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    • Training the future of research today. Read More

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

    • State-of-the-art research facilities in the heart of downtown Toronto. Read More

    • Research firsts with global impact. 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

    Funding Cutting-Edge Infrastructure

    UHN awarded $1.1M from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for advanced research equipment.

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    Funding Cutting-Edge Infrastructure
    UHN awarded $1.1M from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for advanced research equipment.
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    The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) announced $1.1 million in funding for advanced research infrastructure at UHN. These investments, provided through CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund, will support the following four projects:

    • Enabling biomarker identification and treatment optimization for prevalent neurological disorders, led by Drs. Robert Chen, Mary Pat McAndrews and Jonathan Downar (Krembil), will enhance our understanding of how different components of the affected brain networks interact in Parkinson disease, major depression and epilepsy

    • Novel mechanisms of heart failure: discovery to translation, led by Drs. Jason Fish and Phyllis Billia (Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, TGHRI), will identify new blood biomarkers for heart failure that will enable early detection of the disease and develop innovative therapeutic approaches to repair damaged heart muscle cells

    • Improving outcomes for organ transplantation: a live imaging platform to target immunologic and fibrotic events, led by Drs. Sonya MacParland and Ana Konvalinka (TGHRI), will reveal new drug targets, therapeutic strategies and decision- making tools to improve outcomes for organ transplant recipients

    • Cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning the initiation, progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer, led by Dr. Faiyaz Notta (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre), will elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the development of pancreatic cancer

    These funds are part of over $42M awarded to 37 universities that will support 186 infrastructure projects across Canada. The announcement was made on April 11 by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.

    By providing key support for advanced research infrastructure, the John R. Evans Leaders Fund helps to attract and retain top talent, and enables the acquisition of equipment for new and/or existing research laboratories.


    Image Caption: Researchers that led successful CFI applications include (pictured, top left, clockwise): Drs. Robert Chen, Faiyaz Notta, Sonya MacParland, Jonathan Downar, Mary Pat McAndrews, Jason Fish and Phyllis Billia.
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    In a Heartbeat

    UHN scientists develop a conductive biomaterial that prevents abnormal heartbeats.

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    In a Heartbeat
    UHN scientists develop a conductive biomaterial that prevents abnormal heartbeats.
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    A new material developed at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI) by Dr. Ren-Ke Li has been found to repair irregular heartbeats in damaged heart tissue and could change the way heart attacks and heart failure are treated in the clinic. 
     
    Heart attacks and heart failure are major causes of disability and death in Canada. Following a heart attack, heart cells called cardiomyocytes die and scar tissue is formed to repair the gaps left behind by the dead cells. 
     
    The presence of the scar tissue creates a barrier between the cardiomyocytes, isolating them into physically separated islands, such that they are no longer able to communicate with each other.
     
    Explains Dr. Ren-Ke Li, “Cardiomyocytes normally interact with each other through electrical signals that allow them to beat in a synchronized fashion. The formation of scar tissue disrupts and delays the conduction of this signal, leading to an irregular heartbeat known as a cardiac arrhythmia.”
     
    While treatments for arrhythmias, including medication and pacemaker surgery, are widely available, a large proportion of patients do not respond to therapy. To address this, the laboratories of Dr. Li and his colleagues have been exploring new ways to repair abnormal heart conductivity. 
     
    As part of a recent study, they created a new injectable biomaterial composed of a conductive polymer and a naturally-occurring sugar. Dr. Li and his team found that the new biomaterial was able to synchronize the contraction of physically-separated cardiomyocytes in a petri-dish. Moreover, when injected into the heart scar tissue in an experimental model, the biomaterial reduces the delay in the conduction of electrical signals, which decreases the chance of arrhythmia.
     
    “Our team is really excited about this new biomaterial and we have already planned preclinical experiments that will help advance this technology one step closer to use in humans” says Dr. Li. 
     
    “Because cardiac arrhythmia remains a major contributor to disability and death in Canada, the development of new and effective treatments could be transformative for the health and wellness of people with heart conditions.”
     
    This work was supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, a Heart & Stroke/Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence Studentship to Z. Cui and the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation. R-K Li holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Cardiac Regeneration and TM Yau holds the Angelo & Lorenza DeGasperis Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery Research. 
     
    Cui Z, Ni NC, Wu J, Du GQ, He S, Yau TM, Weisel RD, Sung HW, Li RK. Polypyrrole-chitosan conductive biomaterial synchronizes cardiomyocyte contraction and improves myocardial electrical impulse propagation. Theranostics, 2018; 8(10): 2752-2764. doi:10.7150/thno.22599.
     

