Award Winners

2023 Research and QI Day

2023 Award Winners

Scientific Award Winners


Ballermann Translational Research Fellowship Award

Recipient: Karthivashan Govindarajan, Post-doctoral Fellow
Supervisor: Dr. Satyabrata Kar, Division of Neurology

  • Title: Significance of native PLGA nanoparticles in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
    pathology
  • Authors: Anand, B (Anand, Bibin) ; Wu, Q (Wu, Qi ; Nakhaei-Nejad, M (Nakhaei-Nejad, Maryam; Karthivashan, G (Karthivashan, Govindarajan); Dorosh, L (Dorosh, Lyudmyla); Amidian, S (Amidian, Sara); Dahal, A (Dahal, Abhishek); Li, XJ (Li, Xiuju); Stepanova, M (Stepanova, Maria); Wille, H (Wille, Holger); Giuliani, F (Giuliani, Fabrizio); Kar, S (Kar, Satyabrata)
  • BIOACTIVE MATERIALS Volume 17; Page 506-525

Karthivashan Govindarajan standing beside his poster board


 

Paul Man Award

Recipient: Ritu Mann-Nuttel, Post-doctoral Fellow
Supervisor: Dr. Paul Forsythe, Division of Pulmonary Medicine

  • Title: House dust mite allergen induces PAR-1 dependent CGRP release from cultured human pulmonary neuroendocrine cells
  • Authors: Ritu Mann-Nuttel and Paul Forsythe
  • Division of Pulmonary Medicine

 

Poster Presentation Award

Graduate student/Post-doctoral Fellow Poster:

Recipient: Pallabi Sil Paul, Post-doctoral Fellow
Supervisor: Dr. Satyabrata Kar, Division of Neurology

  • Title: Inhibition of Amyloid β seed-induced tau aggregation by native PLGA nanoparticles and its significance in Alzheimer’s disease
  • Authors: P.S. Paul, T. Patel, J-Y. Cho, A. Yarahmady, V. Semenchenko, H. Wille, M. Kulka, S-A. Mok2 and S. Kar

Pallabi Sil Paul standing by her poster board


 
Core Internal Medicine/Senior Subspecialty Resident Poster:

Recipient: John Soleas, Core Internal Resident (PGY3)
Supervisor: Dr. Karen Madsen, Division of Gastroenterology

  • Title: Effects of empagliflozin on T cells from ulcerative colitis patient
  • Authors: John Soleas, Naomi Hotte, Karen Madsen

John Soleas standing beside his poster board


 

Oral Presentation Award

Recipient: Areli Lorenzana Carrillo, Graduate Student
Supervisor: Dr. Gopinath Sutendra, Division of Cardiology

  • Title: TRIM35-Mediated Histone 2B Ubiquitination; An Epigenetic Modification that Reveals P53 Transcriptional Targets in Heart Failure

 Areli Lorenzana Carrillo presenting her research at a lecturn


 

Quality Improvement Award Winners


Poster Presentation Award

Recipient: Crystal Liu, Resident
Supervisor: Dr. Sergio Zepeda-Gomez, Division of Gastroenterology

  • Title: Timing of cholecystectomy after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in a tertiary centre: Evaluation of outcomes

Crystal Liu standing by her poster board



Oral Presentation Award

Recipient: Amanda Brost, Resident
Supervisor: Dr. Anca Tapardel, Division of General Internal Medicine

  • Title: Decreasing the Number of Patients Waiting to be Seen at the General Internal Medicine Kaye Edmonton Clinic

Amanda Brost presenting her work at a lecturn


 

2022 Me2 Majumdar Research and Quality Improvement Collaborative Day Winners

research day

1st Prize Oral Presentation (TIED)

PhD Graduate Student Justine Lai
  • Supervisor: Dr. Peng Wang, Division of Hematology
  • Title: SORE6 reporter as a novel tool to decipher cancer stemness and disease relapses in acute myeloid leukemia
&
PhD Graduate Student Bruno Saleme
  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, Division of Cardiology
  • Title: m6A bimodal peak signature mediates acute selective stress Translation specialized cytoskeletal ribosomes via a MARK4-FTO-PKR axis

1st Prize Poster Abstract

PhD Graduate Student Parnian Alavi
  • Supervisor: Dr. Nadia Jahroudi, Division of Hematology
  • Abstract Title: Aging results in organ-specific alterations in the level and expression pattern of von Willebrand factor

