Lunenfeld trainees at the heart of new research ideas

Over 200 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and clinical research fellows are trained at the Lunenfeld each year through the Research Training Centre (RTC). This summer, many Lunenfeld labs will welcome new trainees, and we will also wish ‘Lunenfeld graduates’ well as they begin exciting new opportunities at the conclusion of their research projects here.

 

(August 5, 2010 – Toronto)

 

Over 200 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and clinical research fellows are trained at the Lunenfeld each year through the Research Training Centre (RTC). This summer, many Lunenfeld labs will welcome new trainees, and we will also wish ‘Lunenfeld graduates’ well as they begin exciting new opportunities at the conclusion of their research projects here. 

 

Since 1998, the Lunenfeld has significantly benefited from the RTC, a program that offers trainees, drawn to the Lunenfeld from countries as far ranging as Iran, China, Belgium, Korea and more, an exceptional research-based learning environment.

 

“Our biggest contribution to biomedical research in Canada is the network of trainees from our centre who act as ambassadors for the Lunenfeld,” said Senior Investigator Dr. Jim Dennis, whose lab recruits several new trainees each year.

 

Trainees are at the heart of innovative research, and a large fraction of the success of the Lunenfeld can be attributed to our ability to attract and form outstanding graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

 

“It is therefore highly rewarding to see our best students taking on new challenges in basic research,” said Dr. Anne-Claude Gingras, Director of the RTC.

 

Several recent examples of our trainees’ success include:

 

John Calarco, a PhD candidate supervised by Dr. Mei Zhen, has received an exciting three-year research fellowship to Harvard University’s Center for Systems Biology, as part of the university’s Bauer Fellows program.

 

“John initiated several research projects independently in my lab that he will continue to develop as a fellow at Harvard University,” said Dr. Zhen. “His passion for research, success in his scientific career, and maturity has been a model for many junior trainees not only in my lab, but also in the Department of Molecular Genetics.”

 

 

George Charames, who was a student in Dr. Bharati Bapat’s lab, will soon begin a two-year Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, toward certification by the American Board of Medical Genetics. George was selected as one of only two Fellows in the prestigious program.

 

“George has a unique combination of an enterprising nature, people skills and a positive outlook that enables him to take on challenges and reach his goals,” said Dr. Bapat.

 

One of Dr. Steve Gallinger's graduate students, Wigdan Al-Sukhni, is working on a project that focuses on the identification of novel genetic alterations called copy number variation. In recognition of her groundbreaking work in this area, as well as her community involvement and leadership, Wigdan received a prestigious Canada Vanier Scholarship to help further her research.

 

Stephanie Panier, a trainee working with Dr. Dan Durocher, received a Canada Vanier Scholarship to pursue her graduate studies in Dan’s laboratory.

 

“Trainees enrich all of us by bringing their new ideas and perspectives to research and, in turn, accumulate their own valuable experiences for their own careers,” said Dr. Jim Woodgett, Director of Research.