Jason Gilliland
Affiliations
Scientist, Division of Children’s Health and Therapeutics, Children's Health Research Institute
Director, Urban Development, Western University
Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Western University
Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute
How my research helps children
My research examines the influence of the physical environment on children’s health and well being. I am particularly interested in understanding the relationship between modern urban planning and development practices and the rise of certain children’s health issues such as asthma, physical inactivity, obesity, and injury. By gaining a better understanding of how the physical environment influences the health and well-being of children, we can better inform public policymakers and city planners of how to make effective changes to public policy and neighbourhood design to promote children’s health.
Research
Current Research Activities
Dr. Gilliland’s research has been published in a variety of leading journals, including American Journal of Public Health, Canadian Journal of Public Health, and Health & Place. He has recently given several invited keynote addresses on his research on “urban design and children’s health” to various meetings of policymakers, including: the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ontario; the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Rural Affairs; the City of Auckland and City of Hamilton (New Zealand); and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.
Research Team
Dr. Gilliland’s research team consists of a technician, five doctoral students, seven masters students, and a team of undergraduate student research assistants. Members of Dr. Gilliland’s team have held several major awards from agencies such as the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Engineers Canada.
Future Research Plans
Dr. Gilliland (with Dr. William Avison, Dr. Victor Han, and Dr. Jerry Kidder) is building a multi-layered geographic information system for identifying spatial clusters of prevalent childhood diseases in Southwestern Ontario and for examining potential environmental determinants in order to suggest potential interventions. He has also recently received funding for a study which explores how characteristics of children’s neighbourhood environments influence their physical activity levels and exposure to air pollution.
Awards & Grants
Awards & Grants
Funding in support of Epigenetic Determinants of Children's Health: From Bench to Playground – Awarded by Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
Funding in support of Environment and Health Impacts in the Vicinity of Major Traffic Pollution (Resubmission - 4A) – Awarded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRCC)
Funding in support of BMI Trajectories among Young Children in Canada: The Effect of the Built Environment – Awarded by Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)
Funding in support of Mapping barriers and enablers for health in Middlesex-London – Awarded by Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU)
Funding in support of Assessing the impact of local food environments on health in Chatham-Kent – Awarded by Chatham-Kent Health Unit
Funding in support of The EcoMobility Project – Awarded by City of London - Engineering & Environment Service
Funding in support of Obesity among Off-Reserve Aboriginal Children in Canada: Trajectories, Contextual Determinants, and Interventions – Awarded by Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)
Funding in support of Traffic and road injury prevention program for children – Awarded by Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)
Funding in support of Identifying causal effects of the built environment on physical activity, diet, and obesity among children – Awarded by HSFC & CIHR
Old East London BIA 'Angel Award' for Outstanding Community Service, 2010
Julian M Szciez Award for Early Career Achievement – Awarded by Canadian Association of Geographers, 2009
Recent Publications
Publications
Shaken Baby Syndrome and a Triple-Dose Strategy for Its Prevention
Stewart TC, Polgar D, Gilliland J, Tanner DA, Girotti MJ, Parry N, Fraser DD
J Trauma-Injury Infection & Critical Care. 2011; 71(6):1801-1807
Route based analysis to capture the environmental influences on a child's mode of travel between home and school
Larsen K, Gilliland J, Hess P
Annals of the Assoc of American Geographers. 2011
Hip fracture types in men and women change differently with age
Tanner DA, Kloseck M, Crilly RG, Chesworth B, Gilliland J
BMC Geriatr. 2010 Mar 9;10:12
A farmers' market in a food desert: Evaluating impacts on the price and availability of healthy food
Larsen K, Gilliland J.
Health Place. 2009 Dec;15(4):1158-62
Physical activity levels of older community-dwelling adults are influenced by summer weather variables
Brandon CA, Gill DP, Speechley M, Gilliland J, Jones GR
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2009 Apr;34(2):182-90
The influence of the physical environment and sociodemographic characteristics on children's mode of travel to and from school
Larsen K, Gilliland J, Hess P, Tucker P, Irwin J, He M.
Am J Public Health. 2009 Mar;99(3):520-6
Environmental influences on physical activity levels in youth
Tucker P, Irwin JD, Gilliland J, He M, Larsen K, Hess P
Health Place. 2009 Mar;15(1):357-63.
Mapping the evolution of 'food deserts' in a Canadian city: supermarket accessibility in London, Ontario, 1961-2005
Larsen K, Gilliland J
Int J Health Geogr. 2008 Apr 18;7:16
Splashpads, swings, and shade: parents' preferences for neighbourhood parks
Tucker P, Gilliland J, Irwin JD.
Can J Public Health. 2007 May-Jun;98(3):198-202.
Additional publications
Contact
Contact
Phone: 519-661-2111 x 81239
Fax: 519-661-3750
Email: jgillila [at] uwo [dot] ca
Websites: www.spatialists.com
www.healthycities.ca
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