PaLM Post - April Edition

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April 2015

Volume 2 | Issue 4

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Day was held on March 30, 2015 at the Great Hall, Somerville House. The event was an outstanding success. We had a record number of presentations and attendees making it an unparalleled event for our department. The interaction on the day, as well as the feedback received, was truly a testament to the benefit of the event to our members and our department’s research profile. We are excited to share some of the highlights that made the 2015 Research Day such a success.

The day started with a keynote address by Dr. Nahum Sonenberg, the James McGill Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at McGill. Dr. Sonenberg is an internationally recognized biochemist and a true Canadian superstar. He discovered the mRNA cap-binding protein, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). At our Research Day, Dr. Sonenberg provided compelling evidence of a role of eIF4E and protein translation control in cancer and autism. Dr. Sonenberg’s inspiring keynote speech was followed by platform presentations by our Pathology and Laboratory Medicine residents and graduate students. Topics covered in these presentations included fundamental cancer biology, differential cancer diagnosis, and establishing models of renal carcinoma and neurodegenerative diseases among others. The day continued with afternoon poster viewing sessions that highlighted our trainees’ progress and showcased our department’s strong stance in both basic and clinical science. The poster presenters shared their in-depth research to interested attendees and judges. We can only imagine the difficulty our judges may have faced because of the superb quality of the work presented by our undergraduate students, graduate students, and residents. The day wrapped up with the Award Ceremony at Windermere Manor. We congratulate all the awardees (below).

The Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Day Committee would like to thank all the presenters, platform presentation moderators, judges, and everyone who attended for making the day memorable.

Keynote speaker
Dr. Nahum Sonenberg

Presenters

Posters

Awardees

The Chair's Award for Best Clinical Science Presentation by a Resident
2015 Awardee: Dr. Matthew Cecchini
Presentation: Loss of the Retinoblastoma Tumor Suppressor Leads to Improved Outcome in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma

The Best Clinical Science Poster Presentation by a Resident
2015 Awardee: Dr. Matthew Kubica
Presentation: Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Mimicking an Upper Gastrointestinal Polyp

The M. Daria Haust Award Best Basic Science Presentation by a Graduate Student
This award is given in recognition of Dr. M. Daria Haust’s many achievements in the Department of Pathology at Western and LHSC
2015 Awardee: Milica Krstic
Presentation: The role of transcriptional regulator TBX3 in early breast cancer progression

Best Basic Science Poster Presentation by a Graduate Student
2015 Awardee: Meghan Piccinin
Presentation: Diabetic Marrow Adipogenesis Alters Composition of Stem Cell Niche and Impairs CD133-positive Stem Cell Survival

Best Basic/Clinical Science Collaborative Poster Presentation
2015 Awardee: Yadira Tejeda Saldana
Presentation: Variable Region Sequencing of a Monoclonal Antibody Against Escherichia coli O157.

Master of Clinical Science-Pathologists' Assistant Graduate Research Award
2015 Awardee: Lei Gong
Presentation: Intra-departmental quality assurance program for pathologists’ assistants in surgical pathology
2015 Awardee: Andrew Zhang
Presentation: Is Perineural Invasion in Prostatic Core Biopsies Prognostically Significant?

Best Undergraduate Basic Science Poster
2015 Awardee: Edmund Yim
Presentation: Effects of the Western diet and IUGR on Glucose Homeostasis

The Cameron Wallace Graduate Student Award in Pathology
This award recognizes a graduate student's achievement in both Pathology research and course work. This award is given in recognition of Dr. Cameron Wallace who was the head of the Department of Pathology from 1965 - 1974.
2015 Awardee: Jina Kum

News Stories

PaLM Research Day Photos

All of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Day Photos are available for download. Click here

2015 Schulich Award of Excellence Winner - Dr. Weir!

We are delighted that Dr. Michele Weir has been awarded the 2015 Schulich Award of Excellence for Graduate/Postgraduate Education - Educator Award. The award is in recognition of the time and energy Dr. Weir has devoted to postgraduate education at Schulich. The award will be presented at the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Celebration of Excellence, on May 20. Read more.
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Ana Pena Diaz completes her MSc Thesis

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory of Medicine would like to offer congratulations to Ana M. Pena Diaz, who has completed her MSc in Pathology. Dr. Subrata Chakrabarti is Ana’s MSc supervisor. The title of Ana's thesis is "Protective Effect of Modified Human Fibroblast Growth Factor on Diabetic Nephropathy". Read more.
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CaRMS Match

We are happy to report that we had a successful CaRMS match. We look forward to welcoming our new AP PGY1 residents in July, Paul Plantinga and Thomas Shi (both from Western University).

Schulich Scent Policy

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is raising awareness with all staff, faculty and students about the use of scents and fragrances.Scents have been known to cause irritation of the eyes, throat and nose for some individuals with allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions. We encourage everyone to promote a scent-free environment across the School. Read More

Upcoming Events

Advances in Practice of Cytopathology 2015

Saturday, May 2, 2015 @ 8:30 am | Read more

Transplant Immunology Open House

Monday, May 4, 2015 UH Board Room, C3-170
Presentation & Introduction @ 2:00 pm
Transplant Immunology Tour @ 2:30 - 3:30 pm

Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Celebration of Excellence

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 @ 6:00 - 9:30 pm | Read more

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Awardees

The Chair's Award for Best Clinical Science Presentation by a Resident 2015 Awardee: Dr. Matthew Cecchini Presentation: Loss of the Retinoblastoma Tumor Suppressor Leads to Improved Outcome in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma

The Best Clinical Science Poster Presentation by a Resident 2015 Awardee: Dr. Matthew Kubica Presentation: Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Mimicking an Upper Gastrointestinal Polyp

Best Basic Science Poster Presentation by a Graduate Student 2015 Awardee: Meghan Piccinin Presentation: Diabetic Marrow Adipogenesis Alters Composition of Stem Cell Niche and Impairs CD133-positive Stem Cell Survival

Best Basic/Clinical Science Collaborative Poster Presentation 2015 Awardee: Yadira Tejeda Saldana Presentation: Variable Region Sequencing of a Monoclonal Antibody Against Escherichia coli O157.