by Dr. Lucy Osborne

Dear IMS Community,

The spring season is often associated with new beginnings, renewal, and transitions as we welcome in the warmer weather. Along with these new transitions, it is important to place focus on understanding how well our bodies establish equilibrium. Hence, this issue of the IMS Magazine places a key focus on metabolic health—exploring the work IMS faculty and students are doing in understanding and developing therapeutics for patients living with metabolic disorders.

This issue of the IMS Magazine features five faculty that are providing interdisciplinary lenses on metabolic health. Dr. Dan Drucker, pioneer in the development of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) drugs for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, speaks to the journey to discovery of these drugs—learning from negative data and exploring additional applications for their use. Dr. Cynthia Luk is moving beyond the stigmatizing lifestyle narrative around obesity to holistically understanding the underlying biology of fat cell death and fibrosis that contribute to its development. Dr. Herbert Gaisano is exploring the mechanisms associated with insulin release and delivery at the level of the vesicles in pancreatic beta cells to improve care for patients with diabetes. Dr. Rodrigo Mansur looks at the intersection of psychiatric and metabolic health, exploring cardiovascular and insulin pathways in the context of mood disorders and the therapeutic potential of GLP-1 RAs.  Lastly, Dr. Subodh Verma focuses on understanding the underlying factors impacting cardiometabolic health—exploring the impact of GLP-1 RAs in improving risk for cardiovascular disease, in conjunction with diabetes and obesity. 

In addition to faculty, this issue places a spotlight on two members of our IMS community. Dr. Mitchell Elliott, medical oncologist and current PhD student at IMS, speaks to his journey from the clinic to research, and the life lessons he has learned along the way. The IMS Magazine also interviewed alumna Dr. Lauren de Freitas, who speaks about her transition from being a rights advisor to working at the provincial level in mental health policy. 

This issue also spearheads a new showcase series to the IMS Magazine, highlighting written work by students taking the Science Communicators modular course MSC1126, hosted by Dr. Betty Zou. The article herein focuses on the sex differences associated with GLP-1 and its protective benefit on the brain.

On behalf of the IMS community, I extend my congratulations to all new faculty joining IMS and members who have received promotions this year. I would also like to thank the Editors-in-Chief Kristen, Kyla, and Nayaab, Design Team Co-Directors Jinny and Ravneet, as well as the larger team of IMS Magazine journalists, editors, photographers, and designers, in putting this issue together. Finally, in the spirit of new spring transitions, I wish all IMS students the best in working towards any new goals, in research and for their professional development. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Lucy Osborne

Interim Director, Institute of Medical Science