University Of Calgary Research Articles

Perirenal hemorrhage associated with feline infectious peritonitis: a novel presentation of a classic disease.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), caused by a mutated biotype of feline coronavirus (FCoV; Coronaviridae, Alphacoronavirus), is a significant disease of felids. We investigated perirenal hemorrhage, an unreported lesion in FIP, through a retrospective analysis of 51 immunohistochemistry-confirmed FIP cases submitted to the Diagnostic Services Unit (DSU; University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada) between 2010 June 30 and 2024 June 30. Five cats had perirenal hemorrhage in the right retroperitoneal space; 4 had concurrent subcapsular renal hemorrhage; and 1 had sublumbar muscle hemorrhage and hemoabdomen. One case had additional hemorrhages in the brain and cervical spinal cord. Concurrent gross lesions typical of FIP included pyogranulomatous inflammation in various organs and protein-rich cavitary effusions. Histologic lesions typical of FIP (vasculitis and pyogranulomatous inflammation) were present in the kidneys and retroperitoneal fat of 4 cases, and in 3 cases, FCoV antigen was demonstrated in the regions of hemorrhage. The exact mechanism of this hemorrhage is unknown, but we speculate that vasculitis caused by FIP is the cause. Despite the relatively low prevalence of perirenal hemorrhage in this cohort, this lesion represents a unique, previously unreported manifestation of FIP that clinicians and pathologists should be aware of and consider in the differential diagnosis for fluid accumulation or space-occupying lesions in the retroperitoneum of cats.

AI-based volumetric six-tissue body composition quantification from CT cardiac attenuation scans for mortality prediction: a multicentre study.

AI-based volumetric six-tissue body composition quantification from CT cardiac attenuation scans for mortality prediction: a multicentre study.

Publication Chair’s Editorial - Insights and Innovations: An Array of Scholarly Advancements Emerging from the University of Calgary

Introductory editorial from the 2025 PBGRC Publication Chair.

ECR Spotlight – Maranda van Oirschot

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Maranda van Oirschot is an author on ‘ Freeze-tolerant crickets fortify their actin cytoskeleton in fat body tissue’, published in JEB. Maranda conducted the research described in this article while a Undergraduate researcher in Jantina Toxopeus's lab at St Francis Xavier University, Canada. Maranda is now a Research Assistant in the lab of Jackie Lebenzon at the University of Calgary, Canada, investigating the molecular physiology of ectotherms (i.e. insects) at low temperatures.

The Early Neolithic Settlement of Movila lui Deciov in Romanian Banat

Abstract Since 2018, excavation work at the well-known site of Movila lui Deciov has been resumed by an international excavation team from the University of Tübingen together with the National Museum of Banat in Timişoara. The site was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century by Kisléghi Nagy Gyula, who also carried out the first excavations. Further excavations were undertaken between 2001 and 2004 by Banat Museum in Timișoara and a team from the University of Calgary, Canada. The Early Neolithic settlement is delimited by a circular ditch, which was made visible by geophysical measurements and confirmed by sounding excavations. So far, three successive Early Neolithic settlement horizons from the beginning of the 6th millennium BCE could be proven. The archaeological finds from the Movila lui Deciov provide a good insight into the specific character of the oldest Neolithic in the eastern part of the Carpathian Basin. A large series of radiocarbon dates makes it possible to reconstruct the settlement sequence chronology at this site particularly well. The micromorphological analyses and evaluation of the bioarchaeological remains allow us to understand in detail the adaptation of the Neolithic immigrants to the natural conditions. In addition to the usual domestic animals like sheep, goat and cattle as well as cultivated plants such as emmer, einkorn and legumes, hunting, fishing and the gathering of wild plants still played significant role in the diet of the Early Neolithic settlers.

Technology Focus: History Matching and Forecasting (April 2025)

