Easing Pressures on Emergency Care

A community diversion program could help reduce demand on emergency departments.

Image Caption: Community-based diversion programs could help reduce pressures on emergency services by providing an alternative care setting for people who do not require emergency medical treatment.

Bold by Design

The 2025–2026 UHN Research Report highlights how discovery is designed to deliver impact.

Image Caption: The 2025–2026 UHN Research Report features stories of scientists, clinicians, trainees, staff, patients, and partners working together to move discovery into impact.

NEURONTO Symposium 2026

Toronto neuroscience and mental health research community comes together for joint symposium.

Image Caption: The NEURONTO research symposium was co-hosted by UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute, featuring talks and poster presentations on advancements in neuroscience and mental health research.

On October 8, 2026, UHN’s Krembil Brain Institute (KBI) and The Hospital for Sick Children’s (SickKids) Neurosciences & Mental Health Program (NMH) held the third annual NEURONTO Research Symposium.

With more than 300 registrants, 12 talks, and 100 poster presentations, the event showcased the innovation and collaborative spirit of Toronto’s neuroscience and mental health research community.

Researchers, trainees, and clinicians from KBI, SickKids’ NMH, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health came together to exchange ideas, foster new connections, and highlight cutting-edge research taking place across our institutions.

Throughout the day, attendees explored diverse topics, from neuro-immune interactions and dopamine-guided learning to advances in brain imaging and mental health research. Presentations centred on the symposium’s four core themes: glia in health and disease, neural circuits and systems, mental health, and brain imaging and computation.

Thank you to all the speakers, poster presenters, staff, and attendees whose contributions made the symposium such a success. The thoughtful questions and discussions were a reminder of why NEURONTO exists and the impact of collaboration in neuroscience and mental health research.

A New Immunotherapy Approach

Early trial shows that new drug has anti-tumour activity in patients with advanced cancer.

Image Caption: Despite the impact immunotherapy has had on cancer treatment, there is a need for new immunotherapies that have longer lasting effects with fewer side effects. The investigational drug, invikafusp alfa, uses a new and unique mechanism of action to treat cancer, targeting specific subsets of T cells to improve specificity.

A study published in Nature Medicine from UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and collaborators found that a first-of-its-kind, investigational immunotherapy drug, invikafusp alfa (invika), showed early signs of anti-tumour activity in people with various types of advanced and treatment-resistant forms of cancer.

Cancer immunotherapy, which helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, has transformed cancer treatment by improving outcomes for many types of cancer. One type of therapy, called immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), blocks checkpoint proteins that normally act as “brakes” on the immune system and prevent immune responses from becoming too strong. Some cancers exploit these checkpoint proteins to switch off cancer-fighting immune cells known as T cells. Blocking the checkpoints can help T cells remain active and attack the cancer.

Despite immense research in this area, only some patients achieve long-term benefits from ICB and there is a high likelihood of developing drug resistance. In addition, these treatments can trigger non-specific components of the immune system, which can lead to serious side effects.

There is a need for new immunotherapies that can generate strong and durable responses. As a result, a new generation of immunotherapies is being designed to be more selective. One such medication is invika, developed to both selectively bind to and activate Vβ6/Vβ10 T cell subsets—T cells that carry specific receptors on their surface. This specificity aims to enhance the tumour-specific immune response and improve safety.

In an early-phase clinical trial, the first trial of this drug in patients, participants with advanced solid tumours that had resistance to other therapies, including ICB, were treated with invika. The trial was designed to evaluate the safety of invika and identify a dose for further study (the recommended phase 2 dose), as well as measure preliminary anti-tumour activity. The study included 58 participants at hospitals around the world, including UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Results showed that the drug was well-tolerated with an acceptable safety profile. Among the 27 participants treated at the recommended phase 2 dose, 14.8 % showed a response where tumours shrank enough to meet established clinical criteria. There was also some degree of tumour shrinkage in 44% of patients, even when the reduction was not large enough to meet the official criteria. These responses were observed in many tumour types such as cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, and more.

In 18 participants who had cancers that had stopped responding to earlier immunotherapy, and received invika at the recommended phase 2 dose, 66.7% achieved disease control, meaning their cancer either shrank or remained stable. Researchers also observed expansion of targeted T cells both in the bloodstream and inside tumours, providing early evidence that the therapy acted as intended.

Overall, these findings provide preliminary evidence of anti-tumour activity and support further study of invika in people with advanced cancers. Larger trials are needed to determine how well the drug works, which patients are most likely to benefit and how its risks compare with its potential benefits.

Dr. Ryan Sullivan from Mass General Research Institute and Harvard Medical School; Nicholas Tschernia, from the National Cancer Institute; and Claire Friedman from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, at the time of this research, are co-first authors of the study.

