Summer by Design 2025 class photo
Medicine by Design, part of CCRM, recently hosted Summer by Design 2025, an eight-day intensive program at the University of Toronto (U of T). The program gives PhD students and post-doctoral fellows from Canadian and global institutions an in-depth look at the business aspects of commercializing science and an introduction to the regenerative medicine ecosystem in Canada, as well as illuminating career possibilities in the life sciences sector.
“Summer by Design has been an incredible experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate. Over the past eight days, I’ve learned so much about the commercialization of regenerative medicine, the Toronto life sciences ecosystem, and professional opportunities beyond academia. I also had the chance to make friends with fellow researchers from around the world! I highly recommend this program to any trainee interested in learning how to translate discoveries from the lab into real-world impact — while meeting brilliant scientists doing groundbreaking work along the way”
The educational program
Every year, Summer by Design features leaders in the regenerative medicine commercialization and innovation space. In 2025, 10 modules provided an end-to-end look at the commercialization process including ideation, de-risking, intellectual property, technology strategy, biomanufacturing, regulatory considerations, quality, early-stage capital and fundraising and marketing.
The program also featured Ecosystem Day, which was focused on the perspectives of individuals from the regenerative medicine and life sciences public and private sectors.
Robin Quirk, VP, Technology Sourcing & Venture Development, CCRM, delivers a module called ‘State of the Regenerative Medicine Industry.”
Janet Rothberg, Senior Director, Process and Analytical Development, CCRM, presents an in-depth module on biomanufacturing.
Henry Mah (left), associate, and Melanie Rowand (right), senior associate, both from the law firm Torys LLP, lead a session on intellectual property.
On Ecosystem Day, Virginie Coindre, senior operations manager, BlueRock Therapeutics (left), Allison Brown, SVP, academic engagement and philanthropy, CCRM (middle), and Ella Korets-Smith (right), CEO and co-founder, Virano Therapeutics answer questions about their careers in the regenerative medicine ecosystem.
Summer by Design 2025 participants
In 2025, participants came from 14 institutions: Australia’s University of Melbourne and University of Queensland; Canada’s Queen’s University, University Health Network, Université Laval, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Toronto, University of Victoria and Western University; the Chinese University of Hong Kong; France’s Nantes University, Sweden’s Lund University and the U.S.’s University of Cincinnati.
Around one-third of Summer by Design’s 25 participants came from Toronto-based institutions, while another roughly one-third hailed from institutions in Canada but outside of Toronto. Another approximately one-third were from institutions outside of Canada.
Participants from four continents joined Summer by Design. They came from Canada, the U.S., Sweden, France, China and Australia.
Participants at a Toronto Blue Jays game (courtesy of CCRM), one of the many opportunities for networking during the program.
Participants at lunch in Toronto’s Kensington Market.
Scientific Storytelling Competition
Talk Boutique, a public speaking coaching company, coached participants throughout the program, which ended with a friendly Scientific Storytelling Competition. Participants were tasked with making a three-minute presentation that conveyed the essence of their research for a general audience.
Four participants were selected as winners (photographed right; left to right): Tanroop Aujla (second place), Gerardo Balderas (third place), Sylvia Almeida (first place) and Ka Yee Winnie Yeung (Judge’s Choice Award)
Regenerative medicine: Areas of focus and impact
The 2025 Summer by Design participants were high-performing regenerative medicine researchers working on a wide variety of regenerative medicine-related technologies, platforms and methods including cell therapy, gene editing, stem cells, immunotherapy, organoids, tissue engineering, organ-on-chip, biomaterials, bioinformatics and drug delivery.
The participants’ lab research could impact heart failure, neurodegenerative diseases, osteoarthritis, liver disease and failure, glioblastoma, cancer, brain injury, lung transplant, intestinal diseases and diabetes, among other disease areas. The program was designed to give participants a deep insight into commercialization and provide a foundation for translating their groundbreaking research into therapies that will benefit patients.
Program partners
Program partners include the CCRM Foundation, Stem Cell Network, U of T and its Rotman School of Management. Stem Cell Network provided financial support to Canadian trainees who travelled to attend the program from outside of Toronto.
