The Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science’s Open House is back this Research Month. Staff from across St. Michael’s Hospital can register for tours showcasing novel technologies and research.
Hospital staff, clinical researchers, physicians and volunteers are invited to pre-register for tours that will take place Monday Nov. 18, 2019 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Each tour will last about 20 minutes. Please note that there are a limited number of spots per tour and are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Register now so that you don’t miss out!
In addition to the tours, St. Michael’s staff are invited to visit the Exhibition Space on the second floor of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. No registration needed for this portion.
There are many Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science groups providing tours for you to choose from, plus there’s free lunch! Take a look at some of our cutting-edge research and tours available below, then sign up for a tour.
If you have any questions please contact Olivia Lavery at Olivia.Lavery@unityhealth.to
OPEN TO EVERYONE.
Does not require registration or sign-up!
4th Floor Wet Lab:
Intravital Microscope
Thrombus or clot formation is the cause of death in heart attack and stroke, the two leading causes of mortality and morbidity around the world. Previously, researchers studied the blood clotting and thrombosis process in a test tube. In the human body, however, these processes occur inside blood vessels, where the blood is constantly flowing at high speed and interacting with the vessel wall. During his post-doc training at Harvard, Dr. Ni developed the first intravital microscopy system, which enables us to directly observe thrombus formation and its response to therapeutic interventions inside the blood vessel. Dr. Ni’s lab is the leader in Canada to utilize this advanced technique for thrombosis research and has made many high impact discoveries in the field. Join us for a tour!
5th Floor Lab Space:
Mock Echo
Researchers will demonstrate how an echocardiography is conducted in mice to examine cardiac function and give insights to structure. An echocardiography uses high frequency sound waves to take pictures of the heart’s valves and chambers. It is used to assess overall heart function, determine the presence of disease, and evaluate the effectiveness of medical and surgical treatments.
Zebrafish Microscope
Opioid medications are widely used to reduce pain, but present the side-effect of respiratory depression that can be deadly with overdose. Although opioids are currently killing thousands of people in Canada, they remain the pharmacological cornerstone of modern pain therapy and there are currently no treatments to prevent respiratory depression by opioids without reducing their analgesic properties. Dr. Montandon is working on developing a novel zebrafish model in order to expedite the process of drug screening. The platform allows us to study the respiratory depression and analgesic effects of opioids in order to screen for new potential safe opioid pain therapies.
The Biomedical Zone:
Exclusive tour of the Biomedical Zone (BMZ)
The Biomedical Zone helps early-stage health technology companies to validate their need-based solutions directly in the hospital setting with clinicians, business experts, and innovative thinkers. Through the Biomedical Zone, startups are able to rapidly iterate their technology, refine their business model, and demonstrate clinical value.
We are not just an incubator, but an innovation centre for clinicians, students, and entrepreneurs alike. Our first-in-class programs offer startups unprecedented access to the clinical environment, while facilitating unique experiential learning opportunities for students. Together, we are transforming the way hospitals innovate.
Get a chance to have an exclusive tour of this space!
The Biomedical Zone is a proud partnership between Ryerson University and St. Michael’s Hospital
Dr. Xiao-Yan Wen’s Lab:
Facility Tour of Zebrafish Disease Modeling and High Throughput Drug Screen
Led by Dr. Wen, St. Michael’s Hospital launched the Zebrafish Centre for Advanced Drug Discovery in 2012. St. Michael’s is home to Canada’s first and the only fully automated zebrafish high-throughput screening platform.
In this tour, you will be guided through the advanced zebrafish housing rack system and you will be taught how to build disease models.