Krembil’s annual Research Day offers trainees, investigators, and staff a valuable opportunity to network and celebrate research achievements. This year, the Krembil Research Institute (Krembil) celebrated 25 years of this annual event.
On Thursday, April 24, 2025, more than 200 trainees, faculty, and staff gathered at the MaRS Centre. The day provided the Krembil community with a unique opportunity to showcase the breadth of talent within the Institute and their shared commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.
The event opened with remarks from Dr. Brad Wouters, EVP of Science and Research at UHN, and Dr. Jaideep Bains, Director of Krembil, who welcomed attendees to the day’s exciting agenda. They congratulated trainees on their talent, dedication, and passion for science, which continue to cultivate a spirit of collaboration and innovation.
Throughout the day, nine trainees delivered oral presentations highlighting achievements from across Krembil’s three research pillars: brain and spine research at the Krembil Brain Institute, vision research at the Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute, and bone and joint research at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute. The event also featured 76 research posters presented by trainees and research staff, fostering idea-sharing and engaging discussions among presenters and attendees.
The day concluded with a keynote presentation by Dr. Thomas Reh, Professor at the University of Washington’s Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Reh shared insights from his extensive research on glial cells (cells that support neurons) in the eye and their potential role in neuronal regeneration.
“Every year I am blown away by the talent and caliber of work represented, and this year is no exception,” says Dr. Bains. “Each and every one of you should be incredibly proud of your contributions to making our scientific community the force that it is.”
Krembil thanks everyone who shared their work and congratulates all the award winners!
The Krembil community extends its sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s Research Day, including the Administration Staff at the Krembil Research Institute and the Trainee Affairs Committee (TAC).
Presentation Awards
The following trainees and postdoctoral researchers received awards for their oral and poster presentations.
Poster Presentations, Graduate Student Category
● First place: Prerana Keerthi
● Second place: Laura Botler
● Third place: Jennifer Boateng
Poster Presentations, Postdoctoral Researcher Category
● First place: Dr. Kevin Solar
● Second place: Dr. Ain Kim
● Third place: Dr. Satoshi Tanikawa
Oral Presentations, Graduate Student Category
● First place (tied): Melisa Gumus
● First place (tied): Jiajie (Jackson) Zhang
● Second place: Ellene Yang
Oral Presentations, Postdoctoral Researcher Category
● First place: Dr. Amnah Mahroo
The People’s Choice Award for Oral Presentations was awarded to Atoosa Ziyaeyan for their exceptional research and presentation skills.
Thanks to the generous donation from the Nadler family, in memory of Murray G. Nadler (family of Dr. Charles Tator’s sister), award winners also received a monetary prize for their achievement.