About us
PREDICT is a consortium of academic researchers across Canada modeling complex human biology and response to therapy “in a dish” to drive the era of precision health.
Canada is a leader in the development of artificial tissues assembled using patient cells. Our mission is to exploit this emerging technology to empower precision health. Demonstrating the predictive power of artificial tissues is a key priority. PREDICT coordinates and fosters cohesive partnerships between artificial tissue designers and the clinicians who deeply understand the healthcare challenges that need solutions. We envision a future where artificial tissues, combined with patient-centered innovation, transforms the landscape of precision health, ensuring optimal outcomes for all Canadians.
PREDICT is achieving this by:
Identifying strategic priorities
Showcasing consortia member expertise
Stimulating connections
PREDICT Leadership
Penney Gilbert
Penney Gilbert is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto where she holds the Canada Research Chair in Endogenous Repair. She is also cross-appointed to the Donnelly Centre and the Department of Cell and Systems Biology. With the goal of ensuring skeletal muscle health throughout life, Dr. Gilbert’s team is known for their culture device inventions and methods to interrogate aspects of human skeletal muscle function and biology “in a dish”. Her technologies have sparked collaborative interactions with a number of industry partners, including Nestle Health Sciences, UCB Pharma, Satellos Biosciences, and Pliant Therapeutics. She has served as a scientific consultant in the predictive human assay space for Boehringer Ingelheim and Pliant Therapeutics.
Alison McGuigan
Alison McGuigan is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry and at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Her research team aims to engineer tissue models to explore mechanisms of disease and regeneration. Specifically, her team has pioneered the design of tissue platforms for smart data acquisition, with a focus on stratifying heterogeneous bulk data by cell population, spatial location, or by time. Dr. McGuigan in recognition of her work has received numerous awards including the 2013 TERMIS-AM Young Investigator Award, and the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering Hatch Innovation Award. In 2018 she was elected to the Royal Society of Canada-College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists, and in 2022 she was elected a Fellow of TERM by the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society.
Get in touch with us today
Reach out to us to explore exciting opportunities to connect with PREDICT and PREDICT consortia members. We can’t wait to hear from you!