The 29th Annual Canadian Connective Tissue Conference
Montreal, QC, May 26-28, 2025
Overview
Download the complete program booklet: CCTC 2025 Program Booklet
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DATE / TIME |
EVENT DETAILS |
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DAY 1 |
Monday, May 26th, 2025 | Workshop Day |
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7:15-8:15 |
Registration: Badge Pick-up | Continental Breakfast | Poster Set-up |
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8:15-8:30 |
Welcome Remarks [CCTC 2025 Co-Chairs]: Dr. Rahul Gawri, MD, Ph.D. (McGill University) & Dr. Chan Gao, MD, Ph.D. (McGill University) |
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8:30-10:30 |
WORKSHOP SESSION 1a: Navigating Conflicts, Bullying, Harassment, and Microaggressions: One-on-One Negotiation Tactics |
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10:30-10:45 |
Coffee break |
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10:45-12:45 |
WORKSHOP SESSION 1b: Managing Conflicts, Bullying, Harassment, and Microaggressions: Tactics to Negotiate with Other Team Members and the Role of Leadership |
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12:45-14:15 |
Lunch and Poster Viewing |
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14:15-16:15 |
WORKSHOP SESSION 2: Building High-Performing and Inclusive Teams Through Productive Conflict |
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16;15-16:30 |
Coffee Break |
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16:30-17:30 |
Reflections, Panel Discussions, and Closing Remarks |
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17:30-19:30 |
Welcome and Networking Reception |
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DAY 2 |
Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 | Scientific Sessions |
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7:30-8:30 |
Registration: Badge Pick-up | Continental Breakfast | Poster Set-up |
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8:30-8:45 |
Welcome Remarks: Dr. Rahul Gawri & Dr. Chan Gao (CCTC 2025 Co-Chairs) |
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8:45-10:15 |
SESSION 1: Cell Biology of Connective Tissues |
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8:45-9:15 |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dieter Reinhardt, Ph.D.; McGill University |
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9:15–9:25 |
Special Session: Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation Canada: Dr. Jida El Hajjar, Ph.D.; Executive Director, Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation Canada |
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9:25–9:40 |
Title of the Talk: Exploring the relationship between TGFβ and mitochondrial function in chondrocytes |
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9:40–9:55 |
Title of the Talk: Metabolic Stress Disrupts Synovial Macrophage-Fibroblast Communication Enhancing Fibroblast Activation in Osteoarthritis |
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9:55–10:10 |
Title of the Talk: Fibrillin-1 regulates extracellular matrix-driven adipose tissue differentiation and affects overall body metabolism |
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10:10–10:25 |
Title of the Talk: Transcriptomic Differences in Adipocytes, Macrophages and Endothelial Cell Populations of Infrapatellar Fat Pads from Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis |
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10:25-10:40 |
Coffee break |
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10:40-12:00 |
SESSION 2:Bioprinting and Additive Manufacturing in Connective Tissue Biology |
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10:40–11:10 |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Houman Savoji, Ph.D.; Université de Montréal (UdeM). |
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11:10 –11:25 |
Title of the Talk: Synergistic Effects of Bottlebrush Polymers and Hyaluronic Acid in Alleviating Friction Damage |
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11:25–11:40 |
Title of the Talk: Targeting cancer senescence in 3D models of tumor-bone metastases |
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11:40–11:55 |
Title of the Talk: Examining the effects of glycosaminoglycans in a tissue-based in vitro model of biomimetic collagen mineralization |
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11:55–12:10 |
Title of the Talk: Bioinspired Hybrid System for Targeted Therapy and Friction Reduction in Osteoarthritic Cartilage |
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12:10–13:30 |
Lunch and Poster Judging – Session 1 | Canadian Connective Tissue Society (CCTS) Board Meeting (Board Members Only) |
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13:30-15:00 |
SESSION 3: Clinical Perspectives in Connective Tissue Pathobiology |
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13:30-14:00 |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Gustavo Duque, MD, FRCPC; McGill University |
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14:00–14:15 |
Title of the Talk: Oral delivery of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol has pain-modifying effects in mouse models of knee osteoarthritis |
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14:15–14:30 |
Title of the Talk: Cephalometric analysis of a new dominant osteogenesis imperfecta IFITM5 mouse model. |
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14:30–14:45 |
Title of the Talk: Exploring the Roles of RANK/RANKL and OPG in Mammalian Physiology: A Scoping Review of Functions Beyond the Skeletal System |
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14:45–15:00 |
Title of the Talk: Modulation of Endothelial Function by Low-Dose Aspirin and Its Implications for Avascular Necrosis |
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15:00-15:15 |
Coffee Break |
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15:15-16:45 |
SESSION 4: Functional Biomaterials for Connective Tissue Repair |
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15:15-15:45 |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Xavier Banquy, Ph.D.; Université de Montréal (UdeM) |
