Krembil's annual Research Day is a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, foster collaboration and celebrate research achievements.

This year's event, held at the MaRS Centre on Thursday, April 11, 2024, welcomed 230 trainee researchers, faculty and staff who showcased the breadth of talent within our Institute and our collective dedication to advancing scientific knowledge.

The event opened with a welcome video that shined a spotlight on what it is like to be a Krembil trainee, as well as opening remarks from Dr. Jaideep Bains, Director of the Krembil Research Institute. Dr. Bains commended trainees at all levels for their diverse talents, dedication to research and outstanding contributions to the Institute.

Throughout the event, nine trainees delivered oral presentations that highlighted achievements across the Institute's three research pillars: brain and spine, vision, and bone and joints. The event also featured more than 70 poster presentations from trainees and research staff that facilitated scientific dialogue and idea sharing.

This year's Research Day also featured a special Lunch and Learn event. Internationally renowned communications expert Bri McWhorter, Founder and CEO of Activate to Captivate, shared valuable insights on science communication in a talk titled, The Art of Delivering an Unforgettable Presentation.

Trainees benefited from McWhorter's expertise in storytelling, learning strategies for creating connections with audiences, navigating key moments in talks and crafting engaging narratives.

The event concluded with a keynote address from Dr. Anne-Marie Malfait, Professor of Internal Medicine and The George W. Stuppy, MD, Chair of Arthritis at Rush University, titled Chronic Joint Pain: Five Short Lessons from Osteoarthritis.

Clickhere to watch a short slideshow recapping this year's Research Day.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Research Day. Your participation made the event an inspiring celebration of the breadth of ideas and expertise at our Institute and the collaborative spirit that fuels our success, said Dr. Bains. I look forward to carrying this momentum forward as we plan for next year's Research Day and more opportunities for our research community to come together.

The Krembil community thanks the many individuals who made this year's Research Day possible, including the Krembil Trainee Affairs Committeechaired by Dr. Mary Pat McAndrewsthe Krembil Communications and Administration teams, the oral presentation session ChairsDrs. Joan Wither and Bill Hutchisonand everyone who served as judges for the oral and poster presentations.

Presentation Awards

The following trainees and postdoctoral researchers received awards for best oral and poster presentations:

Poster Presentations - Graduate Student Category:
1st place: Zi Xuan Zhang
2nd place (tied): Ain Kim
2nd place (tied): Anca Maglaviceanu

Poster Presentations - Postdoctoral Researcher Category:
1st place: Laura Whitall-Garcia
2nd place: Icaro Oliveira
3rd place: Cody Wilson-Konderka

Oral Presentations - Graduate Student Category:
1st place: Kabriya Thavaratnam
2nd place (tied): Brian Nghiem
2nd place (tied): Pedram Mouseli

Oral Presentations - Postdoctoral Researcher Category:
1st place: Emily Mills

A notable addition to this year's awards was the People's Choice Award for Oral Presentations, received by doctoral student Kabriya Thavaratnam for her exceptional research and presentation skills. Judges also awarded master's student Nikou Kelardashti for her sex and gender-informed abstract, reflecting Krembil's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in research.

Congratulationsto the winners and to everyone who presented their work. We look forward to seeing you at next year's Research Day!