Paul Man Award

Postdoctoral Fellow Rhys Beaudry

  • Supervisor: Dr. Michael Stickland, Division of Pulmonary Medicine
  • Title: Persistent dyspnea after COVID-19 is not related to cardiopulmonary impairment

Ballermann Translational Research Fellowship Award Winner

PhD Graduate Student Gina Sykes

  • Supervisor: Dr. Glen Jickling, Division of Neurology
  • Title: The aging immune system in acute ischemic stroke: A transcriptomic analysis
2021 Research and Quality Improvement Day Winners

Scientific Oral Presentations

Graduate Student Yongneng Zhang

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, Division of Cardiology
  • Abstract Title: SNPs for genes encoding the mitochondrial proteins Sirt3 and Ucp2 are associated with disease severity, type 2 Diabetes and outcomes in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) patients and this is recapitulated in a new PAH mouse model lacking both genes

Graduate Student David Li

  • Supervisor: Dr. Kieran Halloran, Division of Pulmonary Medicine
  • Abstract Title: Prognostic implications of abnormal left-right lung perfusion differential on routine post-transplant ventilation-perfusion scans

Resident (PGY2) Dylan Johnson

  • Supervisor: Dr. Mohammed Osman, Division of Rheumatology
  • Abstract Title: Nailfold capillaroscopy abnormalities correlate with disease activity in adult dermatomyositis

Runner Ups

Graduate Student Salah Aburhess

  • Supervisor: Dr. Barbara Ballermann, Division of Nephrology
  • Abstract Title: Hypoxia- induced TIMAP Upregulation Promotes Tumor Angiogenesis through Attenuation of ALK1-mediated TIMAP Inhibition

Graduate Student Justine Lai

  • Supervisor: Dr. Peng Weng, Division of Hematology
  • Abstract Title: The novel oncogenic role of NPM1 in FLT3-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Quality Improvement Oral Presentations

Resident (PGY2) Harry Chaocheng Liu

  • Supervisor: Dr. Marlene Dytoc, Division of Dermatology
  • Abstract Title: Beyond Skin Deep: Case-based Online Learning Modules to Improve the Understanding of Multidisciplinary Care in Dermatology among Students

Resident (PGY5) Nazia Sharfuddin

  • Supervisor: Dr. Narmin Kassam & Dr. Lindsay Bridgland, Division of General Internal Medicine
  • Abstract Title: Advancing Health Equity during the COVID-19 Pandemic through Digital Medical Interpretation Platforms

The Paul Man Award

Graduate Student Yongneng Zhang

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, Division of Cardiology
  • Abstract Title: SNPs for genes encoding the mitochondrial proteins Sirt3 and Ucp2 are associated with disease severity, type 2 Diabetes and outcomes in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) patients and this is recapitulated in a new PAH mouse model lacking both genes

The Ballermman Translational Research Fellowship Award

Graduate Student Joseph Kamtchum-Tatuene

  • Supervisor: Dr. Glen Jickling, Division of Neurology
  • Title: Prevalence of High-Risk Plaques and Risk of Stroke in Patients with Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis: A Meta-analysis

2020 Research Day Award Winners
Due to COVID-19 and the Government of Alberta's Chief Medical Officer's directives on hosting large events, the Department of Medicine's Annual Research Day for 2020 was cancelled.  As a result, the 2020 Research Day Awards were not awarded.
2019 Research Day Award Winners

Best Poster Presentations

1st Prize Graduate Student

Graduate Student Andrew Masoud

  • Supervisor: Dr. Allan Murray
  • Title: Apelin promotes vascular repair following immune-mediated injury through directing tip-cell differentiation

Honorable Mention

 

Postdoctoral Fellow Andrew Castle

  • Supervisor: Dr. David Westaway
  • Title of Abstract: Development of CRISPR-Cas9-based gene drive approaches to prion disease resistance

Best Oral Presentations

1st Prize (Tie) Graduate Student

Graduate Student Arunima Sivanand

  • Supervisor: Dr. Robert Gniadecki
  • Title of Abstract: Neoantigens in mycosis fungoides: whole exome sequencing discovery of immunotherapeutic targets

Graduate Student Sotirios Zervopoulos

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis
  • Title of Abstract: A novel non-canonical pathway of nuclear entry of proteins lacking a nuclear localization sequence

