Camila Aquino, MD, MSc, PhD.
Dr. Camila Aquino is a neurologist and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Clinical Neurosciences and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary, and a Full Member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the O'Brien Institute for Public Health. She holds an MD from Escola Superior de Ciências da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória (Brazil), an MSc and PhD in Neurology and Neurosciences from the Federal University of São Paulo, an MSc in Health Research Methods from McMaster University, and completed a Movement Disorder Fellowship at the University of Toronto. She directs the Deep Brain Stimulation Multidisciplinary Program at Foothills Medical Centre.
Areas of Research
My clinical trials program aims to identify promising therapeutics and advance treatment for people living with Parkinson's disease, tremor, and dystonia. I lead investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored trials at the University of Calgary, including studies evaluating disease-modifying agents and novel formulations for Parkinson's disease. My work also addresses methodological challenges in trial design, including the use of appropriate endpoints, inclusion criteria that better reflect the population of patients treated in clinical practice, and strategies to improve the conduct of trials in prodromal and early-stage disease.
My outcomes research aims to understand what matters most to people living with movement disorders. I am interested in developing and evaluating patient-reported outcome measures, studying patient preferences for device-aided therapies, and investigating patient satisfaction with advanced treatments. My goal is to build a research program that captures the patient perspective more meaningfully, including constructs such as resilience, and to use this knowledge to inform the design of interventions that reflect the priorities of patients and care partners.
My neuromodulation research seeks to restore function in people living with movement disorders through targeted brain and spinal cord stimulation. I direct the Deep Brain Stimulation Multidisciplinary Program at Foothills Medical Centre, overseeing clinical care and building a research platform to optimize programming strategies and expand therapeutic applications.
My evidence-based medicine work contributes to the systematic appraisal and synthesis of treatment evidence in movement disorders. I have training and experience in systematic review methods, risk of bias tools, and the GRADE framework, having been trained directly at McMaster University where the framework was developed.
Supervising degrees
Working with this supervisor
My research program is grounded in clinical, epidemiological, and knowledge synthesis methods. Students in my lab engage in clinical trials, patient-centered outcomes research, systematic reviews, and evidence-based medicine. This is not a basic science or wet lab program; candidates seeking bench-based research are encouraged to explore other opportunities that may better align with their goals.
I value genuine interest in the field and a good working relationship as foundations for successful supervision. For this reason, I strongly encourage prospective students to seek opportunities to collaborate with me before applying, whether through volunteer research involvement, participation in projects, or other forms of academic engagement. Priority will be given to candidates with whom I have had the opportunity to work and whose fit with the program I can meaningfully assess.
Writing is central to the work we do. Strong written communication is not only an asset but an expectation for graduate students in my program. I encourage prospective students to write to me directly and in their own words. A brief, thoughtful message that reflects your genuine interest in my research areas will always be more effective than a generic or automatically generated inquiry. Personalized communication tells me that you have taken the time to understand my work and are seriously considering whether this program is right for you.