Department of Nutritional Sciences Research Day and Edna Park Lecture

On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the Department of Nutritional Sciences hosted its' fourth annual successful Research Day at the Chestnut Conference Center, featuring groundbreaking research from graduate students, faculty, and researchers. A highlight of the day was Dr. Daniel Drucker’s talk on "Next Generation GLP-1 Medicines: New Mechanisms and Indications for Weight Loss," which captivated attendees with insights into the future of obesity treatment. Dr. Daniel Drucker received his M.D. from the University of Toronto in 1980 and is currently Professor of Medicine. He holds a Canada Research Chair in Regulatory Peptides and the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre-Novo Nordisk Chair in Incretin Biology. His laboratory is based in the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and studies the molecular biology and physiology of the glucagon-like peptides. 

Graduate students presented their innovative research, with Aidan Tyrrell winning the top prize in the oral presentation category. Emily Ziraldo, Ruxandra Rotarescu, and Gabrielle Viscardi earned first place in the public health, basic science, and clinical nutrition poster competitions, respectively. Congratulations to all participants for their exceptional contributions!

In the evening, the Department of Nutritional Sciences Alumni Association hosted the Professor Edna W. Park Lecture. The Professor Edna W. Park Lecture was established in the spring of 1974 by the Household Science Alumni to honour one of its outstanding members, Professor Edna W. Park, for her notable contribution to the field of Home Economics in Canada. Edna Park was a Professor Emerita of the University of Toronto whose teaching career spanned almost half a century. Dr. Eileen Kennedy, former dean at Tufts University, USA delivered an inspiring lecture on sustainable food systems, sparking discussions on the future of food security, agriculture, and nutrition. Dr. Kennedy is a member of the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the UN Committee on World Food Security. Formerly she was also a member of the UN SCN Advisory Group on Nutrition. She founded and was the first Executive Director of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.  She created the Healthy Eating Index which is used as a single summary measure of diet quality. She is currently a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Council on Food Security and Nutrition.

This year’s event also featured valuable networking opportunities, allowing students and professionals to connect, share experiences, and build lasting relationships. We look forward to an even more successful Research Day and Edna Park Lecture next year!