Toronto Academic Health Science Network

Lisa Robinson, a clinician-scientist and paediatric nephrologist who seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms behind kidney disease and transform care for children living with complex illnesses, has been appointed dean of the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Currently Temerty Medicine’s vice-dean, strategy and operations and co-chair of its finance committee, Robinson will assume her new role on July 1, 2024 for a five-year term.

She was also appointed vice-provost, relations with health-care institutions for the same term.

“I’m very biased, but the faculty, the university and the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) structure are incredible – so I’m very excited,” said Robinson, a professor in Temerty Medicine’s department of paediatrics and the Institute of Medical Science.

Robinson, who earned her MD at the university, is a staff physician and former head of the division of nephrology at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), where she specializes in caring for children with kidney disease, including a focus on renal transplantation.

A senior scientist in the cell biology program at the SickKids Research Institute, Robinson has led a research program – both fundamental and translational – over more than two decades that has encouraged collaboration between scientists, clinicians and learners at all levels. Her work draws on biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, advanced microscopy and disease models to explore immune responses in the context of kidney injury and progression of kidney disease. She is also investigating ways to expand the pool of viable donor kidneys available to patients who need kidney transplants.

“What I really want to do is use the new knowledge we generate from this research to transform the way we care for children and adults with kidney disease,” said Robinson, who holds a tier-one Canada Research Chair in vascular inflammation and kidney injury.

Robinson is a dedicated mentor and educator who has supervised many undergraduate and graduate students as well as post-doctoral fellows. She founded the SickKids Research Institute’s Kids Science program, which gives middle and high school students from under-served communities the opportunity to learn about careers in science and technology.

“Professor Robinson’s commitment to inclusive excellence, her advocacy for the sector and her vision for the future will be key to the success of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine in the years ahead,” said Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s vice-president and provost.

Robinson will succeed Professor Trevor Young in the roles after he was appointed U of T’s next vice-president and provost earlier this year, with his term beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Professor Patricia Houston will serve as interim dean of Temerty Medicine until Robinson assumes the role in July.

Robinson said Young made “enormous” contributions to the faculty.

“Dean Young was the catalyst behind our Academic Strategic Plan, in which so many members of our community see themselves reflected,” Robinson said. “His approach, vision and relational leadership also helped set the stage for the Temerty family’s historic gift to the faculty, which has been transformational.”

As dean, Robinson said she is keen to explore ways to further grow supports and opportunities for Temerty Medicine students.

“I want to renew our emphasis on a student-centric approach that addresses financial challenges, wellness, mental health and mentorship – and use the collective expertise we have across TAHSN to give our students a competitive advantage,” she said, adding that her priorities also include strengthening the recruitment, development and support of faculty and staff.

“We have to renew our focus and make sure that we create an environment in which every member of the community feels valued because that’s the only way in which every person can flourish.”

Robinson also wants to leverage TAHSN – which comprises U of T and partner hospitals – to maximize research potential, accelerate translation of research and foster a renewed emphasis on commercialization and industry collaboration. “Our people flow back and forth across U of T and partner health-care institutions, so we’re uniquely positioned to take advantage of this unique ecosystem,” she said.

To advance inter-disciplinary research, Robinson intends to strengthen Temerty Medicine’s ties with partners across U of T’s three campuses, including the Mississauga Academy of Medicine, Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH), the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“It’s a matter of thinking broadly about the broader environment and making sure we have opportunities to bring together people who wouldn’t normally work with one another.”

Trevor Young appointed U of T’s vice-president and provost

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 20:19:58 +0000

Trevor Young appointed U of T’s vice-president and provost

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 06/27/2023 - 16:19

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(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Tabassum Siddiqui

Topic

Our Community

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Toronto Academic Health Science Network

Cheryl Regehr

Meric Gertler

Provost

Trevor Young, dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and an internationally recognized scholar on bipolar disorder and the molecular basis of mood disorders, has been appointed the University of Toronto’s new vice-president and provost.

Approved Tuesday by U of T’s Governing Council, Young’s appointment is for a five-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2028.

Currently also serving as U of T’s vice-provost, relations with health-care institutions, Young is a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s departments of psychiatry, and pharmacology and toxicology, and a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

He previously served as U of T’s acting provost from July to December 2021.

“As dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Professor Trevor Young has demonstrated exceptional leadership on many fronts, from launching transformational academic programs to developing important initiatives around equity, diversity and inclusion,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “He also played a key role overseeing the university’s relationship with its health-care partners – and, as the university’s acting provost, helped lead the University of Toronto through a challenging period during the pandemic.

“I look forward to having Professor Young join the vice-presidential team and to continue working closely with him on advancing the university’s mission.”

Young, who will succeed current Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr, said his time as acting provost spurred his interest in taking on the role on a longer-term basis.

“It means a lot to me to be able to give back to the university, which has been like a second home for me in many ways,” he said. “The fact that I can contribute by making an impact as provost is really significant to me.”

