April Kemick

The visit to the Duke of Connaught Junior and Senior Public School was part of a campaign to help raise awareness about childhood obesity, a problem Sundin is fighting by working with the University of Toronto’s Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development.

Along with spending time with the kids, Sundin answered health and fitness questions sent to the Faculty of Medicine and U of T News via Twitter and Facebook. His answers can be found here.

The Institute has identified childhood obesity as one of its major priorities, and U of T researchers are tackling the issue from a number of angles such as investigating its roots in genetics, nutrition, fitness and environment. Sundin – who donated $330,000 to create scholarships in human development between U of T and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden – is a major supporter.

“As a father, it’s important for me to ensure that all kids have a healthy successful life free from the chronic challenges of obesity. I support The Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development because it is taking a unique approach to this epidemic,” says Sundin.

Obesity in childhood has been linked to lifelong physical and mental health challenges, ranging from diabetes to heart disease and psychological issues. U of T’s researchers are focusing on the first 2,000 days of a child’s life to determine the root causes of obesity.

“The research we are conducting will help us better understand the origins of childhood obesity, giving us the fundamental tools we need to stop it in its tracks,” says Professor Stephen Lye, Executive Director of the Institute and Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Physiology.

Although retired now, Sundin says keeping fit is a lifelong priority.

"I think exercising from a young age taught me a lifestyle and I keep doing it. I exercise, stay fit and make sure I get good nutrition," Sundin say. " It’s not at the highest level like in the NHL, but three to four times a week I do a workout and make sure I eat properly.

"I run, ride a bike and try to do things that I enjoy. I cross-country ski and I play hockey still a little bit at charity events over the year. I’m actually going to prepare because the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings have an alumni winter classic coming up so the veteran guys have a big game on December 31."

As a child, says Sundin, he was part of an active family; he and his siblings played hockey, soccer, tennis and golf and his family enjoyed camping and fishing. His daughter, now seven months old, will also enjoy an active lifestyle, he adds.

"She looks like she will be tall – maybe six feet - so I’ve got to get a tennis racquet in her hand," he says. "She’s only seven months now, so I’m going to wait a couple more months before I buy her first tennis racquet. Start them young!

"I’m just kidding, we will let her do whatever she wants, but we will encourage her to be active. I think it’s very important for a healthy life to get her in different activities. Whether its sports or dance, we will encourage her to try different things."

Healthy habits will fuel that active lifestyle, he adds.

"It sounds like a cliché, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day to start your metabolism. It’s like a car – you have to fill up the tank before you start working. [I’ll encourage my daughter to eat] lots of fruit and lots of vegetables and stay away from processed food. Try to get lots of sleep – you realize how good sleeping habits are important for a healthy life.

"It’s not complicated – simple things keep us healthy."

(Watch a video of Sundin's visit to the school.)

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Mats Sundin promotes children's health at U of T

sgupta — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:15:46 +0000

Mats Sundin promotes children's health at U of T sgupta Thu, 03/21/2013 - 06:15

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Former Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Mats Sundin will take questions about nutrition, health, children's health, and fitness (photo courtesy of Mats Sundin)

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Tweet your questions to Sundin before March 25

Hockey legend Mats Sundin built a career around healthy living, good nutrition, exercise and physical fitness.

Now, the former Toronto Maple Leafs captain is pairing with the University of Toronto’s Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development to stamp out childhood obesity – and all the chronic, lifelong health problems that result from it.

“Obesity robs kids of their chance at a happy, healthy life, and that’s something that all children deserve,” says Sundin. “To tackle this very serious issue, we need to explore all the factors that put kids at risk for obesity – from fitness and nutrition to genetic and environmental influences – and that is exactly the type of game-changing research that’s happening at the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development.”

To raise awareness about childhood obesity and the Institute’s cutting edge, cross-disciplinary research, Sundin is participating in a social media campaign to take questions about health and fitness.

Using the hashtag #UofT, fans are encouraged to tweet their questions for Sundin to @UofTNews and @UofTMedicine before Monday, March 25. Fans can also find the Faculty of Medicine or the University of Toronto on Facebook and post their questions for Sundin.

Sticking to the theme of health, children’s health, fitness and nutrition, Sundin will answer the ten best questions next week when he’s in town promoting the Institute.

Childhood obesity is a major research priority for the Institute because so many lifelong health and wellness issues stem from it, says Executive Director Stephen Lye, of the Faculty of Medicine’s departments of obstetrics and gynaecology and physiology. With backing from key supporters like Sundin, researchers can track the origins of obesity in a child’s early years and figure out how to stop it.

“We know that obesity at a young age leads to a slew of physical and mental challenges later in life, from serious chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease to disabling emotional and psychological issues,” says Lye. “Our researchers are looking at the first 2,000 days of a child’s life from a variety of perspectives - medical, nutritional, genetic and social - to understand how we can best intervene to set kids on a healthy path.”

