University Health Network

Emancipation Day marks the day in 1834 when the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect across the British Empire.

Today, we reflect on the history, strength and resilience of Black communities in Canada, and we call for rededication to dismantling systemic discrimination and anti-Black racism.

It's time for UHN's monthly Honour Roll!

🎓 TGH Vascular Surgery Team was awarded the Dr. Larry Kraiss Quality Award
🎓 UHN received the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award
🎓 Members of UHN's Laboratory Medicine Program were recognized by @utoronto.ca

Read more: bit.ly/3U46hwf

A research study led by Dr. Long Nguyen and team at
UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has demonstrated how specific cancer cells in a tumour are responsible for driving its growth and spread.

Read more about the study: bit.ly/3IUmyRW

Studies led by #TeamUHN's Dr. Frances Chung are exploring ways to improve surgical outcomes for older adults.

Early findings show that integrating mental health and cognitive screening into pre-op care could improve patient outcomes.

Read more: bit.ly/4l4cKSW

Thank you to our government partners for recognizing the role health systems must play in building a more equitable future.

This week we welcomed Hon. Gregor Robertson, Hon. Evan Solomon, MP Karim Bardeesy, and colleagues to Dunn House, Canada’s first hospital-led supportive housing site.

Together with UHN’s Social Medicine team, we discussed the urgent need to scale Social Medicine Housing projects across the country.

On #WorldHepatitisDay, learn about one of the most harmful infectious diseases in Canada, as well as the past decade of breakthroughs and challenges in eliminating it as a public health threat.

Read the Q&A with #TeamUHN's Dr. Jordan Feld: uhn.ca/corporate/ne...

Prostate cancer screening should focus on those with elevated risks, experts say Canada pressed to rethink how it uses the prostate-specific antigen test, which comes with its own risks

Dr. Neil Fleshner, urologic oncologist at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, is leading efforts to improve prostate cancer screening for high-risk communities. Learn about the Princess Margaret and Walnut Foundation's mobile screening clinics.

Read more:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

What an amazing turnout for this year’s staff BBQ at UHN's Toronto General Hospital! It was truly special to see so many members of #TeamUHN come together on a wonderful summer day.

We’re deeply grateful for your dedication, energy, and the incredible work you do every day. 🩵

UHN has recently opened the Indigenous Wellness Centre at Toronto Western Hospital.

Guided by UHN’s Indigenous Health Program and created in collaboration with an Indigenous design team, the Centre serves as a place for gathering, traditional medicines, ceremony and learning.

The buildup of cholesterol and inflammation in artery walls is a leading cause of heart disease.

Researchers led by Dr. Kathryn Howe, vascular surgeon at UHN's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, are studying how the cells lining blood vessels communicate and drive this process.

Read more: bit.ly/44Jt9XV

Robot-assisted therapy is an emerging rehabilitation tool that offers precise movement training.

Learn how researchers like Aisha from UHN's KITE Research Institute are integrating real-world objects to test the safety and usability of robotic arms for therapy.

Read more: bit.ly/44JibSn

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a leading cause of death in men over 65 in Canada.

Research led by UHN's Dr. Clinton Robbins and team uncovered how AAAs form and the impact of smoking, potentially opening the door to targeted treatments.

Read more: bit.ly/46USiAi

Our annual summer BBQ at UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre brought together staff, students, and volunteers for an afternoon of connection and celebration. Thank you to all who joined us and helped make the day memorable! ☀️🌭🍔

Thirty-one @uhn.ca research teams were awarded more than $27M from the Spring 2025 Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project Grant Competition! 🎉

🔗: www.uhnresearch.ca/news/funding...

Congratulations to all the awardees!

UHN researchers have been awarded $3.1 million by @stemcellnetwork.ca to advance stem cell and regenerative medicine research. This supports projects involving in heart regeneration, pacemakers, cystic fibrosis and more.

Learn more about the funded projects:
www.uhn.ca/corporate/ne...

Recognizing common signs of stroke early can save a life. Be F.A.S.T!
F: face drooping
A: arm or leg weakness
S: speech difficulty
T: time to call 911

See how the Stroke Team at UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital responds to a patient experiencing emergent stroke symptoms:

A research team from UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have revealed how a molecule known as circular RNA (circRNA) drives the transformation of specific prostate and lung cancers into more aggressive, treatment-resistant forms.

Read more:
www.uhn.ca/corporate/ne...

A new artificial intelligence-driven tool detects the causes of liver graft injury without the need for invasive biopsies.

Developed at UHN, GraftIQ is a hybrid model blending clinician expertise with machine learning.

Read more: bit.ly/40iODZ3

Check out this month's UHN on the Go!

➡️ Ci2i Symposium marks opening of a new centre at UHN
➡️ Arts-based education open house showcases the power of art as learning
➡️ Hand hygiene awareness campaigns launch across UHN

Read more: www.uhn.ca/corporate/ne...

In an article from @nature.com, researchers from UHN's Toronto General Hospital Research Institute shared their vision for how AI could transform the way scientists explore the inner workings of cells.

Read about the future of decoding and predicting biological processes: bit.ly/44HaVF8

Dowon Choi's internship at UHN's Quality, Safety & Clinical Adoption Department empowered her to enhance patient safety as a nurse and drive meaningful improvements in her team.

Read Dowon's story: bit.ly/4loWLja

Wellness Wednesday: Bug bites Taking the steps to protect from insect bites are more crucial than ever. Dr. Alon Vaisman, infectious diseases physician at UHN, weighs in.

Warm weather comes with an uptick in insects and bug bites. Dr. Alon Vaisman, TeamUHN infectious disease physician, shares how to protect yourself and when to seek medical attention.

WATCH on CP24:
www.cp24.com/video/2025/0...

A new study from UHN's Toronto General Hospital Research Institute and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has found that a mix of gut bacteria, called MET4, can trigger an immune response in patients with cancer who are receiving immunotherapy.

Read more: bit.ly/44lmnHJ

A new study from UHN shows how chronic liver inflammation alters the liver’s immune cells, making it more vulnerable to damage and influencing disease progression. Understanding these changes could improve treatments for chronic liver disease.

Read more: bit.ly/44BBaNp

Kicking off the summer with staff BBQs across Toronto Rehab sites and at West Park Health Care Centre!

We look forward to this tradition every year as a chance to show appreciation for a team that exemplifies excellence in care every day. Thank you for all that you do!

Researchers at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have discovered a way that dying cancer cells weaken the immune system, making treatments less effective.

Blocking the protein IL-33 can improve therapy outcomes and open doors to new combination therapies.

Read more: www.uhn.ca/corporate/ne...

Thank you to Hon. Nolan Quinn for visiting us at
@kiteuhn.bsky.social to see firsthand the world-class research facilities and lifechanging innovations taking place right here at home.

A study published in Nature Communications by @kbi-uhn.bsky.social researchers explored a promising new technique for treating movement disorders such as Parkinson's. Transcranial ultrasound could become the first non-invasive form of deep-brain stimulation.

Read more: bit.ly/3IaYfin

Smog and wildfire smoke can damage your heart, study finds — and living in a big city like Toronto is a risk factor Continued exposure to fine particulate matter is linked to higher levels of diffuse myocardial fibrosis, according to a study in journal Radiology.

A new study published in medical journal Radiology, led by TeamUHN clinician-scientist Dr. Kate Hanneman & researchers from Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, shows that long-term exposure to air pollution, smog and wildfire smoke can damage the heart.

Learn more in Toronto Star: