On March 23, 2026, HLI hosted another insightful session as part of its Seminar Series, featuring Milad Vahedi, a PhD trainee working under Dr. Graeme Koelwyn. Milad’s talk, titled Chronic Exercise as a Modulator of Immune Responses in Aging: An Evolutionary Perspective, delved into the fascinating relationship between physical activity, our immune system, and the aging process.

Milad began by taking us on a journey back to our ancestors, who relied heavily on endurance activities like walking and running to hunt and survive. Their bodies adapted to these long-distance activities, improving their oxygen delivery to muscles. But the benefits didn’t stop there. These adaptations also fine-tuned their immune systems, helping them stay healthy by reducing inflammation and strengthening their defenses against disease.

Fast forward to today, and the situation has changed dramatically. With modern, sedentary lifestyles, many of us no longer engage in the kind of physical activity that our ancestors did. This lack of movement leads to chronic low-level inflammation, which can speed up aging and increase the risk of diseases associated with aging. Milad highlighted how this mismatch between our evolutionary biology and modern habits is a major driver of aging-related health issues.

However, the good news is that regular, chronic exercise can help counteract this process. Milad’s research suggests that staying active can regulate immune responses in a way that prevents or even treats aging-related diseases. In fact, exercise doesn’t just help with muscle health—it can play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy immune system throughout life.

Milad’s presentation was a powerful reminder of the importance of physical activity, not just for fitness, but for its broader impact on overall health and aging. His work is a step forward in understanding how we can harness exercise to help keep our immune systems strong and reduce the risk of chronic diseases as we age.

To learn more about Milad’s incredible work, feel free to check out his LinkedIn profile here: Milad Vahedi LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/milad-vahedi-72065839a/

This seminar provided an inspiring look at the long-term benefits of staying active, and Milad’s research is helping shed light on how simple lifestyle changes can have a profound impact on our health as we age.

On February 23rd, HLI hosted another engaging session as part of its Seminar Series, featuring Samuel Leung, a PhD student in Bioinformatics from the Computational Biology and part of Wang’s Lab at HLI. Samuel’s talk, titled Benchmarking and Developing Tools for Cardiovascular Drug Repurposing, explored an innovative approach to tackling the global heart disease crisis.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, yet developing new treatments is often slow and costly. Samuel’s talk shed light on a promising solution: repurposing existing drugs. This approach focuses on finding new uses for drugs that have already been approved and proven to be safe, significantly reducing the time and costs involved in clinical trials.

Traditional methods of drug repurposing can be hit-or-miss, often relying on chance observations of how a drug affects conditions it wasn’t originally designed to treat. These methods don’t offer much insight into how or why a drug works in a different context, making it difficult to predict if it will help with a new disease. Samuel’s research aims to improve these methods by using computational tools that better identify promising treatments for heart disease.

By evaluating and refining these tools, Samuel is helping pave the way for faster and more cost-effective development of new cardiovascular therapies. This research is an exciting step toward making heart disease treatments more accessible and efficient, ultimately saving lives on a global scale.

This session provided a fascinating look at how modern technology is being used to improve healthcare, and Samuel’s work is a crucial contribution to the field of cardiovascular treatment.

If you want to connect with Samuel and learn more about his work, feel free to visit his LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sleung124/

HLI is proud to celebrate the success of Dr. Janice Leung and Dr. Scott Tebbutt, who along with their co-applicants and research teams, have received over $1.8 million in funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fall 2025 Project Grant competition. This funding will support important new research aimed at improving care for people living with lung disease, heart transplants, and health inequities across Canada.

 Understanding COPD Beyond Smoking

Dr. Janice Leung will lead the MAPLE-SEED Study, a project focused on understanding why some people develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) even though they have never smoked. COPD is a long-term lung disease that affects breathing and impacts more than 2.6 million Canadians.

While smoking is a major cause of COPD, it does not explain all cases. About one in five people with COPD have never smoked, suggesting other factors play an important role. Dr. Leung’s research looks at how life experiences and living conditions such as childhood hardship, income level, education, air pollution, diet, and neighbourhood environment can affect lung health over time.

