BBDC Newsletter
| BBDC NEWS | Vol. 12, No. 2 -- December 2011 |
|---|
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR, DR. GARY LEWIS:
BBDC PROGRAM PLANNING AND RETREAT
As previously announced, in late August this year the BBDC retained the professional consulting company SECOR to assist in an intensive planning process that will be completed by December 2011. Dr. Zayna Khayat and Lauren Vandervoort from SECOR performed well over 70 interviews with BBDC members and key stakeholders including: directors of the U of T academic hospital research institutes; the Dean and Vice Dean of Research, Faculty of Medicine, U of T; Ministry of Health personnel and leadership responsible for the Ontario Diabetes Strategy; key diabetes scientists, educators and opinion leaders in Canada; the leadership of ICES and AHRC of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute; Director of the Canadian Diabetes Association; and personnel working on the Diabetes fundraising campaigns on behalf of the Toronto General Foundation and U of T. They also performed an extensive environmental scan of other academic diabetes institutes and centers across the globe, and drew upon the firm’s extensive experiences working with academic collaborative research enterprises. The planning process culminated recently in a highly successful, half-day retreat held at the U of T Faculty Club, a retreat designed to develop a shared view of the long-range vision and strategy for the BBDC. The SECOR team met weekly with the BBDC Director to review the ideas, cautionary messages and general comments of the interviewees and together with the very extensive input received at the retreat are in the final stages of developing a long-range vision for the Centre.
The final plan, once approved by the BBDC
Executive, will very likely represent a radical expansion of
- We have much to gain from developing research themes and programs, with multidisciplinary clusters of scientists working in close collaboration, and in collaboration with researchers in other disciplines across U of T. These themes have been identified in the planning process using a set of predefined criteria and based on our existing research strength. The funding agencies such as CIHR are moving towards an Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) approach, CFI grants are awarded to teams working on cutting edge research topics and our fundraising from philanthropic donors and industry is highly dependent on our ability to interest and excite donors with cutting-edge ideas that can make an impact on specific diseases. It is essential that we organize ourselves into these programs and work together since it will become more and more difficult over time for the 20th century-style ‘independent investigator’ to continue to remain competitive if working in isolation.
- Despite the fact that we have
some highly successful individual diabetes clinical trialists in
- In addition to the research prowess of U of T faculty, our
faculty contains some of the finest teachers, educators and
innovators in the field of health care policy, knowledge translation
and health care delivery.
It will in no way dilute our fundamental research capability
for the
The above is just a titillating taste of what you are likely to see
when we present our more detailed and specific long range vision and
plan to you within the next few months.
INSULIN:
Toronto's Gift to the World, a permanent display of artefacts from the
discovery of insulin
The
University of Toronto marked 90 years of excellence in diabetes
research on October 26, 2011 with the unveiling of INSULIN:
Toronto’s Gift to the World, a permanent exhibit in Toronto’s
MaRS Centre that tells the story of the discovery of insulin. A
product of collaboration among U of T’s Department of
Physiology, Toronto General Hospital (now part of the University
Health Network) and what later became U of T’s Banting and Best
Department of Medical Research, the discovery of insulin set U
of T Medicine on a course of innovation which continues to this
day. The exhibit includes a video; two information panels;
Frederick Banting’s desk; a lab bench; a replica of the 1923
Nobel Prize in Medicine; letters of correspondence; a timeline;
vials of insulin from the 1920s through the present, lab
instruments and other historical artefacts. The University of
Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine curated the exhibit in partnership
with the University Health Network and MaRS. The permanent
exhibit is located on the
ground floor of the MaRS Centre, 101 College Street,
Toronto, northeast corner of the building, across the hall from
Mercatto restaurant (view
a map)
[Above photo by Patrice Banton, courtesy of iQ inc.]
Read the Toronto Star story on the exhibit (October 26, 2011)
View
the Toronto Star’s insulin exhibit photo gallery
Watch a video about the exhibit's creation by CBC's The National
UPCOMING EVENTS
MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES IN THE PATIENT WITH
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A Workshop for Health Care Professionals
Working in Diabetes Care and Education
Save the date. The Banting & Best Diabetes Centre will be
hosting a workshop on Friday, April 20, 2012 from approximately 9:15
a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Toronto General Hospital. The focus of
the workshop will be on the interprofessional management of the patient
with diabetes with comorbid kidney disease. Content will include: an
update on diabetic nephropathy, balancing diabetes and renal nutritional
needs, and adjusting antihyperglycemic medications in renal disease.
