Sinai Health’s Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI) is proud to welcome two exceptional investigators whose work is expanding the frontiers of biomedical science.
Dr. Diane Haakonsen studies how cellular stress impacts disease, particularly in neurodegenerative disorders, such as early-onset dementia, and cancer. Her groundbreaking discovery that cells must use energy to switch off stress responses has opened new avenues for treatment strategies. Originally from Switzerland, Dr. Haakonsen trained at Harvard, MIT and Berkeley before joining LTRI. Her work could lead to therapies that prevent prolonged cellular stress, potentially improving outcomes for patients with neurological conditions and aggressive cancers.
Dr. Katie Stewart investigates the role of adult stem cells in tissue repair and maintenance. Her research has revealed that stem cells not only generate new cells but also actively clear away dead ones, preventing harmful inflammation. A Queen’s and McGill University graduate with post-doctoral training at Rockefeller University, Dr. Stewart’s work could lead to novel regenerative medicine therapies, helping the body heal itself more effectively after injury or disease.
LTRI is also the research institute of choice for post-doctoral fellow Dr. Khalid Al-Zahrani, recipient of the highly competitive Next Generation of Scientists Award and the Drucker-Reitman Award in Discovery Research. Dr. Al-Zahrani is working to uncover the key genetic changes that drive cancer growth. By using the gene-editing CRISPR technology, he is helping pinpoint which mutations are most critical, paving the way for more precise and effective cancer treatments. With cutting-edge technology to identify new vulnerabilities in cancer, Dr. Al-Zahrani is focusing on improving outcomes for patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer that predominantly affects young women of colour.
LTRI’s ability to recruit top talent is strengthened by donor support, which helps provide the state-of-the-art facilities where these researchers pursue groundbreaking discoveries. As LTRI grows, these investments ensure that the brightest minds continue to thrive and redefine what’s possible in biomedical science.