Welcome to the Ren-Ke Li Laboratory.
We focus on translational research to apply new insights discovered through basic science research to potential clinical applications for heart regeneration and repair after myocardial infarction. Our primary research areas are:
(A) Cell transplantation into damaged myocardial tissue to regenerate myocardium and restore heart function, and
(B) Tissue engineering to create a muscle grafts using stem cells in combination with biomaterials for repair of cardiac defects.
We have used stem cells, gene therapy and tissue engineering techniques to regenerate and rejuvenate the heart to restore heart function.
We are affiliated with the University of Toronto’s Department of Physiology, the Institute of Medical Science (IMS), and the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME), as well as the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute at UHN.
We would like to thank our sources of grant funding:
“Notice Board”
The International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences awarded Dr. Ren-Ke Li the prestigious 2019 Naranjan Dhalla Award for Innovative Investigators in Cardiovascular Science to recognize his distinguished achievements. This honour was presented to him in the International Symposium on Cellular Therapy in Cardiovascular Medicine, Ankara, Turkey on 01 November 2019
December 2018
Lab Christmas Party
A very sweet Christmas Cake. December 14th 2018.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Years from every member of the Ren-Ke Li lab! December 14th, 2018.
October 2018
Congratulations to Daniel Ramnath for successfully defending his Master’s Thesis! October 26th, 2018.
Tina, Azadeh, Dan and Fievel presented their posters at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute Annual Research Day, this year taking place at the Toronto Reference Library. October 17th, 2018.
September 2018
Congratulations Zhengbo on the acceptance of her paper for publication in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Dr. Zhengbo Shao’s paper is entitled “Young Bone Marrow Sca-1 Cells Protect Aged Retina from Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury through Activation of FGF2”.
August 2018
Congratulations Azadeh on receiving a TGHRI Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award
Dr. Azadeh Yeganeh has received a Toronto General Hospital Research Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award for her work on the role of autophagy in rejuvenation of the aged heart .
The award is valued at 25,000 CAD.
August 2018
Congratulations Tina on winning a Vanier Canada Award Scholarship
Tina Binesh Marvasti has been named a recipient of a prestigious Vanier Canada Award Scholarship for her work on identifying and rejuvenating the bone marrow stem cells responsible for preventing heart failure in elderly cardiac patients.
The award is valued at 150,000 CAD.
https://ims.utoronto.ca/news/congratulations-to-ims-vanier-award-winners-2018/
July 2018
Congratulations Faisal on being awarded a CIHR Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Dr. Faisal Alibhal has been awarded a CIHR Post-Doctoral Fellowship for his work on using extracellular vesicles to restore cardio-vascular function.
The award is valued at 90,000 CAD.
July 2018
Congratulations Azadeh and Tina on winning ORT Travel Awards
Dr. Azadeh Yeganeh and Tina Binesh Marvasti are recipients of ORT Travel Awards which will help fund their trip to the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in November to present their individual research.
Each award is valued at 500 CAD.
http://www.uhnresearch.ca/news/ort-travel-award-winners-6?redirect=ort/ort_September2018