Moderators will lead breakout sessions emphasizing the interprofessional
roles involved in the management of patients with diabetes and: 1)
microalbuminuria or proteinuria, 2) impaired renal function
(pre-dialysis), 3) on dialysis.
The workshop is being offered to diabetes health care
professionals who work at University of Toronto fully and community
affiliated institutions. It is intended for health care professionals
who work in diabetes care or education or health care professionals who
manage patients with kidney disease (i.e. nurses, dietitians,
physicians, pharmacists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists).
In order to maximize interaction with participants, registration will be
limited to approximately 35 participants and will be accepted on a first
come, first served basis. The complete program and registration
information will be available in late January 2012.
23RD ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC DAY
Mark your calendar. The
BBDC’s 23rd Annual Scientific Day will be held on
Friday, May 11, 2012 from 8
a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Mill Inn, Toronto. This annual event is open
to BBDC members, their trainees, and U of T endocrine residents.
This year's Charles Hollenberg Memorial Lectureship will be delivered by
Dr. Gokhan Hotamisligil from the Harvard School of Public Health.
The program will also include University of Toronto faculty and staff
Drs.
Richard Bazinet,
Daniel Drucker, Chee-Tin Christine Lee, James Scholey,
and Dan Winer. BBDC postdoctoral fellowship and graduate
studentship recipients, as well as selected Annual Trainee Awards
Competition abstract submitters will present posters of their work.
We are delighted to announce that twelve pre-selected
posters will be judged by
Dr. Randy Levinson,
Senior Editor of Nature Medicine at the Scientific Day. The Annual
Trainee Awards prize winners will be announced and prizes will be
presented to the recipients by Dr. Levinson at the end of the Scientific
Day program. Registration
information will be available in March 2012.
View the preliminary program at
http://www.bbdc.org/pdf/SciDay2012Prelim.pdf
BBDC SEMINAR SERIES 2011/2012
The BBDC will be hosting the following diabetes-related seminars
which are held in conjunction with City-wide Endocrine Rounds. The
seminars are held on selected Friday mornings from 8 to 9 a.m. at the
Mount Sinai Hospital, Lebovic Building, 60 Murray Street, 3rd floor
conference room. Faculty
wishing to meet with any of the visiting speakers should contact Dr.
Tony Lam at
tony.lam@uhnres.utoronto.ca . Speakers will include:
|
Friday, February 17, 2012 |
Branched Chain Amino Acid Sensing
in Diabetes Christopher B. Newgard, PhD Director, Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center W. David and Sarah W. Stedman Distinguished Professor Duke University Medical Center |
|
Friday, April 20, 2012 |
Regulation of Glucose Homeostasis
by the Bone Gerard Karsenty, MD, PhD Professor and Chair, Department of Genetics and Development Columbia University Medical Center |
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
CHARLES HOLLENBERG SUMMER STUDENTSHIP PROGRAM 2012
A limited number of summer studentships are available for undergraduate and
medical students to carry out research in diabetes under the supervision of a
member of the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre. Students will be required to
work for a minimum of 12 weeks between May 1 and August 31, 2012. To be
eligible, the proposed supervisor must hold a full-time faculty appointment with
the University of Toronto, and must be conducting diabetes research. The
proposed supervisor must also be a registered member* of the BBDC at the time of
application submission. A list of potential supervisors and their e-mail
addresses is available on the BBDC’s web site at
http://www.bbdc.org/pdf/2012_SummerSupervisors.doc. Students may also
directly contact other faculty with whom they are interested in working to
discuss the possibility of a summer position. The deadline for receipt
of applications is 5 p.m., January 24, 2012. For complete award
details and application instructions see the following web page:
http://www.bbdc.org/fundingOpp/summer.htm
.
ANNUAL TRAINEE AWARDS 2011/2012
U of T graduate, undergraduate, and medical students, postdoctoral
and clinical fellows and medical residents are invited to submit an
abstract for this competition. NEW THIS YEAR: All 2011/2012
BBDC Graduate Studentship and Post-doctoral Fellowship recipients are
required to submit an abstract of their work for this competition.