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15:45–16:00 |
Title of the Talk: Mesendodermal progenitors in Combination with a Synthetic Hydrogel (NPGEL) in a Sheep Model of Low Back Pain: a Safety Study |
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16:00–16:15 |
Title of the Talk: Developing N-Acetylcysteine Electrospun Scaffolds for Articular Cartilage Treatment |
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16:15–16:30 |
Title of the Talk: Exploring the effects of selected extracellular matrix fragments on adipogenic and angiogenic processes for tissue engineering applications |
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16:30–16:45 |
Title of the Talk: 3D Ultrastructural Mapping of Collagen Across Entire Thickness of Zebrafish Corneal Stroma |
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18:00-22:30 |
Welcome Reception and Gala Dinner of the 29th Canadian Connective Tissue Conference (CCTC) Celebrating: All the attendees of the 29th Canadian Connective Tissue Conference (CCTC) Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Dr. Frank Beier, Ph.D. Robin Poole Investigator Award Winner: Dr. Lisbet Haglund, Ph.D. Musical Performance by: Every Other Wednesday |
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DAY 3 |
Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 | Scientific Sessions |
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7:30-8:30 |
Continental Breakfast |
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8:30-8:45 |
Opening Remarks: Dr. Rahul Gawri, MD, Ph.D. (McGill University) & Dr. Chan Gao, MD, Ph.D. (McGill University) |
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8:45-9:15 |
SESSION 5: Matrix Biology in Connective Tissue Research |
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8:45-9:15 |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Julie Fradette, Ph.D.; Université Laval |
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9:15–9:30 |
Title of the Talk: CD109 at the Helm: A Critical Regulator of Inflammation and Fibrosis in the Skin |
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9:30–9:45 |
Title of the Talk: Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in the Doral Root Ganglia as a Regulator of Pain |
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9:45–10:00 |
Title of the Talk: Matrix Gla Protein Expression in Pericytes and Myofibroblasts Contributes to Renal Fibrosis |
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10:00–10:15 |
Title of the Talk: Laminin Receptors Integrin β1 and Dystroglycan are Critical for the Regulation of Muscle Stem Cells |
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10:15-10:30 |
Coffee Break |
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10:30-12:00 |
SESSION 6: Repair and Regeneration of Biomechanically Loaded Tissues: Novel Approaches for Intervertebral Discs, Menisci, and Tendons |
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10:30-11:00 |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. George Dodge, Ph.D.; CEO, Mechano Therapeutics LLC |
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11:00–11:15 |
Title of the Talk: Senotherapeutics Prevent Disc Degeneration and Back Pain |
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11:15–11:30 |
Title of the Talk: Priming human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell metabolism using physioxia and physiological glucose concentrations for ligament tissue engineering |
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11:30–11:45 |
Title of the Talk: Distinct Purinergic Receptors Mediate Exogenous Nucleotide-induced Calcium Signalling and Gene Expression Changes in Tenocytes |
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11:45–12:00 |
Title of the Talk: Finite Element Modeling of Electroarthrography for the Non-Invasive Detection of Cartilage Quality |
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12:00-13:30 |
Lunch and Poster Judging – Session 2 |
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13:30-15:00 |
SESSION 7: Bone Biology and Tissue Mineralization |
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13:30-14:00 |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Monzur Murshed, Ph.D.; McGill University |
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14:00–14:15 |
Title of the Talk: Retinoid signaling modulates ectopic calcification of annulus fibrosus cells in a mouse model of DISH |
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14:15–14:30 |
Title of the Talk: Trabecular bone formation in vitro by the OmGFP66 osteogenic cell line |
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14:30–14:45 |
Title of the Talk: Galectin 3 is upregulated in the muscle with heterotopic ossification (HO) induced by spinal cord injury (SCI) |
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14:45–15:00 |
Title of the Talk: Understanding preferential gap zone collagen mineralization in vitro |
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15:00-15:15 |
Coffee Break |
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15:45-17:15 |
Session 8:Cartilage Biology and Pathobiology |
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15:45-16:15 |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Adele Changoor, Ph.D.; University of Toronto |
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15:45–16:00 |
Title of the Talk: Synovial myeloid subtypes in knee joint health, injury and osteoarthritis |
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16:00–16:15 |
Title of the Talk: Fibroblast and Myeloid Cells with High Mitochondrial Content Represent Biologically Significant Populations within the OA Synovium |
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16:15–16:30 |
Title of the Talk: Comparing naturally occurring OA between equine and human cartilage |
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16:30–16:45 |
Title of the Talk: Spatial Transcriptomics of Joint Space-Interfacing Tissues Using a Pre-Clinical Mouse Model of Osteoarthritis |
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16:15-18:00 |
General Assembly and Awards Presentation |