Faculty of Medicine

Daniel Drucker wins 2020 Warren Alpert Prize

lanthierj — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 18:56:18 +0000

Daniel Drucker wins 2020 Warren Alpert Prize

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Fri, 09/18/2020 - 14:56

Faculty

St. George

Faculty of Medicine

Department of Medicine

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Endocrinologist Daniel Drucker, a pioneer in diabetes treatment and a professor in the Faculty of Medicine, is one of three winners of the 2020 Warren Alpert Prize.

Dr. Drucker, who is also senior scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, was recognized along with Joel Habener of Harvard Medical School and Jens Juul Holst of the University of Copenhagen. The trio won for their seminal discoveries about the function of key intestinal hormones, the hormones' effects on metabolism and the subsequent design of treatments for Type 2 diabetes, obesity and short bowel syndrome.

“The Alpert Award is wonderful, prestigious international recognition of the work over several decades of my laboratory, including trainees and research staff, together with key contributions from my co-awardees,” Drucker said. “It is a great honour to be recognized for the bench-to-bedside science that we and colleagues have worked so hard to translate into new therapies for human metabolic disease.”

The $500,000 award, to be shared among the recipients, is given by the Warren Alpert Foundation in recognition of work that has improved the understanding, prevention, treatment or cure of human disease. The prize is administered by Harvard Medical School.

Twelve U of T faculty members appointed Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

lanthierj — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:25:57 +0000

Twelve U of T faculty members appointed Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 09/08/2020 - 16:25

Faculty

St. George

Department of English

Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Medicine

OISE

Rotman School of Management

Royal Society of Canada

Women in STEM

landscape

The Royal Society of Canada has appointed 12 professors from across the ��߲ݴ�ý as Fellows of the society – a recognition awarded to the country’s most distinguished scholars, artists and scientists.

“The ��߲ݴ�ý congratulates the remarkable scholars and scientists receiving this honour,” said University Professor Ted Sargent, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “This distinction is an important reflection of their leadership and their significant and substantial contributions of knowledge, understanding and insight to our society.”

The new Fellows are:

Cheryl Arrowsmith of the department of medical biophysics in the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Joel Baum of the Rotman School of Management
Paul-Alain Beaulieu of the department of Near and Middle Eastern civilizations in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Karen Davis of the department of surgery in the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network
Diane Gérin-Lajoie of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Rama Khokha of the department of medical biophysics in the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Askold Khovanski of the department of mathematics in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Leonid Livak of the department of Slavic languages and literatures in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Michelle Murphy of the department of history in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Marlene Scardamalia of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Ming-Sound Tsao of the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology in the Faculty of Medicine and senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Karen Weisman of the department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science

Granted a royal charter in 1883, the goal of the Royal Society of Canada is to enhance connections between the scholarly, artistic and scientific communities and the larger society in order to promote knowledge and understanding for the benefit of all.

The new Fellows join 384 members of the U of T community who currently hold the designation. They will be inducted at the 2020 Celebration of Excellence hosted by U of T Nov. 27.

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Five U of T faculty members join Royal Society’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists

lanthierj — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 15:18:25 +0000

Five U of T faculty members join Royal Society’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 09/08/2020 - 11:18

Faculty

St. George

Scarborough

Royal Society of Canada

Faculty of Arts & Science

U of T Scarborough

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Medicine

Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Department of Political Science

Department of Biological Sciences

Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Department of Physical Therapy

Women in STEM

landscape

College of New Scholars members from left: Marc Cadotte, Aimy Bazylak, Diana Fu, Chelsea Rochman and Kelly O'Brien

Five faculty members at the ��߲ݴ�ý – experts in a wide range of disciplines, from ecology to engineering – have been appointed to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

“This is an important recognition of researchers who are leaders in their fields, whose dedication and talent are transforming a wide range of disciplines,” says University Professor Ted Sargent, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“The ��߲ݴ�ý congratulates them on their admission to the college and we look forward to seeing their research continue to make an impact in Canada and beyond.”

The new college members are:

Aimy Bazylak of the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Marc Cadotte of the department of biological sciences at U of T Scarborough
Diana Fu of the department of political science at U of T Scarborough
Kelly O’Brien of the department of physical therapy in the Faculty of Medicine
Chelsea Rochman of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science

Established in 2014, the college honours excellence and seeks to recognize and foster academic leadership and collaboration among those who have received their PhDs within the last 15 years.

“I really enjoy being able to teach people of all ages about the natural world,” says Marc Cadotte, who runs pollinator gardens and monarch butterfly programs with local elementary schools in addition to his teaching and research at U of T. “Most of my education and my funding has been supported by the public, so I feel a responsibility to pass on to others what I’ve learned as a way of giving back.”

