A look into award-winning graduate research in LMP

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Karun Singh at the Krembil Research Institute

“My research focuses on 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome, a rare disorder caused by the deletion of seven genes on chromosome 15, which can lead to various neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism, schizophrenia, and ADHD.

Our understanding of this syndrome and the role of glia is limited. Given that glia, like astrocytes, are implicated in other NDDs such as fragile X and Rett syndromes, my project aims to investigate how the microdeletion affects glial function and contributes to disease development. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapies. I chose this project because recent research highlights the crucial roles glia play in brain health and their contribution to neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. Understanding glial functions in these conditions is essential for developing effective therapies.

I also chose the project because I’ve seen personally how difficult life is for individuals with NDDs and it is my hope that one day my work will play a role in helping us find effective therapies for these disorders.

Receiving the CIHR award is incredibly meaningful to me. As a Black student in neuroscience, where representation is scarce, this recognition shows that there is a place for me in this field. It has boosted my confidence as a researcher, helping to combat the imposter syndrome common in grad school. Additionally, as an older student with extra responsibilities, this award alleviates some financial stress, allowing me to focus more on my research. ”

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Alain Dabdoub at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. 

“My research investigates the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of primary auditory neurons (PANs) and glial cells in the human inner ear.  

PANs transmit sound information to the brain, but in some forms of hearing loss, they are irreversibly damaged. My project uses novel sequencing technology to identify the gene regulatory networks underlying each cell type to infer potential strategies for reprogramming glial cells into functional neurons.  

By studying the human inner ear, my findings will advance the clinical translation of regenerative hearing loss therapies, a compelling opportunity that made me choose the project.  

The CGS-D award is a prestigious acknowledgement of my accomplishments thus far and a key sponsor for my ongoing research endeavours."

This award has provided me the opportunity to contribute to the brain cancer research as well to improve my interpersonal skills as a researcher. It has also enabled to me to contribute to improving quality of brain cancer patients’ lives by developing brain cancer diagnostic tools with nanopore sequencing. And finally, it has also enabled me to hone my critical and creative thinking skills, communication skills, and leadership skills as a researcher through my doctoral training.”

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Karun Singh at the Krembil Research Institute.

"My project uses a new 3D stem cell (organoid) model to explore how our sensory nervous system develops, including how it is influenced by certain genetic neurodevelopmental conditions. Sensory changes (i.e., hyper/hyporeactivity) have been reported in up to 95% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, or autism), but the biological mechanisms underlying these changes are not well understood.

Using a new sensory organoid model, we will be able to examine the gene-specific contribution of more diverse sensory cell types in a 3D environment similar to how they would naturally develop in the body. We hope to use this model to identify previously understudied convergent/divergent vulnerable sensory pathways in ASD and other conditions exhibiting altered sensory features (e.g., chronic pain, peripheral neuropathy, etc.).

I am incredibly honoured to be able to receive this award. It will allow me to perform experiments that may have been otherwise been largely inaccessible due to their cost."

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Kelsie Thu at the Keenan Research Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital. 

"My research focuses on delineating the mechanisms of response to targeting a "don't eat me" signal called CD47 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CD47 is often overexpressed in NSCLC, allowing lung cancer cells to evade immune detection. The goal of my project is to understand how blocking CD47 mediates tumor cell clearance in hopes that this knowledge can inform more effective treatment strategies in the clinics. 

During my undergraduate degree, I spent over a year and a half working in the biotech industry as a co-op student. My mentors there had a huge impact on my research career and that translated to me pursuing graduate school. I chose my current project because I felt that there was so much work still to be done in the cancer research field, and that my work could have an impact on patient treatment felt really rewarding to me.  

I'm very grateful to have received this award and it gives me motivation to continue doing research that benefits patients."

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Michelle Bendeck at the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research and co-supervised by Dr. Paul Santerre.

“My project is a collaboration between the Bendeck and Santerre lab which involves testing the delivery and therapeutic effect of N-cadherin peptide-coated nanoparticles in arterial tissue on vascular restenosis. We construct peptide nanoparticle coated balloons that are used to deliver the therapeutic agent into an injured rat carotid artery. The goal is to establish the persistence of the peptide in the injured artery and show a reduction in neointimal thickening.  

