25 for 25 Silver Anniversary Awardees

25 for 25 Silver Anniversary Awardees

25 for 25 Silver Anniversary Awardees

To mark 25 years of advancing regenerative medicine in Canada, the Stem Cell Network is pleased to recognize 25 exceptional individuals and organizations whose contributions have helped shape the field and strengthen our national community. 
Spanning five award categories, these awardees represent a diverse cross-section of the regenerative medicine ecosystem—from researchers and clinicians to trainees, innovators, and partners across academia, healthcare, industry, and the non-profit sector. Their leadership, collaboration, and commitment to impact continue to drive discovery and bring us closer to life-changing therapies for patients.

The five award categories are:

  • Community Connection AwardRecognizes individuals, teams, or groups who excel at engaging and/or communicate with patients, community members, policymakers or the public in regenerative medicine
  • Talent Builder AwardHonours individuals who significantly advance the development of the next generation of regenerative medicine professionals.
  • Rising Star AwardCelebrates outstanding early-career contributors who demonstrate leadership, creativity, and potential for major impact in the field.
  • Trailblazer AwardRecognizes individuals who have addressed major challenges in regenerative medicine and delivered solutions that advance patient care, policy, commercialization, or system innovation.
  • SCN Champion AwardHonours individuals and organizations who have made exceptional sustained contributions to advancing SCN’s mission, programs, or community.

Explore the profiles below to learn more about each awardee and their contributions.

Community Connection Award

Timothy Caulfield

Faculty of Law and School of Public Health, University of Alberta

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Timothy’s longstanding contributions to SCN, alongside his leadership in ELSI research and extensive science communication efforts, including co-founding ScienceUpFirst, have played a critical role in combating misinformation and strengthening public trust in science, with lasting impact on the regenerative medicine landscape.

Maria Abou Chakra

Senior Research Associate, Gary Bader Lab, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre & Cofounding Director, Virtualhumandevelopment.org

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Maria’s leadership in advancing interdisciplinary collaboration through initiatives such as the Virtual Human Development Consortium, and her innovative science communication through visual summaries and training, have strengthened engagement across the regenerative medicine community while enhancing accessibility and impact.

Jessica Esseltine

Associate Professor, Memorial University

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Jessica’s work advancing research on hereditary heart disease in Newfoundland and Labrador, alongside her leadership in launching the first StemCellTalks program in the province, exemplifies a deep commitment to connecting science with the communities it serves.

Marissa Lithopoulos

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia

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Marissa’s sustained contributions to SCN, including her leadership with StemCellTalks Ottawa and the National Advisory Committee, her work advancing trainee engagement through workshops and ELSI discussions, and her creative science communication through Science, Stand-Up, & Song, have engaged diverse audiences and strengthened connections between science and society.

Danielle Spice

Lead Scientist, Apiary Therapeutics & Social Media Content Creator, Science with Spice

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Over the past decade, Danielle has progressed from SCN trainee to industry scientist, demonstrating strong leadership and community engagement. She currently serves as co-chair on the Global Workforce Development in Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine Working Group. Through her @sciencewithspice platform, Danielle has played a key role in making  complex regenerative medicine concepts more accessible to diverse audiences.

Talent Builder Award

Emilio Alarcon

Full Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa; Scientist, University of Ottawa Heart Institute

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Emilio’s outstanding mentorship and leadership of national training initiatives, including INTBIOTECH CREATE, reflect a deep commitment to supporting emerging scientists. Emilio’s dedication to fostering inclusive, accessible training environments and creating innovative learning opportunities has enabled trainees to thrive and succeed across academia and industry.

Andras Nagy

Shawn Kimel Research Scientist, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System; Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto

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Over decades, Andras has mentored a remarkable cohort of scientists who now lead research programs, biotechnology companies, and major initiatives in Canada and internationally. Grounded in field-defining contributions to stem cell biology, Andras’s mentorship equips trainees with the expertise and independence to become leaders, helping to strengthen Canada’s regenerative medicine workforce and ecosystem.

