bbdc news · diabetic drug discovery using transgenic zebra fish reporter lines patrick gurges dr....
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QUEST Program Launches New Website The BBDC’s Quality Education & Safety program recently launched an educational website where providers can obtain the best diabetes clinical practice resources and learn about local diabetes initiatives. The QUEST committee has produced and curated a selection of some of the preeminent clinical diabetes resources available. Diabetes health care providers will find valuable tools and information about the disease and options to get involved with diabetes care and research in their communities. Visit the site at diabetesquest.ca
Human Islet Cell Isolation Facility Now Open to Investigators A dedicated Human Islet Cell Isolation Facility is now operational at the UHN. The facility, managed by Dr. Mark Cattral and Multi-organ Transplant at UHN, will provide researchers with quality control tested human islet cells. The facility can also assist with specialized assays to assess islet and stem-cell-derived islet cell function. Please contact Islet Disbursement Coordinator Dr. Ying Liu at [email protected] for details about islet availability notifications, billing and regulatory requirements). For those wishing more information or letters of support for upcoming grants, please contact Mike Wheeler at (416) 978-6737 or [email protected].
New BBDC Staff Announcement We are pleased to welcome Rossanne Kagaoan to her role as administrative coordinator of the BBDC’s Knowledge Translation and Optimizing Care Models Program. In her new role at the BBDC, Rossanne will primarily be working with Program Director, Dr. Lori MacCallum, and will be responsible for providing administrative support for the Knowledge Translation and Optimizing Care Models Program, organizing Diabetes Pharmacist Network events, and coordinating online education and new program initiatives. Rossanne obtained her B.A. Honours in Human Rights and Equity Studies from York University and is pursuing a
BBDC NEWS
June 2017
IN THIS ISSUE
QUEST Program Launches New
Website 1
Human Islet Cell Isolation Facility
Now Open to Investigators 1
New BBDC Staff Announcement 1
In Memoriam- Professor Emeritus
Michael Bliss 2
Upcoming BBDC Events 2
Other Upcoming Events 2
Funding Opportunities 3
Funding Decisions 4
Member Profile: Darren Yuen 6
Acknowledgements 7
Photo Gallery 8
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
4th BBDC-Joslin-UCPH Conference
October 20-21, 2017
MaRS Centre, Toronto
BBDC News is distributed by e-mail in
September, January and June of
each year. Those who wish to
advertise diabetes-related events or
programs can contact us at
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B.A. in Psychology. Most recently she has held the position of research assistant in the Department of Communication Studies at York University. Prior to this, Rossanne worked as an administrative assistant to the Executive Director and Program Director of a non-profit organization providing arts programming, workshops and employment opportunities for youth across the GTA. Rossanne can be reached at 416-340-4800 ext. 7136 or [email protected].
In Memoriam – Professor Emeritus Michael Bliss We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Bliss, OC, PhD the preeminent historian of the initial years of insulin and countless other topics. Michael was an outstanding and prolific contributor to the world of medical academia, and an even better human being. His seminal work, The Discovery of Insulin remains the definitive history of the early days of diabetes research, a subject which he expanded through innumerable lectures and talks throughout his life in his unique and engaging manner. The BBDC was proud to call him a member for many years. He will be greatly missed.
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/memoriam-university-professor-emeritus-michael-bliss
Upcoming BBDC Events
4th BBDC-Joslin Diabetes Center-UCPH Conference Diabetic Complications: From Molecular Mechanisms to Patient Oriented Research
October 20-21, 2017 MaRS Centre, Toronto
The BBDC together with the Joslin Diabetes Center and the University of Copenhagen will be co-hosting the 4th annual diabetes conference from October 20-21, 2017 in Toronto. The program will include speakers from all three institutions as well as guest speakers from other leading diabetes research centres across the globe and will focus on diabetic complications from molecular mechanisms to patient oriented research. Registration is free for all members of the BBDC, Joslin Diabetes Center and University of
Copenhagen. The conference will be preceded by a one-day interactive learning session for trainees from the three universities on Thursday, October 19. We gratefully acknowledge Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk for their generous support of this event. Visit the conference website for program details and registration information.
