Harold Kalant Award
The Harold Kalant Award is given annually for an outstanding scientific publication of original research by a graduate student in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. The award was created to honour the unparalleled accomplishments and to reflect the outstanding tradition of research we all associate with Dr. Kalant.
Eligibility Criteria
For the 2023 award, papers with publication accepted dates of January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 will be considered.
Nomination Criteria
Pharmacology & Toxicology graduate students who have authored original papers will self-nominate. Only first authors will be considered.
The nomination package should include:
- a PDF of the full paper
- a 1-page statement that describes the impact of the manuscript on the respective field and the student's specific contributions to the paper
Selection Process
A committee of faculty members and students will evaluate the submitted nominations. The selection of the winning publication will be based on both the scientific quality of the research described in the manuscript, and the impact and significance of the work in the context of the broader research field to which it pertains.
Award committee Chair: Dr. Lenny Salmena
Deadline for submissions: November 30, 2023
Submit nominations to: pharmtox.dept@utoronto.ca
Past Recipients
2022: Natasha Anita
Natasha is a PhD student in the Swardfager lab, studying depression and cognitive changes in people with Type 2 diabetes. She joined the Department as an undergraduate student and she quickly developed an appreciation for neuropsychopharmacology, seeking different research positions at the university and affiliated hospitals. Individuals with diabetes often experience depressive and cognitive symptoms, and current treatments do not prevent these complications. Natasha investigates novel biomarkers as an avenue to uncover potential new therapeutic targets.
Natasha is honoured to receive the 2022 Harold Kalant award for her paper published in Psychoneuroendocrinology in January 2021. This prestigious award serves as a powerful motivator for Natasha, inspiring her to continue to strike towards meaningful contributions to her field. Her ultimate aspiration is to pursue a career in academia and establish her own research group, where she can continue to advance the field and make a positive impact on patients' lives.
2021: Jonathan Chow
Jonathan is a fourth year PhD student in the Salmena lab studying the role of microRNA in prostate cancer. His interest in microRNA and cancer research started in his undergraduate studies and has continues to grow. Cancer is a complex disease akin to a near-unsolvable puzzle. Jonathan hopes to contribute to the solution to this puzzle through his current PhD studies and beyond.
Jonathan is honoured to receive the 2021 Harold Kalant award for his paper published in Genes in August 2020. The late Dr. Kalant set a precedence for research excellence and positive contributions to society through research. This award in his name is a reminder of this legacy. For Jonathan, this award is a reminder of the privilege that we all have, to follow in Dr. Kalant’s footsteps and make positive impacts on those around us through our daily work. Jonathan hopes to have his research group one day to continue pursuing meaningful research questions and inspire the next generation of scientists.
2020: David Bodenstein
David is a 4th year PhD student in the Andreazza lab studying mitochondrial biogenesis in bipolar disorder, as well as developing novel approaches for autologous mitochondrial transplantation in patients with mitochondrial disease. He is passionate about research in mental health as a result of his own personal experiences, and those of family members and friends. He believes this intersection between patient advocate and researcher allows him to have a unique perspective in his studies. David joined the department as an undergraduate student in 2012 and never left.
David is honoured to receive the inaugural Harold Kalant award for his paper published in npj Schizophrenia in December 2019. This award serves as a reminder to him of the importance of mental health research and the need to continue pushing forward with his work and research. David hopes to continue his career in academia and one day have a lab of his own.