https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4552-0179Dr. Viswanathan is a Scientist at the Osteoarthritis Program, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Schroeder Arthritis Institute and the Krembil Research Institute (University Health Network) and an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and at the Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine (University of Toronto).
Dr. Viswanathan’s research is focused on using anti-inflammatory approaches to target osteoarthritis (OA), including i) using proprietary enhanced mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to modulate inflammatory responses and ii) reprograming monocytes/macrophages to more inflammation resolving subtypes using small molecules and gene edited iPSCs. Dr. Viswanathan’s lab is translation of cellular and immunotherapies into clinical investigations. Dr. Viswanathan is a co-Principal Investigator of a recently completed trial using autologous MSCs to treat OA patients, a North American first. Dr. Viswanathan’s publication was cited as the most downloaded paper in Stem Cells Translational Medicine in 2019, and also garnered The Arthritis Society’s Top 10 Research Advances in 2019.
Dr. Viswanathan is also investigating the role of synovium and monocytes/macropahges in osteoarthritis pathogenesis, with the intention of developing a macrophage-based adoptive transfer immunotherapy. Dr. Viswanathan is the recipient of the Biologics Association’s Summit Research Award (2021) for research in this area. An in vitro model developed in the lab demonstrates the role of synovium on cartilage degradation and was cited as one of the Top 10 Research Advances of The Arthritis Society in 2021.
Dr. Viswanathan is leading international efforts to standardize MSC nomenclature and create reference materials for MSC research. Dr. Viswanathan sits on the Standard Council of Canada’s Mirror Committee for International Organization for Standardization (ISO TC276) on Analytical Methods and Bioprocessing, and is on the steering and working committee of an international Standards Coordinating Body (SCB). Dr. Viswanathan is a formal liaison between ISO TC276 and the International Society of Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT). Dr. Viswanathan is Associate Editor of Cytotherapy, the official journal for ISCT.
As a translational scientist, Dr. Viswanathan serves as a national regulatory and cell manufacturing consultant for projects across Canada. At the Cell Therapy Program at the University Health Network, Dr. Viswanathan has overseen clinical translation of over 13 cell-based therapies into Health Canada approved clinical investigations; these include immunotherapies, therapies for lysosomal storage disorders and acute kidney failure. Dr. Viswanathan chaired the Cell Therapy Stakeholder Group, a bilateral group that engages Health Canada on cell therapy related policy issues from 2015-2021.