Our team includes driven undergraduate and graduate students and dedicated lab personnel, all collaborating under the guidance of Dr. Michael Kalu. Together, we conduct groundbreaking research focusing on aging, mobility, and health equity.
Explore the profiles below to learn more about each member’s unique contributions and ongoing research projects.
Dr. Ogochukwu Onyeso
Dr. Ogochukwu Onyeso is a Postdoctoral Visitor in the M4 & Aging Lab at York University under the supervision of Dr. Michael Kalu (April 2025 – March 2026). He holds a PhD in Population Studies in Health from the University of Lethbridge, with prior degrees in Physiotherapy from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the University of Nigeria.
His research explores life course mobility trajectories, aging, and the social determinants of health. He specializes in advanced quantitative modeling techniques to generate policy-relevant evidence, with an emphasis on health service delivery across home, community, and long-term care settings.
Current Project:
“Examining the Mediation of Economic, Environmental, and Social Disparities in Mobility Decline Among Visible Minority and Non-Minority Older Canadians: A CLSA-Based Analysis”
This study analyzes CLSA data to uncover how economic status, living environments, and lifestyle behaviors contribute to mobility disparities in older Canadians—particularly across gender and racial lines.
Selected Publications:
Dr. Juliet Chigozie Donatus Ezulike
Dr. Juliet Ezulike is a Postdoctoral Visitor in the M4 Aging Lab at York University, working under the supervision of Dr. Michael Kalu. She holds a PhD in Social Work from the City University of Hong Kong (2023), an MSc in Gerontology from the University of Southampton (2018), and a BSc in Social Work from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (2015).
Her research spans informal caregiving, healthy ageing, gerontechnology, frailty, mental health, and social policy. She is particularly focused on improving the lives of older adults and their caregivers through culturally appropriate and inclusive technological solutions.
Current Project:
“Socially Focused Intelligent Assistive Technologies for Caregiving for Homebound Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review”
This scoping review explores the body of literature on social technologies used among caregiving dyads—homebound older adults with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers—while identifying barriers and facilitators to adoption.
Her ongoing research also examines the perceived cultural appropriateness of assistive technologies that support social interaction in Black older adults and their caregivers. Juliet’s interdisciplinary work sits at the intersection of social work, gerontology, public health, and social policy, with a central focus on minoritised racial/ethnic populations.
Chukwuebuka Prince Onyekere
Chukwuebuka Prince Onyekere is currently a PhD student in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. He holds an MSc in Gerontology from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom (2024) and a BMR in Physiotherapy from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (2019).
Chukwuebuka is currently leading a scoping review project titled “Mobility Wearable Devices for Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Artificial Intelligence Applications (or Not).” This project explores the integration of artificial intelligence in wearable mobility devices to enhance the mobility of older adults. It involves scoping the literature on external mobility devices and sensors designed for individuals aged 65 and above. As the project lead, Chukwuebuka oversees data extraction, result synthesis, and manuscript preparation.
In addition to his current project, Chukwuebuka has contributed to several other projects in Dr. Kalu's lab, including:
- Artificial Intelligence in Qualitative Analysis: A Scoping Review.
- When, How, and Challenges in Identifying Homebound Older People – A Scoping Review.
- Mobility Profiles and Determinants among Nigerian Community-dwelling Older Adults.
Connect on LinkedIn: Chukwuebuka's LinkedIn Profile
Obi Perpetua Chinenye
Obi Perpetua Chinenye is a Graduate Student pursuing an MSc in Kinesiology at York University. She holds a BMR in Physiotherapy from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu Nigeria, and an MSc in Gerontology from the University of Southampton, UK.
Obi is currently leading a project titled “Moving from Comprehensive (COMDAF) to Core Mobility Factors: Feasibly Examining the Utilization of the Core-Mobility Factor Discharge Assessment Framework (COrMDAF) for Assessing Older Adults' Mobility in Hospital-to-Home Transition.” The project focuses on reducing the 43 factors in the Comprehensive Mobility Discharge Assessment Framework to refine the Core-Mobility Discharge Assessment Framework for older adults.
As the project lead, Obi is responsible for developing the methodology, conducting interviews, leading focus groups, and analyzing results to provide recommendations.
Connect on LinkedIn: Obi's LinkedIn Profile
Peace Kumapayi
Peace Kumapayi is a Graduate Student pursuing an MSc in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. She holds a BSc in Kinesiology from York University, completed in 2024. Her research contributions include:
- When, How, and Challenges Associated with Identifying Homebound Older Adults – A Scoping Review
- Cognitive, Personal, Social, Psychological Needs of Homebound Older Adults – A Scoping Review
- Exploring the Needs and Experiences of Homebound Older Adults with Wearable Devices in GTA – A Descriptive Case Study
Peace is currently leading the project “Exploring the Needs and Experiences of Homebound Older Adults with Wearable Devices in GTA – A Descriptive Case Study”, where she aims to improve the understanding and application of wearable technologies for this population.
Osamudiamen Junior Edebor
Osamudiamen Junior Edebor is a Graduate Student currently pursuing an MSc in Kinesiology at York University. He holds a BSc in Physiotherapy from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), completed in 2024.
Under the supervision of Dr. Michael Kalu, Osamudiamen has contributed to the project “Met and Unmet Needs of Black Older Adults: A Scoping Review.”
He is currently leading a project titled “Addressing the Met and Unmet Cognitive, Environmental, Financial, Personal, Physical, Psychological, and Social Care Needs of Black Stroke Survivors: A Family-Based Case Study Qualitative Approach in the Greater Toronto Area.”
Connect on LinkedIn: Osamudiamen Edebor’s LinkedIn Profile
Nisha Sheen
Nisha Sheen is a PhD student in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. She previously earned an MA in Recreation and Leisure Studies from the University of Waterloo, an MSc in Extension Education from the University of Kerala, India, and a PhD in Aging from the University of Kerala, India.
Her academic and professional journey reflects a strong commitment to teaching, research, and community engagement. She has developed expertise across diverse areas, including aging, recreation and leisure studies, nutrition, human development, and community services. Nisha’s work emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to advancing knowledge in health and aging.
Her current goal is to pursue an academic career while advancing aging research with a focus on the experiences of racialized immigrants in Canada.
Ann-Marie Burton
Ann-Marie Burton is a Graduate Student pursuing an MA in Kinesiology and Health Sciences at York University. She previously earned a BA in Kinesiology (1999) and a BA in Psychology (1999) from Western University, as well as a BSc in Physiotherapy (2003). Her research interests include older adults, ageing, physical activity and sports, physical literacy, chronic disease prevention, cardiac health, and health promotion. Outside of her academic work, Ann-Marie enjoys sports and hiking.
Thomas Silvaggio
Thomas Silvaggio is a 4th-year Kinesiology and Health Science student in the Faculty of Health at York University. He is actively involved in research projects that include:
- Met and Unmet Needs of Black Older Adults: A Scoping Review
- A Scoping Review of Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction of Physiotherapy Services in Nigeria
Thomas aspires to pursue Dental School or a Master's degree in Exercise Science, showcasing his dedication to advancing his academic and professional journey.
Adithya Ramprasad
Adithya Ramprasad is a 3rd-year Kinesiology and Health Science student in the Faculty of Health at York University. He is currently working on a scoping review focused on AI-powered mobility assistive devices in adults. His main responsibility includes screening articles and extracting relevant data.
The study aims to assess the impact of these technologies on enhancing social engagement among adults. In the future, Adithya aspires to pursue a career in medicine.
Arvin Moradi
Arvin Moradi is a 3rd-year undergraduate student in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University and a Research Assistant in Dr. Kalu’s lab. As part of a project examining the feasibility of core mobility factors for assessing older adults' mobility in hospital-to-home transitions, Arvin is currently reviewing and collecting data from sources that evaluate physical determinants of mobility.
The project aims to identify and prioritize assessment tools that are most useful for healthcare professionals and researchers in clinical and community settings.
Arvin is passionate about both medicine and research, with a career goal of studying the application of movement-related interventions as effective treatment and preventive strategies for health promotion.
Aaliyah Sterling
Aaliyah Sterling is a 3rd-year Kinesiology and Health Science student in the Faculty of Health at York University and a 2025 URSA award recipient in Dr. Kalu’s lab.
She is currently working on a systematic review that investigates the presence and impact of fake participants in virtual research studies. Aaliyah’s responsibilities include screening abstracts using Covidence, conducting full-text reviews, extracting data, and documenting reasons for exclusion based on predefined criteria.
The project aims to improve the quality of online research by understanding how fraudulent participation affects data integrity and identifying effective detection and prevention strategies for researchers.
Aaliyah plans to apply to medical school to become a physician. Her interests lie in patient-centered care, addressing health disparities in underserved communities, and exploring fields like rehabilitation sciences and pediatrics. Inspired by personal experiences and academic interests in kinesiology and psychology, she aspires to combine clinical work with research and advocacy to help create more equitable healthcare systems.
Radman Alizadeh
Radman Alizadeh is a 5th-year student in the Kinesiology and Health Science program in the Faculty of Health at York University, completing an independent study under the supervision of Dr. Michael Kalu. He is currently working on a scoping review that explores how artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied in physical activity and mobility interventions within rehabilitation care.
His primary responsibilities include title/abstract and full-text screening of articles using Covidence, developing a data extraction sheet, extracting relevant data, and summarizing findings in tables and results sections. The ultimate goal of this project is to map the breadth and depth of existing studies and prepare a manuscript that follows a peer-reviewed journal format, including background, methods, results, and discussion.
Radman’s primary goal is to pursue a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree. In the long term, he aims to work as a physiotherapist specializing in musculoskeletal and neurological rehabilitation, while also contributing to research that bridges evidence-based practice with patient-centered care. He hopes to continue building on his independent study and lab experiences by engaging in projects that focus on rehabilitation technologies, mobility, and exercise-based interventions.
Mishelle Pan
Mishelle Pan is a 4th-year student pursuing a double major in Biology and Kinesiology and Health Science in the Faculty of Health at York University.
