UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science

In this episode, Emily speaks with Dr. Saul Cobbing, a post-doctoral researcher at The Institute for Education Research (TIER) under the supervision of Dr. Nicole Woods. Saul is involved in a multi-disciplinary project called Best Foot Forward, which delivers foot care training to UHN non-specialist staff. The aim of the project is to upskill the community to improve the early identification, prevention and treatment of foot wounds, and diabetic foot ulcers. Saul uses qualitative measures to assess the efficacy of the training being delivered. His previous experiences working with HIV patients as a physical therapist and researcher in South Africa provide him with a unique perspective on the importance of community and teamwork in health care and research.  Tune in to learn about the African philosophy of Ubuntu, to learn how to implement qualitative research approaches to healthcare research, and to find out what Saul’s go-to karaoke song is! UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Rima chats with Jessica Bytautas, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto and KITE, the research arm of Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.Jessica highlights her PhD research exploring the ways in which legacy activities support the relational nature of existential suffering and resist, reinforce, and revise prevailing norms regarding death and the goals of care at the end of life. She has a background in philosophy but was inspired to research this further after her first exposure with palliative care at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center. During my conversation with Jessica, we deeply explored the purpose and impact of a legacy document, the surprising things she’s learned doing this work and how she interprets her interviews as a qualitative researcher. Jessica is also very passionate about teaching and discusses the opportunity of being a course instructor. In the future Jessica wants to bring more attention to end-of-life care not only for patients in hospitals but also for people who are socially and economically marginalized. Tune in to get to know Jessica and hear the details of her unique insight, passion and scientific journey thus far!UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Emily chats with Dr. Patcharaporn (Nok) Srisaikaew, a post-doctoral researcher in Dr. Mojgan Hodaie’s lab at the Krembil Brain Institute.  Nok completed her PhD specializing in human body dissections and the use of MRI to search for biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment. Nok’s post-doctoral research at UHN aims to elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms of limbic system (involving cognitive, memory and emotional systems) alterations in individuals with trigeminal neuralgia, a distressing facial pain condition.  In this episode, Nok’s passion for understanding limbic system alterations in pain, and her determination in the face of changing research fields, shine through. Tune in to get to know her bubbly personality and hear how she used her research expertise to help her own father who showed early signs of mild cognitive impairment.UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode Ian highlights his research investigating the cardiovascular system in disease and development using human pluripotent stem cells, in order to develop novel cellular therapies that can restore heart function and quality of life to patients without needing organ transplantation. During my conversation with Ian it was clear how passionate he is about stem cell research, and so this episode first dives deep into his research and the applications of it, then into what his personal day to day work is like including his accomplishments, challenges and the patent he received from his findings. Being in the end stages of a PhD we also discussed his next steps in his scientific journey. Ian is determined to change how we treat cardiovascular disease, which he can do either as a clinician scientist to bridge the bench to bedside aspect, or as a member of a collaborative team in industry to bring new technologies into the clinic. So tune in to get to know Ian and hear the details of his incredible work, goals and scientific journey thus far!UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In Episode 3, Dr. Emily Mills chats with Dr. Renata Mancopes, a postdoctoral researcher in the Steele Swallowing lab at KITE, the research arm of Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.  Renata’s postdoctoral research focuses on using an X-ray technique termed video fluoroscopy to objectively study mechanisms of swallowing and swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia) in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  This episode delves into Renata’s research as well as her inspirational scientific journey that brought her to Toronto. After practicing as a clinical speech-language pathologist and holding a professorship in the small city of Santa Maria, Brazil, her curiosity drove her to seek more objective ways to measure swallowing and dysphagia in healthy and disease states. When Renata sent an email to UHN scientist Dr. Catriona Steele, one of the top researchers in the field, she had no idea this would ultimately set her down a new life path - even after having had a son and a successful laboratory of her own! Renata’s story highlights how it is never too late to make big life changes in pursuit of our goals. Tune in to hear more about her journey, learn about the important research being conducted by the Steele Swallowing lab, and get to know Renata’s bubbly personality and her love of shoes!  UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Rima chats with Shreya Gandhi, a PhD student at the Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower in Dr. Gelareh Zadeh’s laboratory. Her research characterizes how hypoxia alters immune cell proportions in glioblastomas, which is crucial to developing more targeted therapies. Shreya was a Masters student that transitioned to PhD, in order to accelerate her graduate studies and pursue medicine after. As the daughter of a brain tumour survivor, it has long been her dream to work as a Clinician-Scientist in Neuro-Oncology, and do for others what many Neurosurgeons have done for her mom.In this episode, hear Shreya’s story of how her anxiety surrounding her mother’s diagnosis and her passion for advocacy set her down a path of founding the youth brain tumour awareness walk Project X. Her discipline and passion towards helping others when she hears their stories also motivated her to recently create a policy paper advocating for pediatric brian tumor survivors to automatically qualify for the additional resources in school that are needed. With each step in her journey to fighting brain cancer, Shreya reaches new heights. She is now the current Chair of the Canadian Cancer Society Research Information Outreach Team Toronto Division, a co-founding member of the SuperKids program with the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, Brain Tumour Awareness Walk Co-Coordinator, and serves as a Public Policy Committee Member with the Society of Neuro-Oncology. So tune in to get to know Shreya and hear the details of her incredible scientific and personal journey thus far!UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In the Season 2 premier, Dr. Emily Mills chats with Dr. Emma Bell, a postdoctoral researcher in the De Carvalho lab at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.  This episode follows Emma’s scientific journey, from their beginnings as a wet-lab researcher to discovering their true passion for bioinformatics and coding during their second Masters project and PhD. Their current project in the De Carvalho lab examines the use of liquid biopsies as a less invasive alternative to standard tissue biopsies for diagnosing gynecological cancers. Whether or not they continue in academia, Emma’s primary career goal is to become a leader in female health equity. Emma’s story will resonate with many trainees and junior researchers who love science but aren’t sure whether they are in the lab or field best suited to them. Tune in to find out how Emma has turned failures into learning opportunities, learn about important advancements in the field of liquid biopsies, and hear more about their beloved corgi, Sophie!UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