Want to know Sundin's’ fitness regime? Dying to try his favourite healthy recipe? Eager to know what his favourite sport was when he was young? Using the hashtag #UofT, send your questions to @UofTMedicine or @UofTNews or find the Faculty of Medicine or the University of Toronto on Facebook and post your questions there.

Submit your questions by Monday, March 25. Sundin will answer the top ten questions next week when he’s in Toronto to promote the Institute.

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PMS may not exist, research shows

sgupta — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:55:21 +0000

PMS may not exist, research shows sgupta Wed, 10/17/2012 - 11:55

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Dr. Gillian Einstein director of U of T’s collaborative program in Women’s Health

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There is no clear link between women’s negative moods and the pre-menstrual phase of their cycles, according to a review of research led by University of Toronto experts.

The team analyzed 41 research studies that tracked women’s daily moods through their menstrual cycles. Their findings — which showed no clear evidence that pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) exists — are published online now in the journal Gender Medicine and are drawing international attention in the news world and blogosphere.

“There is so much cultural baggage around women’s menstrual cycles, and entire industries built around the idea that women are moody, irrational — even unstable — in the phase leading up to menstruation,” says Dr. Gillian Einstein, director of U of T’s collaborative program in Women’s Health and one of several U of T experts who reviewed the literature. “Our review — which shows no clear evidence that PMS exists — will be surprising to many people, including health professionals.”

Of the 41 papers the panel examined, only six (or 13.5 per cent) showed any association between negative moods and the pre-menstrual phase, says Einstein, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Further, the team found that some of those studies may even have been biased because study participants were not “blinded” to the purpose of the study.

“Before women even get their first period, they have heard about PMS. The notion is so ingrained in our culture that some of these studies are actually biased because women know the study is about PMS,” says Einstein, also a senior scientist with Women’s College Hospital and a scientific associate with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

The review did not address the existence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a clinical mood disorder linked with the menstrual cycle that is characterized by severe physical and behavioural symptoms in the latter half of the menstrual cycle. It also did not discount the existence of physical symptoms such as bloating and cramping related to the pre-menstrual phase.

Einstein says the research demonstrates the need to examine other factors which may affect women’s moods so that the real challenges can be treated.

“There are so many things going on in women’s lives that can have a distinct impact on their moods — stress, lack of social support, economic hardship, physical ailments,” she says. “Looking at these factors is key to the concept of evidence-based medicine.

"Once we understand the real problems, we can deliver solutions.”

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Faculty of Medicine hosts Brain Bee

sgupta — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:43:30 +0000

Faculty of Medicine hosts Brain Bee sgupta Fri, 03/30/2012 - 09:43

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Whitby high school student Torri Odell mulls questions on brain physiology at Faculty of Medicine's Brain Bee challenge (Photo by Hong Shuo-Sun)

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Top students win summer placement in U of T neuroscience lab

What brain region processes fear and anxiety? Which drug can break up blood clots to improve the outcome of a stroke? Where are neurotransmitters stored?

More than 100 high school students from across the Greater Toronto Area tackled questions like these in an intense, elimination-style “Brain Bee” held March 30 at the Faculty of Medicine.

The teenaged science enthusiasts, from Grades 9 to 12, were slowly whittled down to a group of finalists after participating in three timed rounds of questions revolving around brain physiology in health and disease. The challenge was run in a style similar to Jeopardy, with contestants scribbling their answers down on large pads and holding them up for scrutiny.

“Our overall aim is to motivate students to learn about the brain, to capture their imaginations and to inspire them to pursue careers in biomedical brain research,” said Physiology Professor Emeritus Jonathan Dostrovsky, who started the University of Toronto Brain Bee in 1999.

The top three Brain Bee finalists received a cash prize and a summer learning placement in a U of T neuroscience laboratory. The winner will go on to compete at the Canadian National Brain Bee at McMaster University in May, and will compete for a shot at attending the International Brain Bee held later this year in South Africa.

“I knew I wanted to go into medicine after getting my Bachelor’s degree but getting ready for the Brain Bee definitely made me more interested in the field of neuroscience and brain research,” said Torri Odell, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at Donald A. Wilson Secondary School in Whitby.

Odell participated in the Brain Bee with seven other students from her high school, including 17-year-old Kevin Morey, who was particularly excited about the opportunity to mix and mingle with U of T faculty and graduate students.

“Even if we don’t win, it’s been a really great opportunity to learn about the brain and meet people who are in this field,” said Morey, who has already been accepted into several science programs – at U of T and elsewhere – for the fall.