The study focuses on changes in the body that occur at the molecular level, specifically through a process called DNA methylation. In simple terms, DNA methylation acts like a biological record of the experiences a person has had throughout their life. These changes can also reflect how quickly the body is aging, sometimes referred to as a “biological clock.”

Dr. Leung’s team hypothesizes that long-term exposure to social and environmental challenges speeds up biological aging and increases the risk of COPD and poor breathing outcomes.

Using information from two large Canadian studies that follow people over many years, the research will:

• Explore how life circumstances and resulting changes in DNA methylation affect lung health 
• Identify risk factors for  biological aging and COPD – and potentially ways to improve prevention and treatment

In the long term, the applicants hope that this work leads to the development of a simple blood test to help identify people at higher risk of worsening lung disease.

This research brings together experts from many fields, including lung medicine, public health, biology, and data science. The goal is to help prevent COPD, improve early detection, and reduce health disparities.

Improving Early Detection of Complications After Heart Transplantation

Dr. Scott Tebbutt’s research project focuses on improving care for people who have received a heart transplant. Over time, many transplant recipients develop a condition called cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), which causes the blood vessels of the transplanted heart to narrow. CAV is the leading cause of late transplant failure.

Currently, CAV is usually detected through invasive heart tests, often only after symptoms appear. Dr. Tebbutt’s team aims to develop a simple blood test that can detect signs of CAV much earlier, before serious damage occurs.

The research will look for small changes in the blood such as proteins and molecules that signal early injury or inflammation in the heart. By studying blood samples collected at different times after transplantation, the team hopes to identify patterns that clearly separate healthy recovery from early disease.

This research project will:

• Identify early warning signs of CAV using blood samples
• Track how these signals change over time in transplant patients
• Test how accurately these blood markers can predict disease
• Combine multiple blood signals into a reliable early-detection tool

Led by Dr. Tebbutt and Co-Applicant and HLI Research Associate Dr. Chengliang Yang, the long-term goal of this research is to improve monitoring, reduce invasive testing, and help patients receive treatment sooner.

Making Research Matter for Patients

Together, these CIHR-funded projects reflect HLI’s commitment to research that puts patients first. By studying how social conditions affect lung disease and by developing earlier, less invasive tests for heart transplant complications, these projects aim to improve quality of life, reduce health disparities, and support better outcomes for patients across Canada.

Congratulations to Dr. Leung, Dr. Tebbutt, and their research teams and co-applicants on being awarded these project grants.

On January 19, 2026, Zeren Sun, a PhD candidate working with Dr. Pascal Bernatchez, gave a talk as part of the ongoing Seminar Series at the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI). The presentation, titled “The Interplay Between Circulating Lipoproteins and Intramuscular Lipids in the Pathogenesis of Dysferlin-related Muscular Dystrophy,” explored the role cholesterol plays in muscular dystrophy (MD), a condition that causes progressive muscle weakness.

Zeren’s research focused on how imbalances in cholesterol levels, both in the blood and within muscle cells, could contribute to the worsening of MD. Healthy muscles depend on a proper cholesterol balance, something patients on cholesterol-lowering medications called statins know all too well, as they often cause statin-associated myopathies, such as muscle pain. But in people with MD, this balance is also disrupted, but differently. Zeren shared how disruptions in cholesterol can interfere with how muscles process fats, leading to muscle damage and reducing the ability of muscles to repair themselves, especially in the absence of a protein called dysferlin.

Using patient data, mouse models, and lab-grown muscle cells, the Bernatchez lab found that it is the presence of harmful “bad” cholesterol particles, the severity of MD is worsened. Their research also suggests that dysferlin might help control how cholesterol moves within muscle cells, which could lead to potential new treatment options. Additionally, certain dietary fats may help improve cholesterol balance in the muscles, offering a possible approach to managing MD. Zeren’s work emphasizes the importance of understanding how cholesterol affects muscle health and suggests that targeting cholesterol pathways might help improve treatment strategies for MD.

