Pilot evaluation of a milestone stage specific foam play system on motor milestone achievement in infants (2 weeks to 24 months) - BC-1028
Project type: ResearchDesired discipline(s): Human physical performance and recreation, Life Sciences, Kinesiology, Medicine
Company: Little Evolution Lab
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: 10/01/2026
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Vancouver, BC, Canada; Remote, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: PhDPostdoctoral fellow
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: Yes
About the company:
Little Evolution Lab is a Vancouver-based health-tech and manufacturing startup focused on addressing passive early age ‘containers’ for babies and infants, leading to decreased motor function, motor delays, plagiocephaly, "container syndrome," and Decreased Coordination Dysfunction (DCD). All are conditions caused by infants spending excessive daily time in restrictive gear.
Our company aims to empower parents through physical products and education to counteract the negative impacts of the current trends towards decreased motoric stimulation.
Describe the project.:
Pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a stage-specific foam play system with attachable accessories, designed to support motor milestone development in infants from birth to independent walking. The project’s main goals are to generate preliminary scientific evidence on the product’s impact on achieving motor milestones and to validate its safety, usability, and real-world benefits for families. The study ideally uses a single-arm pre-post design over six months.
Participating infants use the full system according to developmental stage, while parents complete either automated questionnaires at set intervals (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months) or live milestone tracking. Validated tools such as the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP), and Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) will measure progress. A secure backend system will automatically capture data and generate visualizations. The researcher (with expertise in infant motor development or developmental pediatrics) will serve as Principal Investigator. They will lead study design, ethics approval, recruitment strategy (we are recruiting now), data analysis, and manuscript preparation for publication. Our company will supply products, manage the digital data platform, and handle logistics as requested. Target sample of 30–50 infants. This pilot will produce peer-reviewed data to support product claims, identify areas for improvement, and form the foundation for a larger randomized controlled trial. It combines rigorous academic methods with practical business validation.
Required expertise/skills:
Standard modern computer literacy with data tracking. RedCap and/or Zapier literacy required. Standard GoogleSheets/Workforce may suffice.
Expertise in infant motor development or developmental pediatrics is a necessity. Proven pediatric research experience in designing/leading pilot studies involving infants or younger children, including experience with longitudinal data collection, mixed-methods approaches and managing parent-reported outcomes.
Ideally experience with Research Ethics Boards approval for pediatric studies. Asset to have previous successfully published in relevant pediatric journals and experience in writing successful grant applications.
Additional assets include background in Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy.