The incoming class of college members will be granted a seven-year membership. They will be inducted at the 2020 Celebration of Excellence hosted by U of T on Nov. 27.

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Angela Colantonio wins William Fields Caveness Award

lanthierj — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 14:40:10 +0000

Angela Colantonio wins William Fields Caveness Award

Community

lanthierj Wed, 08/19/2020 - 10:40

Faculty

St. George

Faculty of Medicine

William Fields Caveness Award

Women in STEM

portrait

Professor Angela Colantonio of the Faculty of Medicine has been recognized by the Brain Injury Association of America with the William Fields Caveness Award.

The award honours an individual who, through research on both a national and international level, has made outstanding contributions to bettering the lives of people with brain injury.

Colantonio is the director of the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and a professor in the department of occupational science and occupational therapy. She leads the Acquired Brain Injury Lab at U of T.

“There is no greater honour than to be recognized by the persons our research program is intended to serve,” Colantonio said. “We are truly grateful for the mentorship and support of persons with lived experience of brain injury throughout our research program.

“I feel fortunate to have been able to work with so many dedicated individuals to address health and social inequities associated with traumatic brain injury, a leading cause of death and disability globally.”

A fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, ACRM, Ontario Brain Injury Association, and the American College of Epidemiology, Colantonio was also recognized recently by ACRM with the 2020 John Stanley Coulter Award.

Shaf Keshavjee wins Governor General's Innovation Award

lanthierj — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 12:29:11 +0000

Shaf Keshavjee wins Governor General's Innovation Award

Research & Innovation

Community

lanthierj Fri, 08/07/2020 - 08:29

Department of Surgery

landscape

(photo courtesy Shaf Keshavjee/UHN)

Dr. Shaf Keshavjee of the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Faculty of Medicine has received the fifth annual Governor General’s Innovation Award – which celebrates transformative innovation that improves the lives of Canadians.

The award recognizes Keshavjee’s development of the Toronto Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) system. The EVLP allows doctors to recondition and repair injured donor lungs, significantly increasing the number of available donor lungs for transplantation. It is used by transplant surgeons around the world to assess donor lung function outside of the body, and determine whether to use a donor lung for transplant – saving the lives of hundreds of patients.

A professor in the department of surgery, Keshavjee was appointed surgeon-in-chief for University Health Network in 2010. He is the director of the Toronto Lung Transplant Program and the Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories – the largest lung transplant research centre in the world – and has served on the board of directors of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, the Canadian Society of Transplantation and on the Governing Council of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and has received the Lister Prize in Surgery among other honours.

Canadian Council for Advancement of Education awards gold and silver to U of T staff

lanthierj — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:18:20 +0000

Canadian Council for Advancement of Education awards gold and silver to U of T staff

Community

lanthierj Wed, 06/17/2020 - 11:18

Staff

St. George

CCAE

Division of University Advancement

Faculty of Medicine

landscape

For their excellence in telling the stories of the U of T community, communicators at the ��߲ݴ�ý have earned four awards from the Canadian Council for Advancement of Education.

The Prix d’Excellence is the national association’s annual awards program, recognizing outstanding achievements in alumni affairs, public affairs, communications, marketing, development, advancement services, stewardship and overall institutional advancement.

Staff from the Faculty of Medicine and the Division of University Advancement won in the following categories:

•   Gold in Best Print Magazine – UofTMed Magazine’s “The Art of Dying” Issue
   Project Lead: Heidi Singer, Mark Bennett
   Project Supervisor: Linda Quattrin
Contributors: Roberta Brown, Rohini Chopra, Erin Howe, Liam Mitchell, Carolyn Morris,
   Jim Oldfield, Julia Soudat

•   Silver in Best Report to Donors – Boundless Final Campaign Report
   Project Lead: Rachel Chochinov
   Project Supervisor: Kim Finn
  Contributors: Richard Whittall, Caley Tessier, Matt Volpe, Jonathan Leitch, Chuck Chan,
   Stephanie Wong

•   Silver in Best Fundraising Initiative – FY20 ALG Fall Campaign
   Project Lead: Michael Page
   Project Supervisor: Heather Ullman
  Contributors: Jonathan Cheevers, Laura Clark, Agnello Desa, Devorah Lindsay,
   Shannon MacInnes, Belmira Montenegrinio, Curtis Vander Hyden, Clare Wheeler

•   Silver in Best Advancement Services Initiative – ALG Campaign CUBE
   Project Lead: Curtis Vander Hyden
   Project Supervisor: Heather Ullman
   Contributors: Kathy McCormick, Milla Motrich, Eny Orabueze, Jun Shen, Danny Velev

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U.K. Royal Society names Zulfiqar Bhutta a Fellow

lanthierj — Tue, 26 May 2020 15:52:58 +0000

U.K. Royal Society names Zulfiqar Bhutta a Fellow

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 05/26/2020 - 11:52

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

landscape

For his contributions to global child health, Professor Zulfiqar Bhutta has been elected a fellow of the United Kingdom’s Royal Society.