This year’s History Matching and Forecasting selections highlight innovations in surrogate modeling, artificial intelligence, and well-test analysis. These three papers leverage machine learning and hybrid methods to tackle challenges in forecasting, optimization, and reservoir characterization. In paper SPE 220002, the authors introduce the embed-to-control observe (E2CO) framework, a deep-learning surrogate model for reservoir performance forecasting and life-cycle optimization. The E2CO model demonstrates remarkable accuracy in predicting reservoir dynamics and optimizing production under geological uncertainty, validated against the SPE10 benchmark. While currently focusing on sector-scale models, its scalable architecture supports future field-scale extensions. The integration of stochastic-gradient-based optimization enhances flexibility in handling nonlinear constraints. Paper SPE 220876 presents a deep-neural-network-based history-matching workflow that combines a forward surrogate model for rapid multiphase-flow predictions with an inference network for parameter estimation. Its success in 2D heterogeneous reservoirs underscores its potential to streamline history matching with minimal accuracy loss. The use of synthetic data ensures controlled validation of core principles, a critical step before field deployment. Future work on extending the framework to 3D models could further solidify its applicability to complex scenarios, building on robust 2D results. Paper SPE 221287 introduces a semi-iterative model (SIM) for well-test curve matching, improving parameter inversion accuracy in homogeneous reservoirs by leveraging key points and segments on curves. The SIM’s efficiency and precision, particularly in dual-porosity systems, set a new benchmark for automated well-test interpretation. The dependence on high-quality input data ensures reliable outcomes in controlled environments. Its success in homogeneous reservoirs paves the way for future adaptations to more-complex challenges. Collectively, these studies exemplify the transformative potential of machine learning and hybrid methods in reservoir management, balancing innovation with practical applicability. Their methodologies provide scalable frameworks, with current limitations serving as milestones for ongoing research rather than barriers to adoption. Summarized papers in this April 2025 issue. SPE 220876 - Deep-Neural-Network-Based Workflow Increases Efficacy in Solving Complex Problems by Bicheng Yan, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, et al. SPE 220002 - Deep-Learning-Based Reservoir Surrogate Achieves Optimization Under Uncertainty by Quang Minh Nguyen, The University of Tulsa, et al. SPE 221287 - Semi-Iterative Well-Test-Matching Method Uses Featured Points To Increase Accuracy, Efficiency by Xue Guo, China University of Petroleum, et al. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 220790 - Graph-Level Feature Embedding With Spatial/Temporal GCN Method for Interconnected Well-Production Forecasting by Ziming Xu, University of Alberta, et al. URTeC 4033921 - Application of a Sparse Hybrid Data-Driven and Physics Model in Unconventional Reservoirs for Production Forecasting by Hardikkumar Zalavadia, Texas A&M University, et al. SPE 220995 - A Hybrid Tabular -Spatial-Temporal Model With 3D Geomodel for Production Prediction in Shale Gas Formations by Muming Wang, University of Calgary, et al.

Using the age-friendly inventory and campus climate survey at a Canadian university: process and outcomes

ABSTRACT The Age-Friendly Inventory and Campus Climate Survey (ICCS) is the most comprehensive instrument available to empirically examine age inclusivity in higher education. While widely used in the United States, it had not been used in Canada. The purpose of this article is to share our experience and outcomes from using the ICCS at a Canadian post-secondary institution – the University of Calgary. The inventory was completed by 10 administrators to determine the presence of age-friendly campus practices and environmental features at the university. The survey was completed by 178 faculty, 608 staff, and 1,167 students to understand their awareness and perceptions of age-friendly practices and features covered by the inventory. We found that the ICCS was transferrable to our national and institutional context with minor modifications. Some challenges were experienced in the administration of the instrument, particularly the survey due to administrative complexities in conducting a survey at a large institution. The results of the assessment indicated that our university is moderately age-friendly, but most survey participants were unaware of its age-friendly elements. The findings from this baseline assessment provided valuable insights that will inform the development of an action plan to enhance the University of Calgary’s age-friendliness.

