CCRM, the publisher of Signals, has enhanced its long-standing relationship with the University of Toronto’s Medicine by Design through a new strategic alliance. This profile is one in a series of profiles that feature “people of Medicine by Design.” Some minor edits may have been made to the original published version. Ashton Trotman-Grant, PhD “I want people to love science as much as I do. It leverages our curiosity and creativity as we pursue answers to our questions. Any questions. There’s beauty in the process and it’s also one of the best ways to make an impact on society. I really en ..read more

Diagram courtesy of Dr. Sergiu Paşca, Stanford University In current organoid technologies, human pluripotent stem cells are guided to differentiate into 3D structures that resemble the corresponding human in-vivo organ, which allows researchers the opportunity to study the organ’s specific cells and function. However, organoids are limited by their inability to mimic circuits or interactions between cells of different organs. Building on their 2017 seminal work that introduced the concept of assembloids (where multiple organoids are integrated together), Dr. Sergiu Paşca and colleagues at S ..read more

Regenerative Medicine News Under the Microscope is back! Thank you all for your patience as I wrapped up my PhD; the hiatus is officially over. We’re celebrating the return of this feature with a double header covering regenerative medicine research highlights from both February and March. Representative amniotic fluid-derived lung organoids. Cells are immunofluorescently stained for lung-specific stem and progenitor markers. From Gerli et al. in Nature Medicine. Pick of the month(s): Human amniotic fluid gives rise to fetal lung, intestinal, and kidney organoids Congenital malformations aff ..read more

Today is World Water Day, an observance that the United Nations has been recognizing since 1993. What does water have to do with regenerative medicine? Stick with me. (And no, I’m not going to talk about hydrogels.) World Water Day was established to raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. The United Nations is striving to ensure access to water and sanitation for all. Read about its sustainable development goal. This year’s theme is “water for peace” and focuses on the critical role water plays around the world to maintain safety, security and prosperity ..read more

Meighan Atkinson is the Communications Coordinator at CCRM. Meighan recently completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Toronto, majoring in Professional Writing & Communications. Through her studies and contributions to The Medium as Staff Writer, Meighan discovered an interest in science communications.   “Women in AI: Shaping tomorrow’s techscape” panel at MaRS Discovery District on March 8, 2024 Rarely do you read a news story about artificial intelligence (AI) with an optimistic tone. For the general public, AI continues to be a boogeyman, threatening to ..read more

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD). If you are tired of hearing about the lack of gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), this post is not for you. If it makes you tired that in 2024 this remains an issue, read on. We all have a role to play in closing the gender equality gap. Some people have more influence than others, but we can all play a part in moving the dial. The 2024 theme for IWD is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.” From UN Women, I particularly like this statement: “Investing in women and championing gender equality turbocharges a futu ..read more

Images: Canva In my role as a communication professional at CCRM, I have had the opportunity to attend industry conferences and events. There, I have met brilliant minds in the regenerative medicine and cell therapy field and learned about the work that’s happening in their facilities. I was recently reflecting on a talk given by my CCRM colleague, Glenn MacLean, at the 2023 Till and McCulloch Meetings, which covered some of the key considerations that Principal Investigators (PIs) and researchers in academia must consider to de-risk their discoveries in preparation for venture creation. It ..read more

As a fair-skinned, freckled person (my mom says she painted them on me while I slept), and one who has a family history of skin cancers and melanoma, the news on February 19 that Iovance Biotherapeutics’ AMTAGVITM received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accelerated approval to treat melanoma was welcome news to me and the over 5,000 Canadians who are diagnosed with it each year – of which 1,250 are expected to die from it. (Canadian cancer organizations report on this differently. The numbers vary from almost 7,000 to almost 10,000.) Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Acco ..read more

In today’s fast-paced world, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills have never been more crucial for driving the innovation that modern societies demand. But, for many curious young minds, STEM can appear distant and confusing, with topics often mired in jargon and complexity. Outreach is critical to capture these future workers and transform their interests into lifelong passions and STEM careers. This is at the heart of the Scihigh mission. Scihigh’s history and impact The Scihigh outreach program, founded in 1997 within the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute (now th ..read more

If you have finally recovered from Advanced Therapies Week (ATW) 2024, don’t get too comfortable since the website for ATW 2025, to be held in San Diego, California, is already published. It’s worth visiting as it features some nice photos of this year’s event to remind us of the parties, the important plenary conversations and the sunshine. (I covered some highlights of the conference last week in Positive outlook on industry lends party atmosphere to ATW2024.) The Cryoport Systems team on stage in Miami, ATW2024 But there is so much more to share! For example, during the opening plenary on ..read more