal Society of Canada". University of British Columbia. September 11, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Covid-19 Study: Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Brain Health". Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 20 November 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on brain health". Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. August 23, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Dr. Gina Ogilvie and Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose elected into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences". Women's Health Research Institute. September 14, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
^ "Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose receives John McNeill Excellence in Health Research Mentorship Award". University of British Columbia. March 22, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.