Here's a sneak peak of what's to come in Seeds of Science Season 2! UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Rima chats with Cristiana O’Brien, a master’s student researching Leukemia. in Dr. Courtney Jones’s lab at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre at UHN. The episode follows Cristiana's scientific journey from loving microscopes at a young age to becoming a lab technician to now pursuing research in her masters as a more mature student, Cristiana is determined to pursue her passion in science despite the challenges and competitiveness involved, and of course benefits from her support system, incredible mentors, many relaxing hobbies (knitting, cooking, gardening, etc) and her wonderful cats. Tune in to hear more about the benefits and barriers she's faced in her scientific journey as she researches novel regulators of mitochondrial metabolism and oxidation, in order to generate new therapies for leukemia that target those metabolic vulnerabilities.UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Emily chats with Kevin Robb, a 5th year PhD student at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute, Krembil Research Institute, under the primary supervision of Sowmya Viswanathan and co-supervision of Rajiv Gandhi.  This episode dives into Kevin’s research into cell-based therapies and particularly his work with mesenchymal stromal cells, a heterogenous cell population that has shown promise in treating inflammatory conditions including osteoarthritis. Kevin’s research attempts to address an important question – therapeutically, why are some mesenchymal stromal cells more effective than others? Kevin and Emily discuss his recently published manuscript, the topics of patient heterogeneity and personalised medicine, and Kevin’s experiences navigating mental health challenges particularly during his Masters degree. Tune in to learn about Kevin’s exciting research and hear how his involvement in the communities including the Stem Cell Network and the UHN 2SLGBTQIA+ committee has helped him grow both personally and professionally.  See this link for a list of terms used in this episode, mental health resources for TeamUHN and University of Toronto students, and further information about Kevin - including pictures of his nail art!  UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Rima chats with Dr. Leif Simmatis, a post-doctoral fellow in the labs of Dr. Yana Yunusova and Dr. Babak Taati at KITE, the research arm of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute at UHN. The episode follows Leif's scientific journey where his experiences from undergraduate to PhD and post-doctoral stages helped guide him into choosing between academia, medicine and industry career paths. Leif dives into his interesting published research from his PhD studies on upper limb robotics technology that can characterize impairments in various clinical populations, from transient ischemic attacks to multiple sclerosis, epilepsy or migraines. His current research focuses on developing digital speech biomarkers for neurological disorders, to support clinical decision-making and he hopes to stay in research but transition into industry in the digital health space. Tune in to hear more about his work, the inspirational individuals that have been part of his journey, and what eventually led him to choose this career path.Abbreviations used in this episode:KITE - Knowledge Innovation Talent Everywhere - it is the research arm of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, a world leader in rehabilitation science. KITE’s areas of focus include prevention, restoration, enhanced participation and independent living. ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisEMG – electromyographyTIA – transient ischemic attackMCAT – Medical College Admission TestPI – Principal InvestigatorUHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Emily chats with Christina Lam, a 4th year PhD student in Dr. Stephen Juvet’s lab at the Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories at Toronto General Hospital Research Institute.  