Dr. Ke Liu from Marengo Therapeutics and Dr. James Gulley from the National Cancer Institute are co-corresponding authors of the study.

Dr. Lillian Siu, Senior Scientist and Medical Oncologist at UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, is the Co-Corresponding author of the study.

The START-001 phase 1/2 trial was supported by Marengo Therapeutics. This work was supported in part by the Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH and The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Lillian Siu is a consultant/advisory board member for Merck, Roche, Voronoi, GSK, Bayer, Pfizer, Arvinas, Daiichi Sankyo, Amgen, Pangea, Tubulis, LTZ Therapeutics, Marengo, AstraZeneca, Incyte, Gilead, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Systinn, Systimmune, EMD Serono, and MBrace. She reports other competing interests that can be found in the manuscript.

For a full list of competing interests, see the manuscript.

Sullivan RJ, Tschernia NP, Friedman CF, Herrera M, Sonpavde GP, He K, Italiano A, Marabelle A, Roulleaux-Dugage M, Danlos FX, Cabanas EG, Hernando-Calvo A, Pedregal M, Parikh A, Iyer G, Zakari A, Wherry EJ, Schlom J, Donahue RN, McCue S, Cross S, Srinivasan K, Benincosa L, Katragadda M, Shun Z, Chin K, Su Z, Liu K, Siu LL, Gulley JL. Bispecific dual T cell agonist invikafusp alfa in solid tumors: the phase 1/2 START-001 trial. Nat Med. 2026 Oct 23. doi: 10.1038/s41591-026-04711-0. Epub ahead of print. 

Investing in Oncology Research Talent

Johnson & Johnson funds four outstanding postdoctoral recruits through Canada Leads.

Image Caption: Johnson & Johnson and the Canada Leads program awarded funding to support the recruitment of postdoctoral researchers Drs. Ho Wai Lau, Siwei Xu, and Patrick Cardwell (left to right) to UHN, where they will advance research projects in precision oncology. The fourth recruitment is in progress.

UHN is proud to partner with Johnson & Johnson—one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies—to strengthen Canada's research ecosystem through its Canada Leads initiative, supporting the recruitment and development of outstanding early-career researchers.  

Through the generous support of Johnson & Johnson, four exceptional postdoctoral researchers are being recruited to UHN to pursue innovative research in precision oncology, while gaining valuable exposure to the biopharmaceutical sector through a tailored industry engagement experience. 

Three postdoctoral researchers have already started their projects at UHN, bringing with them expertise in the precision oncology space, spanning cancer biology, drug discovery, RNA therapeutics, artificial intelligence, and computational genomics: 

• At Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Dr. Ho Wai Lau is pursuing new strategies to target cancers driven by the MYC oncogene, one of the most significant challenges in oncology. His research combines functional genomics, molecular biology, and drug development approaches to identify vulnerabilities that could lead to more effective treatments for this group of patients. (PI: Dr. Linda Penn) 

• At the Krembil Brain Institute, Dr. Patrick Cardwell is advancing small-molecule drug discovery programs for acute myeloid leukemia, focusing on therapeutic targets that may help eliminate treatment-resistant leukemic stem cells and minimize disease relapse. His expertise in medicinal chemistry and translational drug development will support the generation of novel therapeutic candidates with commercialization potential. (PI: Dr. Mark Reed) 

• At Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Dr. Siwei Xu is leveraging artificial intelligence, cancer genomics, and structural biology to identify actionable cancer mutations and uncover new opportunities for precision therapeutics. Her project aims to develop computational tools that can improve the prediction of treatment resistance in cancer and help match patients with targeted therapies. (PI: Dr. Sushant Kumar) 

The fourth recruitment is in progress. 

In addition to supporting their research programs, the partnership provides a unique opportunity for researchers to engage directly with experts from Johnson & Johnson through a structured industry engagement experience. Participants will have access to mentorship, career development opportunities, organizational and industry insights, and professional networking that will complement their academic training and broaden their understanding of the biopharmaceutical innovation ecosystem. 

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing innovation in oncology, while helping develop the next generation of scientific leaders. By pairing world-class research training with industry engagement, the initiative strengthens Canada's ability to attract top global talent, advance discoveries with translational potential, and support the future growth of the country's life sciences sector. 

UHN is grateful to Johnson & Johnson for its commitment to supporting early-career researchers and investing in the talent that will help shape the future of cancer research and therapeutic innovation in Canada. 

Making More Transplants Possible

Eight-day protocol safely expanded access to donor organs for transplant recipients.

Image Caption: A short-course antiviral protocol enabled organs from donors with hepatitis C to be used safely in recipients without the virus.

For people waiting for an organ transplant, time can be the biggest obstacle. Every year, viable organs go unused because donors test positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV), raising concerns about transmitting the infection to recipients. A new UHN-led study suggests that a simple, eight-day treatment approach can safely overcome this barrier, potentially increasing the number of organs available for transplantation.