Other Upcoming Events The following event announcement is provided by BBDC member, Dr. Anthony Hanley:
15th Symposium of the International Diabetes Epidemiology Group
December 8-10, 2017 Abu Dhabi, UAE
An Official Academic Satellite Symposium of the World Diabetes Congress in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Dec, 4-8, 2017. The purpose of the IDEG is to promote worldwide collaboration among investigators who focus their research on the epidemiology of diabetes.
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Featured Speakers & Topics: National response to diabetes in the Middle East - Speaker: Dr Al Busiadi Young onset type 2 diabetes in the Middle East - Speaker: Dr. Deeb Novel aspect of diabetes prevention - Speaker: Prof. Ramachandran Diabetes and the brain - Speaker: Assoc. Prof. Luchsinger Developmental origins of diabetes - Speaker: Prof. Lewers Recent trials of glucose lowering drugs: implications for public health - Speaker: Prof. Shaw Agenda: Dec 8 - Local speakers, plenary sessions, oral presentations Dec 9 - Plenary sessions, oral & poster presentations, Peter Bennett Award Lecture Dec 10 - Plenary sessions, oral & poster presentations, Harry Keen Award Lecture Dec 11 - Training Day on diabetes epidemiology for invited junior researchers For more information visit www.ideg-diabetes.org.
Funding Opportunities
4th BBDC-Joslin Diabetes Center-UCPH Conference Diabetic Complications: From Molecular Mechanisms to Patient Oriented Research Training Day Diabetes Challenge and Poster Presentations
Call for Abstracts
The Banting & Best Diabetes Centre together with the Joslin Diabetes Center and the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) will be hosting the 4th BBDC-Joslin-UPCH Conference: From Molecular Mechanisms to Patient Oriented Research from October 20-21, 2017 in Toronto. New For 2017: In advance of the conference, the Danish Diabetes Academy (DDA) has generously offered to host a one-day Training Day Diabetes Challenge on October 19, 2017 for ten trainees from each of the three institutions. The main objective of this challenge is to engage and motivate young researchers prior to and during the 4th BBDC-Joslin-UCPH Conference and to facilitate the development of networks among the young researchers across the three institutions. Participants will be divided into multi-institutional teams that will be tasked with developing and presenting novel solutions to a diabetes related challenge to a panel of senior researchers. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the day for the top three proposals. Graduate students, medical students, post-doctoral fellows and current PhD students are invited to submit a first-author abstract of their diabetes-related work to present a poster at the 4th BBDC-Joslin-UCPH Conference and for the opportunity to attend the Training Day Diabetes Challenge. All applicants will be considered for poster presentation at the conference on October 20-21. However, only the top ten applicants will be invited to participate in the Training Day Diabetes Challenge on October 19, 2017. Abstracts previously presented or accepted at other diabetes related conferences within the six months prior to the conference (such as the American Diabetes Association 77th Scientific Sessions or the 53rd EASD Annual Meeting) are eligible for submission to this competition. The BBDC’s representatives for the Training Day Diabetes Challenge will be selected from among applicants to this competition. Preference will be given to post-doctoral fellows and PhD students.
Upcoming
Funding
Opportunities
The following funding
programs will be
announced in the fall of
2017. Please visit bbdc.org
for updates:
Sun Life Financial Pilot
and Feasibility Grants
2018/2019
Sun Life Financial New
Investigator Award 2018-
2020
Reuben & Helene
Dennis Scholar Award
2018-2020
Trainee Travel Awards
2017/2018
Diabetes Educator of
the Year Award 2017
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To be eligible to apply the applicant must be: A) a registered University of Toronto Graduate or Medical Student B) a post-doctoral fellow having received a PhD within the last five years C) a current PhD Student at the University of Toronto The applicant’s supervisor must hold a faculty appointment with the University of Toronto at the level of Associate, Assistant or Full Professor and be a registered member of the BBDC*. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., June 22, 2017. For complete eligibility requirements and application instructions, please visit our website. *Those who are new to the field of diabetes research, education or care and are not members of the BBDC can request free membership prior to submitting an application. For more information about BBDC Membership, please view the Membership section of our web site at www.bbdc.org/membership/membership-overview.
Funding Decisions**
Annual Trainee Awards 2016/2017
Prize Recipient Supervisor Title of Research
1st Prize $400 gift card
Helen Dranse Dr. Tony Lam Upper small intestinal protein sensing regulates glucose homeostasis
2nd Prize $300 gift card
Zhila Semnani-Azad Dr. Anthony Hanley
Longitudinal Associations of Soluble CD163 with Insulin Sensitivity and β-Cell Function: The Prospective Metabolism and Islet Cell Evaluation (PROMISE) Cohort
3rd Prize $200 gift card
Alexander E. Vlahos Dr. Michael Sefton
Subcutaneously transplanted islet-embedded endothelialized modules restore normoglycemia in diabetic SCID/Bg mice
Honourable Mention $100 gift card
Sydney Brandt Dr. Michael Wheeler
The circulating furan fatty acid metabolite CMPF directly enhances hepatic FGF21 secretion and lipid metabolism
Honourable Mention $100 gift card
Emily McGaugh Dr. Maria Cristina Nostro
Elucidating the role of FGF signalling during pancreatic development
Honourable Mention $100 gift card
Cigdem Sahin Dr. Carolyn Cummins
A Novel PPAR Pan-Active Agonist Derived from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid Ameliorates Dyslipidemia and Insulin Resistance in Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Archie Sopman Diabetes Research and Education Awards 2017
Recipient Purpose Amount
Margaret Brum Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Lucia Chan Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Tina Cheung Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Kathy Cohen Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Margaret De Melo Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Dharshani Haththotuwa Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Hyangjin Im Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
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Doreen Klar Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Kitty Mak Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Ann Murphy Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Maria Ricupero Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Teresa Sobhy Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Mary Weiland Travel to diabetes-related meeting Up to $1,000
Charles Hollenberg Summer Studentships 2017
Recipient Supervisor(s) Title of Research
Brigida Bruno Dr. Catherine Yu Increasing safe insulin use and blood glucose control in patients with diabetes: Developing and launching an Insulin Stewardship Program
Amanda Fantin Dr. Ian Rogers Developing a 3-dimensional culture system using a decellularized pancreas to support the growth and differentiation of iPSC derived islets
Shiliang Ge Dr. Xiao-Yan Wen Validation of novel gluconeogenesis regulators for anti-diabetic drug discovery using transgenic zebra fish reporter lines
Patrick Gurges Dr. Patricia Brubaker Role of Bmal1 in circadian secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1
Caroline Hircock Dr. Derek van der Kooy The origin of post-mitotic beta cells from progenitor cells in the pancreas
Cindy Kao Dr. Andras Nagy Generation of Fully/Partially Reprogrammed iPS Cells Derived from Pancreatic β-cells of Reprogrammable Mouse
Sara Keshavjee Dr. Michael Sefton Evaluating Endothelialized Pseudo Islet Modules with MSCs in a Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic SCID/Bg Model
Justin Kim Dr. Daniel Winer Elucidating the role of intestinal IgA in regulating the gut microbiota and immune cell inflammatory profile in obesity and insulin resistance
Harry Lau Dr. Qinghua Wang Synergistic effects of GABA and GLP-1 on human β-cell functions and proliferation