When I was working in the ICU of my local hospital, I assisted in the care of many patients in acute condition due to cardiovascular issues and heart failure. This drove me to pursue a project where I could work on the development of pre-clinical therapies for these diseases. I believe this work has immense potential to advance the safety and efficacy of transluminal interventions to improve patient outcomes in the future.  

I am honoured to receive the CGS-M, it validates the effort behind experiments, the troubleshooting, long nights and early mornings. It highlights the importance of the work."

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Daniel Drucker at the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute. 

“The success of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) agonists in the treatment of diabetes and obesity has generated interest in their application beyond these conditions, including neurodegenerative disease.  

My research project aims to investigate the role of the astrocyte GLP-1R and GIPR in control of metabolism and inflammation which are dysregulated in disease states.  

I chose this project because I was interested in conducting clinically relevant research on the pathophysiology and treatment of diabetes and related comorbidities.  

This award will support the discovery of new mechanisms behind which GLP-1R and GIPR agonists may be beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases."

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Daniel Drucker at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. 

“My research focuses on the role of gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) signaling in brain pericytes and its impact on neuroinflammation, a key process that precedes many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  

Currently, the combined effect of GIPR and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP-1R) analogues on neuroinflammation remains unclear, with conflicting evidence suggesting both gain- and loss-of-function of GIPR may offer benefits. My project explores GIPR’s role through pharmacological modulation of its activity."

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Shinichiro Ogawa at Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network (UHN). 

“My research project aims to elucidate the role of hPSC-derived hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in maintaining hepatocyte functions and to develop a perfusable fluid flow culture system featuring a vascular endothelial cell network, on hPSC-derived hepatocytes.  

By developing these models, I hope to gain deeper insights into the mechanisms of liver disease progression and contribute to the development of potential therapeutic strategies. This work could help advance drug testing and disease modeling, making it an important step towards understanding liver disease and finding more effective treatments. 

I chose this research project because of the increasing prevalence of liver diseases, coupled with the lack of effective treatments for conditions such as fibrosis. Having witnessed the challenges faced by patients with liver disease, I felt compelled to contribute to research that could lead to new, more personalized approaches to treatment. The potential to translate this research into real-world impact is what motivates me every day.”

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Annie Huang at the Hospital for Sick Children. 

“My research project focuses on atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT), a rare and malignant pediatric brain cancer. Due to the lack of standard treatment guidelines, patients are often overtreated, with only a small proportion being cured and leaving survivors with severe life-long toxicity. To address these gaps, SickKids developed a standard-of-care (SKSOC) regimen for ATRTs that avoids the use of radiation. However, without a method for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD), it is difficult to monitor response to treatment or predict early relapse. 

Identifying circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of brain tumor patients can provide non-invasive access to the tumor molecular landscape to inform diagnosis, treatment strategies, and monitor treatment response. My project will evaluate the efficacy of the SKSOC regimen and investigate potential CSF-based ctDNA biomarkers for improved disease diagnosis, staging, and MRD detection. I hope to provide a deeper understanding into disease prognosticators that will allow for faster, more accurate diagnosis and ultimately reduce toxicity experienced by these young patients.”

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Stephen Girardin on the University of Toronto St. George Campus. 

“My research focuses on the NLRP6 inflammasome in the intestinal epithelium, a vital component of the gut barrier that regulates immune responses, nutrient absorption, and interactions with the gut microbiota.  

In my work, I designed and implemented lentiviral constructs with shRNA to target and reduce NLRP6 protein levels, aiming to create a model to study the role of this inflammasome. Understanding NLRP6 is crucial, as dysregulation of inflammasomes is linked to many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and insights into its mechanisms could uncover critical therapeutic intervention points.” 

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. James Rutka at the Hospital for Sick Children. 

“My research focuses on the use of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) in the treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a pediatric brain tumour.  

MRgFUS combines magnetic resonance imaging with focused ultrasonic waves to transiently open the blood-brain barrier, which normally precludes drugs from entering the brain. Successful drug delivery to the tumour site will allow for improvements in DIPG therapeutics. This project allows me to explore the implementation of novel technology in cancer treatment. Additionally, it aligns with my interests in neuroscience and cancer research. 

