Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

12 research projects at U of T and its partner hospitals receive support through John R. Evans Leaders Fund

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:55:35 +0000

12 research projects at U of T and its partner hospitals receive support through John R. Evans Leaders Fund

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 02/23/2022 - 09:55

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Karina Carneiro, of the Faculty of Dentistry, is one of 12 researchers at U of T and its partner hospitals to receive support this week through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (photo by Elizabeth Silva)

Rachel Boutet

Topic

Our Community

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

Sunnybrook Health Sciences

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

Computer Science

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Dentistry

Research & Innovation

University Health Network

The University of Toronto’s Karina Carneiro is focused on using DNA nanostructures to develop materials for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect connective tissues, as well as the regeneration of those tissues.

She is one of 12 researchers at U of T and its partner hospitals to receive funding this week through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), which helps institutions to recruit and retain outstanding researchers, and provide them with the necessary tools and technology to perform their work.

An assistant professor in the Faculty of Dentistry, Carneiro will use the nearly $160,000 to support her research project, “DNA nanomaterials for connective tissue diseases.”

“This funding is essential for my research program,” she says. “It will allow me to purchase crucial instruments needed for the synthesis and characterization of the DNA-based materials we develop in my group.”

More than $30 million was provided to 136 research infrastructure projects at 31 universities across the country in the latest funding round. Named after a former U of T president, the John R. Evans Leaders Fund supports projects that deal with a range of pressing issues, from climate change to innovation in the food sector.

The projects at U of T and its partner hospitals that received support through the latest funding round span studies of aging and dementia to soft, stretchable robotic devices.

Mihai Duduta, a researcher in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, received JELF support for his team’s work on soft robots, which can be made of a common polymer combined with carbon nanotubes (photo by Mihai Duduta)

“The federal government’s ongoing support for research through the John R. Evans Leaders fund is critical to equip Canadian researchers with the tools they need to address some of the world’s greatest challenges,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“Professor Carneiro’s research, which could facilitate diagnosis and treatment of fibrotic diseases, is an excellent example of how strategic investment in university infrastructure benefits the public.”

The materials Carneiro is helping to develop will enable the design of biomaterials for collaborative projects with the co-applicants Professor Christopher McCulloch and Vice-Dean Research and Professor Bernhard Ganss. Although custom DNA-based materials can be purchased at high cost, having these instruments in-house will give Carneiro and her team the freedom to optimize the molecular design as new insights are gained.

With aging – and in several high prevalence diseases such as heart failure, osteoarthritis and periodontitis – the connective tissues undergo critical structural alterations, leading to loss of organ function, disability and in some cases, death.

The new, customized infrastructure being developed by Carneiro and her team will enable them to perform state-of-the-art research for advanced synthesis and high-resolution imaging that will provide unprecedented levels of resolution.

“This funding with help with two goals of the program,” Carneiro says. “To enable reliable diagnosis of fibrotic diseases at earlier stages than allowed by current methods, and to provide therapeutic options for challenging tissue lesions.”

Here are the recipients of the John R. Evans Leaders Fund at U of T and its partner hospitals:

Karina Carneiro of the Faculty of Dentistry
Tom Chau of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Howard Chertkow of the department of medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Baycrest Health Sciences
Mihai Duduta of the department of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Daniel Létourneau of the department of radiation oncology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the University Health Network
Christopher Maddison of the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science
Avril Mansfield of the department of physical therapy in the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and the University Health Network
Jamie Near of the department of medical biophysics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Sunnybrook Research Institute
Peter Roy of the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Ervin Sejdić of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Walter Swardfager of the department of pharmacology and toxicology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Chao Wang of the department or immunology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Sunnybrook Research Institute

#UofTGrad19: Meet rehabilitation science's newest graduates

noreen.rasbach — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0000

#UofTGrad19: Meet rehabilitation science's newest graduates

noreen.rasbach Tue, 11/05/2019 - 00:00

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Clockwise from top left: Mary Boulos, Thi-Ut Nguyen, Daniela Chok, Janany Jeyasundaram, Sahar Panju and Sanjana Shellikeri

Ciara Parsons

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2019

Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

Speech Language Pathology

Newly minted graduates of rehabilitation sciences programs at the University of Toronto will walk across the stage at Convocation Hall on Tuesday to receive their degrees. The Faculty of Medicine’s Ciara Parsons asked soon-to-be alumni of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute to share why they are passionate about their fields and what drives their professional and academic work.