Samantha Lee Dr. I. George Fantus Studies of the role of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) protein-protein interacting domain in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy (DN)
Alison Liu Dr. Michelle Bendeck The role of Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 in brown/beige adipogenesis and the development of type 2 diabetes
Ilia Ostrovski Dr. Bruce Perkins
Alleviating Carbohydrate-Counting Burden in Type 1 Diabetes Using Artificial Pancreas and Sodium Glucose-Linked Transporter 2 Inhibition: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Afifa Saleem Dr. Jonathan Rocheleau Islet-on-a-chip: design of an optical sensor to measure oxygen consumption rate of individual islets with high temporal resolution
Theresa Tam Dr. Amira Klip Mechanisms of neutrophil polarization in a high fat environment through macrophage cross talk
Anthony Wong Dr. Michael Wheeler The Effects of Furan Fatty Acids on Liver Function and Glucose Homeostasis
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Diabetes Educator of the Year Award 2016
Recipient Occupation and Institution Amount
Celia Fredericks, RN, CDE Clinical Nurse Specialist, Mount Sinai Hospital
$1,000
Sun Life Financial New Investigator Award for Diabetes Research 2017-2019
Recipient Title of Research Amount
Dr. Margaret Hahn
Disruptions in hypothalamic fuel sensing as a mechanism of antipsychotic-induced glucose dysregulation
$80,000 over 2 years
Sun Life Financial Pilot and Feasibility Grants 2017/2018
Recipient Title of Research Amount
Dr. Andrew Advani Manipulating non-coding RNA to promote islet alpha cell transdifferentiation
$50,000
Dr. Adria Giacca and Dr. Xiao Yu (Shirley) Wu
Development of polymer-lipid nanoparticles for diabetes prevention
$50,000
Dr. Amira Klip How does injected insulin reach the circulation? $60,000
Dr. Tony Lam Metformin and neurogenesis $50,000
Dr. Hoon-Ki Sung Glucose regulatory function of adipose-derived protein, adipsin $50,000
Dr. Darren Yuen and Dr. Michael Kolios
Avoiding a kidney biopsy: developing novel ultrasound techniques to non-invasively measure diabetic kidney fibrosis
$50,000
**An essential condition of all BBDC programs is the acknowledgement of BBDC support, where appropriate, in all publications, presentations and communications relevant to the BBDC-supported research program. Failure to appropriately acknowledge the BBDC in relevant publications, presentations and communications will be considered grounds for suspending future eligibility for BBDC funding programs.
BBDC Member Profile
Darren Yuen, MD PhD FRCPC
Dr. Darren Yuen is a Clinician Scientist and Staff Nephrologist, and an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. His research group is based at the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital. Dr. Yuen completed his M.D. training at the University of Toronto in 2002, followed by an Internal Medicine residency from 2002–2005. He next completed a Chief Medical Residency year at St. Michael’s, and then an Adult Nephrology clinical fellowship that ended in 2008. Following completion of his clinical training, he joined the lab of Dr. Richard Gilbert at St. Michael’s Hospital as a PhD student, supported by a KRESCENT postdoctoral fellowship (2008–2011). Dr. Yuen’s PhD work explored the use of cell-based therapies for diabetic and non-diabetic chronic kidney disease, finding that bone marrow-derived cells exert cardio- and renoprotective effects primarily by inhibiting scarring. This work
fostered an interest in the mechanisms that drive fibrosis, with an ultimate goal of using the knowledge gained to develop new therapies.
