Bringing together world-class researchers to share knowledge and move research into action.

Dr. Barbara Triggs-Raine is Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics at the University of Manitoba (UM), and an Investigator in the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM). As a graduate student studying bacterial genetics, she took a Human Genetics course at UM that changed everything. Following her newfound passion for Human Genetics she took up postdoctoral training at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and then at Montreal Childrens’ Hospital Research Institute where she ventured into the genetics of unique populations with studies of the molecular basis of Tay-Sachs Disease.

When Barb returned to UM in 1991 she continued her work on Tay-Sachs and began collaborating with several local geneticists to uncover the molecular basis of rare genetic diseases in Manitoba’s unique populations. Despite efforts to move on, her studies kept linking back to Tay-Sachs disease and now, 35 years later, she is collaborating with Dr. Brian Mark (Dean of Science, University of Manitoba) and M6P Therapeutics to develop a gene therapy for Tay-Sachs Disease.

Barb has a long-standing relationship with CHRIM, having once had a lab on the 5 ^th floor JBRC and served as a member of the CHRIM Board as well as the sixth floor development committee. Eventually Barb served as Interim Director of Space/Facilities of CHRIM where she worked in close partnership with Nichola Wigle, CEO, to develop space on JBRC 5/6. She has many strong connections and memories of CHRIM established during that time.

Unique populations in Manitoba and around the world have frequencies of disease (both increased and decreased) that differ from the general population. Studies of the genetic variants and/or diseases that are specific to these populations are critical to allow access to a diagnosis, the potential for screening, and the basis for development of therapies.

This session will explore how dramatic advances in technology have fueled the discovery of genes, gene variants and gene therapies in unique populations.  It will include a description of how PCR advanced molecular testing for Tay-Sachs disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish population and the impact of rapid screening.  This will be followed by a discussion of how sequencing advances led to the discovery of rare disease genes in Manitoba’s unique populations and some of the impacts of these discoveries. Finally, returning to Tay-Sachs Disease, the outcomes of work toward a potential gene therapy for Tay-Sachs and related disorders will be presented.

At the end of this session, listeners will

1. Recognize how advances in gene technologies allowed for identification of rare disease genes and variants.
2. Describe the challenges to developing therapies for Tay-Sachs Disease and related disorders.

Dr. Allison Dart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Manitoba. She is a Pediatric Nephrologist, and Clinician Researcher at the Children’s Hospital Research institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), and co-lead of the DREAM (Diabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba) research team. Her research focuses on determinants of chronic kidney disease in children, with a special interest in improving outcomes in high-risk groups, including children living with type 2 diabetes and Indigenous populations. She also has a special interest in Patient Engagement and is co-lead of the Pediatrics committee of the CanSOLVE CKD SPOR network. 

TBD

Dr. Becker is recognized internationally as a leader in pediatric allergy and asthma research, care and education. He was a founding member of the Canadian Network for Asthma Care and led development of national Certification for Asthma Educators – the 1 ^st such national certification in the world.

Dr. Becker led development of an Asthma Educator Education Program, AsthmaTrec, which is now used across Canada. He was lead author of the first Canadian Pediatric Asthma Guidelines. From 2005-2019 he was a member of the Scientific Committee of the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).

Dr. Becker’s primary research interest is the origins of allergy and asthma in early life. He has led two birth cohorts (The Canadian Asthma Primary Prevention Study: CAPPS and the 1995 Manitoba birth cohort Study of Asthma Genes and the Environment: SAGE) focused on that area and was co-PI of the CIHR and AllerGen NCE supported Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study. He continues to serve on NIH Data Safety and Monitoring Boards for pediatric asthma studies. Dr. Becker is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

TBD

Dr. Robert Schroth is Professor in the Departments of Preventive Dental Science and Pediatrics and Child Health, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba and research scientist at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health. Dr. Schroth is a dental clinician-scientist, practicing out of two inner-city community-based clinics in Winnipeg. He is a leading expert on early childhood caries (ECC). There are four sub-themes to his research: 1) the relationship between early childhood oral health and well-being; 2) the epidemiology of ECC; 3) the promotion of early childhood oral health, and prevention and management of ECC; and 4) access to care. In 2024, he was awarded a five year CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in Public Health Approaches to Improve Access to Oral Health Care and Oral Health Status for Young Children in Canada.

TBD

Dr. Jared Bullard is a Professor and Section Head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases in the Departments of Paediatrics & Child Health and Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. He has been involved in the local and national response to the resurgence of syphilis including as the co-principal investigator of the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) study of congenital syphilis (CS), co-chair of the committee that revised the national case definition of CS, member of the National Advisory Committee on Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (NAC-STBBI) providing syphilis testing guidance and working on revision of the national syphilis prenatal testing guidelines and on the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN) working group revising prenatal and congenital syphilis testing guidelines.

Dr. Bullard provided his leadership and expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic in the clinical, microbiological, and public health responses. He was the former Associate Medical Director of Cadham Provincial Laboratory and the current Director General of Medical & Scientific Affairs at the NML.

TBD

Tannis Erickson recently retired from the position of Executive Director of the Research Support Unit at CHRIM. She continues to support the work of the National Coordinating Centre of the Innovation in Pediatric Clinical Trials Network. During the past several years Tannis has been involved in strategic and operational planning and management of pediatric clinical research in Manitoba.

