ANNUAL REPORT 2012–2013

IBBME

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I am pleased to present the IBBME 2012-2013 Annual Report. Over the past year, IBBME has enjoyed tremendous success across all of its initiatives. From the world-class research programs within its four theme areas to its involvement in the University of Toronto’s growing undergraduate biomedical engineering curriculum, IBBME continues to be the leading institute for biomedical engineering research and education in Canada. It is a truly remarkable operation spanning the Faculties of Applied Science and Engineering, Medicine, and Dentistry, and some 200 graduate students and over 100 core and cross-appointed faculty members. The success of IBBME in the past year is a testament to the strength and engagement of our faculty, staff, and students, and especially to the tireless work of IBBME’s past Director, Professor Paul Santerre. It was through Paul’s initiative, guidance, and ceaseless enthusiasm that the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering will be rolling out a new Minor in Biomedical Engineering this coming fall. This minor will provide students with the opportunity to engage in a course of biomedical engineering study starting in their first year and culminating in a unique opportunity for biodesign and lab mentorship experiences in their 4th year. Our faculty’s world-class research activities continue to garner accolades and recognition, not only nationally but internationally, and I invite you to read their stories and follow how their discoveries are helping improve the health of Canadians. With the addition of Professors Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez, Penney Gilbert, Paul Yoo, Jose Zariffa and the appointment of Dr. Dawn Kilkenny as IBBME’s first lecturer, IBBME continues to grow its research and education missions by recruiting leading engineers and scientists to the ranks of its faculty. With this growth, IBBME continues to face numerous challenges, and we are working hard to provide the critical infrastructure, space, and resources needed to support the vibrant programs of our students and faculty. I encourage you to visit IBBME to see our labs, meet our faculty and speak with our students.

professor christopher yipDirector, IBBME

A Message from the Director

“ IBBME continues to be the leading institute for biomedical engineering research and education in Canada.”

— PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER YIP DIRECTOR, IBBME

2010Amir Manbachi is the first student to be

admitted to IBBME’s PhD Biomedical

Engineering (Clinical Engineering

concentration). His supervisors are

Richard Cobbold and Howard Ginsberg.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011Professor Ginsberg plants the seeds for

Amir’s research, even as many of the student

researchers in Dr. Ginsberg’s lab are working

on ultrasound technologies. “I’m standing on

the shoulders of other people who were there

before me,” Amir argues.

SEPTEMBER 2012Amir returns from spending five months in

Freiburg, Germany, as an intern for Stryker

International, one of the largest medical

device companies in the world. There, he

learns the first-hand fundamentals of bringing

a product from the nascent idea stage to the

design, development, testing, and approval

stages and sees “real world innovation”

in the workplace.

4th year Doctoral Candidate Amir Manbachi proves that you don’t have to wait until graduation

to begin building your career. How did he successfully begin turning his doctoral research

into an investment opportunity?

JANUARY 2013“I ran into a few brick walls,” Amir admits. His

thesis committee warns Amir that his project

might be too ambitious, but Amir is adamant

that he wants to create a medical device.

LATE JANUARY 2013Amir learns he has won $50,000 in start-up

funds from the Ontario Centre of Excellence.

MARCH 2013Along with his supervisors, Amir founds spin-off

company Spinesonics, Inc., featuring its premiere

product, the PedicProbe. The PedicProbe is

designed using ultrasound technology to help

navigate during difficult spinal surgeries.

MAY 2013Spinesonics, Inc. is awarded another $50,000

from the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI), and

another $15,000 from the Graduate Enterprise

Internship program. Meanwhile, Spinesonics,

Inc. files 2 patents on the PedicProbe technol-

ogy (currently under review).

SEPTEMBER 2013Spinesonics, Inc. hires its first full-time paid

(internship) employee, Catherine Gdyczynski,

to act as “Head of Engineering Operations.” Two

more interns are forthcoming within a month.

ANATOMY OF A SPIN-OFF COMPANY

FACULTY PROMOTIONS Jonathan Rocheleau – granted tenure, promoted to Associate Professor

NEW CORE APPOINTMENTSJose Zariffa, Assistant ProfessorDawn Kilkenny, Lecturer

NEW CROSS-APPOINTMENTSH.L.Margaret Cheng Benjamin HattonJosh MilsteinTom WaddellThomas WillettKazuhiro Yasufuku Edmond Young

CHAIRS Warren Chan, Canada Research Chair of Biotechnology, Tier 2Tom Chau, Canada Research Chair in Rehabilitation Engineering,

Tier 2Alex Mihailidis, Barbara G. Stymiest Research Chair in Rehabilitation

Technology, Toronto Rehabilitation InstituteMilica Radisic, Canada Research Chair in Functional Cardiovascular

Tissue Engineering, Tier 2Molly Shoichet, Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering, Tier 1Craig Simmons, Canada Research Chair in Mechanobiology, Tier 2Aaron Wheeler, Canada Research Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry,

Tier 2Peter Zandstra, Canada Research Chair in Stem Cell Bioengineering,

Tier 1

FACULTY AWARDSJoseph Cafazzo

Peoples’ Choice Award, World Congress mHealth Innovation Conference.