Milica Radisic

Professor, University of Toronto and Tier I Canada Research Chair in Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering

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Milica’s leadership in creating and directing innovative training initiatives, including a national NSERC CREATE program in Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering and Entrepreneurship, has established a highly interdisciplinary environment that prepares trainees for diverse career pathways. Through mentorship, translational leadership, and efforts bridging academia and commercialization, Milica has created meaningful opportunities for trainees to develop skills and contribute to real-world applications of regenerative medicine.

Bruce Verchere

Professor, University of British Columbia and Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute

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Bruce’s leadership in advancing stem cell-based therapies for type 1 diabetes, alongside sustained commitment to mentorship through national training initiatives such as the SCN–Breakthrough T1D Andrew McKee Fellowship Program, has provided trainees with meaningful experience across the translational pipeline. Bruce’s dedication to inclusive training and engagement, including collaborations that promote equitable and culturally informed research practices, reflects a strong commitment to preparing the next generation of researchers to deliver impactful and accessible therapies.

Peter Zandstra

Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia

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Peter’s longstanding commitment to mentorship and trainee development, including leadership of large-scale training initiatives such as NSERC CREATE, has had a profound and lasting impact on the field. Through dedication to fostering inclusive training environments and supporting diverse career pathways, Peter’s trainees have gone on to leadership roles across academia, industry, and beyond.

Rising Star Award

Anthony Flamier

Assistant Professor, Université de Montréal, Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine

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Since launching the Flamier Lab, Anthony has built an innovative research program advancing stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, leveraging human pluripotent stem cells, genome editing, and disease modeling. Anthony’s work demonstrates strong scientific rigor and translational potential, while his leadership within SCN and contributions to mentorship and innovation mark him as a rising leader in the field.

Matthew Jeffers

PhD Candidate, University of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

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Matthew’s work strengthening the clinical translation of regenerative medicine and cell therapies, along with leadership in SCN training initiatives such as co-organizing the 2023 Preclinical Experimental Design and Reporting Workshop, highlights commitment to advancing rigorous and impactful research.

Holly Jiogo

PhD Candidate, McGill University

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Holly’s leadership in the SCN trainee community, including roles as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Trainee Communications Committee, has had a central role in shaping impactful programming at the Till & McCulloch Meetings, developing innovative sessions that support professional growth, communication, and leadership for the next generation of scientists.

Nika Shakiba

Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia

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Nika’s work creating synthetic genetic circuits that help control how stem cells grow and thrive represents a novel and promising approach to improving cell therapies. Alongside her research, she is committed to supporting the next generation of scientists through mentorship and by founding Advice to a Scientist.

Tyler Wenzel

Assistant Professor, University of Saskatchewan

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Tyler is an exceptional early career researcher advancing microglial therapies and precision medicine for brain disorders. Their high-impact scholarly work and two patents demonstrate strong translational promise. Tyler also leads Saskatoon’s first StemCellTalks and Indigenous-driven collaborations that support culturally informed stem cell knowledge and community engagement.

Trailblazer Award

Allen Eaves

President and CEO, STEMCELL Technologies

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As Founder and President and CEO of STEMCELL Technologies, Allen has built a globally leading biotechnology company that has advanced research and commercialization across regenerative medicine and related fields. Allen’s leadership in establishing early bone marrow transplant programs and fostering a science-driven bioeconomy has had a profound and lasting impact in Canada and beyond.

Lucie Germain

Professor and Director of the LOEX Tissue Engineering Research Centre of Université Laval

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Lucie and Véronique’s leadership in advancing tissue engineering through pan-Canadian clinical trials, including the development of bilamellar skin substitutes (SASS) and reconstructed corneal epithelium (CECA), has expanded access to innovative therapies for patients. Their efforts in strengthening clinical translation infrastructure and national collaborations have helped establish a robust ecosystem, enabling safe, reproducible, and accessible regenerative medicine solutions across Canada.