Trainees who are not funded by the BBDC are also invited to submit an
abstract. To be eligible, the trainee must be first author and the
content of the abstract must specifically state the direct relevance of
the work to diabetes. The trainee's supervisor must hold a full-time
faculty appointment with the University of Toronto, and must be a
registered member* of the BBDC at the time of abstract submission.
Members of the BBDC Research Committee will screen all abstracts
submitted to this competition. The best twelve abstracts will be
selected for poster judging at the BBDC Annual Scientific Day to be held
on Friday, May 11, 2012. We are delighted to announce that the
twelve posters will be judged by Dr. Randy Levinson, Senior Editor of
Nature Medicine, during the morning poster session. The prize
winners will be announced and prizes will be presented to the recipients
by Dr. Levinson at the end of the Scientific Day program. (Please
note: All 2011/2012 BBDC Graduate Studentship and Post-doctoral
Fellowship recipients must present a poster at the Scientific Day
regardless of whether or not their abstract is one of the twelve
selected to be judged by Dr. Levinson. Non-BBDC funded individuals who
submit an abstract and are selected as one of the twelve to be judged by
Dr. Levinson will present a poster at the Scientific Day.) The
deadline for receipt of applications is 5 p.m., January 31, 2012.
For complete award details and application instructions see the
following web page:
http://www.bbdc.org/fundingOpp/abstract.htm .
BBDC POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS 2012/2013
HUGH SELLERS POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP 2012/2013
BBDC FELLOWSHIPS IN DIABETES CARE 2012/2013
The BBDC will be awarding a number of postdoctoral fellowships to
candidates at the post-PhD or post-MD degree stages.
The one-year fellowships (normally commencing on July 1, 2012and no
later than September 1, 2012) are to be used for full-time research
training in diabetes. To be eligible, the candidate's proposed
supervisor must hold a full-time faculty appointment with the University
of Toronto and must be conducting diabetes research. The proposed
supervisor must be a registered member* of the BBDC at the time of
application submission. Candidates must have received a PhD after
July 2008, or an MD after July 2003 and must be within
their first four (4) years of postgraduate research training. The
deadline for receipt of applications is 5 p.m., February 22, 2012.
For complete award details and application instructions,
please see the following web page:
http://www.bbdc.org/fundingOpp/fellowships.htm .
ARCHIE SOPMAN DIABETES
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AWARDS 2012
(For University Health Network Employees Only)
This funding program is only open to University Health Network (UHN)
staff physicians, dietitians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, or
scientists who are primarily involved in diabetes research, education or
clinical care. Funding is available for travel to
one national or international diabetes meeting occurring in the year
2012, or to support a visiting lecturer in diabetes or metabolic
disorders visiting in the year 2012. To be eligible to apply,
applicants must be employed by the UHN on a full-time basis. The
principal applicant must also be a registered member* of the BBDC at the
time of application submission. The deadline for receipt of
applications is 5 p.m., March 20, 2012. For
complete award details and application instructions, please see the
following webpage:
http://www.bbdc.org/fundingOpp/sopman.htm .
TRAINEE TRAVEL AWARDS 2011/2012 (PERIOD 2)
FOR TRAVEL OCCURRING BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND JUNE 30, 2012
Awards of up to $1,000 (Canadian) are available to trainees who will
be traveling to a national or international meeting between January 1
and June 30, 2012 to present a first-author abstract. The content
of the abstract must specifically state the direct relevance of the work
to diabetes. At the time of abstract submission to the meeting,
the applicant must be either: A) a registered University of Toronto
graduate, undergraduate or medical student; B) a post-doctoral
fellow having received a PhD within the last 5 years; or C) a
medical resident or clinical fellow having received an MD within the
last 9 years. The applicant’s supervisor must hold a full-time
faculty appointment with the University of Toronto and must also be a
registered member* of the BBDC at the time of application submission.
Applications must be received by 5 p.m., March 27, 2012.
For complete award details and application instructions please see the
following web page:
http://www.bbdc.org/fundingOpp/travel.htm .
UPCOMING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Information on the following programs will be posted on the BBDC’s website in the coming months:
- Graduate Studentships 2012/2013. Application deadline: June 5, 2012
*Those who are new to the field of diabetes
research, education or care and are not members of the BBDC can request
free membership by contacting the Centre prior to submitting an
application. For more information about BBDC Membership, please
view the MEMBERSHIP section of our web site at
http://www.bbdc.org/membership/index.htm.