The Royal Society is the U.K.’s national academy of sciences and the oldest scientific academy that has been in continuous existence. Members have included Sir Isaac Newton, Steven Hawking and Albert Einstein.

“This year’s fellows have helped shape the 21st century through their work at the cutting-edge of fields from human genomics, to climate science and machine learning,” said society president Venki Ramakrishnan.

Bhutta, whose primary appointment is with the department of paediatrics, is also appointed to the department of nutritional sciences in the Faculty of Medicine and the epidemiology division in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. He is co-director of the Centre for Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children and a scientist in the Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition at U of T. His latest research focuses on the impacts of food environments on the nutrition of children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries.

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Three University Professors elected members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences

lanthierj — Thu, 14 May 2020 18:23:29 +0000

Three University Professors elected members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Thu, 05/14/2020 - 14:23

Faculty

St. George

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Medicine

Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research

landscape

(L-R) Lewis Kay, Brenda Andrews and Spencer Barrett

Three ��߲ݴ�ý professors have been elected international members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences is a society of distinguished scientists, which was established by an Act of Congress and signed by American president Abraham Lincoln in 1863. They provide independent and objective advice to the U.S. government on matters related to science and technology.

Election to the academy represents one of the highest honours awarded to a scientist worldwide and is in recognition of distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Just 26 international researchers received the recognition this year, joining a total of 501 scientists from countries outside the U.S. to hold the honour.

Each of the three new members from U of T holds the title of University Professor, a distinction that recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge. They are:

University Professor Brenda Andrews, the Charles H. Best Chair of Medical Research in U of T’s Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research and a professor in the department of molecular genetics in the Faculty of Medicine
University Professor Emeritus Spencer Barrett of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science
University Professor Lewis Kay of the departments of molecular genetics and biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine and the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science

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Lewis Kay elected member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences

lanthierj — Thu, 14 May 2020 17:15:10 +0000

Lewis Kay elected member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Thu, 05/14/2020 - 13:15

Faculty

St. George

U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

Lewis Kay has been elected an international member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences – one of the highest honours awarded to a scientist worldwide.

A University Professor in the departments of molecular genetics and biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine, and in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, Kay is also a senior scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children. He is renowned for his research in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), a technology that enables scientists to capture images of proteins at work inside cells.

Kay and his lab have made key contributions to the development of NMR, helping scientists around the world gain insights into the structure and function of protein molecules in diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other conditions. Kay and his colleagues have applied the technology to better understand neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Kay's many awards include the Khorana Prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Gairdner Foundation International Award, and the Herzberg Medal from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. He is an officer of the Order of Canada.

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Sachin Kumar receives Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award

lanthierj — Thu, 07 May 2020 22:37:23 +0000

Sachin Kumar receives Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award

Community

lanthierj Thu, 05/07/2020 - 18:37

Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology

Graduate Students

landscape

Sachin Kumar, a PhD student in the department of laboratory medicine & pathobiology in the Faculty of Medicine, has received the Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award.

The honour is one of the Awards of Excellence presented by the ��߲ݴ�ý Alumni Association in collaboration with the university.

Before entering the MD/PhD program, Kumar developed and patented antibody tools that are now licensed by a pharmaceutical company. He then shifted his focus to understanding the genetics of childhood brain cancers.

He pioneered the groundbreaking discovery of a novel genetic mutation that drives the pediatric brain tumour medulloblastoma, and recently published an article about this research in Nature. Through international collaboration, he also discovered that this mutation has implications in additional cancers, including leukemia and liver cancer.

A tireless volunteer for campus leadership programs and community advocacy organizations, Kumar is the event coordinator for Childhood Cancer Survivor Canada, and director of U of T’s Movember chapter. As an executive of the graduate representation committee, he initiated a survey that catalyzed the improvement of student wellness and financial supports across the Faculty of Medicine.

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Faculty of Medicine

Daniel Drucker wins 2020 Warren Alpert Prize

Read more about the Warren Alpert Prize

Twelve U of T faculty members appointed Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

Five U of T faculty members join Royal Society’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists

Angela Colantonio wins William Fields Caveness Award

Read more about the award

Shaf Keshavjee wins Governor General's Innovation Award

Read more about Keshavjee

Canadian Council for Advancement of Education awards gold and silver to U of T staff

U.K. Royal Society names Zulfiqar Bhutta a Fellow

Three University Professors elected members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Lewis Kay elected member of U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Sachin Kumar receives Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award