IDIGH-CRP Joint Research Day: A Step Towards Vision 2030

The IDIGH-CRP Joint Research Day was directly inspired by the Institute’s ambitious Vision 2030, presented last fall by Dr. Ryan Touyz. Since the 2015 opening of the Glen site, both the IDIGH and CRP programs have been at the forefront of their respective fields, consistently delivering impactful events like research days, symposia, and workshops.

Driven by the spirit of Vision 2030, our primary aim was to cultivate transversal collaborations, deliberately forging new connections and reinforcing existing ones between our two programs. As eloquently stated in Vision 2030’s guiding principles, we firmly believe that “collaboration between professions, disciplines, programs, centres, locations, healthcare organizations, and the research environment is fundamental to unlocking novel and impactful discoveries.”

A Challenge Successfully Met

Truthfully, transforming our individual research days into a joint event on a short timeline was a significant challenge. However, it proved to be an incredibly rewarding experience, fostering new connections and understanding between our teams. From our first organizing committee meeting, our core goal was to promote learning and growth among our members, ultimately maximizing our collective potential and making the Institute a preferred workplace.

To achieve this, we sought a guest speaker who exemplified research success and could serve as a role model for our trainees and early/mid-career researchers. We wanted someone who could offer strategic insights, inspire new directions, and provide valuable networking opportunities. Dr. Mamatha Bhat from the University Health Network’s Ajmera Transplant Centre did precisely that, delivering an engaging talk and actively participating throughout the day. Her presentation, “Development of multimodal AI tools to Personalize the Care of Transplant Recipients” was particularly relevant as it directly aligns with the Institute’s strategic priority of integrating data science and digital technologies across research to advance precision health. We extend our sincere gratitude to our own program researchers, Drs. Alexandra de Pokomandy, Livia Garzia, Mathieu Allez, and Eva Michaud, for their compelling talks and enthusiastic participation, which significantly enriched the day’s scientific program.

A Resounding Success Focused on Collaboration

The Research Day was a resounding success, gathering 271 attendees to the Institute and showcasing 83 presentations, including dynamic oral presentations, engaging posters, and compelling 3-minute thesis. Beyond the inspiring talks and presentations, the Joint Research Day actively promoted resource sharing and collaboration. Our Institute’s various technical platforms were prominently featured, demonstrating their advanced technologies and expertise, and fostering discussions on how they can further support ongoing research. This interactive component was enhanced by a vibrant vendor show, enabling our researchers to engage directly with industry leaders, explore new tools, and forge connections that will drive future innovation. We are truly grateful to all the technical platforms and vendors for their enthusiastic participation and support.

Congratulations to the Award Winners!

Finally, we are thrilled to congratulate the winners of our presentation awards! These awards recognize the exceptional quality and impact of the research presented by our trainees.

Poster presentations:

IDIGH

  • First Place: Marianela Brizio (Post-doctoral fellow of Dr. Inés Colmegna)
  • Second Place: Mariam El Sheikh (PhD of Dr. Marina Klein)

Cancer:

  • First Place: Gaelle Akiki (Msc of Dr. Basile Tessier Cloutier)
  • Second Place: Jiachen Ji (PhD of Dr. David Labbé)

Oral presentations:

IDIGH

  • First Place: Nissim Maxim Frija-Gruman (Medical Resident of Dr. Bertrand Lebouché)
  • Second Place: Rojine Mcvea (MSc of Dr. Brian Ward)

Cancer:

  • First Place: Kyeong Beom Jo (PhD of Dr. Dae-Kyum Kim)
  • Second Place: Samira Rahimirad (PhD of Dr. Simone Chevalier)

3 Minute Thesis Competition

IDIGH

  • First Place: Nicholas Hickens (MSc of of Dr. Bertrand Lebouché)

Cancer:

  • First Place: Trey Chernoff (MSc of Dr. John Kildea)

We thank all participants for their great presentations and dedication to research. The trainees from both IDIGH and CRP programs helped make the event successful, showing the wide range of research happening and how important these events are for working together and growing.

For more photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/SSvLog7RmkeTcTPN9 (photos by Cal Koger-Pease, Vicky Barrera, Eric Béliveau and Ari Daghlian).