Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program (CSCP)

Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program

The Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program (CSCP) is an exciting certificate program which was created in 1992 to develop co-operative and joint graduate teaching and research across departmental boundaries under the Faculties of Applied Science & Engineering, Dentistry, Kinesiology and Physical Education, Medicine and Pharmacy and was honoured with the 2004 Northrop Frye Divisional Award recognizing the critically important contribution made by this innovative program promoting exemplary linkages between teaching and research at the University of Toronto. The CSCP is located on the St. George Campus of the University of Toronto and is close to teaching hospitals, research institutes and centres, libraries, and the athletic complex. It is within walking distance of museums, art galleries, concert halls and shopping centres. Research laboratories of members of the CSCP are located at the Medical Science Bldg (UofT), the CCBR (UofT), MaRS (UHN), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, and nearby teaching hospitals (University Health Network, Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Women's College Hospital). Research in Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Toronto has a long and illustrious history. This includes contributions to the discovery of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and the first clinical use of heparin. Faculty at the University of Toronto were among the first to perform successful open heart surgery and discover and implement the use of hypothermia to protect the heart during surgery. Many life saving pediatric surgical procedures, now used worldwide, were first used by surgeons at the University. With these many achievements, Toronto and the University is an excellent environment in which to learn and grow. The CSCP offers diverse areas of training including 2 major streams of studies: Cardiac and Vascular and builds on the strengths of its collaborating graduate and clinical departments enhancing the visibility of cardiovascular studies and facilitating interdisciplinary training and research.

Program Requirements

Programs leading to an MSc and PhD degree are offered through the above noted graduate departments. A separate application is submitted to the Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program office. Both the degree program and the CSCP run concurrent. Requirements of the CSCP are:

1. Student has already been accepted into a degree granting department that collaborates with the Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program.
2. Acceptance by a supervisor who is a member of the Collaborative Program and is willing to take on the student. The CSCP has a comprehensive list of faculty doing cardiovascular research at the University of Toronto from which the student can choose.
3. Research area falls within mandate of the Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Program.
4. Normally an A- average in previous course work (publications and research work may be considered for mature students).

Students are advised to make personal contact with potential supervisors as early as possible as admission may depend on availability of a faculty member. The CSCP requires all MSc level students to take a one-half credit course selected from the cardiovascular curriculum of all courses offered (below). All PhD level students are required to take any two of the following course selections (JCV1060/3060/ 3061/3062/3063/3064). Students that complete any of the JCV courses at the MSc level will have this credited towards their PhD course requirements for the CSCP.

Graduate

• Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
• Dentistry
• Exercise Sciences
• Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering
• Institute of Medical Science
• Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology
• Medical Biophysics
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Physiology
• Rehabilitation Science

Clinical

• Anesthesia
• Medical Imaging
• Medicine
• Surgery

  The JCV course designate indicates that most collaborating departments accept these courses toward their degree requirements. These courses are intended to provide current state-of-the-art information on timely research topics in the cardiovascular field through seminars given by our faculty who are recognized experts. Students enrolled in the course do a presentation on a topic of their choosing relating to the course. Students are evaluated on their presentation, their class participation/attendance, and a review article that they write under the supervision of a mentor who was one of the session leaders. Courses can be offered as web-based learning (sample). Although training in both degrees is based on a research project with a thesis and a maintained excellence in cardiovascular related research, the PhD requires original research that makes a significant contribution to the field. The CSCP offers a number of educational activities for the students including but not limited to the Annual Student Day, Circulation Rounds, CardioTalk, Cardiovascular Summer Initiative (CSI), Forum, and Debates. Bursaries and stipends (Bigelow Book Prize, Phenix Graduate Award, Medtronic Travel Award, QEII-GSST, OSOTF) are also available for CSCP students. Complete information is available for registered CSCP students. For detailed annual activities information, please refer to the CSCP Annual Reports.

Courses Offered

  JCV1060H Developmental Cardiovascular Physiology JCV3060H Advanced Topics in Cardiovascular Sciences – Molecular Biology & Heart Signal Transduction JCV3061H Advanced Topics in Cardiovascular Sciences – Hormones JCV3062H Advanced Topics in Cardiovascular Sciences – Heart Function JCV3063H Advanced Topics in Cardiovascular Sciences – Vascular JCV3064H Advanced Topics in Cardiovascular Sciences – Microvascular Medicine JTC1331F Biomaterials Science EXS5508H Cardiovascular Disease and Exercise PSL1462H Molecular Aspects of Cardiac Function JEB1365H Ultrasound: Theory & Applications in Biology and Medicine LMP1015H Vascular Pathobiology LMP1020H Inflammation, Immunity and Immunopathology of Atherosclerosis LMP1504H Cell and Molecular Biology of Cardiovascular Diseases

Program Activities

Annual Student Research Day Offers CSCP trainees an opportunity to present their research findings in a casual and supportive setting and shows the trainees the diversity of cardiovascular research being conducted in the different Departments and Faculties at the University of Toronto. The Research Day includes presentations given by the students in a relaxed and congenial atmosphere; invited speakers that share their career experiences and the trials and tribulations of living a life of education and research; awards presentations; and the recognition of students that have completed their training. For detailed information, click here. April 2016 Event Summary Cardiovascular Summer Initiative (CSI) The CSI program provides the graduate cardiovascular student community, as well as the undergraduate community, a more inclusive feel for the cardiovascular field. It gives them a broader frame of reference than just the lab experience and offers them chances to delve into areas they might not have considered. The CSI program is a field trip experience where students are given the opportunity to go and learn more about various areas of cardiovascular research and potential alternative career paths. Field trips have included the MRI/CT Imaging Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, the Toronto Cardiac Rehabilitation outpatient centre, tour of an exercise physiology Lab, tour of a pharmaceutical research division, tour of a retinal blood flow lab, and a tour of the Surgical Skills Centre at Mt. Sinai Hospital. For detailed information, click here. Circulation Seminars These sessions highlight world respected visiting cardiovascular scientists hosted by our participating and partner units. These sessions are often acceptable for respective departmental seminar credits with the appropriate documentation and verification. For detailed information, click here. Open Lab: Innovation in Cardiovascular Techniques The Student Program Committee organizes and runs this event which highlights the diverse nature of research carried out by our faculty. This open lab series rotates through the various research sites (on and off campus) and each event is hosted by a faculty member where their research is focused. The goal of this event is to provide graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research associates, undergraduates and project/summer students with the chance to develop an appreciation of the vast range of excellent research being conducted in our widespread community. For detailed information, click here.