If you want to connect with Zeren and learn more about his work, feel free to visit his ResearchGate profile here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zeren-Sun

Yejin Kang Explores the Link Between Cholesterol and Muscular Dystrophy

On January 12th, HLI  hosted another insightful session in our ongoing Seminar Series. This week, Yejin Kang, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Bernatchez Lab, shared her exciting research on how cholesterol affects muscle health, particularly in the context of muscular dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of genetic conditions that cause muscle weakness and damage. Yejin’s talk, titled The Role of Circulating Cholesterol in Muscular Dystrophy and Muscle Regeneration, explored how changes in cholesterol levels can worsen the effects of this disease and even hinder the body’s ability to repair muscles.

One key takeaway from Yejin’s work is how statin intolerance, a condition that leads to muscle pain, can demonstrate how sensitive muscles are to fluctuations in cholesterol levels. Bernatchez’s lab has been studying the relationship between cholesterol and muscle dysfunction, using pre-clinical models and human samples to uncover new insights. In one experiment, they found that an unhealthy cholesterol level dramatically worsened the condition of mice with muscular dystrophy, leading to severe muscle wasting.

Yejin’s research doesn’t stop at understanding the problem. She is also working on finding better ways to prevent or treat this muscle degeneration by studying how different cholesterol levels impact muscle healing. The team is specifically looking at a group of mice with a genetic mutation similar to one seen in humans with muscular dystrophy, using them to test how cholesterol diets affect muscle regeneration after injury.

Her work is part of a larger effort to understand how metabolic factors like cholesterol can play a role in muscle diseases and could eventually lead to new treatment options.

The seminar was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the real-world impact of cholesterol on muscle health, and Yejin’s contributions to this important area of research are invaluable in the quest for better treatments for muscular dystrophy.

If you want to connect with Yejin and learn more about her work, feel free to visit her ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yejin-Kang

The Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI) is excited to share that the 2024 Annual Report is now live.

2024 Research Snapshot

Click a button to view each graphic.

2024 RESEARCH SNAPSHOT 2024 BY THE NUMBERS

At the 2025 Heart Centre Nursing Education Day at St. Paul’s Hospital (SPH) and Providence Health Care (PHC), the Bruce McManus Cardiovascular Biobank (BMCB) hosted a Hands-On-Hearts gross anatomy workshop, where cardiac care nurses were offered the rare opportunity to examine human explanted hearts. Participants saw the physical impact of the diseases they treat every day, including the effects of advanced heart failure and implanted devices like the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD).

This year’s theme, Merging History, Best Practice and Compassion in Cardiac Nursing, brought together expert talks, hands-on workshops and opportunities for connection among nursing professionals. Guest speakers covered a range of topics including pregnancy and heart failure, trauma-informed practice, the evolution of cardiac nursing, women’s heart health, and managing heart failure in the context of mental health and substance use disorders. 

The BMCB team, including Dr. Gurpreet Singhera, Coco Ng, Tiffany Chang and Viola Tansuma, showed transplant hearts that revealed structural damage caused by cardiomyopathies, ischemic diseases, and end-stage heart failure. Attendees got to observe, feel, and ask questions about how these conditions manifest physically, which are insights not usually available outside of an anatomy lab.

LVAD workshop: Lived experience and hands-on learning

One standout session was the LVAD workshop, led by SPH nurse and patient educators Rachel Milligan and Josie Mackey, and Clinical Nurse Specialist Wynne Chiu. It followed the patient journey from diagnosis to device implantation, featuring stories from LVAD recipients Mike Mclellan and Naomi Lee. The VAD is a life-saving device used in severe, often end-stage heart failure. When the heart becomes too weak to pump blood properly, the LVAD takes over the pumping function, keeping blood circulating through the body.

Mike, who lives with an LVAD, shared what daily life is like with the device, including how he manages battery life and navigates airport security checks. Hearing directly from Mike offered a unique, powerful perspective on the lived experience of VAD patients, highlighting the importance of patient partnership in understanding the realities of care beyond the clinical setting.