Warren ChanE.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, NSERC

Tom ChauQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal201 2 Product Utilization Support and Help (PUSH) Award –

Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer (K4TT), University of Buffalo

Rodrigo Fernandez-GonzalezCon naught New Researcher Award – University of TorontoCanada Foundation for Innovation Award

Axel GuentherInve ntor of the Year Award, University of Toronto

ENABLE

Paul YooConnaught New Researcher Award - University of TorontoCanadian Foundation for Innovation AwardLeadership Opportunity Fund

STUDENT AWARDSibbme scientific day awardsPodium Presentation - Winner: Kenneth NgPodium Presentation - Honorable Mention: James Stewart

Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineBest Poster: Nika ShakibaHonorable Mention: Yasaman Delaviz

Neural, Sensory Systems and RehabilitationBest Poster Jaclyn ObermeyerHonorable Mention: Elias Abou Zeid

Nanotechnology, Molecular Imaging and Systems BiologyBest Poster: Jessica J. LiHonorable Mention: Gillian Vanderlee and Petro Czupiel

Engineering in a Clinical SettingBest Poster: Charlie WuHonorable Mention: Katherine Chan

2013 ibbme undergraduate2013 ibbme undergraduatesummer research program (usrp)summer research program (usrp)1st Place – Kramay Patel (Popovic lab)2nd Place – Priya Anandakumaran (Shoichet lab)3rd Place – Mei Wen (Davies lab)

2012-13 queen elizabeth ii ontario graduate2012-13 queen elizabeth ii ontario graduatescholarship in science & technologyPadina Pezeshki, Thomas Noakes AwardWinnie Fung, Heart & Stroke Foundation

sally & paul wang distinguished scholarshipsAlan K.LamAlbert Lam

seong lim gooi/ogs awardSong Kim

ibbme international scholars programNooman Mufti

loo geok eng foundation scholarshipJian Feng Qiu

wildcat graduate scholarshipsFaezeh Heydari KhabbazJames Poon

canadian breast cancer foundation –ontario region fellowshipLeo Chou

Geoffrey FernieQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal –

Bernhard GanssIADR/GlaxoSmithKline Innovation in Oral Care Awards – International Association of Dental Research

Penney GilbertConnaught New Researcher Award – University of TorontoCanada Foundation for Innovation AwardLeadership Opportunity Fund

Dawn KilkennyAnnual Graduate Faculty Teaching Awards, Early Career Excellence

Award – Faculty of MedicineEugenia Kumacheva

University ProfessorBioinspired Energy Conversion Technologies, Connaught Global Fund

Canada Research Chair in Advanced Polymer MaterialsAndreas Mandelis

Inventor of the Year – University of TorontoAlex Mihailidis

Kinect Accelerator Program - Microsoft / TechstarsMilos Popovic

2012 University of Toronto Inventors of the Year Award – University of Toronto

Morris (Mickey) Milner Award for outstanding contributions in the area of Assistive Technologies/The Health Technology Exchange, Toronto, Canada

Milica RadisicInventor of the Year Award – University of TorontoQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

Paul SanterreFellow, Canadian Academy of Health SciencesSynergy Innovation Award, NSERC

Michael V. SeftonBiomaterials Achievement Award, New Jersey Center for BiomaterialsThe Gold Medal - Professional Engineers of OntarioFellow, American Association for the Advancement of ScienceR. S. Jane Award, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering

Molly ShoichetFellowship - International Fellows of Tissue Engineering and

Regenerative MedicineFellowship - Canadian Academy of EngineeringQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee MedalFellow: International Fellows of Tissue

Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (FTERM) Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

U of T Inventor of the Year - University of TorontoD.A. Steinman

Fellow, American Society of Mechanical EngineersCatriona Steele

Dysphagia Research Society First Place New Investigator AwardDysphagia Research Society Poster Plenary Session AwardMentorship Award, Canadian Association of Speech-Language

Pathologists and AudiologistsQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee MedalBest Paper Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 35(3), 214-277.

Aaron WheelerMcBryde Medal - Canadian Society for Chemistry

toronto rehabilitation institutestudent scholarshipsHarris LoSteven McGieVarun OhriDaniel VenaTakashi Yoshida

nserc - vanier canada graduate scholarshipsNika Shakiba Kim Tsoi

nserc - postgraduate scholarshipsMirna GuirgisAndrew MyrdenLewis ReisJenna Usprech

nserc - canada graduate scholarshipBryan Quan

cihr master’s awards(frederick banting and charles best(frederick banting and charles bestcanada graduate scholarships)canada graduate scholarships)Joshua BernickHamid EbrahimiAndrea KwongJason Miklas

ontario graduate scholarship awardsAlexandre AlbaneseMaria C ecilia Alvarez VeronesiKyle BattistonJustin BesantBrianne BurtonTabitha ChiuKelsey DownieSong KimChao LiuMohammadsadegh MansouriArianna McAllisterAmir Rez Pakdel SefidgarJustin PangWenlian QiaoManeesha RajoraElizabeth RokNavid SamavitiLarissa SchudloLaila ShaffafAgnes SoosPeter TangSabrina TangJonathan TumkenAnup TuladharAlexandra LisovskyTim Zeyl

“ Sometimes in academia we don’t necessarily know what the market needs. The process of getting involved with commercialization helps improve and guide academics towards socially relevant concerns.”

