Libin Cardiovascular Institute Trainee Organization (LCITO)
The LCITO exists to bring together trainees within the Libin Cardiovascular Institute
Get involved with the LCITO and stay up to date on events, resources and opportunities for trainees within the Libin Cardiovascular Institute.
This student-led group organizes journal clubs, the Libin Institute's Research Update Seminar Series, mock defense seminars and social events. Get involved with this organization by reaching out to LCITO lead Chantal Rytz at chantal.rytz@ucalgary.ca.
For more information about trainee opportunities within the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, contact Libin Operations Coordinator Amanda Wagner at amanda.wagner@ucalgary.ca or Education Director Dr. Satish Raj at satish.raj@ucalgary.ca
LCITO Leadership Team
Chantal Rytz
Chantal Rytz is a doctoral candidate in the lab of Dr. Sofia Ahmed. Her PhD research focuses on the cardiovascular implications of gender-affirming hormone therapy use in transgender women. She leads the LCITO.
Contact: chantal.rytz@ucalgary.ca
Heshini Dalpathadu
Heshini Dalpathadu is a masters trainee in the lab of Dr. Steve Greenway (co-supervised by Dr. Andrew Wade). Dalpathadu's project uses a novel in vitro model of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to investigate uremic toxins as a possible risk factor for cardiorenal syndrome, a disease where patients with chronic kidney disease develop cardiac dysfunction. She leads the Basic Science Journal Club.
Contact: heshini.dalpathadu@ucalgary.ca
Jessica Wager
Jessica Wager is a masters student in the lab of Dr. Jennifer Thompson. She studies the physiological mechanisms that underlie mesenchymal stem cell recruitment in adipose tissue and the molecular pathway that mediates crosstalk between adipocytes and adipocyte progenitors. She co-leads Basic Journal Club.
Contact: jessica.wager@ucalgary.ca
Victoria Riehl-Tonn
Victoria Riehl-Tonn is a doctoral candidate in the lab of Dr. Sofia Ahmed. She leads the Clinical Journal Club. Her research focuses on sex and gender differences in patient outcomes in individuals living with kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis.
Contact: victoria.riehltonn@ucalgary.ca
Nabilah Gulamhusein
Nabilah Gulamhusein is a masters student in the lab of Dr. Sofia Ahmed. Her research focuses on the route of post-menopausal estrogen administration and cardiovascular risk. Nabilah hopes to become a leader in women's cardiovascular health research and improve patient outcomes. She co-leads the Clinical Journal Club.
Contact: nabilah.gulamhuse1@ucalgary.ca
Carmina Albertine Isidoro
Carmina Albertine Isidoro is a masters student in the lab of Dr. Justin Deniset. Her research explores the role of pericardial macrophages in mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition - a process believed to be implicated in excessive scar formation after a heart attack. She is the lead for the Research Update Seminar Series (RUSS).
Contact: carminaalbertine.isi@ucalgary.ca
Keila Turino Miranda
Keila Turino Miranda is a masters student in the lab of Dr. Sofia Ahmed. Her research focuses on the validation of kidney estimation equations in transgender individuals. She co-leads the Mock Defense Committee.
Contact: keila.turinomiranda@ucalgary.ca
Apisha Sri
Apisha Sri is a second year masters student working under the supervision of Dr. Sonia Butalia, MD. Her research focuses on diabetes and cardiovascular risk in the community. She co-leads the Mock Defense Committee.
Contact: apishanthi.sriskanda@ucalgary.ca
Resources
There are numerous resources available to trainees within the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. Please see below for a number of opportunities.
Scholarships
The Institute offers numerous scholarships for all levels of trainees. Please visit this page for the details and application forms.
*Please note completion of the CIHR's Online Training Modules: Integrating Sex & Gender in Health Research is a requirement for Libin Institute funding and scholarships.
Awards
The Libin Trainee Excellence in Research Award recognized trainees's publication success. If you are a first author for a peer-reviewed publication, you are eligible. Learn more here.
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute (LCI) Travel Award is intended to help offset costs for LCI trainees travelling to national and international conferences. Learn more here.
Tine Haworth Research Day
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute's annual Tine Haworth Cardiovascular Research Day highlights cardiovascular research being undertaken by trainees. It features a poster competition and scientific talks, as well as the E.R. Smith Lecture. Learn more here.
Learning Opportunities
There are numerous learning opportunities for trainees within the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. For more details, visit this page.