Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Day - March 30, 2017

We held yet another amazing Research Day on March 30th at the Great Hall, Somerville House. Unlike previous years, the Paterson Lecture did not coincide with the Research Day in 2017. However, it did not take anything away from one of the most successful showcases of our research achievements in the Department’s history. The day began with opening remarks from Dr. Subrata Chakrabarti, Chair/Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. In his remarks, Dr. Chakrabarti reinforced and reaffirmed the Department’s vision and mission. He also provided a snapshot of our accomplishments over the past few years and highlighted a few novel future developments. Following the opening remarks, participants were treated to a lineup of a record-breaking 71 abstract presentations. Almost half of all faculty in our Department served as judges and interacted with our young, talented researchers throughout the day.  There was certainly a buzz and an excitement in the air.  It was great to see the breadth of our research activities. 

The day concluded with a celebration of the hard work all presenters put into presenting their research. A number of awards denoting exceptional performance in platform and poster presentation were presented at the Awards Ceremony at Windermere Manor.
 
The day was successful because of the effort of the presenters, the 24 judges who devoted their valuable time to interact with the presenters, and the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Day Committee. Special thanks to Kathilyn Allewell, Tracey Koning, Cheryl Campbell, Mellonie Carnahan, Linda Jackson-Boeters, Nancy Chan, Martin Duennwald, Manal Gabril, Zia Khan, Emily Goebel, Jina Kum, Vy Ngo, Terry Robins, Shannon Hubbert, Susan Underhill, and Mair Hughes.

We would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all the judges:
 
Guest Judges:
Brian Chow (Toronto), Deborah Lenz (London), Dr. Iram Siddiqui (Toronto), Dr. Rebekah Jacques (Toronto).
 
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Judges:
Drs. Alan Tuck, Art Poon, Bekim Sadikovic, Chandan Chakraborty, Christopher Howlett, Edith Arany, Hon Leong, Joan Knoll, Johan Delport, Lisa Cameron, Manal Gabril, Mark Darling, Martin Duennwald, Nancy Chan, Nikhil Sangle, Rob Hammond, Savita Dhanvantari, Stephanie Frisbee, Sunil Parapuram, and Zia Khan.

Platform Presentation Awards

Chair's Award for the Best Clinical Science Presentation
This award recognizes a Pathology Resident’s excellence in research design and performance as well as the presentation of the research topic. 
 
2017 Awardee: Dr. Matthew Cecchini
Title of the presentation: The Utility of CDX2 Loss as a Prognostic Marker in Stage II Colon Cancer.
         
Dr. M. Daria Haust Award for the Best Basic Science Presentation
This award recognizes a graduate student’s excellence in research design and performance as well as the presentation of the research topic. This award is given in recognition of Dr. M. Daria Haust’s many achievements in the Department of Pathology at the University of Western Ontario and London Health Sciences Centre. 
 
2017 Awardee: Hayley Good
Title of the presentation: The effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the initiation of Dclk1+ tuft cell-derived colitis-associated cancer.
 

Poster Presentation Awards

Best Clinical Science Poster Presentation Award
This award recognizes a Pathology Resident’s excellence in research design and performance as well as the presentation of the poster. 
 
2017 Awardee: Dr. Paul Plantinga
Title of the presentation: Histological Elucidation of Tumour Deposits in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma.
 
Best Basic Science Poster Presentation Award
This award recognizes a Graduate Student’s excellence in research design and performance as well as the presentation of the poster. 
 
2017 Awardee: Farzad Asadi
Title of the presentation: A novel theory on mechanisms of glucagon secretion from pancreatic alpha cells.
 
Best Basic/Clinical Science Collaborative Poster Presentation
This award recognizes excellence in research design and performance as well as the presentation of a research poster. This award is given to a Graduate Student or a Pathology Resident to recognize collaborative basic and clinical science research. 
 
2017 Awardee: Jina JY Kum
Title of the presentation: Transforming growth factor-β1 pathway regulates differentiation of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells
         
Best Undergraduate Basic Science Poster Presentation
This award recognizes excellence in research design and performance as well as presentation of a research poster by an undergraduate student in Pathology modules of the Bachelor of Medical Science program. 
 
2017 Awardee: Maham Bushra
Title of the presentation: The Effects of Repeated Exposure to Whole Body Vibration on Murine Intervertebral Disc and Knee Joint Health.
 

Other Awards presented at Research Day

MClSc Graduate Research Award (two awardees)
This award recognizes excellence in research design and performance as well as the presentation of a research poster by a graduate student in the Master of Clinical Science – Pathologist’s Assistant program.
 
2017 Awardee: Terry Robins
Title of the presentation: Suitability of RNA Isolated from Archived Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Oral Dysplastic Lesions for Diagnosis of an HPV Etiology.
 
2017 Awardee: Brittany Pillon
Title of the presentation: Youth suicide age and sex related trends in Ontario First Nations communities: A comparison
 
The Cameron Wallace Graduate Student Award in Pathology
The award recognizes a graduate student’s high achievement in research, course work, and social involvement. 
2017 Awardee: Richard Filek 

Dr. P.C. Raju & Jyoti Shah Resident Research Prize
To recognize the Pathology resident with the best original or research article published by the resident as first author.

2017 Awardee: Dr. Emily Goebel
Title of the publication: Goebel EA, McCluggage WG, Walsh JC, Mitotically Active Sclerosing Stromal Tumor of the Ovary: Report of a Case Series With Parallels to Mitotically Active Cellular Fibroma. International Journal of Gynecological Pathology 2016; 35:549–553.
 
Dr. P.C. Raju & Jyoti Shah Graduate Education Prize
To recognize the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine graduate student with the best first-authored original or research article published.

2017 Awardee: Anu Thomas
Title of the publication: Thomas AA, Feng B, Chakrabarti S. ANRIL: A Regulator of VEGF in Diabetic Retinopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.2017;58:470-480.