Ian Rogers
Dr. Rogers is a Professor at the University of Toronto (Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dept of Physiology) and Scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. He graduated with his PhD from the University of Toronto. His thesis focused on early embryo development and did a Post Doc. with Robert Casper (University of Toronto) developing cell therapies using umbilical cord blood cells to treat spinal cord injury, peripheral vascular disease and diabetic skin wounds. He started at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute , Mt. Sinai Hospital in 2004 with a research focus on Stem Cells. Dr. Rogers’ lab is focused on developing therapies three dimensional tissue culture systems to improve stem cell therapies. By combining stem cells with decellularized organs his aim is to advance studies on stem cell differentiation, cell-cell signaling and understanding the complex three-dimensional organization of cells into functional organs and tissues. He is also the Scientific Founder of Insception Lifebank, a Stem Cell Bank Company.
The future application of designer cells and bioengineered tissues in clinical settings holds immense promise for revolutionizing regenerative medicine and transplantation, yet it also confronts significant feasibility challenges. The ability to precisely tailor cells and tissues for therapeutic purposes can have significant impact in transplantation opening avenues for personalized medicine and access to ‘off-the-shelf’ tissues and organs. However, the translation of these cutting-edge technologies from the laboratory to clinical practice requires overcoming formidable hurdles, including safety concerns, ethical considerations, community acceptance and the need for robust regulatory frameworks. Technical challenges such as the scalability and cost-effectiveness of producing designer cells and tissues also present major logistical challenges. As research continues to push the boundaries of synthetic biology and tissue engineering, the ultimate success and integration of designer cells and bioengineered tissues in the medical landscape will require close collaboration from scientists, clinicians, and policymakers; and importantly communication with patient communities, some of whom, will be future recipients of these new therapeutic modalities.
This session is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Session Chairs:
- Dr. Golnaz Karoubi (Senior Chair) – University Health Network, University of Toronto
- Ms. Aisha Adil (Junior Chair) – University Health Network, University of Toronto
Panelists:
- Dr. Siba Haykal - University Health Network/University of Toronto
- Dr. Ian Rogers – Sinai Health Systems/University of Toronto
- Dr. Braulio Marfil-Garza – University of Alberta
- Mr. Sean Delaney – University of Alberta
Speakers: Siba Haykal, Golnaz Karoubi, Aisha Adil, Braulio Marfil-Garza, Sean Delaney, Ian Rogers
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