    Image Caption: Electrical signals are conducted from one heart cell to another in a domino-like effect that makes the heart beat in rhythm.
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    Living with Half a Heart

    Study provides new insights for adults living with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

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    Living with Half a Heart
    Study provides new insights for adults living with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
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    Huge challenges are faced by children born with ‘half a heart’—a condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

    The syndrome is a rare inherited disorder in which the left half of the heart is undersized and can’t perform its function of pumping blood to the body. Without surgery, it is fatal.

    The good news is that surgical procedures have been developed over the past 40 years, and recent improvements are seeing more and more people with the syndrome live into adulthood.

    As numbers of adult survivors increase, there is a need for medical information to help patients, doctors and parents of children with the syndrome to make informed decisions.

    To address this problem, Dr. Rachel Wald, a Clinical Researcher at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, led a study that compiled existing data from seven health centres from around the world to shed light on the health of adults with hypoplastic left heart syndrome for the first time.

    Her team looked specifically at one of the most common surgical treatments for the syndrome, known as the Fontan procedure. The procedure works by redirecting blood flow so that the heart is able to pump blood to the body.  

    Dr. Wald explains, “Our international study focuses on the outcomes of patients older than 18 years who received the Fontan procedure in childhood but are now in adult care for a mean duration of 3 years. We were concerned to see that around a quarter of those who received the procedure faced major health complications at various points during the study period.”

    The study also revealed that common risk factors associated with heart disease, such as lower oxygen levels in the blood and exercise intolerance, were also associated with complications after the Fontan procedure.

    By providing the first description of health outcomes of adults who have received the Fontan procedure, this study represents an important first step to providing individuals and families affected by hypoplastic left heart syndrome with the tools they need to make informed treatment decisions.

    This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the University of Toronto Dean’s Fund and the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation.

    Wilson WM, Valente AM, Hickey EJ, Clift P, Burchill L, Emmanuel Y, Gibson P, Greutmann M, Grewal J, Grigg LE, Gurvitz M, Hickey K, Khairy P, Mayer JE Jr, Teo E, Vonder Muhll I, Roche SL, Silversides CK, Wald RM. Outcomes of Patients With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Reaching Adulthood After Fontan Palliation: Multicenter Study. Circulation. 2018 Feb 27. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.031282.


    Image Caption: Blood is circulated by only half of the heart’s chambers in people who have been treated with the Fontan procedure.
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    UHN Shows Support for Science

    Scientists, staff and trainees came out in full force for the Toronto March for Science.

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    UHN Shows Support for Science
    Scientists, staff and trainees came out in full force for the Toronto March for Science.
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    UHN’s leaders, researchers, staff and trainees are passionate about science, and nowhere was this more evident than at the second annual Toronto March for Science. Held on April 14 at Nathan Phillips Square, the event was one of approximately 230 satellite marches to the official March for Science in Washington, D.C. UHN joined hundreds of thousands of people in this global event to empower science supporters and to advocate for equitable and effective science-based policy.
     
    Although the weather was less than cooperative, the UHN team was out in full force with unwavering enthusiasm and creative signs to celebrate science and its vital role in our everyday lives. The event included guest speakers from the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Ryerson University, hEr VOLUTION and others, all of whom advocated for evidence-based decision-making and protecting the integrity of the scientific process.
     
    Dr. Brad Wouters, who championed UHN’s presence at the Toronto event, did so to underscore the importance of the scientific process in advancing knowledge in all fields—especially health. “At UHN, science is embedded in everything that we do,” said Dr. Wouters. “It’s the only way in which we can better understand disease, so that we can deliver better care for patients.”
     
    By sharing a photo from the march using the hashtag #UHNMarches4Science, UHN participants had the chance to win one of three Mercatto gift cards. The winners of this contest are Jennifer Stanga (Toronto Western Hospital), Michael Cheng (Toronto General Hospital Research Institute) and Rabea Aryan (Toronto Rehabilitation Institute); congratulations to all three! You can view some of the other contest entries here and some more photos below.
     
    Hope to see you all next year!

    Image Caption: Approximately 75 of UHN’s leaders, researchers, staff and trainees, along with their friends and family, participated in the Toronto March for Science.
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    Advancing Team Science

    Dr. Trevor Pugh receives award that will promote collaborative cancer research.

