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    • An international source for discovery, education and patient care. Read More

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    University Health Network (UHN) is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto and a member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network. The scope of research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care.

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    Recent News

    New Researcher Appointed at Krembil

    Arthritis researcher Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan becomes Krembil’s newest Scientist.

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    New Researcher Appointed at Krembil
    Arthritis researcher Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan becomes Krembil’s newest Scientist.
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    We are pleased to announce that, after a lengthy international search, Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan has been appointed as a Scientist at the Krembil Research Institute.
     
    Dr. Viswanathan’s research program aims to develop cell-based therapies for the treatment of osteoarthritis. As the most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects 4.6 million Canadians. It occurs when joint cartilage gradually breaks down, leading to damage, pain and swelling in the joint.
     
    Dr. Viswanathan is examining how a type of cell known as mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) can be used to slow or stop the progress of the disease. She co-led the first North American study investigating the effect of injecting MSCs into the knee joints of patients with knee osteoarthritis. The findings of this study, which were recently published in Stem Cell Translational Medicine, showed that this approach can reduce pain and inflammation and may represent a new promising therapy for osteoarthritis.
     
    To date, she has published 28 peer-reviewed articles, and her research is currently supported by prominent Canadian funding agencies, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. She has been invited to deliver 65 presentations and workshops across Canada and abroad and to act as a regulatory and cell manufacturing consultant on numerous research projects. She is also the co-Chair of the Cell Therapy Stakeholder Group, which engages Health Canada on cell therapy-related policy issues.
     
    At the University of Toronto, Dr. Viswanathan is appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering.
     
    Congratulations Dr. Viswanathan!

    Image Caption: Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan, Scientist, Krembil Research Institute.
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    Krembil Researcher Honoured

    Dr. Antonio Strafella has been named Fellow of a prestigious Canadian health science society.

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    Krembil Researcher Honoured
    Dr. Antonio Strafella has been named Fellow of a prestigious Canadian health science society.
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    Krembil Senior Scientist Dr. Antonio Strafella has been elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
     
    The Academy’s Fellows represent Canada’s top-ranked health and biomedical scientists. They serve Canadians by offering their collective expertise to evaluate our countries most complex health challenges and recommend strategic, actionable solutions. 
     
    Dr. Strafella’s election recognizes his ground-breaking research on Parkinson disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer disease. His work is improving our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the lesser-studied symptoms of Parkinson disease, such as impairments in mental function and behavioural changes. 
     
    He is a Professor at the University of Toronto and an internationally renowned neurologist and holds the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Movement Disorders and Neuroimaging.
     
    Congratulations Dr. Strafella!

    Image Caption: Photo courtesy of the Globe and Mail.
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    Behind the Breakthrough

    Through one-on-one conversations, new podcast reveals the people behind research discoveries.

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    Behind the Breakthrough
    Through one-on-one conversations, new podcast reveals the people behind research discoveries.
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    A new UHN podcast series known as ‘Behind the Breakthrough’ has been launched. Through candid conversations, the podcast captures the passion that drives leading scientists and their cutting-edge medical research.

    Episode one, which features renowned cardiologist Dr. Heather Ross, is now available. Click here to listen and subscribe.

    Each episode is structured into two parts: the first half focuses on the researcher’s pioneering research and how they strive to translate that work into tangible benefits for patients; the second half looks through a more personal lens and explores what inspires them, how they face challenges, and what keeps them going.

    The episodes also demonstrate how UHN researchers use technology and innovation to further knowledge and improve care. For example, in episode one Dr. Ross discusses how analyzing vast amounts of patient information held in ‘data lakes’ using artificial intelligence can help her improve the lives and outcomes of her patients. Also, in episode five Dr. Mathieu Lupien speaks to the emergence of increasingly powerful microscopes that allow him to drill deeper into the secrets of the ‘dark genome’—the portion of our DNA that does not code for genes.

    Listen to episode one and subscribe here: Behind the Breakthrough

    Episode list and featured UHN researchers:

    1. Heather Ross, Cardiologist and Affiliate Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute
    2. Karen Davis, Research Division Head and Senior Scientist, Krembil Research Institute
    3. Camilla Zimmermann, Head, Division of Palliative Care, UHN; Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
    4. Milos Popovic, Director and Senior Scientist, KITE Research Institute
    5. Mathieu Lupien, Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
    6. Jennifer Campos, Chief Scientist, Challenging Environments Assessment Laboratory (CEAL); Scientist, KITE Research Institute
    7. Michael Laflamme, Senior Scientist, McEwen Stem Cell Institute
    8. Valerie Wallace, Research Division Head and Senior Scientist, Krembil Research Institute
    9. Kristin Musselman, Scientist, KITE Research Institute
    10. Michael Hoffman, Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
    11. Donald Weaver, Director and Senior Scientist, Krembil Research Institute


    Image Caption: Subscribe to ‘Behind the Breakthrough’ wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes will be released every Tuesday until December 17, 2019.
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    The Krembil Newsletter

    Learn about the latest news and research advancements from the Krembil Research Institute.

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    The Krembil Newsletter
    Learn about the latest news and research advancements from the Krembil Research Institute.
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    Welcome to the latest issue of The Krembil.
     
    The Krembil is the official newsletter of the Krembil Research Institute (formerly the Toronto Western Research Institute). Research at Krembil is focused on finding innovative treatments and cures for chronic debilitating disorders, including arthritis and diseases of the brain and eyes.
     
