The Embassy of Italy in Canada, the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto and the Toronto chapter of AIRIcerca (International Association of Italian Researchers) mark the 2023 edition of Italian Research Day in the World with a presentation and panel discussion on the state and future of women in science today.
ITALIAN RESEARCH DAY IN THE WORLD 2023
Thursday, April 20 | 7:00PM
Istituto Italiano di Cultura
496 Huron St | Toronto ON
FREE EVENT | REGISTRATION REQUIRED
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT ON EVENTBRITE
OPENING PRESENTATION
The Future of Women in Science Needs Top-to-Bottom Change
by
Dr. Gilda Stefanelli
Department of Biology
University of Ottawa
PANEL DISCUSSION
Dr. Alfonso Fasano
University of Toronto
University Health Network
Dr. Emilia Luca
Sunnybrook Research Institute
AIRIcerca | Toronto Chapter
Dr. Maria Cristina Nostro
University of Toronto
University Health Network
Dr. Gilda Stefanelli
Department of Biology
University of Ottawa
PANEL MODERATOR
Costanza Conti
Scientific Attaché
Embassy of Italy in Canada
DR. ALFONSO FASANO
Dr. Alfonso Fasano holds the Chair in Neuromodulation at the University of Toronto and University Health Network, where he is also Professor of Neurology and co-director of the Surgical Program for Movement Disorders. He is also a staff neurologist at the Hospital of Sick Children in Toronto, Clinician Investigator at the Krembil Research Institute and a scientist at KITE – Toronto Rehabilitation Hospital.
DR. EMILIA LUCA
Dr. Emilia Luca is a Research Associate in the Hearing & Balance Regeneration Lab at Sunnybrook Research Institute, led by Dr. Alain Dabdoub. She spearheads a translational research project to develop biological solutions for regenerating human inner ear cells, including sensory cells. Dr. Luca’s research is focused on identifying gene regulatory networks and epigenetic switches that could serve as therapeutic targets for hearing and balance disorders. She holds a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome, as well as a Master’s degree cum laude in Proteomics and Functional Genomics. Dr. Luca has been actively involved in scientific outreach since 2018, co-founding and chairing the AIRIcerca Toronto Chapter.
DR. MARIA CRISTINA NOSTRO
Dr. Maria Cristina Nostro is a Senior Scientist at the McEwen Stem Cell Institute at UHN, where she holds the Harry Rosen Chair in Diabetes Regenerative Medicine Research. She is also an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Nostro completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Florence in 2000 and then received a Ph.D. in Biomolecular Sciences from The University of Manchester in 2004. The same year, she joined Dr. Gordon Keller’s laboratory at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and in 2007 she relocated to Toronto. In 2012, she started her independent career at UHN. Her research is focused on the generation of functional pancreatic beta cells from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. Since 2015, Dr. Nostro has been leading a multi-investigator team aimed at developing novel transplantation approaches for Type 1 Diabetes therapy.
DR. GILDA STEFANELLI
Dr. Gilda Stefanelli is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at the University of Ottawa, where she studies the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. She completed her Ph.D. in Italy, and in 2016, she moved to Canada to perform her post-doctoral studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga. During her post-doctoral training, Dr. Stefanelli became more aware of women’s struggles when pursuing a career in science, creating the Concetta Stefanelli Foundation for Young Women in Science. The Stefanelli Foundation is a non-profit organization that encourages and retains women who choose a scientific career.