— BRIAN WANGCo-Founder, Cogni-Wave & U of T MASc student and Exhibitor at IBBME 50th Anniversary Tomorrow’s Technology Showcase

Scientific Day Poster competition, May 2013

NIKA SHAKIBA:InternationalCollaborator.

Future Educatorand Role Model

CURRICULUM UPDATES

bme 479/489 biodesign coursebme 479/489 biodesign courseUnder the direction of Assistant Professor Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez, Professor Moshe Eizenman and Professor Jan Andrysek, the Biodesign Capstone course has taken shape. Stretching over a full year, the course pushes students to tackle a hands-on design project. Eleven projects were submitted for the first course – which kicked off in the September 2013 session – from industry, hospitals, and University of Toronto staff. More information on the course can be found on the Biodesign website: http://biodesign.ibbme.utoronto.ca.

bme undergraduate minorThe Steering Committee working on the Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Minor was rewarded for all their hard work in 2012-13: the minor was adopted in late fall 2013.

To be administered by the Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science Minors Office, the Biomedical Engineering Minor will be a rigorous direct entry program distinguished from the Biomedical Systems Engineering Option (Engineering Science) and the Bioengineering Minor.

Congratulations to the Steering Committee, and in particular Professor Paul Santerre, who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this endeavour.

new full-time lecturer positionIBBME has made important strides in creating a teaching stream in the past year with the hiring of Dawn Kilkenny to the Institute’s first-ever full-time lecturer position. Dr. Kilkenny, who won a Faculty of Medicine University Teaching Award this year, and has been co-chair of IBBME’s Health & Safety Committee for the past several years, will continue to be a major asset within the Institute’s teaching faculty.

UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM (USRP) – HIGHLIGHTS23 students from Guelph, Windsor, Western, McMaster, McGill, Queen’s and the University of Toronto attended IBBME’s 2013 Undergraduate Summer Research Program, running from May 3 – August 21, 2013.

The program pursues three main goals:

• to expose participants to the various research theme areas in IBBME;

• to improve scientific communication skills of the participants, with emphasis on oral presentations; and

• to introduce career options to the participants.

The program culminates with a mini-symposium judged by IBBME faculty members and co-organizers, Associate Professors Eli Sone and Jon Rocheleau. (A list of the winners can be found on page 4.)

EDUCATE

CLASS OF 2012-13PhD Hisham Alshaer “Acoustic Monosomnography For Portable Monitoring of Sleep

Apnea.” Supervisor: Geoffrey FernieSam Au“Development and Characterization of Cell culture Processes on Digital

Microfluidics Platforms.” Supervisor: Aaron WheelerPayam B. Bijari “Investigation of Arterial Geometry as a Local Risk Factor for Carotid

Atherosclerosis.” Supervisor: David SteinmanKelly Chen “Matrix Mechanical and Biochemical Regulation of Mesenchymal

Stromal Cell Differentiation.” Supervisor: Craig SimmonsIrwin Eydelnant “Digital microfluidics for biology.” Supervisor: Aaron WheelerLindsay Fitzpatrick“Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of the Angiogenic Effect of

Poly(Methacrylic Acid-Co-Methyl Methacrylate) Beads.” Supervisor: Michael Sefton

Alan Kwan-Shing Lam“Advancing Dynamic Imaging For Microfluidic-Stimulated Tissues: Biol-

ogy, Techniques, And Applications.” Supervisor: Jonathan RocheleauSaba Moghimi “Detecting Emotional Response to Music Using Near-Infrared

Spectroscopy of the Prefrontal Cortex.” Supervisor: Tom Chau

besa - highlightsThe Biomedical Engineering Students’ Association (BESA), headed by returning President Albert Lam, worked hard to achieve two main goals for this year’s council: to increase connections among students, labs, and their Student Association, and to offer greater professionalization activities.

To accommodate this new agenda, BESA adopted a new position in the council: “Professional Development and Outreach Officer,” and more than doubled the number of events they hosted, raising engagement by a massive 140% over previous years.

BESA hosted three speakers throughout the year, as well as a half-day Career Networking day to their Scientific Day activities. More on this particular event can be found in the Scientific Day highlights on page 14.

cube - highlightsThis year, the Club for Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering (CUBE), which boasts upwards of 200 active members, pursued a number of pro-fessional activities related to biomedical engineering interests, including:

Biomedical Engineering Competition (BMEC) 2013 (judged by Paul Santerre, Mary Nagai and Benjamin Hatton)

MaRS Research Lab TourCUBE/IET Guest Lecturer: Neil Godara, R&D Manager,

Baylis MedicalGrad/Med School Seminar

525# of grants & awards held by IBBME STUDENTS in 2012-13 academic year.

39# of major awards won by students enrolled in the CARE program (2009-2013).

51# of papers published by the CARE program (2009- 2013).

33# of posters presented at conferences by the CARE program (2009-2013).

29# of students enrolled in the CARE (Create Academic Rehabilitation Engineering) program since its inception in 2009.

