Ori Rotstein

MD, MSc

Scientist

Biography

Dr. Ori Rotstein is the Vice President of Research and Innovation at Unity Health Toronto. He is also a Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto.

In addition to his role as VP, Dr. Rotstein is a practicing General Surgeon, and is an acknowledged expert in the management of intra-abdominal infection and inflammation. He is the former Director of the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, the postgraduate arm of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto from 2001-2011 that was responsible for graduate training programs for more than 500 MSc/PhD students. In 2012, the Institute of Medical Science honoured him with an annual lecture ‘The Ori D. Rotstein Lectureship in Translational Research’. He is a member of several prestigious medical societies including the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the American Surgical Association, and the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He is a Past President of the Surgical Infection Society and has contributed significantly to the activities of the American College of Surgeons through his participation on the Program Committee, Surgical Forum Committee, and the Scholarship Executive Committee.

Research Interests

Dr. Rotstein has a major interest in understanding how traumatic injury leads to alterations in the immune response of patients. He uses his clinical insights into the mechanisms of disease to generate novel therapeutic approaches to preventing poor outcome in these patients. His work spans the “bench to bedside” continuum, wherein he investigates cellular and animal models with a view to translating these to novel therapies in humans. This translational research has led to the investigation of the use of additives in resuscitation fluids in patients sustaining such injuries.

Recent Publications

  1. Mukkala, AN, Maksimoska, V, Noble, E, Ailenberg, M, Petrut, R, Goldfarb, R et al.. SR3677 is hepatoprotective in murine liver ischemia/reperfusion injury: potential role of BNIP3L/NIX (BCL2/Adenovirus E1B 19 kDa Protein-Interacting Protein 3-Like). Shock. 2024; :. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002527. PubMed PMID:39617401 .
  2. Li, B, Beaton, D, Lee, DS, Aljabri, B, Al-Omran, L, Wijeysundera, DN et al.. Comprehensive review of virtual assistants in vascular surgery. Semin Vasc Surg. 2024;37 (3):342-349. doi: 10.1053/j.semvascsurg.2024.07.001. PubMed PMID:39277351 .
  3. Li, B, Eisenberg, N, Beaton, D, Lee, DS, Al-Omran, L, Wijeysundera, DN et al.. Using Machine Learning to Predict Outcomes Following Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024;13 (17):e035425. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.035425. PubMed PMID:39189482 .
  4. Li, B, Eisenberg, N, Beaton, D, Lee, DS, Al-Omran, L, Wijeysundera, DN et al.. Predicting inferior vena cava filter complications using machine learning. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2024;12 (6):101943. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2024.101943. PubMed PMID:39084408 PubMed Central PMC11523346.
  5. Bodenstein, DF, Siebiger, G, Zhao, Y, Clasky, AJ, Mukkala, AN, Beroncal, EL et al.. Bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo models: a way forward to clinical translation of mitochondrial transplantation in acute disease states. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2024;15 (1):157. doi: 10.1186/s13287-024-03771-8. PubMed PMID:38816774 PubMed Central PMC11140916.
  6. Bakbak, E, Krishnaraj, A, Bhatt, DL, Quan, A, Park, B, Bakbak, AI et al.. Icosapent ethyl modulates circulating vascular regenerative cell content: The IPE-PREVENTION CardioLink-14 trial. Med. 2024;5 (7):718-734.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.03.009. PubMed PMID:38552629 .
  7. Li, B, Warren, BE, Eisenberg, N, Beaton, D, Lee, DS, Aljabri, B et al.. Machine Learning to Predict Outcomes of Endovascular Intervention for Patients With PAD. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7 (3):e242350. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.2350. PubMed PMID:38483388 PubMed Central PMC10940965.
  8. Park, B, Bakbak, E, Teoh, H, Krishnaraj, A, Dennis, F, Quan, A et al.. GLP-1 receptor agonists and atherosclerosis protection: the vascular endothelium takes center stage. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2024;326 (5):H1159-H1176. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00574.2023. PubMed PMID:38426865 .
  9. Terenzi, DC, Bakbak, E, Teoh, H, Krishnaraj, A, Puar, P, Rotstein, OD et al.. Restoration of blood vessel regeneration in the era of combination SGLT2i and GLP-1RA therapy for diabetes and obesity. Cardiovasc Res. 2024;119 (18):2858-2874. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvae016. PubMed PMID:38367275 .
  10. Krishnaraj, A, Bakbak, E, Teoh, H, Pan, Y, Firoz, IN, Pandey, AK et al.. Vascular Regenerative Cell Deficiencies in South Asian Adults. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024;83 (7):755-769. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.12.012. PubMed PMID:38355246 .
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Vice-President of Research and Innovation, Unity Health Toronto
  • Scientist, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
  • Associate Chair, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ryerson University