Everywhere we look today — online and in the media, among patient groups, families and health care providers — stem cells and regenerative medicine have become synonymous with the promise of better health as people seek out new therapies for what ails them.
Regenerative medicine is changing the game by unlocking leading-edge treatments for diseases such as, type 1 diabetes, retinal degeneration, muscular dystrophies, lung and heart disease, as well as for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.
Traditionally powered by stem cells, regenerative medicine focuses on replacing, repairing, or regenerating human cells, tissues and organs. It is considered by investors, economists, and health policy experts to be the next frontier of modern medicine.
This seminar will dive into the world of stem cells and regenerative medicine, exploring a future where diseases may be halted or even cured.
About the Speaker
Joanna Valsamis, MHSc, CHE, is the Director of Knowledge Mobilization at Canada’s Stem Cell Network. Her work focuses on profiling Network scientists and research taking place in SCN-funded labs, improving science literacy and engagement amongst youth and the general public, and establishing avenues for research and knowledge exchange and awareness-building.
Joanna completed a Master of Science in Health Administration at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation of the University of Toronto and concurrently earned her Certified Health Executive designation. Joanna holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Nutraceutical Science from the University of Guelph, and a Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.
Dr. Amy Wong is a Scientist in the Program of Developmental & Stem Cell Biology at the Hospital for Sick Children and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Wong completed her undergraduate degree in the Life Sciences at the University of Toronto in 2001 and went on to achieve graduate degrees at the University of Toronto: a Master of Science (MSc) in Cardiovascular sciences (with Dr. Bradley Strauss, 2001-2003) and a Doctoral degree (PhD) in lung regeneration (with Dr. Thomas Waddell, 2004-2008). She then joined the SickKids Research Institute in early 2009 as a post-doctoral fellow in the labs of Dr. Janet Rossant and Dr. James Ellis.
Merging developmental biology concepts and stem cell engineering, Dr. Wong was the first to develop a method to generate airway epithelia that model Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease in-vitro (Nature Biotechnology 2012; Nature Protocol 2015). Airway cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are now being used to identify targeted and personalized therapies to correct the CF defect. This work was pivotal in the development of the world’s most unique bioresource CF patient iPSC, primary airway cells and whole genome sequencing data (CF Individualized Therapy program’s 100-cell project) to support on-going and future CF research across the globe.
Dr. Wong is internationally recognized as a pioneer in using human stem cells to model lung development and disease.
Cristiana O’Brien completed her BSc at the University of Western Ontario in Microbiology and Immunology, and English Language and Literature. Her interest in translational research led her to University Health Network in Toronto where she worked on development of intraoperative breast cancer imaging models and cancer biology. She next joined the lab of Dr. Courtney Jones and soon after started her graduate studies at the University of Toronto with Dr. Jones and Dr. Kristin Hope. Her current research explores the diagnostic potential of lipid metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as well as metabolic regulators in leukemia stem cells (LSCs).
Presented by Joanna Valsamis