CTS Research Forum
CTS Beaver Den

CTS Research Forum & Beaver Den

Wednesday April 15, 2026

11:30-18:00

Calgary Telus Convention Centre

Macleod B

CTS RESEARCH FORUM PROGRAM

11:00–11:30 Lunch Macleod AB Foyer
CTS Research Forum Macleod B
11:30–11:36 Welcome Dr. Richard Leigh
11:30–13:00 What's New for 2026 Moderator: Dr. Andréanne Côté
Time Presenter Presentation Title
11:30–11:45 Gillian Goobie Epigenetic mediation of PM2.5 impacts in fibrotic interstitial lung disease
11:45–12:00 Makenna Gomes Lung Health Study
12:00–12:15 Manali Mukherjee #MechanismsMatter : Re-thinking biomarkers and biologic choices in 2026
12:15–12:30 Simon Rousseau Unsupervised Horizons: Multiomic Discovery in Respiratory Research in 2026
12:30–12:45 Christina Thornton Beyond Particulates: Pyroaerobiology and the Microbial Dimension of Wildfire Smoke
12:45–13:00 Bryan Yipp Neuroimmune regulation of lung inflammation and fibrosis
13:00–15:00 Science Spoken Succinctly Moderator: Dr. Mathieu Morrisette
Judges: Mohit Bhutani, Genevieve Digby, Ward Flemons, Larry Lands, Manali Mukherjee, Sachin Pendharkar, Teresa To
Time Presenter Presentation Title
Basic Science
13:00–13:08 Sujata Basu Sex-Dependent Differences in Albuterol-Mediated Bronchodilation in a Murine Model of Allergic Asthma
13:08–13:16 Sydney Joy Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages Resolves Established Fibrosis in a Murine Model of Interstitial Lung Disease
13:16–13:24 Ariel MacKenzie Modeling the Human Lung Microbiome on a Lung-on-a-Chip to Investigate Microbiome-Macrophage Dynamics in Bronchiectasis
13:24–13:32 Sriyani Ranatunga Early Life Cigarette Smoke Exposure Programs Susceptibility to Acute Cigarette Smoke-Induced Lung Dysfunction and Inflammation
13:32–13:40 Félix Tremblay Skin Sensitization to Flavor Chemicals Impacts the Immune Response and Lung Functions of Mice Exposed to Flavored Vaping Aerosols
Clinical / Translational Science
13:40–13:48 Eveline Durom Automated Detection of Airway Mucus in Obstructive Lung Disease
13:48–13:56 Morgane Gronnier Meta-analysis of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) for asthma diagnosis in adults and children
13:56–14:04 Colin MacKenzie Rapid and Clinically-Actionable Airway Microbiome Analysis to Guide Personalized Microbiome Modulation Therapy in Critical Illness
14:04–14:12 Anusha Mappanasingam CT-evaluated Pulmonary Vascular Differences in Moderate-to-severe Asthma are Modifiable
14:12–14:20 Logesh Selvakumar Association Between Right-to-Left Shunt Grade and Stroke Prevalence in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Database Study
Quality Improvement
14:20–14:28 Stacey Butler Choosing Green: Development of Conversation Aids for Climate Conscious Prescribing of Inhalers in Asthma and COPD
14:28–14:36 Zoe Garzouzi Reduce, Recycle, Reimagine: The Analysis of a Novel Inhaler Recycling Program
14:36–14:44 Kaamraan Islam What is Being Sold to Canadians to Help them Quit Smoking? A Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis of Smoking Cessation Products in Online Stores
14:44–14:52 Neha Mathur Impact of a Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Transitional Care Program on Hospital Readmissions and Emergency Visits in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
14:52–15:00 Jeenat Mehareen Twenty-year Trends in Excess Costs of Asthma
* Awards to be presented prior to the Distinguished Lecture Award Friday morning, 9:30 am
15:00–16:00 Blue Sky Panel Discussion Moderator: Dr. Kerri Johansson
Panel Member Affiliation
Shawn Aaron Professor, University of Ottawa; Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Pat Camp Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Martin Kolb Professor, McMaster University
Richard Leigh Professor, Cumming School of Medicine
Mena Soliman Senior Global Medical Director, Regeneron
Sanja Stanojevic Associate Professor, Dalhousie University
Don Sin Professor, University of British Columbia
Christina Thornton Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
16:00–16:30 CTS Networking Reception Macleod AB Foyer
CTS Beaver Den Competition Macleod B
16:30–16:40 Welcome & Introductions Moderator: Dr. Margaret Kelly
Beavers: Andréanne Côté, Chen Fong, Jeremy Hirota, Parameswaran Nair, Erik Orava, Brian Rowe
16:40–17:48 Pitches
Time Presenter(s) Title
16:40–16:57 Jean-François Haince Accessible Early Lung Cancer Detection: A Home-Based AI-Enhanced Blood Test for Remote and At-Risk Populations
16:57–17:14 David Hodgson Hollo VHC: A Pocket Sized Valved Holding Chamber to Improve Inhaler Drug Delivery
17:14–17:31 Alex Chee & Joanna MacLean Leveraging machine-learning to automate facial analysis and personalized therapies for sleep apnea
17:31–17:48 Elmira Safaie Qamsari Targeting Cancer-Like Endothelial Cell Growth in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Using CAR-NK Cell Immunotherapy
17:48–17:58 Audience Q&A and Beaver deliberation
17:58–18:00 Beaver Den Innovation Award presentation
18:00–18:05 Closing Dr. Richard Leigh

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CTS Beaver Den

New for 2026! CTS Beaver Den

  • Top 5 innovators pitch to panel of expert Beavers
  • Best pitch awarded unrestricted research funds to help turn their
    idea into reality
  • Trainees, early career and all other respiratory researchers eligible
    to participate

Deadline for submission is January 26, 2026, 17:00 ET

CTS Research Awards

NEW! We are excited to announce that the CTS Research Awards will be featured at the CTS Research Forum on April 15, 2026 in Calgary AB (one day prior to CRC).

The Freddy Hargreave Translational and Clinical Science Award and James C. Hogg Basic Science Research Award showcase the contributions of Canadian researchers in respiratory science.

NEW in 2026 is the Quality Improvement Research Award, showcasing excellence in Canadian research dedicated to advancing the quality of respiratory science.

To be considered for a CTS Research Award submit an abstract to CRC. Please note: submission portal is now closed

You must be:

  • a trainee (undergraduate, MSc, PhD, MD, resident/fellow)
  • listed as first author of the abstract
  • in an academic program related to respiratory research and/or medicine at a Canadian institution.

Top abstract submissions in the basic, translational/clinical, and quality improvement categories will be invited to present their research at the CTS Research Forum where the award recipients will be selected by a panel of experts in the field.

DEADLINE for abstract submissions is October 20, 2025, 23:00 ET

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