Her future career goal is to attend medical school and become a physician, but she is also interested in possibly pursuing a master's degree in either kinesiology or biology.
Johnathon Orr
Johnathon Orr is a 4th-year undergraduate student in Kinesiology and Health Science in the Faculty of Health at York University and a Research Assistant in Dr. Kalu’s lab.
He is currently working on a project that analyzes culturally appropriate diabetes self-management strategies for older adults. His role includes reviewing extracted research data, identifying key patterns such as attributes, antecedents, and outcomes, and helping develop a concept analysis using Rodgers’ evolutionary method. The project aims to clarify how culturally tailored interventions support diabetes self-management and improve outcomes among older adults.
Johnathon plans to pursue a Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MScPT) as his future goal.
Mohit Prashar
Mohit Prashar is a 3rd-year undergraduate student in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University and a RAY (Research at York) student in Dr. Kalu's lab. He is involved in several projects, including:
- Socially Focused Intelligent Assistive Technologies for Caregiving for Homebound Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review: This study maps the available literature on assistive technologies that promote social engagement and well-being for homebound older adults with MCI.
- Exploring the Perspectives of Physiotherapists on Culture and Mobility Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Nigeria: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
- Physical Literacy Among Older Adults: How Feasible Is This in the Nigerian Context? A Qualitative Exploration of the Concept Among Physiotherapists
Ravjyot Ughra
Ravjyot Ughra is a 3rd-year Honours BSc Biology student at York University. She is currently involved in research projects that explore various aspects of gerontology, including:
- The Identification Process of Homebound Older Adults
- The Met and Unmet Needs of Black Older Adults
- The Cognitive, Environmental, Financial, Personal, Social, Physical, and Psychological Needs of Homebound Older Adults
Ravjyot aims to pursue graduate studies in molecular biology or biochemistry and envisions a future career in healthcare, law, or academia.
Mateo Lopez
Mateo Lopez is a 4th-year undergraduate student in the Kinesiology and Health Science program, Faculty of Health. He is contributing to a scoping review examining the role of AI-powered mobility assistive devices in supporting individuals with mobility limitations. His work involves screening articles and extracting relevant data to assess the effectiveness of these devices in enhancing mobility and overall quality of life.
Reeya Punni
Reeya Punni is a 4th-year student in the Psychology program in the Faculty of Health at York University and a Research Assistant at the M4 and Aging Lab.
She is currently assisting with projects related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in mobility factors. Her work contributes to understanding how AI-based approaches can enhance mobility assessment and intervention for older adults.
Reeya hopes to pursue a master’s degree in psychiatry research and then in clinical psychology, with a focus on gerontology.
Sam Mohebbi
Sam Mohebbi is a 3rd-year undergraduate student in Kinesiology and Health Science in the Faculty of Health at York University and a Research Assistant in Dr. Kalu’s lab.
He will be contributing to a scoping review under Dr. Kalu’s supervision. The specific details of the project, including the research focus and Sam’s role, will be determined once the study protocols and scope are finalized.
Sam’s future goal is to pursue a career in dentistry. He is passionate about helping others improve their health and confidence and is drawn to the creativity and precision that dentistry offers in making a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
Hiba Sher
Hiba Sher is a Research Assistant and Project Lead in Dr. Kalu's lab. She holds a BSc in Biology from York University and has been leading a scoping review project titled:
- Met and Unmet Needs of Black Older Adults: A Scoping Review
Hiba’s work focuses on understanding healthcare disparities and developing strategies to address them. She plans to pursue a career in medicine while continuing her research aspirations to deepen her knowledge and understanding of healthcare inequalities.
Soroush Shirazi
Soroush Shirazi is a Research Assistant in Dr. Kalu's lab. He holds a Bachelor’s of Health Sciences from Queen’s University and has been actively involved in several projects, including:
- Cognitive and Driving Study
- AI Use in Thematic Analysis
- Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction Rate from Physiotherapy Services in Nigeria
- Anonymizing and De-identifying Sensitive Health Data
- Identifying Components of Culturally Appropriate Self-Management Strategies for Black People Living with Diabetes or Pre-clinical Diabetes – A Scoping Review
Soroush aspires to become an orthopedic surgeon, particularly focusing on the development and application of artificial limbs.
Obunike Stephanie
Obunike Stephanie is a volunteer in Dr. Kalu’s lab. She holds a BMR in Physiotherapy from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Projects Involved In:
- Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of stroke knowledge test.
- Gender differences in service access and recovery trajectory in African stroke rehabilitation context: A scoping review.
- A scoping review on cognitive, psychological, financial, environmental, and social met and unmet needs of homebound older adults.
- Tele-rehabilitation for mobility assessment, intervention, and prevention: A scoping review of features, opportunities, and challenges among older adults.
Nnaji Precious Chiamaka
Nnaji Precious Chiamaka is a volunteer in Dr. Kalu’s lab. She holds a BSc in Physiotherapy from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
She is currently involved in a study titled: “Relationship between illness perception, anthropometric properties, health behaviors, and blood pressure among hypertensive patients in rural Southeastern Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.”
Her future goal is to apply for a Master of Science (MSc) program.