    Stories in this month’s issue include:
     
    ● WILLKOMMEN TO KREMBIL: Visit by German AI delegation may spur new strategic collaborations with the institute.
    ● A PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE NEW MEDICINES: New drug discovery program launched is based on Krembil discovery. 
    ● TOP AWARD FOR NEUROSCIENTIST: Dr. Gabor G. Kovacs received international award for his research in neurodegenerative diseases.
    ● LEAVING THEIR MARK ON THE BRAIN: Repeated concussions in former athletes linked to high levels of tau protein.
    ● MAKING THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS: Researchers discover a new mechanism that regulates the development of brain networks.
    ● NEURAL CODE BREAKERS: Study highlights similarities between the nervous system and digital communication technology.
    ● GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND: Specially trained physiotherapists could help diagnose arthritis faster.
     
    Read these stories and more online here. To read previous issues, see the newsletter archive.


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    UHN Researcher to Lead Brain Society

    Dr. Zadeh has been elected as president of a leading international neuro-oncology society.

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    UHN Researcher to Lead Brain Society
    Dr. Zadeh has been elected as president of a leading international neuro-oncology society.
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    Dr. Gelareh Zadeh, the co-director of the Krembil Brain Institute, has been elected the president of the Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO). She is the first woman and second Canadian to occupy this prestigious position. 
     
    SNO is the largest and most recognized organization dedicated to promoting research and education for cancers of the brain and spinal cord. Its 2,000 members include clinicians, researchers, nurses and other health care professionals.
     
    Dr. Zadeh is a neurosurgeon at the University Health Network and is appointed as a Senior Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. Her research program examines the biology of brain tumours and is focused on developing new treatments for these cancers.
     
    Congratulations Dr. Zadeh!


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    Making the Right Connections

    Researchers discover a new mechanism that regulates the development of brain networks.

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    Making the Right Connections
    Researchers discover a new mechanism that regulates the development of brain networks.
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    A new study from the Krembil Research Institute suggests that a protein known as VLK plays an important role in brain development. The findings of the study were recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Chemical Biology.
     
    The adult brain consists of 86 billion nerve cells known as neurons, which are highly interconnected and form multiple overlapping networks. The activity of these networks underpins all of the brain’s functions and processes. 
     
    How neurons establish the right connections to build these networks during brain development is not fully understood.
     
    “We found several scientific clues suggesting that the VLK protein, which was discovered only five years ago, might be involved in this process, so we decided to take a closer look,” explains Krembil Senior Scientist Dr. Philippe Monnier, who led the team of researchers who conducted the new study.
     
    VLK is a protein secreted by neurons into their environment. Its function is to add chemical groups known as phosphates onto other proteins, which alters the activity of the recipient protein.
     
    The researchers examined the effect of VLK on the growth and development of the network of neurons that connects the eyes to the tectum, which is a region of the brain that processes visual information. 
     
    They found that VLK attached phosphate groups to a specific protein that is found on the surface of the growing neurons. The resulting pattern of phosphates on the neuron’s surface modulated the direction of the cell’s growth, enabling it to establish connections to neurons in the tectum.
     
    “Our findings indicate that VLK, which appears to modify many other proteins that guide the growth and connections of neurons, is likely to have broad and profound effects on brain development, function and disease,” says Dr. Monnier.
     
    This work was supported by the Krembil Foundation, the Glaucoma Research Society of Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. 
     
    Harada H, Farhani N, Wang XF, Sugita S, Charish J, Attisano L, Moran M, Cloutier JF, Reber M, Bremner R, Monnier PP. Extracellular phosphorylation drives the formation of neuronal circuitry. Nat Chem Biol. 2019 Aug 26. doi: 10.1038/s41589-019-0345-z.

    Image Caption: A neuron, which is the basic working unit of the brain, uses electrical pulses to communicate information to other neurons in its network.
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    Read the Latest ORT Times

    Read the latest Office of Research Trainees (ORT) newsletter featuring UHN trainee life.

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    Read the Latest ORT Times
    Read the latest Office of Research Trainees (ORT) newsletter featuring UHN trainee life.
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    The UHN Office of Research Trainees (ORT) is proud to announce the release of the latest issue of The ORT Times!

    The ORT Times is UHN's monthly trainee-focused newsletter. It highlights news and editorials about trainee life, articles to help developing researchers get the most out of their training experience at UHN, tips on career development, and research training opportunities within and outside of UHN.                

          

     

    Feature Stories:

    • The Open Access Debate
    • Postdoc Appreciation Week
    • The Clinician Scientist
    • Dear First Year Tyler
    • MBP Summer Student Poster Day
    • 2019 OSOTF Graduate Fellowship

    Conference Reports: Read conference reports from Dr. Olinda Habib Perez and Dr. Caitriona McEvoy.

    Read and download the full issue now!

    To see past issues of The ORT Times, please visit ORT’s website.



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    Research Institutes at UHN

    Research conducted at UHN's research institutes spans the full spectrum of diseases and disciplines, including cancer, cardiovascular sciences, transplantation, neural and sensory sciences, musculoskeletal health, rehabilitation sciences, and community and population health.

    Learn more about our institutes by clicking below:

    • KITE

      Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

    • Krembil

      Krembil Research Institute

    • McEwen

      McEwen Stem Cell Institute

    • PM Cancer Centre

      Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

    • Techna

      Techna Institute

    • TGHRI

      Toronto General Hospital Research Institute

    • TIER

      The Institute for Education Research
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