The episode highlights Christina’s passion for translational research, and her particular interest in immunology and harnessing regulatory T cells to improve solid organ transplant tolerance. Christina discusses her personal story of how she navigated graduate school whilst recovering from a car accident in 2019, a journey that ultimately taught her patience and self-compassion, and helped fuel her desire to improve patient healthcare. Tune in to hear Christina’s words on managing her own perfectionism and imposter syndrome during graduate school, plus her love of science communications... and romance novels! Terms used in this episode (See ORT website for references):Immunosuppressants - Drugs that inhibit or prevent the activity of the body’s immune system. Since the immune system can attack transplanted organs as they are not recognized by the immune system as the body’s own cells, immunosuppressants are often taken by people who have organ transplants to help lower the chance that their body will reject the transplanted organ Graft - In medicine, a graft is a piece of living tissue that is surgically transplantedT-cells - A type of white blood cell that play a large role in the body’s immune response. There are different kinds of T-cells that have a variety of important functions in controlling the immune response. CRISPR - The acronym stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Technically, the term CRISPR refers to DNA segments that are short, regularly interspaced, and palindromic (they are the same sequence of DNA read forwards or backwards) that bacteria and archaea have inserted into their genomes that surround pieces of viral DNA from previous viral invaders called “spacer sequences”. A protein called Cas uses CRISPR sequences as a guide to recognize and destroy other viruses with similar spacer sequences. But when people mention the term CRISPR, they are often referring to the use of this CRISPR-Cas recognition system to target specific parts of DNA; the function of Cas protein can be altered to do other tasks at the CRISPR site that it recognizes. Whether the CRISPR site is used to insert other DNA, turn off genes, turn on genes, and/or other uses depends on the molecular technologies used.  Imposter syndrome - Occurs when an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite external evidence of their competence  UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Rima chats with Noor Al Kaabi, a master's student in Institute of Medical Sciences program at UofT and part of Dr. Dmitry Rozenberg's lab at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute.The episode follows how Noor's journey of exploring various research topics in undergrad such as refugee mental health and improving care for organ transplant recipients with UHN's Kidney Health Education and Research Group, eventually led to her master's project where she was directly involved in developing a cross-sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative approaches to study the relationship of respiratory symptoms with health related quality of life, physical activity levels and daily functioning of people with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD). Tune in to find out how Noor finds balance between her work in research and her other interests including science communication, photography, and becoming a personal trainer.UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

In this episode, Emily chats with Dr. Sriranga Kashyap, a postdoctoral fellow in the BRAIN-TO lab at the Slaight Family Centre for Advanced MRI in Toronto Western Hospital. The episode follows Sri’s multidisciplinary research guided by his interest in the hippocampus, a region involved in learning and memory. From his Bachelor thesis project analyzing rodent brain slices, to his Masters and PhD projects in which he developed cutting edge methods of non-invasive brain imaging in humans, Sri’s journey took him across India, Europe and North America and required changing his field of study several times. Tune in to find out how he managed handling the uncertainty of change and set-backs, his words of wisdom on learning, and whether he prefers pancakes or waffles?UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

Welcome to Season 1 of UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science!Tune in to bi-weekly episodes starting Thursday 20th October 2022.UHN Trainee Podcast: Seeds of Science is proudly supported by the UHN Office of Research Trainees. For more information on the podcast and interviewees, visit our webpage: https://uhntrainees.ca/trainee/seeds-of-science-podcast/

Welcome to Season 1 of the Seeds of Science podcast! Episode 1 will be released on 20th October.