Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Twenty faculty members from the 91�Թ� have been awarded Canada Research Chairs in support of their research in areas ranging from LGBTQ2S+ youth mental health to quantum photonic technologies and sustainable suburban housing.

Awarded by the Government of Canada, Canada Research Chair positions are designed to reinforce academic research and training excellence with a view to improving depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthening Canada’s international competitiveness and helping train the next generation of highly skilled people.

“I would like to congratulate all the 91�Թ� scholars who have newly been appointed Canada Research Chairs or had their positions renewed in this latest cohort,” said Leah Cowen, 91�Թ�’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “From cognitive neurobiology to household finance and urban environmental science, these researchers are furthering knowledge and spurring innovation in areas of critical importance.”

The latest cycle of Canada Research Chair appointees from 91�Թ� includes eight new and 12 renewed positions:

New Canada Research Chairs

Alex Abramovich at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 2 in 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness and Mental Health

Claire Célérier in the Rotman School of Management – Tier 2 in Household Finance

Natalie Coburn at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and the department of surgery in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Cancer Outcomes

Li Qian in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Quantum Photonic Technologies

Alison McGuigan in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 1 in Tissue Engineering and Disease Modelling

Zahra Shakeri Hossein Abad in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Health Informatics and Precision (Public) Health

Mina Tadrous in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy – Tier 2 in Real-World Evidence and Pharmaceutical Policy

Marianne Touchie in the department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering – Tier 2 in Sustainable Urban Housing

Renewed Canada Research Chairs

Rachel Barney in the departments of classics and philosophy at the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Ancient Philosophy

Marie-Josée Fortin in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Spatial Ecology

Paul Frankland at the SickKids Research Institute, the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and the department of physiology and Institute of Medical Science in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Cognitive Neurobiology

Anne-Claude Gingras at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health and the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Functional Proteomics

Tara Gomes at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy – Tier 2 in Drug Policy and Substance Use

Daniel Grace in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Sexual and Gender Minority Health

Marc Johnson in the department of biology at 91�Թ� Mississauga – Tier 2 in Urban Environmental Science

Sheena Josselyn at the SickKids Research Institute, the department of psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the department of physiology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine – Tier 1 in Memory Function and Dysfunction

Carmen Logie at Women's College Research Institute and the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work – Tier 2 in Global Health Equity & Social Justice with Marginalized Populations

Ito Peng in the department of sociology in the Faculty of Arts & Science – Tier 1 in Global Social Policy

Navindra Persaud at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health – Tier 2 in Health Justice

Martine Puts in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing – Tier 2 in Care of Frail Older Adults

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Aaron Wheeler recognized with Chemical Institute of Canada’s Ricardo Aroca Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:49:53 +0000

Aaron Wheeler recognized with Chemical Institute of Canada’s Ricardo Aroca Award

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 02/05/2024 - 13:49

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemistry

Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

landscape

Professor Aaron Wheeler (photo courtesy of NSERC)

Aaron Wheeler, a professor in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has received the Chemical Institute of Canada’s Ricardo Aroca Award.

The award is given to scientists in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of analytical chemistry while working in Canada. Wheeler, who is cross-appointed to the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, was honoured for his achievements in the field of microfluidics.

Wheeler’s lab has developed microfluidic tools to analyze the chemistry of complex biological samples. His research has an array of potential medical applications ranging from developing procedures to study the most dangerous cells among millions in large tumors to growing organ tissues on devices outside the body to test drugs.

“Virtually every living organism sheds cells,” said Wheeler. “A cancerous tumor, for example, sends innumerable cells out into its host’s body. Of those, most cells will not be metastatic, so identifying and studying the few that can survive the immune system and spread the cancer is vital for understanding how to prevent and treat this disease.”

Wheeler will deliver a keynote address when he accepts the award at the Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC) 2024 in Winnipeg in June.

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Milica Radisic elected Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 20:58:33 +0000

Milica Radisic elected Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 02/02/2024 - 15:58

Faculty

St. George

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

landscape

Professor Milica Radisic (supplied image)

Milica Radisic, a senior scientist in the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, and professor in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has been named a 2023 Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

The NAI Fellows Program honours the achievements of outstanding academic inventors who, through interdisciplinary collaboration, dedication and innovation, have successfully translated their research into tangible commercial technologies that significantly enhance society.

The achievement underscores Radisic’s exceptional contributions to advancing research and driving the development of real-world applications. 

A Canada Research Chair in Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering, Radisic has played a pivotal role in advancing the fields of organ-on-a-chip engineering and biomaterial development. Some of her most notable contributions include leading the NSERC CREATE Program on organ-on-a-chip engineering and entrepreneurship and establishing the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), which is dedicated to the translation of organ-on-a-chip devices into practical products. 

“We enthusiastically congratulate Dr. Milica Radisic on her well-deserved election as a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors,” said Professor Milos Popovic, director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. “Her exceptional contributions in organ-on-a-chip engineering, biomaterial development and commercialization efforts showcase her transformative impact on research and real-world applications.”

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Milica Radisic receives International Humboldt Research Award

siddiq22 — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:05:51 +0000

Milica Radisic receives International Humboldt Research Award

Research & Innovation

siddiq22 Thu, 08/10/2023 - 10:05

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Humboldt Research Prize

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

landscape

Milica Radisic (supplied photo)

Milica Radisic, a professor in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry and in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has received a 2023 Humboldt Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Named for the famed naturalist, explorer and patron, the award honours the academic achievements of internationally recognized scientists and scholars from outside of Germany. Award winners are also invited to carry out their own research project in Germany for six months to a year, and they receive 60,000 euros, which can be used to fund the project and travel.

“This is a huge honour. The award is one of the most prestigious international recognitions a scientist can get,” says Radisic, who holds the Canada Research Chair in organ-on-a-chip engineering.

A leading expert in bioengineering human tissues and the design of microfluidic chips, Radisic will begin working with Professor Ulrike Nuber of the Technical University of Darmstadt next year at her lab, which focuses on creating disease models from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Together, they will partner with researchers at Charité, the Berlin University of Medicine – one of Europe's largest university hospitals – to develop a vascularized organ-on-a-chip model.

“This opportunity will allow me and my colleagues from the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies to build a bridge across the Atlantic and connect with our colleagues from Germany, who have really interesting ideas about the role of endothelial cells and endothelial dysfunction in creating multi-organ failure,” Radisic says.

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Craig Simmons named 2021 Biomedical Engineering Society Fellow

lanthierj — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 11:14:24 +0000

Craig Simmons named 2021 Biomedical Engineering Society Fellow

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Fri, 10/08/2021 - 07:14

Faculty

St. George

Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

landscape

(Photo by Neil Ta)

Craig Simmons of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering has been inducted as Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society in recognition of his innovative and wide-ranging contributions to fundamental science and practical applications in the field of mechanobiology.

A professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Simmons has published more than 135 peer-reviewed research articles in high-impact journals that have received close to 12,000 citations. He is the Canada Research Chair in Mechanobiology and the author of the textbook Introductory Biomechanics: From cells to organisms. He has four patents and eight invention disclosures under his name.

“Congratulations to Craig Simmons,” said Professor Markus Bussmann, chair of the department. “This award recognizes the impact of the work he’s done and will continue to do, and his place among the very best in his field.”

Being named a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society is the latest in a series of honours for Simmons that includes the Ontario Early Researcher Award; the McCharles Prize; the McLean Award, Fellow of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering; and the Heart and Stroke Foundation CP Has Heart Award.

“It is wonderful to see Dr. Simmons continue to receive accolades for his research and teaching,” said Professor Warren Chan, director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering.

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