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Following completion of his PhD, Dr. Yuen then moved to the lab of Dr. Lisa Robinson for a postdoctoral fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children, with the goal of gaining more cell biology experience. During this fellowship (2011–2013), sponsored by the Canadian Society of Transplantation and CIHR, he studied how Slit2-Robo signaling regulates TGF--induced fibroblast activation. Dr. Yuen then began his faculty appointment in 2013, with the support of a KRESCENT New Investigator Award, a Canadian Diabetes Association Clinician Scientist Award, and most recently a CIHR New Investigator award. Stemming from his PhD and postdoctoral work, Dr. Yuen’s primary research interest is in understanding the mechanisms that drive kidney fibrosis, particularly in the context of diabetes. In addition to defining novel pathways of disease, the Yuen lab is interested in using the knowledge gained from these mechanistic studies to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics for kidney fibrosis. As an example, the lab has demonstrated that kidney stiffness is an important consequence and cause of kidney scarring. The Yuen lab has capitalized on these findings to develop novel stiffness imaging techniques to measure fibrosis non-invasively, as well as novel drugs that target stiffness-driven fibrosis. This “translational” research approach means that the lab performs studies that span the basic molecular, cellular, animal, and human spectrum. Trainees in the lab therefore have the opportunity to interact with imaging physicists, life scientists, clinician scientists, and pure clinicians. Dr. Yuen’s clinical work is a mix of general and transplant nephrology, with a particular focus on out-patient kidney transplant care. He is thankful to be in a very supportive clinical nephrology division at St. Michael’s Hospital, which has enabled him to pursue the research interests listed above. Outside of work, Dr. Yuen can usually be found chasing after his 3 kids, James (6), Ainsley (4), and Oscar (1), as they run/crawl in three separate directions. They, along with his wife, Erika, keep him smiling and laughing, and are the only reason why he remains sane!
Acknowledgements
As another academic year comes to an end, we would like to take this opportunity to express our
sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the following:
The members of our Training and Research
Excellence Committee, Quality Education and
Safety Committee, and new Trainee
Advancement and Development Committee
who volunteer their time to review applications
for the Centre’s funding programs and to
organize educational initiatives on behalf of the
BBDC.
The members of our Executive Committee,
Discovery Research Steering Committee, and
Applied Research Steering Committee.
Everyone who participated in our 28th Annual
Scientific Day including guest speaker
Dr. Barbara Kahn, and U of T speakers
Drs. Khosrow Adeli, David Cherney, Zaved
Waise, Diane Wherrett and Minna Woo.
The 2016/2017 Annual Trainee Awards poster
judges, Drs. Randy Levinson and Hoon-Ki Sung.
Our 2017 Charles Hollenberg Summer Studentship
Program Coordinator, Dr. Xavier Revelo.
Faculty of Medicine Advancement and the
Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation
who tirelessly fundraise on behalf of the BBDC.
Our major supporters: Sun Life Financial, University
Health Network and the Toronto General &
Western Hospital Foundation.
Supporters of our funding programs: AstraZeneca
and Boehringer-Ingelheim/Eli Lilly Diabetes
Alliance.
Continued…
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The supporters who helped make our events
possible this past year: Abbott, AstraZeneca,
Boehringer-Ingelheim/Eli Lilly Diabetes Alliance,
Janssen, Medtronic, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer
and Sanofi Diabetes.
Individuals who have donated to the Banting &
Best Diabetes Centre this past year.
Photo Gallery
DIABETES UPDATE 2017: Diabetes Educator of the
Year 2016 award recipient Celia Fredericks, RN, CDE
(left) with nomination supporter Arnold Temple
DIABETES UPDATE 2017: Plenary lecture
DIABETES UPDATE 2017: BBDC’s Diabetes Pharmacists
Network booth
28TH ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC DAY: Annual Trainee Awards
2016/2017 prize winners (left to right): Helen Dranse,
Zhila Semnani-Azad, Alexander Vlahos, Cigdem
Sahin, Emily McGaugh, and Sydney Brandt
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See more photos on Facebook
28TH ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC DAY: Dr. Barbara
Kahn (right) is presented with the Charles
Hollenberg Memorial Lectureship by
Dr. Tony Lam
28TH ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC DAY: Trainee poster session
Director: Gary F. Lewis, MD, FRCPC
Banting & Best Diabetes Centre
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
200 Elizabeth Street, Eaton Building, 12E248, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4
Phone: (416) 978-4656 ⦁ [email protected] ⦁ www.bbdc.org