Hello! Welcome to the CIRTN-R2FIC BlueSky account! Our group focuses on researching pancreatic islet biology and pathology related to islets such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Here you will find bi-weekly updates from the scientists from across Canada that make up CIRTN-R2FIC.

Excited about this cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary conference I'm co-organizing at EMBL Heidelberg bringing together leaders in vascular biology, cardiac research, & bioengineering. A stellar lineup of speakers w Keynotes: James Martin & Alessandra Moretti Opportunities for oral pres from abstracts

BBDC members - join us on October 21, 2025 from 10 - 11am for our first Seminar Series of the year. Dr. Ahmad Haidar will join us to discuss Novel Technologies and Treatments for Type 1 Diabetes. This event is in-person only. bbdc.org/events/bbdc-...

This Diabetes Team of the Year award recognizes a diabetes team’s efforts and achievements that go above and beyond evidence-based practices in the field of diabetes education, patient care, or advocacy. Learn more and apply for the award! bbdc.org/funding/fund...

Thank you to everyone who joined us today for the seminar session featuring a presentation by Dr. Mikael Rydén. The presentation, on white adipose tissue, was informative and engaging. Thanks also to Dr. Martin Ingelsson for hosting the talk!

Our Trainee Travel Awards applications are now open. Awards are available for trainees to present a first-authored or co-first authored diabetes-related abstract for presentation at an online or in-person conference occurring between July 1 to December 31, 2025. Learn more! bbdc.org/funding/fund...

Yesterday the whole lab went out for lunch to bid Sonia goodbye on her return to Paris soon. You will be missed! #VasconcelosLab @uhnresearch.ca @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social @mcsociety.bsky.social

Discover MyRoad, a platform dedicated to research training and mentorship in the fields of obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic diseases. New opportunities are available this fall, including cohort-based training, travel awards, and health research exchange competitions. www.myroadplatform.ca/en

Applications are now open for the Novo Nordisk-BBDC New Investigator Award 2026-2028. This award is intended to support an independent scientist or clinician-scientist in the early stage of their career. Learn more and apply! bbdc.org/funding/fund...

Thanks to everyone who joined us today for the BBDC Charles Hollenberg Summer Student Poster Day! We had a wonderful turnout at the U of T Medical Sciences building where our students were able to share their work and meet with BBDC members.

We're so excited about our upcoming 2025/26 Speaker Series. BBDC members are encouraged to join us for these exceptional guest speakers throughout the upcoming academic year. bbdc.org/events/bbdc-...

New research from BBDC member Dr. Farid Mahmud looks at combination therapy for teens with #T1D. www.utoronto.ca/news/combina...

On August 21 from 1-2 p.m. Dr. Mikael Rydén will be presenting "Everything you want to know about human adipose tissue" at the Toronto General Hospital's Bayer Conference Room. This event is open to all BBDC members and their trainees.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award! Awarded annually for scientifically based research that has improved the health and well-being of those facing health inequities worldwide. Learn more & nominate ➡️ bit.ly/Gairdner-Glo...

Here Tony Lam and colleagues @uhnresearch.ca identify that lipid sensing in HFD-fed rats is enhanced by metformin to trigger an endocrine GIP to NTS GIPR axis to reduce food intake unveiling potential targets to enhance GIP action and reduce weight in #obesity diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/art...

New research from @uhn.ca's Toronto General Hospital shows that activating a brain receptor called TGR5 reduces food intake and restores leptin sensitivity—revealing a promising new target for treating #obesity. 🔗Read more: www.uhnresearch.ca/news/activat...

BBDC member, @danieljdrucker.bsky.social was recently featured in @torontolifemag.bsky.social! torontolife.com/deep-dives/d...

Omar's final PhD paper is finally out! He describes the generation of a 3D in vitro model of diastolic dysfunction w preserved ejection fraction using human #cardiomyocytes. #hypertrophy #HFpEF #OOAC @uhnresearch.ca @uoftmedicine.bsky.social Check it out👇 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

I always love the opportunity to profile new investigators who are bringing their passion and talent to projects that support improved outcomes for people living with #diabetes. Thanks to the @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social for asking me to write this piece about Dr. Tara MacDonald. bbdc.org/newsletters/...

Thank you to my coauthors, our community partners, and patient participants. Grateful to SPARK and @nhp-uoft.bsky.social for funding this work. @kristalamb.bsky.social @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social @uhn.ca @ihpmeuoft.bsky.social @calvin-ke.bsky.social

Funding opportunity! The Drucker Family Innovation Fund Grants is a joint funding program between the BBDC and the University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Medicine. Up to four grants of $75,000 are available this year. Learn more and apply! bbdc.org/funding/fund...

