CCTS Summer Blitz Series 2022
7 minutes trainee talks followed by a 3-minute discussion period
| Session 1: Tuesday, June 7, 2022, 3pm Webinar Link | |
| Session chaired by Neha Dinesh, McGill University, Maya Ezzo, University of Toronto, Spencer Revill, McMaster University | |
| Samar Sayedyahossein Western University Title: Loss of Kindlin-1 causes actin cytoskeleton dysregulation and impaired keratinocyte cellular function | |
| Yin Liu McGill University Title: Biomechanical cue of hydrogel regulate adipose-derived stem cells for nucleus pulposus regeneration | |
| Hosni Cherif McGill University Title: Injectable NP gel as a therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration | |
| Quan Zhou McMaster University Title: The importance of lung microenvironment and inflammation on gremlin1 expression and pulmonary fibrosis pathogenesis | |
| Anca Maglaviceanu University of Toronto Title: Elucidating the effects and mechanisms of action of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on osteoarthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes and chondrocytes | |
| Alexandrine Dussault Ecole Polytechnique Title: Optimizing design parameters of PLA 3D-printed scaffolds for bone defect repair | |
| Overall discussion and voting for award winner (10 min) |
| Session 2: Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 3pm Webinar Link | |
| Session chaired by Parichehr Yazdanshenas, McMaster University, Anca Maglaviceanu, University of Toronto, Elahe Mirzarazidahaghi, McGill University | |
| Neha Dinesh McGill University Title: Pathomechanisms of fibronectin mutations causing spondylometaphyseal dysplasia | |
| Madhu Baghel Henry Ford Health Systems Title: NFAT5 balances the osteogenic versus osmo-adaptive response in osteoblasts | |
| Jun Wang University of Toronto Title: Quantifying macrophage-induced fibroblast stress responses on collagen matrix | |
| Eleane Hamburger McGill University Title: : Targeting senescent cancer cells using senolytic drugs to prevent breast-to-bone metastasis | |
| Pareesa Ali McMaster University Title: Modulating autophagy in macrophages to treat lung fibrosis in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid-arthritis associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) | |
| Hossein Poorhemati McGill University Title: Modelling the physicochemical aspects of bone mineralization | |
| Overall discussion and voting for award winner (10 min) Annual Membership Meeting of the Canadian Connective Tissue Society |
| Session 3: Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 3pm Webinar Link | |
| Session chaired by Chrisanne Dsouza, McGill University, Quan Zhou, McMaster University, Kabriya Thavaratnam, University of Toronto | |
| Muneera Fayyad Acorn Biolabs Inc. Title: Hair follicle derived stem cells promote regeneration and tissue repair | |
| Gabriel Cloutier University of Sherbrooke Title: FIBRIN(OGEN) is constitutively expressed by differentiated intestinal epithelial cells and mediates wound healing | |
| Megan Vierhout McMaster University Title: Elucidating the role of profibrotic monocytes as contributors to the myofibroblast population | |
| Kai Sheng McGill University Title: Senescence phenotype on facet joint cartilage involved in the disease progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis | |
| Sirion Aksornthong McGill University Title: Histomorphometric parameters of osteoclast and collagen degradation markers in mouse models of osteogenesis imperfecta: systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| Mozhgan Rasti University Health Network, University of Toronto Title: Investigating the role of IL6 signaling in mesenchymal stromal cells interactions with monocyte/macrophages in osteoarthritis | |
| Overall discussion and voting for award winner (10 min) |
| Session 4: Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 3pm Webinar Link | |
| Session chaired by Megan Vierhout, McMaster University, Eleane Hamburger, McGill University, Cori Lau, McGill University | |
| Ateeque Siddique McGill University Title: Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticle bone cement for the treatment of metastatic spine disease | |
| Kabriya Thavaratnam University of Toronto Title: Single nucleus RNA sequencing identifies distinct cellular populations in the synovium of early- and late-stage radiographic knee OA | |
| Chrisanne Dsouza McGill University Title: Age-associated changes in membrane injury and calcium signaling in osteoblasts and osteoclasts | |
| Vaishna Kumaran McMaster University Title: Assessing tissue level macrophage activation and reprogramming using precision cut lung slice technology in fibrotic lung disease | |
| Matthew Mannarino McGill University Title: Evaluation of senolytics treatments for lower back pain in SPARC-null mice | |
| Overall discussion and voting for award winner (10 min) |
| Session 5: Tuesday, July 5, 2022, 3pm Webinar Link | |
| Session chaired by Safaa Naiel, McMaster University, Hosni Cherif, McGill University, Fereshteh Sadat Younesi, McGill University | |
| Rachad Aita McGill University Title: Spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic heterotopic ossification: A novel murine model | |
| Cori Lau McGill University Title: Role of high-fat diet and sex in aortic aneurysm of marfan syndrome | |
| Pari Yazdanshenas McMaster University Title: Assessing macrophage activation patterns in fatal COVID-19 and identification of profibrotic macrophages for disease severity and multi-organ dysfunction | |
| Li Li McGill University Title: o-Vanillin enhanced mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and disc cell phenotype | |
| Lauren Banh University of Toronto Title: Applying organ-on-a-chip technology to model the osteoarthritic knee joint | |
| Iram Fatima Siddiqui McGill University Title: Role of fibrillin-1 in the development and homeostasis of adipose tissue | |
| Overall discussion and voting for award winner (10 min) |
| Session 6: Tuesday, July 12, 2022, 3pm Webinar Link | |
| Session chaired by Vaishna Kumaran, McMaster University, Iram Fatima Siddiqui, McGill University, Sirion Aksornthong, McGill University | |
| Audrey Pitaru McGill University Title: 3D-printed scaffolds for stabilization and local therapeutic delivery in bone metastases | |
| Valentin Nelea McGill University Title: Characterization and functional relevance of microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) in elastic fiber formation | |
| Safaa Naiel McMaster University Title: PGX-processed yeast beta-glucan microparticles as a macrophage modulator for lung fibrosis | |
| Muskan Alad McGill University Title: IL-1β-Induced DRG neuronal hypersensitivity is abrogated by link N | |
| Gargi Goel McGill University Title: Evaluating adipose stromal cell seeded polyurethane polymers as tissue engineered implantable ligament substitutes | |
| Overall discussion and voting for award winner (10 min) |
| Session 7: Tuesday, July 19, 2022, 3pm Webinar Link | |
| Session chaired by trainee award winners of sessions 1-6 | |
| Brandon Goocher, Henry Ford Health System Title: Investigating the role of adiponectin in synovial fibrosis during osteoarthritis | |
| Rayan Ben Letaifa McGill University Title: Fabrication of thermo-responsive hydrogel with controlled release of inorganic polyphosphates for fracture healing applications | |
| Paraskevi Tselekouni McGill University Title: Evaluation of a 3D culture model of intestinal cells and fibroblasts | |
| Elahe Mirzarazi Dahaghi McGill University Title: Role of N-glycosylation of LTBP4 and fibulins in elastic fiber formation | |
| Asfia Soomro McMaster University Title: Activins regulate the profibrotic effects of TGFb1 in CKD | |
| Fereshteh Sadat Younesi University of Toronto Title: MSCs memorize physical cues via epigenome patterns and transcription profiles | |
| Overall discussion and voting for award winner (10 min) |