On Thursday, April 24, 2025, staff, trainees, and faculty from the McEwen Stem Cell Institute (McEwen) gathered at the Old Mill Toronto for their first annual retreat. Stepping away from the day-to-day responsibilities of research and academia, participants had an opportunity to reflect on their work and reinvigorate their passion for science.
The day began with opening remarks from Dr. Gordon Keller, Director of McEwen, who welcomed attendees, reflected on the remarkable progress in human stem cell research, and expressed gratitude to the team, calling their work “the backbone of the Institute.”
Throughout the day, the future of McEwen—and regenerative medicine more broadly—took centre stage. Ten trainees presented their research, emphasizing the implications of McEwen’s work and placing it in the broader context of human stem cell research.. Between presentations, industry guests joined the McEwen team for panel discussions and a talk exploring career pathways, the future of regenerative medicine, and unconventional cell culture approaches.
Beyond formal presentations and discussions, the retreat offered attendees a valuable opportunity to celebrate achievements and strengthen the bonds within and among labs. The day culminated with a networking reception where participants mingled, shared laughs, and reflected on the day’s learnings. In a surprise highlight, the team presented Dr. Keller with a gift and tribute video from current and former colleagues and students in honour of his recent ISSCR Achievement Award.
The renewed connections and fresh ideas generated during the retreat will continue to drive innovation at McEwen. With this momentum, the team looks forward to bringing everyone together again at the next McEwen retreat!
The McEwen administration team thanks everyone who attended, presented, and helped bring the day to life, including Michelle Lohbihler, Coulter Montague, and Quynh Nguyen, the session chairs.