Tannis’ career in health care has included the areas of health care administration, research, strategic planning, and project management. In her recent roles she has participated in the expansion of services provided to Manitoba’s clinician scientists.

TBD 

Dr. Dakshinamurti is a neonatologist and biomedical researcher. She holds MD from University of Manitoba, trained in Pediatrics at University of Chicago and Neonatology at University of Manitoba. She joined faculty in 2001, completed graduate training in smooth muscle physiology, and since 2003 has directed the Neonatal Pulmonary Biology lab in the Biology of Breathing theme, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM). Since 2020, Dr. Dakshinamurti has been a full Professor in both the departments of Pediatrics and Physiology. Her research is on the physiology of the newborn pulmonary circulation.

Dr. Dakshinamurti is the Scholarly Oversight director for the University of Manitoba’s Neonatology Fellowship program, and has received multiple nominations for medical and science teaching awards. She served three terms on the board of directors of CHRIM, and is currently a board member of Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation, and Vice Chair of Manitoba Medical Services Foundation; she also serves on the board of the Prairie Theatre Exchange. She is a CIHR panel chair, a member of the Manitoba Chemosensory Biology research group, on organizing committees for scientific conferences including the Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting and Winnipeg’s annual Bowman Symposium on Neonatal Research, and has an interest in science communication.

TBD

In an acclaimed career of truly transformative and translational work Natalie Rodriguez has implemented new systems, technologies, platforms, research initiatives and discovery worldwide. With over a decade of experience specializing in directing and operationalizing Team Science, interdisciplinary collaborations, and large-scale consortia. Her experience spans basic science, community health sciences, population, and Indigenous health.

A ”research rebel”, Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIP), and San’Yas Indigenous Cultural Safety trained; having completed her Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Change Leadership training at Cornell University, along with Global Health and Operations Management training at Harvard University, Natalie holds a fierce commitment to research, learning and amplifying the voices of underrepresented individuals, defying boundaries to improve the lives of others. While proud of her credentials Natalie is guided by a higher purpose, propelled by professional philosophy and personal commitment to make a difference in the world by bringing people together, despite their differences. 

Leading many of the world’s most impactful initiatives, Natalie melds academia, clinical discovery, practical applications, and the human touch. Her work has been supported by a diverse portfolio of funders including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Wellcome Open Trust, Health Data Research UK, Open Philanthropy, CFI, CIHR and Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

Viewing possibilities through a multi-disciplinary lens, blending business acumen with a keen understanding of the complexities of transdisciplinary research. Natalie comes to us as the previous Director of Operations, Diversity & Inclusion of THRiVE Discovery Lab, Operations Director of the Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC), and Co-Director of the International Milk Composition (IMiC) Consortium. She was a CBC Future 40 Award winner in 2020, nominated to WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in 2021 and awarded the Allergen NCE Michelle Harkness Mentorship Excellence Award in 2023.

Making a difference in the world requires contributions from individuals committed to change. In initiatives both large or small, collaborating, leading, and supporting discoveries with purpose, enabling doing what was once unimaginable. Natalie believes this is all possible with a network of people united in common purpose and defined by common values that unleash the vast synergies of disparate skill sets, expertise, and perspectives.

Never afraid to confront challenges without boundaries or limitations, Natalie’s core perspective takes an individualized approach to solving problems and inspires bold new solutions by co-designing with others. Leading with quiet confidence but listening compassionately with an open ear, mind, and heart; faithful to the limitless potential of research to make a real contribution and lasting impact to the lives of others worldwide. From figuring out how to overcome unreliable power in Burkina Faso, to developing home test-kits for the CHILD Cohort study during the pandemic or founding the Children’s Hospital Research Institute Trainee Career Development Program, Natalie finds a way amidst the complexities of the research world, blending innovation and best practices by embracing diverse perspectives.

TBD

Dr. Kelly Russell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health. She completed her MSc in Epidemiology at the University of Alberta, her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Calgary, and a post-doctoral fellowship in sport-related traumatic brain injuries at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. 

Since arriving at University of Manitoba in 2012, she has developed a research program in pediatric injury, with an interest in pediatric sport-related concussion. This includes understanding the risk factors for prolonged recovery, interventions and multi-disciplinary management to improve recovery, mental health consequences of concussion, and access to timely care through telemedicine to improve outcomes among those living in Northern communities. She is also studying the effects of growing up in households where intimate partner violence occurs and improving the management of traumatic brain injury among survivors of intimate partner violence. She co-leads the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba’s Excellence in Neurodevelopment and Rehabilitation Research in Child Health (ENRRICH) Theme.

She currently holds the Robert Wallace Cameron Chair in Evidence Based Medicine. Her research is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Research Manitoba, and the National Football League Scientific Advisory Board.

Simon, an 11-year-old Cree boy from Opaskwayak Cree Nation, founded Simon the Scientist in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Obsessed with science, he has hosted 60+ live Facebook sessions for kids around the world to watch and participate in real time. Simon wants kids around the world to be able to learn Science and thinks that learning from another kid makes it easier to understand and more fun. Recognized for his achievements, he has won awards, been featured in newspapers, collaborated with schools for STEM opportunities, and received parliamentary recognition. Simon continues to collaborate with organizations like Let’s Talk Science to provide to create science content with an Indigenous perspective.