The Paul Man Award

Graduate Student Aishwarya Iyer

  • Supervisor: Dr. Robert Gniadecki
  • Title of Abstract: Identifying intratumor heterogeneity in Mycosis fungoides using high throughput DNA sequencing

The Translational Research Fellowship Awards

Graduate Student Bruno Saleme

  • Supervisor: Dr. Gopinath Sutendra
  • Title of Abstract: Tissue-specific regulation of p53 by PKM2 is redox dependent and provides a therapeutic target for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity
  • Journal Name: Science Translational Medicine

Postdoctoral Fellow Maryam Ebadi

  • Supervisor: Dr. Aldo Montano-Loza
  • Title of Abstract: Poor performance of psoas muscle index for identification of patients with higher waitlist mortality risk in cirrhosis
  • Journal Name: Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle

 

2018 Research Day Award Winners

Best Poster Presentations

1st Prize Graduate Student

PhD Graduate Student Sotirios Zervopoulos

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis - Division of Cardiology
  • Title of Abstract: Lamin A forms a structural platform for protein-protein interactions of histone-modifying and metabolic enzymes: a novel link between metabolism and epigenetics

1st Prize Core / Senior Subspecialty / Postdoctoral Fellow

R3 Core Internal Medicine Resident Anna-Maria Bosonea

  • Supervisor: Dr. Dean Befus - Division of Pulmonary Medicine
  • Title of Abstract: Trends in Asthma Epidemiology in Alberta

Best Oral Presentations

1st Prize Graduate Student

PhD Graduate Student Bruno Saleme

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis - Division of Cardiology
  • Title of Abstract: TMethyl tags on selected mRNAs are needed for the acute translation of stress responsive proteins under major cellular stress

Honorable Mention

PhD Graduate Student Xueyi Chen

  • Supervisor: Dr. Gavin Oudit - Division of Cardiology
  • Title of Abstract: Cardiac Endothelial p110α Regulates Ventricular Remodeling Following Myocardial Infarction

1st Prize Core / Senior Subspecialty / Postdoctoral Fellow

R5 Senior Subspecialty Resident Daniel Sawler

  • Supervisor: Dr. Lalit Saini - Division of Hematology
  • Title of Abstract: Two Cycles of Consolidation Chemotherapy are Associated with Similar Clinical Outcomes to Three Cycles in AML Patients with Favorable Risk Cytogenetics

Honorable Mention

R3 Core Internal Medicine Resident Arpita Gantayet

  • Supervisor: Dr. Narmin Kassam - Division of General Internal Medicine
  • Title of Abstract: High-cost users of acute care at the University of Alberta Hospital: A deeper dive into predictive patient and system factors

The Paul Man Award

Postdoctoral Fellow Jayme Kosior

  • Supervisor: Dr. Ken Butcher - Division of Neurology
  • Title of Abstract: Monitoring Reperfusion During Endovascular Therapy

The Translational Research Fellowship Award

PhD Graduate Student Abul Kalam Azad

  • Supervisor: Dr. Allan Murray - Division of Nephrology
  • Title of Abstract: FGD5 Regulates VEGF Receptor-2 Coupling to PI3 Kinase and Receptor Recycling
  • Journal Name: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
2017 Research Day Award Winners

Best Poster Presentations

1st Prize Graduate Student / Postdoctoral Fellow

Graduate Student Sheela Maria Xavier

  • Supervisor: Dr. Constantine Karvellas - Division of Gastroenterology
  • Title of Abstract: Cardiac surgery in cirrhosis: a retrospective cohort study

1st Prize Core /Subspecialty Resident

Core Internal Medicine Resident Jonathan Wong

  • Supervisor: Dr. Raj Padwal - Division of General Internal Medicine
  • Title of Abstract: The Effect of Back and Feet Support on Oscillometric Blood Pressure Measurements

Best Oral Presentations

1st Prize Graduate Student / Postdoctoral Fellow

Graduate Student Vikram Gurtu

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis - Division of Cardiology
  • Title of Abstract: Targeting Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase with Dichloroacetate in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Variable Clinical Response Driven by Genetic Polymorphisms in Sirtuin 3 and Uncoupling Protein-2

Runner Up

Graduate Student Vivek Gandhi

  • Supervisor: Dr. Harissios Vliogoftis - Division of Pulmonary Medicine
  • Title of Abstract: Insulin regulates proteinase-activated receptor-2 expression on airway epithelium