It is an honour to receive this award, this funding will enable more extensive analysis and testing of a wider array of drugs.”

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Donald Branch at the Canadian Blood Services.

“My research focuses on investigating how CD4-negative cells can potentially be infected by HIV-1 in the absence of the primary CD4 receptor. My aim is to determine whether an alternative receptor could substitute for CD4, enabling infection in these cells.  

During my time as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, I witnessed the devastating impact of infectious diseases firsthand, which deepened my interest in virology and ultimately led me to focus on HIV.  

Studying HIV is very important to me, as it has persisted for over 40 years without a vaccine. This project is critical in addressing unanswered questions about the virus, and I aim to contribute to the global effort at better understanding it.”

MHSc candidate in the Translational Research Program and Fellow at the 2S/LGBTQ+ Health Hub. 

“Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been a game changer in reducing HIV transmission. While PrEP is highly effective, individuals may face barriers in accessing the drug.  

Current research indicates that PrEP use in Ontario is suboptimal. My research project aims to develop a tool that helps individuals secure financial assistance to access PrEP. By streamlining this process, I hope to increase PrEP use across the province. 

This award will enable me to advance these community-focused research efforts, enhancing the real-world impact of my work." 

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Adam Shlien at the Hospital for Sick Children.  

"My research focuses on Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. Prognosis remains particularly poor for patients with metastatic or relapsed disease, and there is currently no targeted therapy available, making the search for new drug targets critical.  

I am working on the molecular subtyping of Ewing sarcoma to better understand the heterogeneity of this tumour type. The ultimate goal of my project is to improve diagnoses and identify novel therapeutic targets for this challenging disease.  

I was drawn to this research as it combines my passion for pediatric oncology and my drive to contribute to scientific advancements that directly improve patient care."

MSc candidate supervised by Dr. Rod Bremner at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. 

“I am investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer lineage transdifferentiation from lung adenocarcinomas to small-cell lung cancers, using multi-omic modalities.  

Harnessing this molecular framework, I aim to establish an in-vitro model to mimic this clinically relevant conversion. Understanding why and how this conversion occurs in 3-14% of clinical cases is a critical step in developing and optimizing current treatment paradigms against this lethal cancer class. 

My pursuit of mechanistic pathobiology stems from my understanding of cancer as a genetic disease, and my strong interests in manipulating genomic technologies to tease apart these heterogeneities. I hope to translate this work into optimizing standards for clinical trials and ultimately improve the delivery of personalized medicine."

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Kathryn Howe and Dr. Jason Fish at Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network (UHN). 

“I’m studying endothelial cell communication with macrophages in atherosclerosis. Specifically, I aim to uncover how endothelial cell-extracellular vesicles communication can regulate macrophage efferocytosis, a process which is defective in atherosclerosis. Additionally, I will explore how EVs obtained from human carotid plaque, which also includes endothelial-derived EVs, can regulate macrophage efferocytosis.  

By understanding the communication system between ECs and macrophages, we can understand the progression of atherosclerotic disease. 

This funding supports my contributions to cardiovascular research and prepares me for future scientific pursuits."

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. James Scott, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Dr. Tracy Kirkham, Ontario Health, and Dr. Alison McGeer, Temerty Faculty of Medicine. 

“I am conducting an experimental study of 200 Ontario Emergency Service Workers (ESWs - paramedics and firefighters) to investigate respirator fit during simulated work tasks and for respirator fit factors. Investigation into fit factors will include facial and physiological measurements, and behaviours during tasks, with data partitioned based on sex and ethnicity.  

This study will help elucidate whether emergency service workers are protected by respirators while performing these tasks. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked as a Lab Technician in Dr. James Scott’s lab, building experiments to measure filtration efficiency of respirators. In my doctoral work,  I’m interested in continuing this research and expanding the scope of how respirators are used to help protect against infectious agents and what current gaps exist when given to workers who are non-white or female. 

This funding supports my contributions to cardiovascular research and prepares me for future scientific pursuits.”

PhD student supervised by Dr. Karun Singh at the Krembil Research Institute.  

“My research is focused on using human pluripotent stem cell-derived 3D neural organoids as models to investigate region-specific and circuit-linked deficits underlying fragile X syndrome, the leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Current in vivo and 2D models are limited in their ability to recapitulate key aspects of the developing human brain.  