Tara is amazing! Keep your eyes peeled for her work #diabetes community! #OOAC @uoftmedicine.bsky.social

Our latest BBDC member feature looks at the research of Dr. Tara MacDonald from UofT Physiology! Learn more about the work in her new lab and her project with Dr. @saravasconcelos.bsky.social. bbdc.org/newsletters/...

🚨 A new study from UHN's Drs. Mamatha Bhat & Chris McIntosh introduces a #MachineLearning tool—Decision Path Similarity Matching (DPSM)—that simulates clinical trial conditions to predict survival, enabling improved clinical decision-making. 🔗 Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.jh...

Our Director, Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe, is part of the Global Diabetes Forum, which released The Copenhagen Declaration for Diabetes in the latest issue of The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. #CopenhagenDeclaration Learn more! diabetes.emory.edu/copenhagen-d...

Gary Lewis, Robert Hegele and colleagues @uhnresearch.ca @uoftmedicine.bsky.social @westernu.bsky.social @heartandstroke.bsky.social @diabetescanada.bsky.social @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social

Congratulations to BBDC member Dr. Tara MacDonald on receiving an Early Career Researcher Jump Start Award from @stemcellnetwork.ca! stemcellnetwork.ca/research/res...

Join the DDEA PhD Course on the Role of Ageing in Health and Disease with a Focus on Endocrinology this September! Learn more: ddeacademy.dk/events/cours...

Congratulations to BBDC member Dr. Laura Rosella on receiving a CIHR Trailblazer Award! www.utoronto.ca/celebrates/l...

Article in Press AND Open Access! "Cell therapy with human IL-10-producing ILC2s enhances islet function and inhibits allograft rejection" by Colpitts et al. doi.org/10.1016/j.aj... @sarahcolpitts.bsky.social @sarahcrome.bsky.social #celltherapy #islettransplantation

Thanks to everyone who joined us yesterday for our Joint Clinical and Population Research-in-Progress Rounds with the @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social! Our speakers, Sonya Grewal and Sharmin Majumder, presented their current research projects and shared important insights with our attendees.

What a wonderful day! Thanks for everyone who joined us today for our Annual Scientific Day at The Old Mill.

@kasinans.bsky.social presenting his beautiful work at the @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social scientific day. #bbdc @uhnresearch.ca

What a great talk by Prof. Tara MacDonald @uoft.bsky.social on the effects of exercise and high glucose on muscle and VO2 adaptations at the @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social #bbdc

New study from the Weisman Lab @sinaihealth.bsky.social "Social disadvantage is linked to lower use of insulin pumps and CGM in adults with T1D in Quebec. Public funding narrows CGM disparities, but broader equity strategies are needed." dom-pubs.pericles-prod.literatumonline.com/doi/10.1111/...

Looking forward to meeting everyone and presenting some new work from my group! @uhnresearch.bsky.social @uhntoronto.bsky.social @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social

Join us on Monday, May 12, 2025, from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. EDT for the @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social /Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations Joint Clinical and Population Research-in-Progress Rounds! Register now! www.eventbrite.com/e/network-fo...

Today, we hosted another successful Trainee Lab Seminar. Thanks to all those who attended and to our excellent speakers, Haiyang Huang from the Cristina Nostro Lab, Nitya Gulati from the Jonathan Rocheleau Lab, and Majid Mufaqam Syed Abdul from the Gary Lewis lab.

Congratulations, @danieljdrucker.bsky.social! www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/health/canad...

We are excited to host Dr. Tony Lam from @bbdc-uoft.bsky.social for the 5th conference of the 2025 #ObesitySeminarSeries of IUCPQ!

We were happy to welcome Dr. Deborah Muoio from Duke University to Toronto today. Dr. Muoio gave a talk about mitochondrial fitness and failure in health and disease, then met with BBDC trainees for a small group learning session.

🎉 Muhammad Mamdani, director of the @uoft-tcairem.bsky.social discusses how #artificialintelligence can solve challenges to #Canada's #healthcare system. (Wonderful interview on @tvotoday.bsky.social "The Thread" with @namshine.bsky.social !) www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyrp... #AI #HealthAI #MedTech

Today we hosted our Advances in Diabetes Care event, bringing together allied health professionals to discuss the latest in diabetes therapies. Thanks to all who joined us for a day of networking and learning.