STUDENT FUNDING: A THREE-YEAR COMPARISON

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2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

External Internal Total

$2.8M $3.9M $4.4M $978K $992K $1.2M $3.8M $4.9M $5.6M

Maneesha Rajora“Development of Self-Assembled Tri-Segmented Fluorinated Oligomers

as Cardiovascular Drug Delivery Platforms.” Supervisor: Paul SanterreGillian Vanderlee“Visualizing Protein Interactions at Supported Bilayer Surfaces.”

Supervisor: C hristopher Yip

MHScIdris Aleem “Online Environmental Control of Multiple Devices Using Functional

Transcranial Doppler.” Supervisor: Tom Chau Caroline Chen “Evaluation of Prosthetic Alignment Methods for Improving Biomechanics

and Mobility of Individuals with Transtibial Amputations.” Supervisor: Jan Andrysek

Christopher Flewwelling “No Fault Found Reporting and its Relation to Human Factors Related

Design Faults of Medical Devices.” Supervisor: Joseph Cafazzo Geoffrey Frost “Decellarization of Porcine Lungs.” Supervisor: Tom Waddell Lata Grover “The Effects of Altering Discharge Policies to the Patient Flow of Alternate

Level of Care Patients.” Supervisor: David Urbach Ajmal Khan “The Design and Evaluation of an Interactive Musical Staircase on Physical

Rehabilitation Therapies for Children.” Supervisor: Elaine Biddiss Melanie Peladeau-Pigeon “Simulation of Perfusion Flow Dynamics for Contrast Enhanced Imaging.”

Supervisor: Catherine Coolens Emily Rose “The Effectiveness of Checklists Versus Bar-codes Towards Detecting

Medication Planning and Execution Errors.” Supervisor: Joseph Cafazzo Jenny Wang“Development and Clinical Validation of a New Handheld Optical Imaging

Device (PRODIGI) and Workflow for Real-Time Intra-Operative Margin Assessment: A Clinical Engineering Analysis.”Supervisor: Ralph DaCosta

Peter Weinstein “The Evaluator Effect in Heuristic Evaluation: a Preliminary Study of

the Impact Of End-Users as Evaluators.” Supervisor: Edward Etchells Rossini Yue “Using Simulation Experiments to Improve the Safety of Multiple Line

Infusions.” Supervisor: Patricia Trbovich

Steve Shih“Automating Digital Microfluidics – Towards High-Throughput Screening.”

Supervisor: Aaron WheelerDaniel Wong “Effects of Unilateral and Bilateral Cochlear Implantation on Cortical

Activity Measured by an EEG Neuroimaging Method in Children.” Supervisor: Robert Harrison

Stanley Wong “Expanding the Uses of Split-Intein Through Protein Engineering”

Supervisor: Kevin Truong

MASc – master of scienceSpencer Bell“The Comparative Performance of Micro- and Nano-topographically

Complex Endosseous Implant Surfaces in Normoglycemic and Hyperglycemic Subjects.” Supervisor: Axel Guenther

Josh Bernick“A Preclinical Assessment of Lithium to Enhance Fracture Healing.”

Supervisor: Cari WhyneBrianne Burton“Improving the Mechanical Properties of Irradiation-Sterilized Bone.”

Supervisor: Marc GynpasKelsey Downie“Live Cell Imaging of CEACAM1 Dynamics and Self-Association

during Bacterial Binding.” Supervisor: Christopher YipAnne Gaspar“Beyond Bone Mineral Density: Detecting Changes in Fracture Risk in

the Absence of Mineral Loss with the Mechanical Response Tissue Analyzer.” Supervisor: Marc Gynpas

Song Kim“Multimodal Quantification of Interpersonal Physiological Synchrony

between Non-verbal Individuals with Severe Disabilities and their Caregivers during Music Therapy.” Supervisor: Tom Chau

Mark Li“Elucidating the Effects of Integrin-Linked Kinase Modulation on

Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase Function in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes.” Supervisor: Milica Radisic

Lucy Lu“Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography-Driven Online System.”

Supervisor: Tom ChauJason Miklas“In Vitro Human Engineered Myocardium: A Study into both Pathological

and Physiological Hypertrophy.” Supervisor: Milica RadisicVarun Ohri“Developing Test Methods for the Evaluation of Scooter Performance in

Winter Conditions.” Supervisor: Geoffrey FernieSanaz Rezai“Physiological Synchrony as Manifested in Dyadic Interactions.”

Supervisor: Tom Chau

25# of awards won by IBBME students enrolled in the MATCH program in 2012-13.

$337,400Earnings of 39 Clinical Engineering interns across 20 diverse companies and institutions, including hospitals, private US-based companies such as Imprivata, and the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2012-13.

33# of students enrolled in CREATE MATCH (Microfluidic Applications and Training in Cardiovascular Health) in 2012-13.

93# of MATCH student publications (refereed journals) to date.

The past year was very good for Interface Biologics, Inc., the company co-founded by Professor (and former IBBME Director)

Paul Santerre.

