On October 28, UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute, Schroeder Arthritis Institute, and Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute hosted the 2025 Krembil Science Jam: Spotlight on Discovery.
Now in its second year, the event brought cutting-edge science to life for an enthusiastic audience of over 130 attendees. Ten leading UHN researchers shared their latest research in dynamic, five-minute TED Talk-style presentations, offering insights into some of today’s most pressing health challenges. Speakers were introduced by host Mary Ito, whose wit and thoughtful questions kept the evening engaging. Topics ranged from Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease to low vision, osteoarthritis, and mental illness:
● Dr. Mark Reed shared how a childhood fascination with fire led him to his pursuit of new drugs that could stop diseases in their tracks.
● Dr. Melanie Cohn discussed her application of economic principles to improve cognitive assessments for diverse patient populations with Parkinson disease.
● Dr. Heather Baltzer described how her team is co-developing a sensory-feedback thumb prosthesis with engineers at the University of Toronto.
● Dr. Ishrat Husain’s shared his work on bridging the gap between mental and physical health care
● Dr. Martin Ingelsson spoke about using precision medicine to develop immunotherapies that can treat neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer disease.
● Dr. Valeria Ramaglia walked through her group’s investigation to catch the “criminal” responsible for memory loss in multiple sclerosis—the complement system.
● Dr. Anthony Perruccio discussed his family legacy of firsts at Toronto Western Hospital and his quest to reshape how osteoarthritis is understood and treated in Canada.
● Dr. Hance Clarke inspired with his bold vision to redefine how chronic pain is managed across Canada.
● Dr. Monica Daibert-Nido spoke about using biofeedback training and VR to retrain the brains of people with low vision.
● Dr. Christopher Kim shared ways to treat knee osteoarthritis, including robotic-assisted knee replacements and injectable cell therapies.
Attendees and presenters also had opportunities to network, creating a vibrant space for connection among donors, media, researchers, and supporters. Attendees left the event inspired by the shared mission of building A Healthier World.
For those who missed it, the Krembil Science Jam will be available to watch online soon, and you can listen to the Krembil Science Jam playlist here.
Presentation Awards
For the first time, presenters competed for research funding, thanks to generous sponsors:
● First Place ($100,000, Krembil Foundation): Dr. Mark Reed
● Second Place ($60,000, Krembil Foundation): Dr. Valeria Ramaglia
● Third Place ($40,000, Donald K. Johnson, OC): Dr. Melanie Cohn
● People’s Choice Award ($50,000, Give Back Health Innovation Foundation): Dr. Valeria Ramaglia