AWARD RESULTS**
TRAINEE TRAVEL AWARDS 2011/2012 - PERIOD 1
For Travel Occurring between July 1 and December
31, 2011
| Applicant | Supervisor | Abstract Title |
|---|---|---|
| Li-Hao Chen |
Dr. Andrew Advani |
The Diabetic Subtotally, Nephrectomized Rat is a Novel Model of Renal
Dysfunction in Diabetes Characterized by Heavy Proteinuria and GFR Decline |
| Ting (Tim) Chiu |
Dr. Amira Klip |
Regulation of actin dynamics by the Rac-dependent effectors, Arp2/3 and PAK is
required for insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in muscle cells |
| Mark Dekker |
Dr. Khosrow Adeli |
Inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis improves dyslipidemia in the insulin
resistant/hyperlipidemic hamster model |
| Fei Fang |
Dr. James Scholey |
Obesity and Diabetic Nephropathy: Interactions between Adiponectin and
Angiotensin II in Human Renal Tubular Cells |
| Bibiana Garcia-Bailo |
Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy |
Vitamin D Status and Biomarkers of Type II Diabetes Risk in an Ethnically
Diverse Population |
| S. Mohsen Hosseini |
Dr. Andrew Paterson |
Using time-to-event analysis for genome-wide association study in a long-term
cohort of diabetic retinopathy |
| Joanne Hseih |
Dr. Khosrow Adeli |
Intracelular communications mediating GLP-2-stimulated intestinal chylomicron
secretion |
| Ya-Chi Huang |
Dr. Herbert Gaisano |
In situ electrophysiological examination of pancreatic alpha-cells in type 1
diabetes revealing the cellular basis of glucagon hypersecretion |
| George Chu Liu |
Dr. James Scholey |
Deletion of p47phox Reduces Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy in the Akita
Mouse |
| Sandra Pereira |
Dr. Adria Giacca |
Inhibitors of endoplasmic reticulum stress prevent hepatic insulin resistance
induced by prolonged lipid infusion |
| Qiaozhu Su |
Dr. Khosrow Adeli |
Mitochondrial stress coupled with CREBH induced hepatic insulin resistance |
| Yi Sun |
Dr. Amira Klip |
Possible effectors of Rab proteins in insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation in L6
muscle cells |
| Wylie Tan |
Dr. Carol Westall |
Visual Electrophysiology Markers Demonstrate a Progressive Dysfunction of the
Retina in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes |
**An essential condition of all BBDC programs is
the acknowledgement of BBDC support, where appropriate, in all
publications and presentations relevant to the BBDC-supported research
program. Failure to appropriately acknowledge the BBDC in relevant
publications and presentations will be considered grounds for suspending
future eligibility for BBDC funding programs.
BBDC CORE LABORATORY
The BBDC Core Laboratory provides analytical and technical support to
the University of Toronto diabetes research community. A wide
range of research quality assays and services are provided for
investigator initiated clinical or basic research as well as for
industry sponsored trials. Please see the Core Laboratory section
of the BBDC’s web site at
http://www.bbdc.org/laboratories/index.htm for a complete
description of assays and services currently available.
BBDC membership is free and open to individuals involved in full or part-time diabetes research, education, and patient care (i.e. scientists, physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, etc.), and whose primary appointment/employment (more than 50% of total salary) is with the University of Toronto or one of its affiliated institutions. Staff at both fully and partially affiliated institutions are eligible to apply for membership. For more information about BBDC membership, please view the MEMBERSHIP section of our web site at http://www.bbdc.org/membership/index.htm.
BBDC News is
published in September, December, March and June of each year.
Current and past issues are available on our web site at
www.bbdc.org/newsletter/index.htm.
DIRECTOR: GARY LEWIS, MD, FRCPC
Banting & Best Diabetes Centre
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Located at the Toronto General Hospital
200 Elizabeth Street
Eaton Building, 12th Floor, Room 12E248
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4
Phone: (416) 978-4656 • Fax: (416) 978-4108
E-mail:
diabetes.bbdc@utoronto.ca • Web site:
www.bbdc.org