The 2021 UHN Research Report, titled Science for Society, was launched World Science Day for Peace and Development—a day to celebrate and recognize the role that science plays in our daily lives.
The report features research advances, successes, awards and other highlights across UHN’s seven research institutes and two dedicated foundations—all in the service of society.
A selection of the stories featured in this retrospective report include the following:
● Researchers at Krembil Research Institute revealed the brain connections that might explain why women tend to experience chronic pain more often than men
● The stem cell biologists at McEwen Stem Cell Institute found a new strategy for generating functional liver cells—towards novel cell-based therapies for various diseases
● Toronto General Hospital Research Institute’s clinician-scientists were on the forefront of COVID-19 research, revealing that a blood thinner can prevent moderate illness and that booster shots for transplant patients are safe and effective
● Cancer researchers at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre brought us one step close to overcoming treatment resistance by uncovering the cunning ways in which cancer can evade therapies
● Techna’s innovators created a virtual platform for providing cancer care during the pandemic, and found that this novel approach did not compromise quality of care, nor patient or practitioner experience, while resulting in significant savings for patients and the health system
● Education scientists at The Institute for Education Research (TIER) found that experiencing failure can help health care professionals to learn in a more adaptive way
● Researchers at the KITE Research Institute determined the factors that affect whether older adults accept or use self-driving cars—a technology that could help them to maintain their independence
The report also recaps the generous support of our donor community over the past year, made possible through the dedicated teams at the UHN Foundation and The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
Click here to read through the report to celebrate the achievements that UHN has made over the past year. Reports from previous years are also available here.
The front cover of the report features Dr. Anastasia Tikhonova, a Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. To learn more about her research program and team members, visit her laboratory website. To learn more about World Science Day for Peace and Development, click here.