AngioDynamics and Fresenius, two medical device companies,

entered into extensions of licensing agreements with Interface for use

of their premier product, Endexo™, a permanent and non-eluting

polymer which, once blended with medical materials has been proven

extremely effective at preventing blood clots in catheter applications

– without the need for other blood-thinning agents such as Heparin. The

AngioDynamics agreement now covers CVCs (Central Venous Catheters)

in addition to PICCs (peripherally inserted central catheters), ports

and dialysis catheters. Fresenius now has the right to extend its

agreement to include acute as well as chronic dialysis systems.

Since receiving US regulatory approval in August of 2012, AngioDy-

namic’s BioFlo PICC catheter with Endexo™ now accounts for over

30% of AngioDynamic’s PICC revenues. The BioFlo Port was approved

in September 2013 by the US FDA, and AngioDynamics has succeeded

in signing several single source hospital contracts for use of BioFlo

catheters based on the strength of the Endexo™ technology.

According to Santerre, current Endexo™ applications only represent

“a fraction of the total intellectual property the company has at its

disposal.” Interface is also in the process of further developing two

of its other platform technologies: an anti-microbial catheter cuff with

EpidelÔ and a drug coated balloon with Kinesyx.

With this success, Interface Biologics has already received national

recognition for its commercialization efforts. In February 2013,

Dr. Santerre and Interface Biologics were awarded the prestigious

NSERC Synergy Innovation Award in recognition of the integral part-

nership forged between industry and academia.

But for Santerre, the true value of Interface Biologics, Inc., lies with

its potential impact on Canada’s role in the future of health care

technologies. In his ideal future, “Interface counts as one of a handful

of local companies that becomes a role model to others with entrepre-

neurial spirit. We need to have more role models who demonstrate that

this can be done and here is a possible road to doing it successfully.”

As the company’s President and CEO, Thomas Reeves, related in

a recent statement, “We’re building more than just a start-up

company here.”

BOLDLY GOING:INTERFACE

BIOLOGICS, INC.

“ We’re building more than just a start-up company here.”

— THOMAS REEVESPresident & CEO

Professor Paul Santerre

SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION – IBBME START-UP COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS Avertus is a new company recently begun by Professor Berj Bardakjian. The company is developing a device for the home monitoring of epileptic patients.

CellAegis Devices, Inc, the company began by IBBME Cross-appointed Professor Christopher Calderone in 2008, has reached a number of mile-stones: CE Mark and Canadian regulatory approval has been obtained for their Remote Ischemic Conditioning (“RIC”) technology. The company’s first patented product – with many more patents pending – has been submitted for FDA approval, with US trials expected to be completed in early 2014.

I & J Ideations is the brainchild of recent Doctoral graduate Irwin A. Eydelnant and Jarlath Byrne Rogers (Systems Neurobiology). The partners describe their company as food, technology, and design, the results of which have spawned BEVLAB, a public space in which the community is able to experiment with the creation of new and exotic forms of beverages, among other culinary experiments.

MyndTec, Inc., received one of the largest angel investments in recent provincial history in 2012, allowing the company to move their FES (Functional Electric Stimulation) Therapies to the final stages of development. The product underwent testing to meet with Health Canada approvals in 2012-13, with the goal of launching their product in early 2014. Founded in 2008, the fledgling company has grown to 8 employees in the past year, and was awarded the 2013 Business Award of Excellence - Technology and Innovation Award by the Mississauga Board of Trade.

Spinesonic, Inc. is the company incorporated by Professor Richard Cobbold, Professor Howard Ginsberg, and PhD student Amir Manbachi in 2013. Read a profile on this student-led start-up on page 3.

Tissue Regeneration Therapeutics was awarded a Canadian patent for its platform cell technology, adding to TRT’s growing patent portfolio. The past year saw this innovative stem cell company, begun by

Professor J.E. Davies, license its platform cell technology to private cord blood banks in both Australia and Brazil, and has seen thousands of parents across North America store their umbilical cord mesenchymal cells through the services of TRT licensees ViaCord (USA) and Create Cord Blood Bank (Canada). TRT also completed a non-dilutive $3.25M Royalty Purchase Financing based on revenues generated from its private sector cell storage licensees, and added a new IT employee to its ranks.

Xagenic spun out from cross-appointed Professor Shana Kelley’s company in 2010. In the past two years, the company has grown to 22 employees, and has raised $20M in venture capital in 2013, in a Series B round led by the US Venture Capital Domain Associates.

Xcellpure is the new company incorporated by Associate Professor Milica Radisic and Postdoctoral Researcher Dario Bogojevic in July 2013. The company has a patent pending for technology that enables for the first time the rapid, label-free separation of cardiomyocytes from heteroge-nous cell populations.

RESEARCH OFFICE HIGHLIGHTSThroughout November of 2012 Associate Director, Research Molly Shoichethosted a series of panel discussions: writing a successful NSERC Strategic Project Grant, attracting US Government funding, culminating with a reception for industry partners.

On February 25, a reception in CCBR’s Yip/Friesen Red Seminar Room was the meeting place for representatives from the Centre for the Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), TECHNA, and IBBME. Called “First Date,” the reception allowed for a casual meeting of minds between the commercialization ventures and the biomedical engineering community at the University of Toronto.