Naomi also shared her experiences of living with a VAD for 10 months. Naomi is a second-year nursing student and heart transplant recipient, who received her new heart at age 20. For the biobank team, it was a special moment to reconnect with Naomi. They first met shortly after her transplant, when she visited the biobank to view her own explanted heart.

Since her transplant, Naomi has redirected her professional path from elementary education to healthcare. She now volunteers with organizations such as HeartLife Canada, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Transplant Research Foundation of BC, and BC Transplant. Motivated by the care she received, Naomi hopes to draw from her lived experience as a patient to give back and support others in the healthcare system.

Hands-On Learning with Human Hearts

Later in the day, the BMCB team led the hands-on session and viewing of failed explanted hearts. The session offered cardiac care nurses the rare opportunity to examine hearts affected by conditions such as myocardial infarction, fibrosis and cardiomyopathy, including one specimen with an implanted LVAD. It also highlighted how biobanking of heart tissues plays a critical role in advancing medical research and improves patient care.

For many cardiac care nurses, this was a unique learning opportunity that offered a firsthand look at how the diseases they treat every day appear in the organ itself. The chance to hold and inspect l actual hearts tied together earlier discussions on heart failure and device therapy, offering a full-circle learning experience. 

Thank you to the Providence Health Care Heart Centre staff for hosting the valuable event and inviting the biobank to take part in this meaningful day of learning.

Dr. Zachary Laksman has received funding from Genome Canada and Genome BC to lead a project with BC-based Axolotl Biosciences, that will use genomics-informed bio-inks to 3D-print heart tissue. The project aims to improve how scientists study heart disease and test drugs before they reach clinical trials.

Improving heart disease models

Heart disease is a leading cause of death, yet drug development is slow, costly and relies heavily on animal models that do not fully reflect human biology. As a result, many potential drugs fail in clinical trials due to poor early-stage testing models.

3D-printed “cardiac organoids” – small, lab-grown models of heart tissue made from human stem cells – offer a more accurate way to study heart disease and test new drugs.

Two new bio-inks for advancing precision medicine

This project will use human genetic information (“genomics-informed”) to develop two new “bio-inks”: the printing materials that, when combined with stem cells, allow scientists to create functional, realistic heart tissue in the lab. This genomics-informed approach allows researchers to account for biological differences between individuals, including sex-based differences and genetic risk factors.

The first bio-ink, called HeartPrint, will be an application-ready platform that will allow researchers to 3D-print human heart tissue for disease modelling and drug testing.

The second model, HeartPrint-M, will be developed using only stem cells and will include factors that help mimic more mature, adult-like heart tissue. This version will include sex-specific formulations, addressing long-standing gaps in how male and female heart differences are studied in biomedical research.

Freshly printed bio-ink (left) is visible. A 3D bioprinter (right) prints bio-ink to create models. Photo courtesy of Axolotl Biosciences.

Led by Dr. Laksman, a principal investigator at HLI, and Dr. Stephanie Willerth, the CEO of Axolotl Biosciences, this project brings together clinical science, bioengineering and genomics. It marks a major step toward safer, faster and more personalized treatment options for heart disease.

The project is being developed in collaboration with Dr. Yuan Yao of HLI and Dr. Leonard Foster of UBC’s Life Sciences Institute. It also receives in-kind support through Michael Smith Health Research BC’s match funding program.

Further Reading

• Read the official project details: Genome Canada – Laksman & Axolotl Biosciences
• Learn more about Axolotl Biosciences: Bioink | Axolotl Biosciences

ABOUT AXOLOTL BIOSCIENCES

Axolotl Biosciences is a Canadian biotechnology start-up based in Victoria, B.C., specializing in 3D bioprinting tools and reagents. The company provides bio-inks and tissue models for use in drug development, disease research and regenerative medicine.

ABOUT DR. ZACHARY LAKSMAN

Dr. Zachary Laksman is a clinician scientist at the University of British Columbia, HLI and St. Paul’s Hospital. His work focuses on cardiac precision medicine through the integration of clinical cardiology, stem cell research, electrophysiology and genomics. His lab is known for developing some of the first “disease-in-a-dish” models for heart conditions, using stem cells to better understand, diagnose and treat cardiac disease.