UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre (ATC) brought the transplant community together for its annual Research Day, an energizing forum that spotlighted the ideas, collaborations, and people driving progress in solid-organ transplantation.

Close to 200 clinicians, scientists, trainees, patient partners, and health professionals filled the Transplant Innovation Centre for a day designed to spark discussion and accelerate discovery. The program featured four scientific sessions: New Horizons in Transplantation, Innovations in Transplantation, Nursing, Health Disciplines and Quality Improvement, and Clinical Research at Ajmera Transplant Centre.

The day featured an exciting lineup of speakers, including keynote presenter Dr. Alireza Rabi, cardiac surgeon and Affiliate Scientist at UHN's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, who shared how innovation in donor heart recovery, preservation, and repair can expand access to heart transplantation. Four invited experts and six recipients of Ajmera grants and fellowships also presented emerging findings that point to new opportunities for impact.

The breadth and depth of transplant research at UHN were on full display through 39 electronic posters and 39 printed posters. Judges recognized Sarayna Bala and Dr. Naga Karthik Enamundram in the Basic/Translational Science category, and Dr. Emmanuel Lafont and Dayana Davoudi in the Clinical Science category.

The event also celebrated the people whose contributions are advancing research, teaching, mentorship, and patient care across the transplant community. Among the award recipients were Dr. Ana Konvalinka and Dr. Juan Montagne, who received the Dr. Gary Levy Award for Excellence in Clinical and Translational Research.

Additional honours recognized excellence in teaching, mentorship, citizenship, and clinical education across faculty, fellows, and health professionals. Dr. Cynthia Tsien and Dr. Melinda Nguyen received the Dr. Paul Greig Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Dr. Heather Ross Award for Exemplary Citizenship and Mentorship in Transplant was awarded to Dr. Vivek Rao and Dr. Mukesh Kumar. Alicia Healey received the Nursing and Health Professions Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award.

Together, the day captured the spirit of ATC: bold science, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes and quality of life for transplant patients. It also underscored ATC’s leadership in shaping the future of transplant research, education, and care.

The Ajmera Transplant Centre Research Day 2026 was made possible through the generous support of sponsors Astellas, Merck, and Takeda as Gold Sponsors, and Traferox as Silver Sponsor.