Academic Record
Publications & Presentations
Leaders Who Backed the Work
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
Former First Lady of Canada
Interviewed for Elemental on mental health and the power of starting a conversation. Also a partner and supporter of both Elemental and Grad Minds, the two organizations I founded and chaired, respectively.
The Honourable Michael Wilson
Former Minister of Finance · Chairman, Barclays Capital
Interviewed on university and workplace mental health in Canada, and secured as a collaborative partner for Elemental.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Dragas R, Hong J, Khazaei M, Ahuja C, Fehlings MG (2021). Hepatocyte Growth Factor-Preconditioned Neural Progenitor Cells Attenuate Astrocyte Reactivity and Promote Neurite Outgrowth. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 15: 741681.
Vawda R, Badner A, Hong J, Mikhail M, Dragas R, Xhima K, Jose A, Fehlings MG (2020). Harnessing the Secretome of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Stem Cells and Development 29(22): 1429–1443.
Vawda R, Badner A, Hong J, Mikhail M, Lakhani A, Dragas R, Xhima K, Barretto T, Librach C, Fehlings MG (2019). Early Intravenous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells After Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 8(7): 639–649.
Ulndreaj A, Tzekou A, Mothe AJ, Siddiqui AM, Dragas R, Tator CH, Torlakovic EE, Fehlings MG (2016). Characterization of the Immunological Response After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Journal of Neurotrauma 34: 1–18.
Badner A, Vawda R, Laliberte A, Hong JYL, Mikhail M, Jose A, Dragas R, Fehlings MG (2016). Early Intravenous Delivery of Human Brain Stromal Cells Modulates Systemic Inflammation and Leads to Vasoprotection in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 5(8): 991–1003.
Dragas R, Westall CA, Wright T (2014). Changes in the ERG D-Wave with Vigabatrin Treatment in a Pediatric Cohort. Documenta Ophthalmologica 129(2): 97–104.
Feature Writing & Published Interviews
The Doctor Is In: Meet Project Chimps' Veterinary Medical Director · Project Chimps2025
Remembrance Garden Sculpture: From Concept to Creation · Project Chimps2025
Bruce Wagman: Inception to Actualization of Project Chimps · Project Chimps2024
Rocking in the New Year with The Coverups · Project Chimps2024
The Gift that Gives Back: An Interview with Laurie Seligman · Project Chimps2023
Internships at any Age: An Interview with James Haworth · Project Chimps2022
Behavior Training Journey: Big Things Have Small Beginnings · Project Chimps2022
Mural in the Making: If There's a Will, There's a Wave · Project Chimps2022
Mental Health and the Power of Starting a Conversation: An Interview with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau · Elemental Magazine, Issue 22018
Engineering Mental Health Solutions for Graduate Students: An Interview with Dr. Julie Audet · Elemental Magazine, Issue 22018
Making Moves at the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre: An Interview with Dr. Catherine Sabiston · Elemental Magazine, Issue 22018
Food for Thought: Advancing our Understanding of Eating Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Allan Kaplan · Elemental Magazine, Issue 12017
Developing a Mental Health Advisory Committee in Arts and Science: An Interview with Professor David Cameron · Elemental Magazine, Issue 12017
Advancements in University and Workplace Mental Health in Canada: An Interview with the Hon. Michael Wilson · Elemental Magazine, Issue 12017
Rising to the Challenge: Expanding and Improving Mental Health Resources at U of T: An Interview with Janine Robb · Elemental Magazine, Issue 12017
Recognizing and Treating Pediatric Sleep Disorders: An Interview with Dr. Indra Narang · IMS Magazine 182016
Treating Central and Peripheral Vision Loss: An Interview with Dr. Martin Steinbach · IMS Magazine 172016
Early Surgical Intervention to Improve Vision Outcomes: An Interview with Dr. Agnes Wong · IMS Magazine 172016
Research Presentations, National & International
Hepatocyte growth factor-preconditioned neural progenitor cells attenuate astrocyte reactivity and promote neurite outgrowth · National Neurotrauma Symposium, Canada2018
Hepatocyte growth factor-preconditioned neural progenitor cells attenuate astrocyte reactivity and promote neurite outgrowth · Krembil Research Day, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN2018
A combinatorial treatment strategy for reducing astrocyte reactivity using neural progenitor cells and hepatocyte growth factor · National Neurotrauma Symposium, Utah, USA2017
A combinatorial treatment strategy for reducing astrocyte reactivity · SpineFEST, Dept. of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, U of T2017
A combinatorial treatment strategy for reducing astrocyte reactivity · Combined Canadian Spinal Cord & Ontario Spinal Cord Injury Research Network Meeting2017
A combinatorial treatment strategy for reducing astrocyte reactivity · Krembil Research Day, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN2017
Combinatory treatment with hepatocyte growth factor and neural progenitor cells reduces astrogliosis and pro-inflammatory microglial activation in vitro · Society for Neuroscience, California, USA2016
Combinatory treatment with HGF and neural progenitor cells reduces astrogliosis in vitro · SpineFEST, Dept. of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, U of T2016
Combinatory treatment with HGF and neural progenitor cells reduces astrogliosis in vitro · Institute of Medical Science Research Day, U of T2016
Combinatory treatment with HGF and neural progenitor cells reduces astrogliosis in vitro · Collaborative Program in Neuroscience Research Day, U of T2016
Combinatory treatment with HGF and neural progenitor cells reduces astrogliosis in vitro · Krembil Research Day, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN2016
Reduced astrogliosis and modulation of pro-inflammatory microglia by combinatorial treatment with HGF and neural progenitor cells in vitro · International Symposium for Neural Regeneration, California, USA2015
Changes in the ERG d-wave with vigabatrin treatment in a pediatric cohort · Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Florida, USA2014
The retinal origins of toxicity attributed to vigabatrin: can the ERG d-wave serve as a potential indicator? · Child Vision Research Society Conference2014
The retinal origins of toxicity attributed to vigabatrin · U of T Dept. of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences 9th Annual Research Day, oral presentation2013
