MITO2i 4TH ANNUAL
RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
ADVANCING MITOCHONDRIAL HEALTH
HYBRID EVENT
THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2024
9AM – 4:45PM EST
OVERVIEW
MITO2i’s 4th Annual Research Symposium: Advancing Mitochondrial Health was hosted on April 25th, 2024 and featured over 30 speakers in the fields of metabolic psychiatry, diabetes, brain health, cardiovascular health, renal health, nutrition, and personalized therapeutics.
From speakers in brain health and metabolism, to panel discussions in cardiovascular disease and mitochondrial transplantation, this event inspired, educated, and sparked meaningful discussions. The symposium offered a valuable opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts, exchange ideas, and stay at the forefront of innovation.
Recordings of the MITO2i 4th Annual Research Symposium presentations and panels have been archived are available for public viewing below.
Opening Remarks
Welcome Address and Opening Remarks
Welcome Address presented by Arij Al Chawaf, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives, Research and Innovation, University of Toronto, and Ali Salahpour, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto.
Opening Remarks presented by Ana Andreazza, Strategic Director of MITO2i and Sonya Brijbassi, Associate Director of MITO2i.
Opening Presentation
The Baszucki Group and Metabolic Mind
Opening Presentation featuring Kirk Nylen, Managing Director and Scientific Advisor of Metabolic Mind, Baszucki Group
Keynote Presentation
Bipolar Disorder: Linking Mania, Reward Sensitivity, Dopamine, and Mitochondria
Keynote Presentation featuring Mary Phillips, Pittsburg Foundation Emmerling Endowed Chair in Psychotic Disorders and Professor in Psychiatry and Clinical Translational Science
Metabolic Psychiatry and Diabetes
Panel Presentation: Pleiotropic Effects of Insulin
Panel Presentation featuring Minna Woo, Senior Scientist and Director of the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre
Panel Presentation: Comparison of Ketogenic Diet and Exogenous Ketones in a Mouse Model of GRIN Disorder
Panel Presentation featuring Amy Ramsey, Scientific Advisor and Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto
Trainee Talks in Metabolic Psychiatry and Diabetes
Introduction by Sara Vasconcelos, John Kitson McIver Chair in Diabetes Research
Featuring Trainees, Safwat Khan, (Pheobe) Yuanye Yan, Kassandra Zachos, and Dana El Soufi El Sabbagh
Personalized Nutrition
Panel Presentation: Therapeutic Nutrition, Diabetes Remission, and Mental Health
Panel Presentation featuring Sean McKelvey, Pharmacist and Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition
Panel Presentation: Emerging Science in Nutritional Psychiatry
Panel Presentation featuring Elisa Breitzke, Researcher and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Queen’s University
Panel Discussion on Personalized Nutrition
Panel Discussion featuring Ana Andreazza, Sean McKelvey, and Elisa Breitzke
Novel Therapeutics
Industry Presentation: The Importance of Mitochondrial Function in Complex Diseases
Industry Presentation featuring Amy Ripka, Chief Executive Officer of Lucy Therapeutics
Brain Health
Panel Presentation: Dopamine Functions in the Brain and Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Panel Presentation featuring Susan George, Clinical Endocrinologist and Canada Research Chair in Molecular Neuroscience
Panel Presentation: Regulation of PINK1-Parkin Mitophagy by Molecular Chaperones
Panel Presentation featuring Minesh Kapadia, Scientific Associate for Kalia Labs in Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Research, University Health Network
Panel Presentation: Circulating Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA and Memory in MCI and Alzheimer's Disease
Panel Presentation featuring Ella Bin Xin Song, PhD Candidate and Member of the Neuropsychopharmacological Research Group, Sunnybrook Hospital
Trainee Talks in Brain Health
Trainee Talks in Brain Health featuring Manisha Yadav, Yalin Sun, Pavel Powlowski, Jaehyoung Choi, and Yejin Kang
Cardiovascular Health
Primitive Macrophages Govern Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Enhance Contractile Function of Human Cardiac Tissues
Independent Presentation featuring Humaira Hamidzada, PhD Candidate, Toronto General Hospital
Trainee Talks in Cardiovascular Health
Trainee Talks in Cardiovascular Health featuring Ava Vandenbelt and Fatemeh Mirshafiei
Renal Health and Graft Repair
Lead Presentation: Addressing Unmet Clinical Needs in Kidney Transplantation
Lead Presentation and Trainee Introductions featuring Ana Konvalinka, Transplant Nephrologist and Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute
Trainee Talks in Renal Health and Graft Repair
Trainee Talks in Renal Health and Graft Repair Featuring Slaghaniya Neupane and Rohankrishna Harikumar