Véronique Moulin

Professor, Université Laval, researcher and director of the regenerative medicine division of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval

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Lucie and Véronique’s leadership in advancing tissue engineering through pan-Canadian clinical trials, including the development of bilamellar skin substitutes (SASS) and reconstructed corneal epithelium (CECA), has expanded access to innovative therapies for patients. Their efforts in strengthening clinical translation infrastructure and national collaborations have helped establish a robust ecosystem, enabling safe, reproducible, and accessible regenerative medicine solutions across Canada.

Bartha Maria Knoppers

Distinguished James McGill Professor Emerita; Founding Director, Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University; Canada Research Chair in Law and Medicine (2001-2024)

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As a founding member of SCN and a global leader in the ethical, legal, and social implications of biomedical research, Bartha’s work has been instrumental in shaping the frameworks that enable responsible innovation in regenerative medicine and genomics. Through leadership in developing international standards for data sharing, consent, and governance, Bartha has strengthened public trust and facilitated global collaboration while safeguarding patient rights.

Janet Rossant

Senior Scientist Emeritus, SickKids Research Institute; University Professor Emeritus, Department of Molecular Genetics University of Toronto; Editor-in-Chief, Stem Cell Reports

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As a founding member of SCN and a pioneering leader in developmental and stem cell biology, Janet’s foundational discoveries have transformed our understanding of mammalian development and laid critical groundwork for regenerative medicine. Janet’s leadership in shaping national stem cell research guidelines and strengthening Canada’s global position, alongside her longstanding commitment to mentorship and community building, has had a profound and lasting impact on the field.

Guy Sauvageau

Professor, Department of Medicine Laboratory of Stem Cell Expansion and Epigenetics IRIC, Université de Montréal; Begin-Plouffe Chair

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Guy’s pioneering work in hematopoietic stem cells, including the co-discovery of UM171, has enabled transformative advances in stem cell transplantation and addressed critical barriers in treating blood cancers. Guy’s leadership in translating this breakthrough into clinical and commercial impact, including co-founding ExCellThera, has helped position Canada at the forefront of global cell therapy innovation.

SCN Champion Award

Patrick Bedford

Founder & Managing Director, weCANreg; Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Strategic Operations, Morphocell Technologies

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Patrick’s longstanding contributions to SCN programming, including leadership in regulatory training, participation in webinars, and ongoing guidance on regulatory and ecosystem issues, have played an important role in strengthening the Network’s capacity and impact.

Fabio Rossi

Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia

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Fabio’s pioneering scientific contributions, including foundational discoveries in microglia self-renewal and muscle stem cell biology, alongside leadership in building collaborative regenerative medicine networks, have had a lasting impact on the field. Through roles in national and regional initiatives, as well as contributions to SCN governance and translational innovation, Fabio has helped strengthen Canada’s regenerative medicine ecosystem.

Breakthrough T1D

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Breakthrough T1D’s longstanding partnership with SCN, including co-funding national research initiatives and supporting training through programs such as the J. Andrew McKee Fellowship, has played a critical role in advancing regenerative medicine research and capacity in Canada. Leadership in convening cross-sector collaborations and addressing key challenges in the development of cell therapies has further strengthened the impact of this work.

Ottawa Methods Centre

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Ottawa Method Centre’s contributions to advancing rigorous translational research practices, including guidance through Blueprint Translational Research Group policy briefs and education on clinical trial design and reporting, have been invaluable to the SCN community. Leadership in promoting best practices in patient engagement and clinical research has strengthened the quality and impact of regenerative medicine research across Canada.

STEMCELL Technologies

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STEMCELL Technologies’ longstanding partnership with SCN, including financial and in-kind support for research initiatives and active leadership in governance and strategic direction, has played a critical role in advancing regenerative medicine across Canada. Contributions to training, standards development, and national knowledge exchange have further strengthened research quality and community impact.