Since being appointed dean at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine in January 2015, Young launched a new foundational curriculum for MD students, introduced several interdisciplinary education and research programs, advanced system-wide equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives with partner hospitals and other health sciences faculties, and led the renewal of medical sciences laboratory space.

He also advanced the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s position as the lead contributor to Ontario’s regulated health professional workforce and made significant progress in areas of equity, diversity and inclusion through his support of curricular innovation and new initiatives such as the Diversity Mentorship Program and the Black Student Application Program.

As vice-provost, Young has overseen the university’s relationships across the Toronto Academic Health Science Network, a thriving research enterprise comprised of nine fully affiliated teaching hospitals and four associate member hospitals.

“Temerty is a big, multi-departmental faculty, which has helped prepare me to take on a leadership role of this scale and complexity,” Young said. “During my time as dean, I learned how important it is to make sure that you include a lot of voices and listen closely to seek out opportunities for solutions.”

The recipient of numerous awards, Young has led several large clinical programs, including the mood disorders program at Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital, which received the American Psychiatric Services Gold Achievement Award. In 2009, he was made a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Young received his MD from the University of Manitoba and his PhD at the Institute of Medical Science at U of T, where he completed his residency training. He was a research fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and has been a professor of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster University; professor and head of the department of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia; and professor and chair of U of T's department of psychiatry.

“I've had the experience of being a U of T student, a faculty member and in leadership,” Young said. “I've had a chance to see lots of different sides of the university and hear perspectives from the community – and that will serve me well for this role as provost, which has oversight over so many areas.”

In January, President Gertler shared that Regehr, a professor and former dean of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, planned to step down as vice-president and provost at the end of the year. First appointed to the role in 2013, her many accomplishments include improving U of T’s equity and outreach programs, supporting faculty diversity, excellence and leadership, securing enhanced supports for graduate students and advancing student mental health.

“I want to thank Professor Regehr for her exceptional leadership and dedication to student success and academic excellence,” President Gertler said. “Her achievements in this integral role will continue to resonate at the university for many years to come.”

As provost, Young said he plans to build on Regehr’s work while drawing on his background in mental health and his role as chair of the Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health.

“I really want to continue to work on student mental health and accessibility – I think we’ve done a remarkable job of improving that, but I think we have to do even more,” he said.

“I also want to look at how we approach AI in all the work we do in teaching and research, especially given the fact that we’ve had such a remarkable impact on the field coming from Geoffrey Hinton and others here. And finally, I’d like to look at how the three campuses can work even better together.”

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Trevor Young

Nature ranks U of T among top three institutions in the world for health sciences research output

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 13:08:37 +0000

Nature ranks U of T among top three institutions in the world for health sciences research output

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 06/16/2023 - 09:08

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(photo by Matthew Dochstader/Paradox Images)

Topic

Global Lens

Leah Cowen

Health

Research & Innovation

The University of Toronto is the third-most prolific institution in the world – and second among universities – for health sciences research, according to new rankings by the publisher of Nature.

U of T’s ranking in the Nature Index Annual Tables for health sciences research output placed it just behind Harvard University and the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. government’s primary agency for health research.

The Nature Index Annual Tables 2023 evaluates the research contributions of countries and institutions to top-tier scientific journals across a variety of disciplines.

Across all subjects – health sciences, physical sciences, chemistry, Earth and environmental sciences and biological sciences – U of T was the only Canadian university to score among the top 25 institutions across the globe.

For its first health sciences ranking, the Nature Index tracked the author affiliations of 9,200 articles in 64 medical journals.

U of T stood out on a top-10 list dominated by U.S. institutions.

Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president of research, innovation, and strategic initiatives, told Nature that U of T’s top-three ranking reflects its commitment to collaboration in the health sphere.

Through its unique relationships with the 14 research hospitals in the Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN), interdisciplinary Institutional Strategic Initiatives and industry partnerships, U of T has brought together researchers, clinicians and entrepreneurs to take medical innovations from theory, to testing to treatment, said Cowen.

That includes world-leading research on cancers, heart failure, regenerative medicine, aging and personalized medicine.

“We’re really committed to engaging on the full spectrum of research, all the way from state-of-the-art pioneering fundamental research through to clinical research, knowledge translation, clinical trials, drug discovery and bio-innovation,” Cowen said.

U of T has benefitted from government support. That includes a recent $200-million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund to support the Acceleration Consortium, which is using AI and robotics to discover new sustainable materials and drugs with a strong plan for equity, diversity and inclusion guiding project implementation and research design. Yet, Cowen told Nature that “there is plenty of advocacy” for improving Canadian funding of health science research, which has lagged behind the pace of inflation.

“Despite limited investment, we’re really punching above our weight,” she said. “We’re achieving exceptional impact, so further investment would yield extraordinary additional reward.”

Read the story in Nature

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