We on a mission to improve the lives of children, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) facing cancer and other serious health conditions.

Based in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary and the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Thrive Lab partners with individuals with lived experience, healthcare providers, and community organizations to ensure that young patients don’t just survive — they thrive. Together, we’re advancing research and real-world solutions to transform long-term outcomes for young people and their families.

Young patients just don’t survive – they thrive.

Meet Our Team.

Our team of researchers, graduate students, alumni, and patient partners share a passion for improving lives beyond cancer. Together, we bring diverse perspectives, expertise, and lived experience to every discovery and solution we create.

Albert Einstein

Token Genius

Mauris sed ipsum ex. Nulla imperdiet et nibh ut condimentum. Aliquam sed volutpat leo. Aenean vel neque a quam fringilla malesuada sit amet quis nisi. Cras cursus ultricies libero tristique rutrum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce condimentum posuere eros, nec tristique nisl.

Portrait of Megan Hessel Communications Mobilization Advisor

Megan Hessel

Communications & Mobilization Advisor

Mauris sed ipsum ex. Nulla imperdiet et nibh ut condimentum. Aliquam sed volutpat leo. Aenean vel neque a quam fringilla malesuada sit amet quis nisi. Cras cursus ultricies libero tristique rutrum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce condimentum posuere eros, nec tristique nisl.

Portrait of Megan Hessel Communications Mobilization Advisor

Marin Hoh

Research Coordinator

Mauris sed ipsum ex. Nulla imperdiet et nibh ut condimentum. Aliquam sed volutpat leo. Aenean vel neque a quam fringilla malesuada sit amet quis nisi. Cras cursus ultricies libero tristique rutrum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce condimentum posuere eros, nec tristique nisl.

Our People Partners.

Albert Einstein

PhD in Relativity Professor of Physics

Aesculapius

God of Medicine and Healing

Marie Curie

Nobel Prize Chemist & Physicist

Barbara McClintock

Nobel Prize Geneticist

Our Alumni.

Alexandra Harboun

Research Coordinator (2025)

Kelly Mazzocca

Research Coordinator (2023-2025)

Natalia Ayodele

Undergraduate honours student (2024-2025)

Priya Samudra

Undergraduate honours student (2024-2025)

Elyse Rebecca Heidelberg

Post-Doctoral Fellow, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Leora Feld

Undergraduate research volunteer (2023-2025)

Our Sponsors.

The Thrive Lab’s work is made possible through the generosity and vision of our sponsors and funding partners. Their support fuels the research, innovation, and collaboration that help young people and their families move beyond survival—toward truly thriving lives.