Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Discovery of Insulin: Virtual Parliamentary Event to Explore Diabetes Research and Innovation in the Making

OTTAWA, February 25, 2021 – Research Canada and the Parliamentary Health Research Caucus, in collaboration with co-hosts Diabetes Canada and JDRF, are proud to host a virtual invitation-only reception with Parliamentarians to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin by Canadian researchers, and hear from some of Canada’s best and brightest in type 1 and type 2 diabetes research.

Diabetes significantly impacts Canadians’ quality of life, including our mental and physical health. Since Banting and Best’s discovery of insulin in Toronto in 1921, the scope of diabetes research in Canada has been broad, and the numerous studies have been both varied and unique. However, key goals remain, most importantly, to improve the quality of life of people living with diabetes and to find a cure.

In this first virtual reception of 2021, sponsored by Novo Nordisk Canada, 22 panel experts will explore the huge strides and key advances in mapping and understanding the physiology, biochemistry and genetics of diabetes, as well as developments in the prevention, treatment and management of the disease. Our four virtual rooms, including Panel 4 in the SickKids Research Institute Sponsored Room, will hear from researchers who will present on topics from the impact of stem cells on diabetes to the impact of diabetes in marginalized communities and the impact of diabetes on mental health.

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM ET
Social media: #HealthResearchCaucus #insulin100
Who:

Panel 1

Moderated by:
David J. Hill, PhD
Lawson Health Research Institute | Western University

Rachel Burns, PhD
Carleton University
David Campbell, MD, PhD
University of Calgary
Elizabeth Cummings, MD, FRCPC
IWK Health Centre | Dalhousie University
Jennifer Estall, PhD
Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) | University of Montreal | McGill University
Stewart B. Harris CM, MD, MPH, FCFP, FACPM
Western University | Lawson Health Research Institute
Francis Lynn, PhD
University of British Columbia

Panel 2

Moderated by:
Rosie Goldstein, MD, FRCPC
McGill University

Shivani Goyal, PhD
Abbott Laboratories Co.
Ahmad Haidar, MD
McGill University
Timothy Kieffer PhD, FCAHS
University of British Columbia | Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Lorraine Lipscombe, MD
Women’s College Hospital | University of Toronto | ICES
Constantin Polychronakos, MD, FRCPC, FRSC
MUHC | Montreal Children’s Hospital
Ravi Retnakaran, MD, FRCPC, FCAHS
Lunenfeld-Tannenbaum Research Institute | University of Toronto

Panel 3

Moderated by:
Tarik Möröy, PhD, FCAHS
Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) | Université de Montréal

Alexandra Ahmet, MD
CHEO Research Institute | University of Ottawa
Terra Arnason, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Royal University Hospital | University of Saskatchewan
Jonathon Fowles, PhD, FCSEP, CEP
Acadia University | Nova Scotia Health Authority
Robyn Houlden MD, FRCPC
Queen’s University
Baiju Shah, MD, PhD
University of Toronto | Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre | Sunnybrook Research Institute

SickKids Research Institute Room – Panel 4

Moderated by:
Tara Bingham
Research Canada

Sonia Butalia, MD
Alberta Health Services | University of Calgary
Michael Riddell, PhD
York University | LMC and Manna Research
Martin Sénéchal, PhD, CEP
University of New Brunswick | Cardiometabolic Exercise & Lifestyle Laboratory
Katelyn Sushko, BScN, RN
McMaster University
Diane Wherrett, MD, FRCPC
The Hospital for Sick Children | University of Toronto

Parliamentary Health Research Caucus
Chair: Lloyd Longfield, MP (Guelph)
Vice-Chairs: Marilyn Gladu, MP (Sarnia—Lambton), Carol Hughes, MP (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing)
Senate Representative: The Honourable Judith Seidman

Research Canada
Rosie Goldstein, MD, Chair
Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President and CEO

About Research Canada
Research Canada is a national alliance dedicated to increasing investments in health research through collaborative advocacy and engaging government, academia, industry and non-profit sectors to build support for long-term health research funding. For more information, visit rc-rc.ca.

Since 2009, Parliamentary Health Research Caucus events on Parliament Hill have helped to educate politicians on the social and economic benefits of Canadian health research and innovation, as well as introduce them to the multi-sector partnerships among academic, private sector and health charity stakeholders essential to a robust health research enterprise and innovation system.

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For inquiries:
Christie Tomkins
Manager of Policy and Public Affairs
613-234-5129
ctomkins@rc-rc.ca