Clinical translation event kicks off strategic partnership between Medicine by Design and the Stem Cell Network

June 9, 2022 (Ottawa/Toronto) – Medicine by Design and the Stem Cell Network (SCN) announced today a strategic partnership focused on training the next generation of leaders, scientists and entrepreneurs who will drive the field of regenerative medicine forward and ensure Canadian competitiveness on the global stage for years to come.

This partnership kicks off today with the training workshop, Spotlight on Clinical Translation: Making the Leap from the Lab Bench to Phase I Clinical Trials. This event is the first of several that will take place over the coming year as part of the enhanced partnership, which aims to keep Canada at the forefront of the regenerative medicine sector by offering unparalleled training to the next generation of scientific leaders.

Collectively and to date, Medicine by Design and the Stem Cell Network have provided training and support to more than 6,000 trainees — graduate students and post-doctoral fellows — across the country. This partnership aims to build upon this momentum and ensure regenerative medicine trainees are ready to take on the translation of research discoveries, including navigating pre-clinical experiments, conducting clinical trials and understanding the requirements for successful commercialization.

SCN and Medicine by Design will mobilize their networks from across Canada and internationally, to bring scientists, engineers and clinicians together, as well as industry, charity partners and the investment community, with the goal of building Canada’s translational research strength in regenerative medicine.

“We are excited to be launching this important partnership with SCN that will expand learning and networking opportunities for our talented trainee communities. The process of translating research is not simple — there are many steps and players involved,” says Allison Brown, Director, Strategy & Translation, Medicine by Design. “Through this partnership, we are supporting the next generation of forward-thinking life science leaders from many different disciplines, who will be the ones to drive health care innovations over the coming decades.”

“Better health and future prosperity depend on the skills, expertise and innovative mindset of the next generation,” says Cate Murray, President and CEO, Stem Cell Network. “This partnership will bring our two organizations closer together. It also aligns well with SCN’s objectives including enabling translation in regenerative medicine, training the next generation of researchers, and engaging in partnerships that strengthen the regenerative medicine ecosystems in Canada. Ensuring the next generation of leaders is well-placed to compete in Canada’s knowledge-based economy and equipped with the correct skills is a key priority for our community.”

Over the coming year, the partnership will include additional translational training opportunities including this fall, at the 2022 Till & McCulloch Meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia, where the organizations will collaborate to connect trainees with potential employers.

Additionally, in summer 2023, SCN will be a major partner in Medicine by Design’s Summer by Design, expanding the flagship two-week intensive training program that brings high-performing Canadian and international PhD students and post-doctoral fellows to Toronto to advance their understanding of translating and commercializing regenerative medicine research. In addition, Summer by Design allows attendees to build their international network of peers, an important part of building a career in a multidisciplinary field such as regenerative medicine.

To be notified of training opportunities offered through the Medicine by Design and Stem Cell Network partnership, join the mailing lists at the links below:

Join the Stem Cell Network Mailing List

Join the Medicine by Design Mailing List

About Medicine by Design: Focused on the regenerative medicine ecosystem at the University of Toronto and its affiliated hospitals, Medicine by Design, which is made possible thanks in part to a $114-million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, brings researchers with diverse specialties together to advance regenerative medicine to the clinic. Since 2015, Medicine by Design has invested almost $75-million into world-leading regenerative medicine research.

About the Stem Cell Network (SCN): SCN is a Canadian not-for-profit that supports three main objectives: stem cell and regenerative medicine research; training the next generation of highly qualified personnel; and supporting the knowledge mobilization and transfer of stem cell and regenerative medicine research. Formed more than 20 years ago and supported by the Government of Canada, SCN has invested $139 million in Canadian regenerative medicine research, training and outreach.

About Regenerative Medicine: Regenerative medicine uses stem cells to replace diseased tissues and organs, creating therapies in which cells are the biological product. It can also mean triggering stem cells that are already present in the human body to repair damaged tissues or to modulate immune responses. Increasingly, regenerative medicine researchers are using a stem cell lens to identify critical interactions or defects that prepare the ground for disease, paving the way for new approaches to preventing disease before it starts.

Medicine by Design Contact
Julie Crljen
Marketing & Communications Officer
julie.crljen@utoronto.ca

Stem Cell Network Contact
Samantha Rae Ayoub
Vice President, Communications and Knowledge Mobilization
srae@stemcellnetwork.ca
613-402-3974