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null SIS trainees recognized for interdisciplinary research achievements

Achievements span sustainability, musculoskeletal and regenerative science and cancer research at The Institute

SOURCE: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute)
January 26, 2026

Trainees from the Surgical and Interventional Sciences (SIS) Program continue to make an impact across The Institute through interdisciplinary achievements spanning sustainability, musculoskeletal science and cancer research. Their success reflects the program's collaborative environment and its engagement across multiple research programs at The Institute.

Sustainability and health systems innovation

SIS alumni Devangi Patel, Aksa Anwar and Urshila Naithani were named finalists for the CETEQ EnviroLys Award for a project developed through the McGill Master's Program in Clinical Innovation. Working in collaboration with the MUHC, The Institute via the Clinical Innovation Platform (CLIP), and external partners, the team examined how optimizing humidity settings in hospital HVAC systems could reduce energy consumption.

Their project demonstrated a 7 MWh energy reduction over three days, highlighting how trainee-led research at the intersection of clinical care and health systems can contribute to practical sustainability solutions in healthcare settings.

Excellence in musculoskeletal and regenerative science

SIS trainees were also recognized for excellence in musculoskeletal and regenerative research at the Research Canada Innovates Emerging Researcher Innovation Showcase.

The following trainees were honoured for outstanding poster presentations:

In addition to this recognition, Tarek Klaylat also won Best Podium Presentation at the Canadian Connective Tissue Conference and Best Poster Presentation at the Quebec Network for Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy (ThéCell) Annual Meeting.

Eleane Hamburger further received the McGill University SIS Seminar Series Oral Presentation Award and the RI-MUHC Studentship Award.

These achievements highlight the interdisciplinary reach of SIS trainees working across multiple research programs at The Institute.

Graduate research excellence across The Institute

Several SIS trainees also received competitive academic and research awards recognizing excellence across diverse research areas at The Institute.

Kyeong Beom (Harry) Jo, supervised by Dae Kyum Kim, PhD, received three scholarships recognizing research excellence: the SSP/SIS Graduate Scholarship, The Institute's Studentship, and the Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Internal Studentships, as well as two travel grants, including the SSP/SIS Travel Award, supporting attendance at national and international conferences.

Jiachen Ji, supervised by David P. Labbé, PhD, received the SSP/SIS Graduate Scholarship for research excellence.

Pegah Rahimizadeh, supervised by Joanna Przybyl, PhD, received multiple distinctions, including the PGSS Travel Award, the GREAT Travel Award, a Poster Presentation Award at the Annual McGill Biomedical Graduate Conference, the SIS Involvement Award, First Rank and Best Oral Presentation at the CTR Horizons Conference, and a Top 3 PhD Poster Presentation Award at The Institute's Research Day.

Together, these achievements reflect the breadth and impact of SIS trainee research across sustainability, musculoskeletal science and oncology, and underscore the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration at The Institute.

"Seeing our trainees succeed across fields — from hospital sustainability to regenerative medicine and oncology — highlights the interdisciplinary strength of the SIS Program," said SIS Program Manager Anne Mathiot, M.Sc. "It reflects how we support research that moves across disciplines and translates into real-world impact at The Institute."

Congratulations to all SIS trainees on their outstanding achievements and their continued contributions to advancing research at The Institute.