This award will allow me to use emerging 3D organoid modelling technologies to characterize morphological and functional deficits in ASD, which will reveal key downstream pathways as potential therapeutic targets.”

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Norman Rosenblum at the Hospital for Sick Children. 

“I am interested in kidney development, and how it is altered in the context of genetic disease. My research project aims to understand variable penetrance of kidney malformation in a congenital disease called Pallister-Hall Syndrome.  

To do this, I am using genetically engineered kidney organoids to study patient-specific genetic variants. My goal is to identify variant-specific mechanisms that drive kidney malformation in Pallister-Hall Syndrome, which is a critical first step to improved prognosis and the development of specific therapies.”

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Michelle Bendeck in the Translation Biology and Engineering Program at the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research. 

“Our lab studies a condition known as atherosclerosis which describes plaque formation in your blood vessels as a result of high cholesterol levels in the blood.  

We have created a mouse model that studies the effects of eliminating a protein known as Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 (DDR1) from the smooth muscle cells of these mice to determine how that affects disease development. Our goal is to prevent severe atherosclerosis development that can cause blockages within the arteries and can lead to heart attacks or strokes.  

The research we are doing will give us a better understanding of the processes involved in plaque formation and how to prevent it.  

I am so grateful to have been awarded the OGS Heart and Stroke Foundation Scholarship as it opens more doors in our research by giving us the funding to move forward and explore this topic in greater depth and complexity, such as by comparing sex differences in disease progression.”

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Amy Wong at the Hospital for Sick Children. 

“My research focuses on creating a 3D airway mimetic platform to model cystic fibrosis (CF) using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This model will help us better understand disease mechanisms and potentially lead to the development of targeted therapies.  

I chose this project because CF is a congenital condition with limited treatment options, and there is a critical need for better models to study it. The opportunity to contribute to meaningful advances in personalized medicine using stem cell technology felt like a natural fit for my scientific curiosity and passion for improving patient outcomes. 

This award will enable me to continue exploring the complexities of CF using microfluidics and iPSCs. Ultimately, this research could pave the way for more effective therapies and better treatment outcomes for CF patients.”

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Stephen Girardin on the University of Toronto St. George Campus. 

“My research project focuses on understanding the mechanisms that drive wound healing in the intestinal epithelium following damage by infection and inflammation.  

I chose my research project because learning how our intestinal epithelium repairs following damage can hopefully uncover therapeutic strategies for those who suffer from recurring intestinal inflammation, like those who are diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.  

Receiving this award means a lot because it shows that others believe in my research project and the impact it can have.”

PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Warren Lee at St. Michael’s Hospital. 

“My research project aims to characterize a novel method of lung imaging to improve diagnosis and monitoring of critically ill patients with edematous lung injury.   

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is an emerging light-based, radiation-free imaging modality which has the capacity to monitor both organ structure and function. In collaboration with Dr. Eno Hysi, I am investigating the feasibility of using PAI to assess lung edema as well as lung hypoxia in murine models of lung injury and how it compares to current ‘gold-standard’ imaging methods such as CT imaging.  

The ultimate goal of the project is to provide ICU clinicians with a powerful new tool to monitor their patients' progression and response to treatment in real-time.  

This research project is particularly interesting to me because of the potential we have to modernize medical imaging. X-ray technology has been around for decades and while still extremely useful, PAI can address many of its limitations which will ultimately improve clinical decision making.  

This award will allow me to generate proof-of-concept pre-clinical data which will set the stage for us to move closer to clinical application.”

MSc student supervised by Dr. Michael Laflamme at the McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network.

“Heart transplantation is currently the only available treatment to replace damaged heart muscle following myocardial infarction, but the limited supply of donor hearts presents a critical challenge. Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) could offer a promising alternative therapy to address this unmet need.  

My research in the Laflamme Laboratory focuses on understanding the mechanisms through which these grafts can improve heart function after injury and overcoming the issue of transient arrhythmias, a major obstacle to the therapy's clinical application. 

I am honored to be a recipient of the OGS award this year. With the support of this award and my laboratory's expertise, I hope to improve our understanding of hPSC-CM transplantation, thereby contributing to the advancement of this therapy.”