The annual challenge is run in large part by more than two dozen U of T Neuroscience and Physiology graduate students, who coordinate study tutorials to prepare the teenaged contestants and highlight their current research to the delight of enthusiastic participants. Faculty and graduate students work together to create the challenge questions based on a study guide for Brain Bees.

“The Brain Bee not only provides a fantastic learning opportunity for the high school participants, it also gives our graduate students an excellent opportunity to exercise their leadership ability, which is a key component for our graduate training programs,” said Zhong-Ping Feng, an associate professor of Physiology at U of T and Brain Bee organizer.

In the beginning, only a couple dozen high schoolers participated in the Brain Bee but those numbers have dramatically increased as interest in brain health has skyrocketed, said Dostrovsky.

“If you look at what we’ve seen in the news even in the last while around issues like mental health and concussions, there is certainly a higher level of attention being paid to this area of study and I think that’s really capturing the attention of these young people,” he said, adding that Brain Bee participants often to go on to study Medicine.

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Mats Sundin establishes medical fellowships at U of T, Karolinska Institutet

sgupta — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:30:42 +0000

Mats Sundin establishes medical fellowships at U of T, Karolinska Institutet sgupta Fri, 02/10/2012 - 04:30

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Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin beams as he and Dean Cathy Whiteside display the U of T Faculty of Medicine's gift of medical scrubs bearing his iconic No. 13. (Photo by Dave Chan)

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Former Maple Leafs captain supports developmental health research

Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin announced today he will establish an elite scientific exchange program in the field of developmental health between the University of Toronto and Karolinska Insitutet in Stockholm, Sweden.

Sundin’s gift – one-third of $1 million dollars – was announced today at a press conference at U of T. The gift will support two fellowships at world-renowned labs in Toronto and Stockholm where scientists are probing how maternal health and our earliest life experiences can determine sickness, health, learning ability and overall well-being down the road.

“We all want our children to grow up healthy, with the best opportunities to learn and live free of disease, but how do we make that possible? What can we do to give our kids the best shot at reaching their full potential?” said Sundin. “By establishing this program at U of T and KI, we’re creating an Olympic training camp for our brightest young minds to work with global leaders and answer these challenging questions.”

“Every player knows we have a responsibility to pass on our skills and knowledge to the next generation – that’s how the sport moves forward, and science as well,” Sundin added. “It means so much to me to be able to support these two great universities and their incredible drive to find the breakthroughs that can change our lives.”

Historically, genetics were thought to be the sole factor in determining whether a child would grow up to be a healthy, well-functioning adult. Now, scientists are realizing that the interaction between genes and the environment is critical. Teams at U of T and KI are leading the global charge to figure out what environmental factors – from breast-feeding to stress to nutrition – might impact the way a person’s genes are expressed, effectively determining their well-being from the early years to later on in life.

"It is becoming increasingly clear that the early environment of the fetus and infant can have major influences on susceptibility to developing cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health disorders in later life, not to mention on learning and social functioning,” said Dr. Stephen Matthews, professor of physiology, obstetrics and gynecology and medicine at U of T. “These elite research fellows will help us advance our understanding of this complex relationship and assist in our efforts to build trajectories towards health and away from disease.”

The Mats Sundin Award in Medicine will establish two post-doctoral fellowships in developmental biology – one at U of T and one at KI. The fellows will be chosen from a highly-competitive pool of researchers at each institution, and starting in September 2012, they will travel to their partner institution for a year of research under the direction of world-leading scientists in the field. At U of T, Matthews and Dr. Stephen Lye, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and physiology, will lead the program. Dr. Ola Hermanson, associate professor in molecular neurodevelopment, will lead the program at KI.

“Research that is happening right now at U of T and Karolinska Institutet is resulting in unprecedented opportunities to pre-empt, regulate and even eradicate some of the world’s most common illnesses,” said U of T president David Naylor. “By establishing these fellowships, Mats Sundin is helping us mobilize the power of our respective research towards areas that intrinsically shape the human condition.”

“Karolinska Institutet is very proud to receive this gift. It is our clear goal to promote interactions like this and make the future even brighter for true young ambitious talents in science,” said KI President Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson. “The support from Mats Sundin is a great step to improve the already fruitful collaboration between KI and U of T.”

The fellowships build on a long and successful exchange program between U of T and Karolinska Institutet dating back to 1996. The exchange program leverages the very best research themes from both institutions to train and develop students into future scientific and medical leaders, with a particular focus on maternal-infant health, neurodevelopment and regenerative medicine.

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Lives of soliders, important Canadians to be documented

sgupta — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:49:55 +0000

Lives of soliders, important Canadians to be documented sgupta Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:49

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Launching the new veteran-focused research for the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. (Photo by Caz Zyvatkauskas)

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U of T - Université Laval project receives $3-million injection from federal government

As Canadians prepare to honour fallen soldiers this Remembrance Day, the federal government has announced funding for a website which chronicles the lives of war veterans, including U of T graduate Lt. Col. John McCrae, and other key historical figures.

The $3-million in funding, announced today by the Department of Canadian Heritage, will support the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, a comprehensive, historical dictionary compiled by researchers at the University of Toronto and Université Laval with the collaboration of scholars and researchers throughout the country. The dictionary provides easy-to-read accounts of the lives of people who were significant contributors to Canada’s development. It debuted online in 2003 and currently includes more than 8,400 biographies in English and French, covering Canadian history from 1000 to 1930.

“We are thrilled that the government is showing continued support for this most worthy resource, led by researchers at the University of Toronto and l’Université Laval,” said U of T President David Naylor. “This free, highly accessible and authoritative dictionary reaches beyond academia to the broader Canadian public, forming the basis for ongoing dialogue around our shared history and experiences.”

John English, U of T’s general editor of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, says the government’s three-year funding commitment will enable the research team to advance the biographies beyond the 1930s, providing a fuller historical picture for Canadian audiences.

“This funding will enable us to continue building a resource which is already recognized beyond our borders as the best-researched national biography in the world,” said English. “The stories of soldiers, aboriginals, politicians, explorers, women and men who helped to shape this country are invaluable in terms of helping us understand our national past and the current direction of Canadian society.”

The goverment is pleased about funding a project that deepens Canadians' knowledge of their own history.

“Our Government proudly supports projects that encourage Canadians to gain a better understanding of our country, its history and its people,” said James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. “With the support announced today, the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online will continue to be easily accessible to all Canadians and can keep on growing. I invite everyone to visit the website to learn more about the stories of Canada’s earlier citizens.”

The Dictionary of Canadian Biography is a product of a U of T-Université Laval partnership that dates back to 1959. The dictionary began as a hard-copy product but has since evolved into a well-used online resource that now receives millions of hits each year. Important Canadians already featured include artist Tom Thomson, Métis leader Louis Riel, writer Goldwin Smith and Ontario Hydro founder Adam Beck, plus many Canadian prime ministers. The dictionary is online.

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Heritage plaque honours Ontario's first gay and lesbian rights group

sgupta — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:29:32 +0000

Heritage plaque honours Ontario's first gay and lesbian rights group sgupta Thu, 11/03/2011 - 06:29

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The unveiling of the heritage plaque honouring the founding of the U of T Homophile Association, the province's first gay and lesbian rights group. Pictured are left to right, are MPP Rosario Marchese, Nikki Thomas of LGBTOUT, Charlie Hill (the first chai

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U of T Homophile Association formed 42 years ago

The University of Toronto Homophile Association, the province’s first group to rally around lesbian and gay rights, was honoured yesterday at a ceremony that marked their historic formation in 1969.

Officials from U of T, the Ontario Heritage Trust (OHT) and three levels of government commemorated the historic group’s formation by unveiling a provincial plaque at University College – the site of the U of T Homophile Association’s first meeting 42 years ago.

“The U of T has been a proud supporter of the proposal to install this plaque at the heart of our founding campus,” said President David Naylor. “We are also proud of the decades-long history of campus LGBT advocacy that has made the university a better place.”

The plaque – sponsored by U of T’s Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies and the Ontario Heritage Trust – is Ontario’s first LGBT-related provincial plaque. It was unveiled at a ceremony at East Hall in University College and will later be placed on the east side of the college.

The U of T Homophile Association, which was Canada’s first university-based lesbian/gay organization, set the stage for similar groups to form at other Ontario universities in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The pioneering group sponsored lectures from prominent international activists, challenged discrimination against gays and lesbians in Canada’s public service, protested police surveillance in Toronto and highlighted prejudice in the media.

Early members helped to shape activism across Ontario and in Canada. Jearld Moldenhauer established Glad Day Bookshop, the country’s first to specialize in lesbian and gay literature, and helped form The Body Politic, a magazine with international significance. The group’s first chair – Charlie Hill –became a well-known community organizer and activist in Toronto and Ottawa, and Ian Young, another key organizer, published a groundbreaking book of gay poetry, Year of the Quiet Sun.

The group disbanded in 1973, but they acted as a prototype for lesbian, gay and transgender activism across the country and lent momentum to the equality movement.

As Bonham Centre director Brenda Cossman pointed out, “Honouring queer history is essential: it reminds all of us that university campuses play crucial roles in nurturing change, and that our ability to do the kind of work we do in the present comes from generations of courageous advocacy in the past.”

The idea to mark the establishment of the U of T Homophile Association came from a working group at the university’s Bonham Centre, who then submitted the proposal to the OHT.

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