Here are their responses:

Thi-Ut Nguyen
Master of Science in Physical Therapy

I worked as a personal support worker with a 54-year-old patient who was involved in a horrific car accident. When I started working with him, he was at five months post-injury. He had a tracheostomy and a gastrotomy tube. He was fully dependent for bed mobility and transferred via a lift. I worked with him for a period of one year. By the time he was discharged, he was walking and moving about independently with a walker.

Witnessing his extraordinary recovery journey sparked my interest in physical therapy. I was impressed by the impact early intensive physical therapy has on neuro-motor rehabilitation and I was fascinated by the concept of movement as medicine. Determined to pursue a career as a physiotherapist, I went from being a working mother with no high school degree, to being accepted into the transitional year program at the University of Toronto and I never looked back.

I think it’s important to continue to set goals that are almost dreams for my own personal growth.

Mary Boulos
Master of Science, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

One of the most memorable moments of my program was working with the Fred Victor agency in Toronto. Our lab’s clinical arm, the Telerehab Centre for Acquired Brain Injury, strived to provide neuropsychology services to individuals in the justice system experiencing brain injury and mental illness. There is an incredibly high prevalence of brain injury in the justice system; however, access to neuropsychology services is almost non-existent.

By collaborating with Fred Victor, we were able to begin addressing this gap by connecting clients with neuropsychology services and raising awareness of the need for services and support during the justice process. Having the opportunity to advocate for increased awareness and support of brain injury through presentations to clinicians, judges and lawyers has inspired me to continue advocacy work throughout my career.

Now, as a first-year medical student at McMaster University, I hope to bring forward the lessons I learned from the individuals I worked with during my [master of science] training at the University of Toronto and continue advocating for increased access to mental health care, home care and assisted living supports for patients across Canada.

Sanjana Shellikeri
Doctor of Philosophy, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute – speech-language pathology stream program

My mother was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral aclerosis (ALS) in 2010 and passed away in March 2019. I met Yana Yunusova through my mother in 2012, as she was a research participant in one of her speech studies. I was a recent undergraduate in neuroscience at the time and was very interested in contributing to the medical field. Although I didn’t have much knowledge in speech-language pathology, I was drawn to the idea of research in a disease that was so close to my heart. After meeting Yunusova and learning about her work, I knew this line of research would be a great fit for me.

I hope to follow the academic path as an independent investigator and contribute research to the study of neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. I am currently pursuing a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Frontotemporal Degeneration Center and aspire to improve the lives of people with neurodegenerative conditions and work towards a real-world impact.

Daniela Chok
Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology

As social beings, a person’s quality of life can be drastically affected by their ability to effectively express themselves and understand others’ messages. I was attracted to the speech-language pathology program because I wanted to work with people with communication disorders to enhance their quality of life. This is a rewarding field where I can work with others to establish and maintain meaningful relationships.

Through completing this program, I have learned that every situation and person is unique. As speech-language pathologists, we need to keep in mind both the diagnoses we are working to address and the patients themselves. Two people with the same diagnosis may have very different clinical presentations. The ability to integrate my classroom knowledge while recognizing the person’s unique situation is the beauty of balancing the art and science that exists within this field.

Janany Jeyasundaram
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

As the daughter of refugees, I have a strong sense of being between two worlds – the world of my parents in their homeland, which I have imbibed and internalized, and the world I was born into, where I do not fully belong. I have witnessed legacies of trauma both in my personal circles and in my role as an occupational therapy student. Throughout my occupational therapy education, I actively sought opportunities to further my understanding of equity and move the profession towards greater inclusion of vulnerable populations.

As a contextually situated practice, occupational therapy can advance healing work that benefits both individuals and communities. For many culturally diverse populations, individual healing is contingent upon the healing of families and communities. My occupational therapy education challenged me to reflect on client values by developing a greater appreciation for interdependence and interconnectedness. I feel better equipped to disrupt the notion of self-care in the traditional sense and expand our understanding of what it means for vulnerable populations to collectively heal from histories of trauma.

