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

    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

    Researcher Awarded Prestigious Prize

    Dr. Fehlings receives the Ryman Prize for enhancing the quality of life of older adults.

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    Researcher Awarded Prestigious Prize
    Dr. Fehlings receives the Ryman Prize for enhancing the quality of life of older adults.
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    Krembil Senior Scientist Dr. Michael Fehlings has been awarded the 2019 Ryman Prize. 
     
    The international prize recognizes Dr. Fehlings pioneering work on degenerative cervical myelopathy—a condition that primarily affects people over the age of 50 and is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults.
     
    The prize, which consists of a commemorative medal and NZ$250,000, was presented to Dr. Fehlings by New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, during a special ceremony in Auckland, New Zealand.
     
    After the ceremony, Dr. Fehlings was interviewed by Nil Köksal, the host of CBC’s As It Happens, about his research and the award. Click here to hear the interview.
     
    In addition to leading his research program at Krembil, Dr. Fehlings is also a neurosurgeon at the Toronto Western Hospital and a Professor at the University of Toronto.
     
    Congratulations Dr. Fehlings!
     

    Image Caption: Dr. Fehlings (left), wearing the Ryman Prize commemorative medal, and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (right) photographed during the award ceremony in Auckland, New Zealand
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    Long-term Damage Control

    Drug continues to prevent kidney damage several months after patients stop taking it.

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    Long-term Damage Control
    Drug continues to prevent kidney damage several months after patients stop taking it.
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    A new study from the University Health Network shows that the drug rituximab represents a promising new treatment for a type of kidney disease known as membranous nephropathy. The study’s findings were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
     
    In membranous nephropathy, the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages kidney tissue. In 70% of cases, the disease progresses, impairs kidney function and puts patients at high risk of permanent kidney failure.
     
    “Patients with membranous nephropathy are typically treated with a drug known as cyclosporine, which suppresses the activity of immune cells. Cyclosporine stops the kidney damage while patients are receiving the drug; however, in many patients, the damage returns as soon as they stop treatment. As such, more effective treatments are needed,” explained Dr. Daniel Cattran, an Emeritus Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute.
     
    Dr. Cattran co-led the new study, along with Dr. Fernando Fervenza at the Mayo Clinic, to evaluate rituximab in membranous nephropathy. Rituximab suppresses the activity of a specific type of immune cell known as B cells and is commonly used to treat certain types of cancer and arthritis.
     
    For the study, the researchers enrolled 130 patients with membranous nephropathy from across North America who were at high risk for progressive kidney disease. Half of the patients received cyclosporine for 12 months, and the other half received rituximab at the beginning of the study and at 6 months, depending of their response to the drug.
     
    The researchers found that 60% of patients treated with rituximab had reduced or no signs of kidney damage 12 months after their last treatment. In contrast, only 20% of patients treated with cyclosporine had reduced damage at this same time point, and none were completely healed.
     
    “Our results show that rituximab provides patients with long-term protection against kidney damage and could potentially replace cyclosporine as the preferred treatment for membranous nephropathy,” says Dr. Cattran.
     
    This study was investigator initiated and supported by Genentech, the Fulk Family Foundation and the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. P Jüni holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Clinical Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases.
     
    Fervenza FC, Appel GB, Barbour SJ, Rovin BH, Lafayette RA, Aslam N, Jefferson  JA, Gipson PE, Rizk DV, Sedor JR, Simon JF, McCarthy ET, Brenchley P, Sethi S, Avila-Casado C, Beanlands H, Lieske JC, Philibert D, Li T, Thomas LF, Green DF, Juncos LA, Beara-Lasic L, Blumenthal SS, Sussman AN, Erickson SB, Hladunewich M,  Canetta PA, Hebert LA, Leung N, Radhakrishnan J, Reich HN, Parikh SV, Gipson DS, 
    Lee DK, da Costa BR, Jüni P, Cattran DC; MENTOR Investigators. Rituximab or Cyclosporine in the Treatment of Membranous Nephropathy. N Engl J Med. 2019 Jul 4. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1814427. 

    Image Caption: Kidney dysfunction disrupts the balance of water, salts and minerals in the blood. This can impair the function of other tissues, such as the nerves and muscles.
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    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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    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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