The 2nd annual “Lyon Sachs Beyond Borders Symposium in Biomedical Engineering” was held at the Technion Institute in Haifa, Israel, following on the success of the 2011 symposium held at the University. This series of seminars in tissue engineering and biomaterials was attended by 7 IBBME researchers, and allowed budding collaborations to continue.

ADVANCE

184# of publications by IBBME core and cross faculty, 2012-13.

36# of patents filed in in the past 5 years by IBBME core faculty (2008-2012) (3rd highest total in FASE).

7# of patents filed by IBBME in 2012.

$13,684,800In grants held by IBBME Core faculty during the 2012-13 academic year.

A one-day conference held at the Bahen Centre for Information Technology on April 22, 2013, brought together

nearly 100 students and professors from across the University to discuss an issue of global proportions: health.

The conference, co-organized by core faculty Professor Peter Zandstra and

cross-appointed faculty, Professor Yu-Ling Cheng, invited speakers whose talks

crossed numerous health boundaries.

What emerged was a snapshot of the thoughtful, innovative solutions that

University of Toronto professors are engineering, with the help of community

partners, to help developing nations achieve cost-effective, lasting solutions to

some of the world’s greatest health challenges: from solving the sanitation prob-

lem in developing nations to tackling mental health issues in countries with very

little medical infrastructure.

IBBME was well-represented in the event: Cross-appointed Professor Yu-Ling Cheng

presented on the non-flush toilet project, funded by the Gates Foundation, while

IBBME Professor Jan Andrysek discussed his Low Cost Artificial Knee, which

provides a flexible and low-cost solution for lower limb prostheses. Cross-appointed

Professor Shana Kelley, on the other hand, introduced audiences to a 5$ micro-

chip platform that can detect up to 20 different pathogens and 10 types of antibiotic

resistance. (More details on the success of Shana Kelley’s start-up company can

be found on page 11.)

According to Professor Cheng, one important outcome of the symposium was that

“Our researchers became more aware of global health challenges, potentially

interesting biomedical engineering research questions, and funding opportunities

available to them [in this arena].”

Professor Zandstra suggested that the symposium indeed made an indelible

impression: “Certainly, the event catalyzed new Grand Challenges applications

from my group,” he related.

“ Our researchers became more aware of global health challenges, potentially interesting biomedical engineering research questions, and funding opportunities available to them [in this arena].”

— PROFESSOR YU-LING CHENG

GLOBAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

TALKS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

IBBME DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES 2012-13

ibbme 50th anniversary symposiumibbme 50th anniversary symposiumWednesday, October 10, 2012Defining Tomorrow: Advancing the Integration of Engineering & Medicine

Held at the Chestnut Conference Centre, this Symposium capped off IBBME’s 50th Anniversary events with a remarkable day of lectures by outstanding researchers from the University of Toronto and around the world.

Berj BardakjianProfessor, IBBME, University of Toronto

James FawcettProfessor and Chairman, Centre for Brain Repair, Cambridge University

Geoffrey HintonUniversity Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto

Derek van der KooyProfessor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto

Michael LevinVannevar Bush Chair and Professor, Department of Biology and Director, Centre for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University

Andres LozanoMD, Professor and Chairman, Neurosurgery, Canada Research Chair, Neuroscience, University of Toronto and University Health Network

James McClellandLucie Stern Professor in Social Sciences, Chair, Department of Psychology, and founding Director, Centre for Mind, Brain and Computation, Stanford University

Cindi MorsheadAssociate Professor and Chair, Division of Anatomy, cross-appointed to IBBME, University of Toronto

Milos PopovicProfessor, IBBME, and Toronto Rehab Chair in Spinal Cord Injury, University of Toronto, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

ENGAGE

PhD Candidate Lewis Reis at the Bahen Centre for Information Technology

Anesthesia and Sedation” & Dr. Patrick Purdon, “Breakthrough Biomedical Devices for a New Era of Accountable Healthcare”

IBBME LECTURES 2012-13Thursday, September 27, 2012Associate Professor Milica Radisic – “Healthy and Diseased Heart Tissue On A Chip”

Thursday, April 25, 2013Professor Gang Zheng – “Porphysome nanotechnology and beyond”

ibbme scientific day and career dayThursday, May 2 – Friday, May 3, 2013A tradition at IBBME since 1984, in recent years this student-led research symposium has evolved into a world-class, 2-day professional development opportunity.

The Biomedical Engineering Students’ Association (BESA) has been actively developing its professional development portfolio. In 2012-13 Scientific Day co-chairs Maneesha Rajora and Zoryana Salo stretched the previous year’s career panel into a half-day event, beginning with a student-company networking event.

Michael SalterProfessor and Canada Research Chair, Neuroplasticity and Pain, Department of Physiology, University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children

Molly ShoichetProfessor, IBBME, and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, and Canada Research Chair, Tissue Engineering, University of Toronto

Kevin TruongAssociate Professor, IBBME and the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Toronto

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 Dr. Enrico GrattonProfessor of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, University of California Irvine, Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics

Tuesday, March 19, 2013Dr. Nathaniel Sims “Monitoring Brain States During General

85# of posters presented at the 2012 IBBME Scientific Day

8# of podium presentations given at the 2012 IBBME Scientific Day

“There was a palpable sense of energy and enthusiasm from the companies involved in the now-expanded Career Day events - from the panelists to the exhibitors who were eager to talk to our students about career opportunities,” said IBBME’s Director, Professor Christopher Yip. “Engaging our alumni on the career panel was a terrific idea as they provided real-world context about how their training in IBBME prepared them for their careers,” he continued.

The hour-long career panel featured IBBME alumni: Jorge Silva, co-founder of Komodo OpenLab, an open-source assistive technology lab; Aaron Steinman of Vivosonic; Rohin Iyer of Tissue Regeneration Therapeutics (a spin-off company started by Professor J. E. Davies), as well as Stephen Perelgut from IBM Canada and Linus Leung from Baylis Medical.

For those students considering the job market the panelists had sage, and sometimes unexpected, advice.

“We really appreciate people who aren’t afraid to fail and learn from their mistakes,” Jorge Silva offered the over 200 audience members. Silva, whose company, Komodo OpenLab, is founded upon crowd-sourced technology and “wikinomics,” pointed to the ever-evolving democrati-zation of production.

“ Engaging our alumni on the career panel was a terrific idea as they provided real-world context about how their training in IBBME prepared them for their careers”

— PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER YIPDirector, IBBME

“ We really appreciate people who aren’t afraid to fail and learn from their mistakes.”

— JORGE SILVAIBBME Alumni, Co-founder of Komodo Open Lab

200+# of attendees at the 2012-13 IBBME Career Day

18# of exhibiting companies at the 2012-13 IBBME Career Day

New core faculty members Penney Gilbert, Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez and Paul Yoo have more

than research in common: each was awarded prestigious Connaught and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

awards, for a total of close to $450,000.

The CFI funding is awarded to promising new faculty researchers, with the goal of

helping new faculty obtain the infrastructure they need to pursue their research.

Assistant Professor Penney Gilbert, a stem cell engineer who studies the fates of

skeletal muscle stem cells, used her funding to purchase time lapse microscopy

equipment that allows her to visualize 2- and 3-D living cell cultures. Another

purchase, a Cell Flow Cytometer, helps Gilbert and her students analyze proteins

on single cells — markers that allow the researchers to determine the fate of the

stem cells.

“By understanding and then harnessing the potential of stem cells that are already

in our muscles, our goal is to ensure mobility throughout the ages,” stated Gilbert.

Assistant Professor Paul Yoo added a multi-channel electrode array recording

system to his lab with his funding. Yoo is taking a new approach to an old cure

for people suffering from overactive bladder activity. The recording system will

help Yoo and his researchers map the nerve pathways that can be used to treat

this widespread problem. “People have looked at different frequencies, but no

one has looked at the entire system in this much detail. That really sets [this

research] apart.”

Assistant Professor Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalez purchased a one-of-a-kind piece

of technology for the Toronto biomedical engineering research community with

his CFI grant: a “spinning disc confocal microscope equipped for laser ablation

and photomanipulation.”

The microscope allows Fernandez-Gonzalez to study live tissue samples at the

molecular, cellular and tissue levels – an imperative for his field, which involves

the study of animal development, particularly embryos.

Yet, although the new equipment is essential for the new researchers, it will

also be of potential help to other researchers in the collaborative environment of

IBBME. The new microscope is necessary for Fernandez-Gonzalez and his lab, for

instance, but it will also be a draw for other researchers interested in studying

subcellular structures, and will likely facilitate greater collaboration among some

of the world’s leading biomedical research facilities.

“There’s no other microscope like this that exists in Toronto,” Fernandez-Gonzalez

states. “It’s very, very exciting.”

“ By understanding and then harnessing the potential of stem cells that are already in our muscles, our goal is to ensure mobility through-out the ages.”

— ASSISTANT PROFESSOR PENNEY GILBERTwith students: (left to right) Mohsen Afshar, Richard Cheng, Neeraj Gupta.

NEW FACULTY WIN MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE,

RESEARCH FUNDING

INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES

electronic display unitThrough a project funded by the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering Dean’s Strategic Fund, we were able to install an LCD electronic display unit at the entrance of the Rosebrugh building. The display has helped establish IBBME’s identity in the building, and has greatly enhanced our ability to share information and broadcast events of interest to the IBBME community.

signageSignage was revamped throughout the Rosebrugh and Mining buildings. New, updated directories were also installed at three key locations.

autoclaveA new autoclave was installed in a central location in the Mining Building for the communal use of our resident research groups.

space challengesAs our research community and teaching opportunities rapidly expand, space continues to present a significant challenge for the Institute.

UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING LAB Investments in the future of education The Teaching Lab invested $128,000 in new equipment, funded with support from the Engineering Society Temporary Student Levy Fund and the FASE Bioengineering Minor:

• Agilent Bioanalyzer Microfluidics System• Thermo Scientific Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC)• Panasonic -150ºC Freezer• BioRadio devices and software (CleveLab and BioCapture)• Roche LightCycler Q-PCR devices

Two major infrastructure grants were also awarded to the Teaching Lab (the Dean’s Strategic Fund and the Engineering Instructional Innovation Fund) to help facilitate two upcoming major projects:

• An upgrade of the entire microscopy suite with state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopes;

• A three-stage initiative that will see the installation of innovative audio-visual technological tools to enhance the delivery of advanced laboratory-based courses for undergraduate students.

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COMMUNITY OUTREACHIBBME played host to several important events in 2012-13, including:

April 25 - Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day June - Mettler Toledo Pipette Clinic June 20 - U of T Campus Day Tour July/August - DEEP Summer Academy

STAFF & FACULTY CHANGES

In June 2013, Professor Paul Santerre stepped down after a five-year term as Director of the Institute, replaced by Professor Christopher Yip. The Directorship is not entirely new to ProfessorYip; he acted as Interim Director of the Institute in 2007-8.

Professor Santerre’s term as Director was characterized by movement and growth on every level: from adding key administrative roles, to furthering the Institute’s strategic goals and spearheading the creation of a new Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Minor. As a parting gift, a biomedical engineering undergraduate scholarship was created in Professor Santerre’s honour.

IBBME’s Manager of Operations, Sandra Walker, took a secondment position in the Dean’s Office (Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering). During Sandy’s eight-month absence, Dayle Levine (formerly of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute) stood in as Sandy’s replacement.

Along with a number of work-study students, IBBME also leveraged the expertise of several part-time contract employees to help the Institute deal with its rapid expanding portfolios.

• IT - John De Haan; Joel Alleyne • Teaching Lab - Casey Kwangchul Shin • Communications - Brock Whitbread

From top: Professor Paul Santerre

IBBME OPERATING BUDGET 2012-13

revenue

Engineering $3,145,738 Medicine $ 588,832 Dentistry $ 244,294 Departmental Recovery $ 523,160 Research Overhead $ 612,692 Scholarships/Trusts $1,411,757 University Recovery1 $1,136,797 Total $7,663,270

expenses

Salaries and Benefits $2,355,221 General Operating $1,462,691 Scholarships $1,294,000 Other commitments $1,414,561 University Operating2 $1,136,797 Total $7,663,270

1. University Recovery is associated with funding from the Basic Income Unit (BIU) and other associated revenue from FASE.

2. University Operating is space and research tax recovered from the FASE.

“ IBBME has become the University of Toronto’s benchmark for what can be achieved when collaborative efforts in teaching, infrastructure building and research translates to synergism. My hopes are that IBBME’s students and Faculty continue to harness this synergism so that they may defy all challenges in regards to undertaking outstanding research and enabling innovation and entrepreneurship.”

— PROFESSOR PAUL SANTERREDirector, IBBME (2008-2013)

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACTS 2012-13Rosebrugh Building 164 College Street, Room 407 Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9

Communications OfficeRoom MB329, (416) 946-8019comm.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Paul SanterreDirector, 2008 - June 2013

Christopher YipDirector, June 2013christopher.yip@utoronto.ca

Brittany LawrenceAdministrative Assistant to Director(416) 946-8258 / director.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Sandra WalkerManager of Operations(416) 978-4801 / sandra.walker@utoronto.ca

Judy GilliganOperations Assistant(416) 978-7459 / operations.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Elizabeth FlanneryHR Administrator & Finance Officer(416) 946-7310 / hr.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Angela RosaFinance Officer – Research(416) 946-7310 / payments.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Erin VollickSenior Communications, Media & Alumni Relations Officer(416) 946-8019 / comm.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Derek BoodoosinghIT Systems Coordinator(416) 946-0942 / derek.boodoosingh@utoronto.ca

Andrey ShukalyukTeaching Lab Laboratory Manager,Co-Chair, IBBME Safety Committee(416) 978-1467Teachinglab.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Biomedical Engineering and Collaborative Programs Program OfficeRoom MB317, (416) 978-4841admissions.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Clinical Engineering Program OfficeRoom MB317, (416) 978-6102clinicaleng.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Dawn KilkennyCo-Chair, IBBME Safety Committee(416) 978-8335 / MB312Dawn.kilkenny@utoronto.ca

Jeffrey LittleGraduate Programs Administrator(416) 978-4841 / jeffrey.little@utoronto.ca

Rhonda MarleyClinical Engineering Program Coordinator(416) 978-6102 / clinicaleng.ibbme@utoronto.ca

Molly ShoichetAssociate Director, Research(416) 978-1460 / molly.shoichet@utoronto.ca

Julie AudetAssociate Director – Graduate Studies, Biomedical Engineering Program(416) 946-0209 / julie.audet@utoronto.ca

Alex MihailidisGraduate Coordinator – Clinical Engineering Program(416) 946-8565 / alex.mihailidis@utoronto.ca

Warren ChanGraduate Coordinator – Collaborative Program in Biomedical Engineering(416) 946-8416 / warren.chan@utoronto.ca

Kevin TruongUndergraduate Interim Co-Chair – Biomed Option, Engineering Science Program(416) 978-7772 / kevin.truong@utoronto.ca

Christopher YipUndergraduate Interim Co-Chair – Biomed Option, Engineering Science Programchristopher.yip@utoronto.ca

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