Sahar Panju
Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Through the speech-language pathology program, I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to be a good clinical therapist, but, more importantly, what it takes to be a good partner in care, as there is so much more to rehabilitation than just therapy. Being present for what is happening in a person’s life, beyond their impairment, has been an incredibly valuable lesson, both personally and professionally.

As a graduate of the program, I hope to continue to add to the foundation I’ve built and grow as a clinician. I recognized that one of the most important aspects of being a clinical therapist is to remain flexible and make yourself available to understanding new and sometimes challenging ideas. With the profession changing on a daily basis, continuing education is especially important. The program may have finished, but my education certainly hasn’t.

Four things to know about this fall convocation season

geoff.vendeville — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Four things to know about this fall convocation season

geoff.vendeville Thu, 10/31/2019 - 00:00

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(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Geoffrey Vendeville

Topic

Our Community

Convocation 2019

Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health

Alumni

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Faculty of Arts & Science

First Nations House

Indigenous

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

School of Graduate Studies

U of T Scarborough

University College

Women's College Hospital

The leaves at the University of Toronto have already turned shades of yellow, red and rusty brown. Fall convocation regalia will add another splash of colour to the St. George campus as more than 3,500 students don hoods and gowns to accept their degrees in Convocation Hall in eight separate ceremonies.

Here are a few noteworthy aspects of the ceremonies this fall:

An all-female lineup of speakers

The eight convocation speakers this fall are all women whose brilliant careers span a variety of fields. The speakers range from professors and lawyers to a leading health-care executive and even a rowing champion. Heather McPherson, the president and CEO of Women’s College Hospital, will address graduates in rehabilitation sciences and nursing on Nov. 5. Victoria Nolan, a U of T alumna who was diagnosed with the degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa and went on to win medals with Canada’s adaptive rowing team, will address graduates of U of T Scarborough on Nov. 6.

More details on the ceremonies, including the full schedule of speakers, are available online.

A strong Indigenous presence at the podium

Lee Maracle, a critically acclaimed Sto:lo author and instructor in Indigenous Studies and U of T’s First Nations House, is the opening convocation speaker for graduates from the Faculty of Arts & Science. Her 2014 novel Celia’s Song was recently nominated for the prestigious Neustadt prize. The following day, Suzanne Stewart – a member of the Yellowknife Dene First Nation and the director of the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health – will take the stage at the School of Graduate Studies convocation.

The convocation ceremonies will come to an end on Nov. 7, with an address by Kahontakwas Diane Longboat, a member of the Turtle Clan and Mohawk Nation at Six Nations Grand River Territory. Longboat is a ceremonial leader, traditional teacher and healer who has served as Elder at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, helping guide the hospital's strategy to improve practices and partnerships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. She is the founder of U of T’s First Nations House.

First of their class

Altogether, more than 5,100 students will be graduating this fall and they are expected to attend convocation with 9,600 guests. This will be a first convocation for students in the new master of accounting and finance program at U of T Scarborough. The 16-month program, which began in May of last year, caters to people looking to enter account management, wealth management, consultancy, entrepreneurship or project management.

Convocation Plaza details

Gown distribution and marshalling will take place in the north end of the Convocation Plaza. There will be a separate and fully accessible entrance in the northwest corner of the tent. The graduate procession will walk on King’s College Circle from the marshalling area to the front doors of Convocation Hall.

Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

12 research projects at U of T and its partner hospitals receive support through John R. Evans Leaders Fund

#UofTGrad19: Meet rehabilitation science's newest graduates

Thi-Ut Nguyen Master of Science in Physical Therapy

Mary Boulos Master of Science, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

Sanjana Shellikeri Doctor of Philosophy, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute – speech-language pathology stream program

Daniela Chok Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Janany Jeyasundaram Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Sahar Panju Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Four things to know about this fall convocation season

An all-female lineup of speakers

Read more about Convocation 2019

A strong Indigenous presence at the podium

First of their class

Convocation Plaza details

Thi-Ut Nguyen
Master of Science in Physical Therapy

Mary Boulos
Master of Science, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute

Sanjana Shellikeri
Doctor of Philosophy, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute – speech-language pathology stream program

Daniela Chok
Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Janany Jeyasundaram
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Sahar Panju
Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology