PhD Research Trainee
University of Toronto, Canada
Melissa Biscardi is a registered nurse and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, where she is a research trainee in the Acquired Brain Injury Lab, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute. She maintains a small clinical practice where she delivers evidence-based clinical care, mentorship, and educational workshops with a unique blend of scientific rigour and engagement. Her research and practice focus on acute and persistent post-concussion symptoms in adults, with a particular emphasis on the oculomotor system and the use of virtual reality-based eye movement interventions to support brain recovery. Melissa’s doctoral research investigates the effectiveness of progressively challenging oculomotor tasks delivered via VR in post-concussion rehabilitation. She has a strong interest in sex-based differences in concussion risk and recovery, and was the first to study anti-Müllerian hormone as a marker of hormonal disruption following mTBI in women.
Ms. Biscardi is committed to translating research into real-world tools that are patient focused and assessable. She developed a phone based application to facilitate engaging concussion recovery.
has published widely, including a systematic review and meta-analysis on oculomotor rehabilitation, and co-authored three book chapters. Her work is supported by the Women and Brain Health Award (UHN Foundation and Mitacs Accelerate) in partnership with NeuroFlex Inc. Known for her practical, tech-forward, and research-grounded approach to concussion care, Melissa also presents frequently at national and international conferences. When not immersed in research or clinical care, she can be found running, hiking, or hanging out with her three-legged cat.
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