People of Medicine by Design: Omar F. Khan
“In my lab, we approach regenerative and preventative medicine from a genetic angle. Our goal is to help people's own cells repair damage and prevent disease.”
“In my lab, we approach regenerative and preventative medicine from a genetic angle. Our goal is to help people's own cells repair damage and prevent disease.”
“It’s an incredibly exciting time in regenerative medicine. There are a few hurdles in the way to achieving what we want, but I believe great things that will have a positive impact on society are absolutely possible.”
"My next career goal is to become a physician-scientist. This role would enable me to practice the two areas I love – applied research and caring for people’s health."
Program selects inaugural incubator companies
Several Medicine by Design-funded investigators were named Canada Research Chairs, and two received New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) Transformation stream grants.
"Our lab’s work is a good example of why it’s an exciting time to be in regenerative medicine: tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies enable us to model a disease in the lab, which can help us answer big unknowns."
Cells transplanted into the retina transfer materials to recipient cells through nanotubes.
“I hope my impact on science is two-fold. It's enjoyable to mentor young scientists who are developing their scientific thinking and their love of discovery. I also hope my research one day translates into something that helps patients."
“Science is about interpreting hard numbers and data, but I’ve realized that science is also an exercise in creative storytelling. I love the visual arts and literature, and I can see the drama in science."
Researchers have engineered a new method to improve the survival and potency of cell transplants to treat diabetes.
"We simplify the problems so we can start nibbling at them. With each step, you contribute to the body of knowledge that we can all use to improve people’s health. I like helping to make that impact."
"The infiltration of new technologies into mainstream scientific research is incredible. I mean, synthetic biology, AI, machine learning, resolution at the single cell level. I love interdisciplinary science and I love technology."
"It’s been amazing to witness the marriage of biological engineering and cell and molecular biology, which will generate regenerative medicine’s next wave of discoveries and therapeutics."
"My research is at the intersection of biology and physics. It’s really the fundamental questions that drive me. I hope that one day my work on these fundamental questions might lead others to develop new therapies."
"I realized that I would also be helping people if I pursued science, and if I did it well, I might help hundreds of thousands of people."