Saashi is entering the final year of her PhD in neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, where she is studying brain development in autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Born to British parents, Saashi grew up moving around before her family settled in Vancouver where she attended high school. She then moved to Montreal to pursue her undergraduate degree in psychology at McGill University where she first learned about and became interested in autism. This led her to work at a summer camp for children and adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions and disabilities, and as a therapist with young autistic children. She witnessed firsthand how variable autism is, how underserved autistic children and their families are, and how little we really know about autism. This motivated her to return to McGill to complete an MSc in neuroscience where her research focused on how variability in autism relates to variability in the brain, and how sex influences these differences.
Saashi is extending this work during her PhD at Cambridge. Her PhD work is examining brain development in autism as well as ADHD (which shares genetic and behavioural features with autism) in a large sample of MRI (brain scan) data. Using a technique called normative modelling, she is comparing brain anatomy in individuals with autism and ADHD to models of typical brain development based on over 100,000 individuals. These “brain charts” (analogous to paediatric growth charts) provide a baseline against which we can identify alterations and divergences in brain anatomy and development associated with autism and ADHD. She is also investigating sex differences, relationships between brain anatomy and autistic traits, and potential subgroups based on neuroanatomical features or patterns.
Saashi is interested in how her research findings can be applied clinically to help individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions. For example, this research may one day help with clinical prediction and/or earlier, faster and more objective diagnosis. Autism, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions are currently diagnosed based purely on behavioural presentation, which is hugely variable and often differs by sex. The process can be challenging and subjective which can lead to late or missed diagnosis. Biomedically aided diagnosis or referral (e.g. based on brain scans) could improve and accelerate access to support or accommodations for individuals that need it.
At Cambridge, Saashi is keeping in touch with her Canadian roots and community by captaining the university’s women’s ice hockey team. On returning to Canada, she plans to apply the skills and knowledge she gained during her PhD to work in neuroscience research to further our knowledge of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions.
Saashi was awarded the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation Scholarship 2023-2024.