1st Prize Core / Subspecialty Resident

Core Internal Medicine Resident Grace Lam

  • Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Estey - Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology
  • Title of Abstract: The use of fructosamine in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) screening

Runner Up

Core Internal Medicine Resident Maryam Soleimani

  • Supervisor: Dr. Cynthia Wu - Division of Hematology
  • Title of Abstract: Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in hospitalized patients with cancer: A post-intervention quality improvement study

The Paul Man Award

Postdoctoral Fellow Eugene Asahchop

  • Supervisor: Dr. Chris Power - Division of Neurology
  • Title of Abstract: Antiretroviral drug concentration and efficacy in HIV-infected microglia determine viral persistence in brain tissue

The Translational Research Fellowship Award

Postdoctoral Fellow Rania Soudy

  • Supervisor: Dr. Jack Jhamandas - Division of Neurology
  • Title of Abstract: Cyclic AC253, a novel amylin receptor antagonist, improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

 

2016 Research Day Award Winners

Best Poster Presentations

Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow Arul Duraikannu

  • Supervisor: Dr. Douglas Zochodne - Division of Neurology
  • Title of Abstract: Manipulation of APC-β-Catenin signaling pathway promotes peripheral nerve regeneration

Core & Subspecialty Resident

Subspecialty Resident Vojislav Jovanovic

  • Supervisor: Dr. Brendan Halloran - Division of Gastroenterology
  • Title of Abstract: Microarray Analysis of Crohn's Disease and Correlation with Traditional Clinical and Histologic Features

Best Oral Presentations

Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Fellow

Graduate Student Bruno Saleme

  • Supervisor: Dr. Gopinanth Sutendra - Division of Cardiology
  • Title of Abstract: Metabolic Modulation as a Novel Therapy in Chemotherapy Induced Cardiotoxicity

Core & Subspecialty Resident

Subspecialty Resident Vikram Gurtu

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis - Division of Cardiology
  • Title of Abstract: Targeting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress With 4-Phenylbutyrate Improves Mitochondrial Metabolism and Lung Function in Pulmonary Fibrosis

The Paul Man Award

Graduate Student Thomas Roston

  • Supervisor(s): Sanatani Shubhayan (University of British Columbia) / Padma Kaul (Division of Cardiology)
  • Title of Abstract: A novel mutation underlying an overlap between WPW syndrome, cardiomyopathy and sudden death

The Translational Research Fellowship Award

Graduate Student Braden Millan & Postdoctoral Fellow Heekuk Park

  • Supervisor: Karen Madsen - Division of Gastroenterology
  • Title of Abstract: Fecal Microbial Transplants Reduce Antibiotic-Resistant Genes in Patients with Recurrent Clostrdium Difficile Infection
  • Journal: Clinical Infectious Diseases




2015 Research Day Award Winners

Best Poster Presentations

Graduate Student

Maikel Farhan

  • Supervisor: Dr. Allan Murray
  • Title of Abstract: FGD5 regulates SDF-dependent angiogenesis in vitro

Postdoctoral Fellow

Rania Soudy

  • Supervisor: Dr. Jack Jhamandas
  • Title of Abstract: Development of Brain Penetrant Amylin Receptor Based Peptides: Novel Therapeutics For Alzheimer's Disease

Core Internal Medicine Resident

Darren Lau

  • Supervisor: Dr. Finlay McAlister
  • Title of Abstract: Patient-Reported Discharge Readiness and 30-Day Risk of Readmission or Death: A Prospective Cohort Study

Best Oral Presentations

Graduate Student

Adam Kinnaird

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis
  • Title of Abstract: Myocyte enhancer factor 2A (Mef2A) is a novel biomarker and therapeutic target in human Renal Cell Carcinoma

Postdoctoral Fellow

Vivian Huang

  • Supervisor: Dr. Richard Fedorak
  • Title of Abstract: Fecal Calprotectin: a biomarker and predictor of disease activity during pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel disease

Core Internal Medicine Resident

Christopher Ma

  • Supervisor: Dr. Richard Fedorak
  • Title of Abstract: Early Initiation of Anti-TNF Therapy Reduces the Risk of Loss of Response and Surgical Resection In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The Paul Man Award

Graduate Student

Ammar Hassanzadeh Keshteli

  • Supervisor: Dr. Karen Madsen and Dr. Levinus Dieleman
  • Title of Abstract: Ulcerative colitis patients with and without subclinical inflammation can be differentiated from healthy controls through metabolomic profiling

The Translational Research Fellowship Award

Postdoctoral Fellow

Roxane Paulin

  • Supervisor: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis
  • Title of Paper: Sirtuin 3 Deficiency Is Associated with Inhibited Mitochondrial Function and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Rodents and Humans





2014 Research Day Award Winners

Best Poster Presentations

Graduate Student

PhD Graduate Student Adam Kinnaird

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Evangelos Michelakis (Division of Cardiology)
  • Title of Abstract: Nuclear Pyruvate Dehydrogenase: A Novel Means of Epigenetic Regulation

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow Mahesh Kate

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Kenneth Butcher (Division of Neurology)
  • Title of Abstract: Impaired axonal integrity of corpus callosum in acute phase predicts persistent cognitive deficits in Transient ischemic attack and minor ischemic stroke patients at 90 days

Core Internal Medicine Resident

Core Internal Medicine Resident Michael Ney

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Puneeta Tandon (Division of Gastroenterology)
  • Title of Abstract: Protein intake in cirrhotic patients on the liver transplant waiting list

Best Oral Presentations

Graduate Student

PhD Graduate Student Anahita Mojir

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Nadia Jahroudi (Division of Nephrology)
  • Title of Abstract: Epigenetic modification of an exclusive endothelial cell gene, Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) activates its transcription in some cancer cells

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow Aarti Patel

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Jack Jhamandas (Division of Neurology)
  • Title of Abstract: Chronic brain administration of amylin receptor antagonist, AC253, attenuates spatial memory and learning deficits in Aβ over-expressing (TgCRND8) mice

Core Internal Medicine Resident

Core Internal Medicine Resident Christopher Ma

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Richard Fedorak (Division of Gastroenterology)
  • Title of Abstract: Adalimumab dose escalation is effective for secondary loss of response in outpatients with inflammatory bowel disease

The Paul Man Award

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow Vivian Huang

  • Supervisor Name: Richard Fedorak (Division of Gastroenterology)
  • Title of Abstract: In IBD outpatients knowledge of fecal calprotectin and infliximab trough levels significantly alters clinical decision making

The Translational Research Fellowship Award

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow Stacey Reinke

  • Supervisor Name: Christopher Power (Division of Neurology) / David Broadhurst (Division of General Internal Medicine)
  • Title of Abstract: Implementation of metabolomics strategies in multiple sclerosis






2013 Research Day Award Winners

Best Poster Presentations

Graduate Student

MSc Graduate Student Maikel Farhan

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Allan Murray (Division of Nephrology)
  • Title of Abstract: Akt1 Inhibition Negatively Regulates Endothelial Cells Angiogenesis, Migration and Adhesion in Vitro

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow Charles Mays

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. David Westaway (Division of Neurology)
  • Title of Abstract: Preclinical down-regulation of PrPC precursor suggests a fundamental mechanism for the slow progression of prion infections

Core Internal Medicine Resident

Christopher Ma, R1

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Richard Fedorak (Division of Gastroenterology)
  • Title of Abstract: Anti-TNF Dose Escalation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Best Oral Presentations

Graduate Student

PhD Graduate Student Mahtab Tavasoli

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Barbara Ballermann (Division of Nephrology)
  • Title of Abstract: CLIC5A Deficiency Accentuates Kidney Damage in DOCA/Salt Hypertensive Mice

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow Vaibhav Patel

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Gavin Oudit (Division of Cardiology)
  • Title of Abstract: Loss of p47phox subunit of NADPH oxidase enhances susceptibility to heart failure due to dysregulation of the myocardial intracellular cytoskeleton: Insight from explanted failing human hearts

Senior Subspecialty Resident

Senior Subspecialty Resident Kristin Lyons

  • Supervisor Name: Dr. Padma Kaul (Division of Cardiology)
  • Title of Abstract: Differences in Mortality Outcomes among Status Aboriginal Patients and Caucasian Patients with Heart Failure

The Paul Man Award

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow Nami Shrestha

  • Division: Pulmonary Medicine (Dr. Lisa Cameron)
  • Title of Abstract: Increased Proportion of CD4+ T Cells Expressing CRTh2 in Severe Asthma

The Translational Research Fellowship Award

Postdoctoral Fellow

PhD Graduate Student Peter Dromparis

  • Division: Cardiology (Dr. Evangelos Michelakis)
  • Paper Title: Attenuating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Pulmonary Hypertension