ICDR Announces Inaugural International Research Award Winners at RSI Research Day
Congratulations to Armineh Babikian and Nicole Bazzocchi!
The Rehabilitation Sciences Sector’s International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation (ICDR) is dedicated to advancing rehabilitation education and research on a global scale.
The ICDR proudly launched its inaugural International Research Awards, recognizing outstanding MSc and PhD students in the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI) whose work demonstrates strong international engagement, particularly in low- to middle-income country contexts.
The awards were formally presented during RSI Research Day last week, a vibrant annual event that brings together RSI students, trainees, faculty, and community partners to showcase and celebrate research excellence across the Institute. The presentation highlighted the importance of globally engaged scholarship and the meaningful impact of student-led research beyond Canada.
This year, two exceptional trainees were selected as recipients:
Armineh Babikian
Awarded for: “Rethinking Disability for Sustainable Rehabilitation Development in Armenia”
Recipient of ICDR International Research Award: Armineh Babikian (PhD Candidate)
Armineh’s research critically examines disability frameworks and their implications for sustainable rehabilitation development in Armenia, emphasizing equity, inclusion, and systems-level change.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized for my contributions to international research. I share this award with my committee, research team, community advisors, and participants. Their lived experiences and partnership continue to shape this work toward an inclusive and equitable Armenian rehabilitation system.”
Nicole Bazzocchi
Awarded for: “Linguistic Anchors Inform Cultural Adaptations in Multilingual Contexts: Diagnostic Implications”
Recipient of ICDR International Research Award: Nicole Bazzocchi (PhD Candidate)
Nicole’s work explores how linguistic and cultural factors shape diagnostic processes in multilingual settings, with a focus on community-based research in Jamaica.
“I am honoured to receive this award, and so grateful to the families, children, staff, and community members in Jamaica who make this work possible.”
This award award celebrates our students’ commitment to fostering internationally relevant research that is collaborative, community-engaged, and impactful.
The ICDR warmly congratulates our inaugural winners on their achievements and looks forward to supporting future trainees whose work advances rehabilitation science on a global scale.