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    Advancing Team Science
    Dr. Trevor Pugh receives award that will promote collaborative cancer research.
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    Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Scientist Dr. Trevor Pugh has received one of five 2018 Phillip A. Sharp Innovation in Collaboration Awards from Stand Up To Cancer. The US $250,000 grant, awarded to Dr. Pugh and his collaborator Dr. David Barrett from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, aims to promote collaboration among cancer researchers.

    Drs. Pugh and Barrett will use the funds to develop personalized medicine tests for children with cancer. Specifically, they will examine the genetic makeup of patients’ immune cells involved in mounting anti-cancer responses. The researchers will develop ways to use this genetic information to match patients with clinical trials of drugs that are designed to boost the immune system’s anti-cancer response. This treatment strategy, called immunotherapy, is one of today’s most promising approaches to treat cancer.

    One unique aspect of this award is how quickly projects are selected, approved and funded: the entire process takes just a few weeks. This is done so that the research can begin right away. This year, the selection committee placed particular emphasis on teams of researchers who had not worked together in the past—with the aim of bringing the researchers closer together so that they can better leverage and share resources and expertise.

    The Sharp Awards are sponsored by Stand Up To Cancer, a charitable organization that raises funds “to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now.” They are named after Dr. Phillip A. Sharp, winner of the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993 and chair of Stand Up To Cancer’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

    Dr. Pugh and Dr. Barrett’s specific Sharp Award was co-sponsored by the Emily Whitehead Foundation, whose mission is “to raise awareness and funding for innovative childhood cancer treatments, such as immunotherapy, that will improve survival rates and quality of life.”


    Image Caption: Funding from the award will enable Dr. Trevor Pugh, Scientist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (pictured), to better customize immune-based anti-cancer therapies to individual patients.
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    Decoding the Federal Budget

    Attend an interactive event on April 17 to learn about the budget's implications for science.

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    Decoding the Federal Budget
    Attend an interactive event on April 17 to learn about the budget's implications for science.
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    The Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) is hosting an event at MaRS on Tuesday April 17 starting at 4:00pm. The event is open to the public and will bring together science policy stakeholders to participate in an interactive and engaging panel session on the 2018 federal budget and its implications for science, innovation and society.

    Decoding the Federal Budget 2018 for Science and Innovation
    Location: MaRS Discovery District, 101 College Street, Room CR-3
    Date: April 17, 2018
    Time: 4:00 – 6:00pm

    The session will be led by David Watters, who has worked for 30 years in the Public Service of Canada. His past roles include a dozen years as an Assistant Deputy Minister in Industry Canada, Treasury Board Canada and Finance Canada, where he was responsible for overseeing federal economic development, budgets and corporate finance policies.

    CSPC is committed to keeping the community up to date and informed regarding science, technology, and innovation policy issues. Regarding the Federal Budget 2018, CSPC has published featured editorials on sciencepolicy.ca, including an exclusive interview with the Federal Minister of Science, Hon. Kirsty Duncan.


    Image Caption: The event will be led by David Watters (pictured), who has 30 years of experience in the Public Service of Canada.
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    Research Spotlight

    Read the latest bi-monthly newsletter that highlights latest advancements from UHN researchers.

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    Research Spotlight
    Read the latest bi-monthly newsletter that highlights latest advancements from UHN researchers.
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    Welcome to the April issue of Research Spotlight.

    This newsletter highlights top research advancements from the five research institutes and over 450 appointed researchers at UHN. As Canada’s largest research hospital, UHN is a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care.

    Stories in this month’s issue:

    ● FEELING GOOD AFTER CANCER: New eight-week program enhances body image and well-being of breast cancer survivors.
    ● A RISK UNCOVERED: Researchers have uncovered why only a subset of diabetic patients develop kidney disease.
    ● CAN THE FLU TRIGGER A HEART ATTACK? Study reveals new strategy to help prevent heart attacks: stop the spread of the flu.
    ● BUT WHY DOES IT WORK? While deep brain stimulation is effective for controlling tremor in Parkinson Disease, a new study helps us understand why.

    Also included is information about UHN’s participation in the upcoming March for Science Toronto, which is happening on Saturday April 14.

    Read these stories and more online here. To read previous issues, see the newsletter archive.



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    Research Institutes at UHN

    Research across UHN's five 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:
    • PM Cancer Centre

      Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

    • TGHRI

      Toronto General Hospital Research Institute

    • Krembil

      Krembil Research Institute

    • TRI

      Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

    • Techna

      Techna Institute

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