Dr. Sarah Donkers

Dr. Sarah Donkers worked clinically as a physiotherapist (PT) specialized in neurological rehabilitation, and it was her clinical experience with people with MS that led her to research (PhD). She has trained and worked clinically in both Canada and Australia. She has dedicated her career to improving the access to and quality of neurological rehabilitation. The focus of her research is to better understand how we can optimize functional recovery through neurorehabilitation and how we can get such approaches into routine care - bridging neurorehabilitation interventional research with implementation science and health services. Sarah is currently an Associate Professor in the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan. She teaches the neurology content in the School of Rehabilitation Science. She was recently honoured as the 2024 recipient of the University’s Outstanding New Researcher Award – selected for her research contributions and impact in neurorehabilitation.

What is the focus of your research? How did you become interested in MS research? 

My research focuses on improving the access to and quality of neurological rehabilitation. I worked clinically as a physiotherapist (PT) specialized in neurological rehabilitation, and it was my clinical experience with people with MS that led me to research (PhD). 

What inspires you to continue advancing research in this field? 

The people living with MS that I have worked with and learned from clinically and through my research studies. I think the role of rehabilitation in MS has never been more important. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of MS has advanced with newer high efficacy disease-modifying-therapies helping to address the autoimmune attacks and inflammatory responses. However, people with MS are still progressively losing functional abilities and experiencing debilitating symptoms that affect quality of life. Two major pathophysiological mechanisms appear to drive the accumulation of MS-related disability: inflammation and neurodegeneration. Counteracting neurodegenerative processes and promoting neuronal repair/neuroplasticity remain an unmet clinical need. Rehabilitation targeted towards halting decline and restoring function have the potential to slow progression and enhance quality of life. However, access to rehabilitation care tends to still be primarily considered later in the disease course with a compensatory approach. Based on our research (both in animal and humans with MS), improvements can be seen across the MS disease course. We want to learn more about timing and intensity of rehabilitation to target optimal responses and to increase access to rehabilitation for all people with MS. 

How do you hope to change the lives of people living with MS through your research? 

My hope is that all people with MS will have access to comprehensive care including access to rehabilitation care providers early and throughout the MS disease course. That rehabilitation targeting functional neurorecovery is available as routine care regardless of where a person lives. That this type of care can help people continue to participate in meaningful life activities and optimize health and wellness despite their MS. 

What do you enjoy most about your research? What are some of the challenges you face? 

I love it all! I work with amazing people both locally, nationally, and internationally. We have a fabulous group of Canadian researchers in MS rehabilitation including our recently formed MSCanRehab research network. We are building a group of clinicians and researchers with interest and expertise in MS Rehab through our Canadian MS Rehab Knowledge Mobilization Network and are working towards establishing the first ever Canadian MS Rehab Clinical Practice Guidelines and other clinical tools to try and accelerate getting evidence-based findings into routine care. Continued funding is always a challenge as research grants are project specific and it’s hard to get funding for new equipment and/or to keep highly trained staff. Another challenge is creating opportunities for all people with MS to participate in research. Some studies are time and/or travel intensive and it’s not always an option to participate for some people still working, raising a young family, living rurally/remotely, or experiencing other social or environmental barriers. I’d like to continue to try and minimize those barriers. 

How important is the support from the MS Society of Canada in your research? 

MS Canada funding is essential! It is crucial to advancing my research and supporting getting research findings into routine care – making meaningful change. This funding opportunity will not only allow us to conduct the research but will also help foster a clinical community and support building expertise in MS rehabilitation throughout Canada.