In a study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, researchers reported outcomes from 116 kidney, lung, heart, pancreas, and kidney-pancreas transplantation procedures performed using organs from donors with active HCV infection. All recipients were treated using the Toronto HCV Protocol, a short course of antiviral medication beginning before transplant surgery and continuing for seven days afterward.

Notably, the results showed that all 116 recipients had no detectable HCV infection 12 weeks after transplantation or at their last follow-up assessment. No recipient developed chronic hepatitis C, required additional antiviral treatment, or experienced HCV-related complications.

"Our original study showed that this approach could work in 30 patients," says Dr. Jordan Feld, Senior Scientist at UHN’s Organ Systems & Integrated Health Sciences Research Institute and senior author of the study. "Now we have shown it can be implemented in routine clinical practice across multiple organ types with excellent long-term outcomes."

Historically, organs from donors with hepatitis C were rarely used in recipients who did not already have the virus. The development of highly effective antiviral medications changed that equation, but standard treatment approaches typically require eight to 12 weeks of therapy after transplant. This longer course can create logistical challenges and treatment delays while patients await insurance approvals and outpatient drug access. This has led to serious complications from delays in treating the hepatitis C.

The Toronto protocol takes a different approach: patients receive one dose of antiviral medication before surgery, followed by seven days of treatment after transplant. Most recipients completed the entire course before leaving the hospital.

Researchers also compared outcomes with matched transplant recipients who received organs from donors without hepatitis C. Across kidney, lung, and heart transplantation, survival and graft function were similar between the groups. Two-year overall survival among recipients treated with the Toronto protocol was 87.1 percent.

The findings build on years of work by UHN researchers to safely expand the donor pool. In North America, the devastating opioid overdose crisis has increased the number of otherwise healthy donor organs that test positive for hepatitis C. Making safe use of those organs can help more patients receive transplants sooner and bring a small positive out of these tragic deaths.

The researchers say the approach offers both clinical and practical advantages. By completing treatment during the initial hospital stay, the protocol reduces costs, minimizes drug-related complications and avoids potentially harmful delays that can occur with longer treatment courses.

For patients facing lengthy waits for a life-saving transplant, that could make a meaningful difference.

Dr. Wesam Aleyadeh is a transplant hepatology fellow and researcher affiliated with University Health Network. He is the first author of the study.

Dr. Marcelo Cypel, Senior Scientist at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre and Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and Dr. Atul Humar, Senior Scientist at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre and Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, are co-authors of the study.

Dr. Jordan Feld, Senior Scientist at the University Health Network, Director of the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, is the senior author of the study.

This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and UHN Foundation.

Aleyadeh W, Cypel M, Kim SJ, McDonald MA, Schiff J, Alba AC, Keshavjee S, Yacht K, Munyal D, Allan R, Wang J, Kumar D, Humar A, Feld JJ. Short-course prophylaxis with the Toronto HCV protocol for recipients of non-liver solid organ transplants from donors with hepatitis C viraemia: a retrospective, matched cohort study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2026 Sep 29:S2468-1253(26)00237-2. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(26)00237-2. Epub ahead of print.

Recognizing Stem Cell Research

Dr. Stephanie Xie receives the Till & McCulloch Award for her work studying blood stem cells.

Dr. Stephanie Xie, Scientist at UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Till & McCulloch Award for her research on the impact of repeated infections and stress on blood-forming stem cells.

The award recognizes the most impactful peer-reviewed article of the year by a stem cell or regenerative medicine researcher working in Canada. Dr. Xie received the award for her Nature publication titled, “Human haematopoietic stem cells remember inflammatory stress.”

In this study, Dr. Xie, also an Allan Slaight Scientist at PM, led a team examining how stress from long-term inflammation can drive the aging of blood cells and increase the risk of cancer.

Blood stem cells (hematopoietic stem cells, HSCs) in the bone marrow are responsible for continuously replenishing blood cells throughout life. However, repeated inflammation from infections and other stresses can gradually impair their function with age.

To understand how blood stem cells adapt and respond to inflammation, the researchers generated lab models of inflammation to analyze human HSCs. They identified a previously unrecognized subset of HSCs, called inflammatory memory stem cells (HSC-iM) that were distinct in their gene activity and retained a memory of previous inflammation. These cells retained molecular changes after inflammation had resolved, were associated with age-related blood cell changes, and passed inflammatory signatures to downstream immune cells.

These findings help explain why inflammatory experiences earlier in life may shape a person’s health decades later and provide new tools to investigate why aging and age-related diseases can differ between individuals.

Dr. Xie will accept the award at the 2026 Till & McCulloch Meetings in Vancouver.

To learn more about this study, see the Research at UHN news story.

For more details on this prestigious award and the Till & McCulloch Meetings, visit the website here.