Study Examines Thermal Effects on Drilling Performance in Hot Dry Rock

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 217718, “Thermal Effects on Drilling Performance in Hot Dry Rock,” by Aleksandr Vetsak, SPE, Eavor Technologies; Laurent Gerbaud, Mines Paris Tech; and Roman J. Shor, SPE, University of Calgary, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ High-temperature geothermal resources at a distance from tectonic boundaries or geologic hotspots can be accessed by the drilling of deep wells through significant sections of basement rock. This paper evaluates the effect of rapid cooling on the rock-cutting process and incorporates this effect into a drilling-performance optimization approach. Introduction Construction of deeper wells for geothermal heat involves drilling into the basement of the continental crust. Accessing geothermal resources in impermeable igneous or metamorphic rock is referred to as drilling hot dry rock (HDR). HDR, characterized by low permeability, minimal porosity, and negligible initial water saturation, maintains high temperatures through conductive heat exchange. Accessed from the surface by conventional rotary-drilling technologies, HDR fails in compression under axial loading of roller-cone drill bits and fails in compression shear under axial and tangential loading of polycrystalline-diamond cutters (PDC) in fixed-cutter drill bits. During HDR drilling, circulated drilling fluid exits through the bottomhole assembly (BHA) into the annulus. If the static formation temperature is higher than the temperature rating of the BHA, then the colder drilling fluid is used to cool down and keep the BHA within its temperature limit. When such colder fluid exits the drill bit, it cools down the rock surface in front of the bit and around the BHA. Combined with rotary drilling, the circulation of the colder drilling fluid creates a temperature difference at the bit/rock interaction surface by cooling the thin layer of hot rock in front of the drill bit in milliseconds, later to be removed by rotary cutting. Thermal conductivity affects heating or cooling rates. High angular velocities of the drill bit and low depth of cut per revolution characterize rapid cooling of HDR. The complete paper analyzes drilling-performance variations in HDR associated with a combination of rotary drilling and rapid cooling in front of the drill bit. Laboratory Experiments Equipment and Materials. The vertical-drilling-test simulator consists of a drill shaft with a swivel for drilling-fluid injection at one end and a screw-in drill bit at the other. A direct-current electric motor rotates the drillstring, and two hydraulic cylinders apply weight on bit (WOB). Hydraulic pressure controls confining pressure, and drilling-fluid pressure is exerted by the circulating fluid in the active mud system. The full-scale drilling system accommodates a wide range of parameters: WOB up to 20 tons, rotational speed up to 1,000 rev/min, and flow rates up to 610 L/min. Standard tests involve constant WOB or constant rate of penetration (ROP) with a full-size drill bit, up to 216 mm in diameter. Data for each test are collected and recorded at a sampling rate of 200 Hz.

Clinical Consensus Statement No. 459: Oncofertility - Bridging the Geographical Gap in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology in Canada.

Clinical Consensus Statement No. 459: Oncofertility - Bridging the Geographical Gap in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology in Canada.

Harnessing AI and Open Data Analytics to Combat Social Inequities Among Adolescents: 2024-25 High School Big Data and AI Challenge

The STEM Fellowship High School Big Data and AI Challenge provides students with a unique opportunity to utilize Open Data to investigate one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals while learning data science fundamentals in an experiential learning format – an essential skill set for a young researcher in the digital age. This year students tackled the challenge of Harnessing AI and Open Data Analytics to Combat Social Inequities Among Adolescents. Students suggested their own evidence-based solutions following the principles of Open Science. They investigated different topics, ranging from Optimizing Educational Equity to Advancing Equity for Disabled Youth. These future leaders were tasked with using Open Data to enhance our understanding of social inequities and explore areas for innovation to close inequity gaps and propagate the social pursuit of prosperity for all. Various topics were investigated, identifying different forms of socioeconomic determinants which impact inequity among adolescents on a global scale. By applying computational thinking, students explored the interplay between adolescent inequities and external factors, ultimately contributing to the development of new educational and social development approaches. STEM Fellowship has designed an interdisciplinary, agile educational environment with in-depth learning modules for students as a means to bridge the gap between traditional high school courseware and computational inquiry. Students learned how to uncover hidden patterns and trends in structured and unstructured data using a range of data analytics tools and programming languages. Python, R, LaTeX, and machine learning were some of the tools the students learned and used throughout the program. Additionally, all participants prepared a short slideshow and presented their research to a group of their peers. We are privileged to witness the analytical capabilities of this talented generation of students, and we are confident that they will demonstrate excellence throughout their academic and professional careers. The Western Canada and Eastern Canada finalist events were the culmination of the top participants’ trailblazing research, and were held at the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary in Calgary and at Microsoft Canadian Headquarters in Toronto respectively. On behalf of the STEM Fellowship, we extend our sincere congratulations to all students who participated in the challenge and wish them the best for all of their future endeavours. We also want to express our appreciation to all of the STEM Fellowship volunteers who made this challenge possible. We greatly appreciate the patronage of the program by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, as well as the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. We want to thank Canadian Science Publishing, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Let’s Talk Science, National Research Council Canada, RBC Future Launch, SciNet at the University of Toronto, Hunter Hub at the University of Calgary, Microsoft Canada, Canadian Science Publishing, Overleaf, and Cisco Academy for their invaluable support.

A7 THERAPEUTIC DIETARY INTERVENTION IN ADULT CROHN’S DISEASE PATIENTS: EFFECTS ON REMISSION MARKERS, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Abstract Background Current evidence recognizes diet and physical activity as important factors in influencing the natural history of Crohn’s disease (CD); however, the relationship between dietary components and disease relapse remains unclear. Patients with active CD have a lower quality of life (QoL) compared to healthy controls. Aims The aims of this study were threefold: 1) to explore the effect of a CD specific therapeutic dietary intervention (CD-TDI) upon clinical and biochemical remission in adults with active, mild luminal CD, 2) to investigate outcomes related to patient-reported health QoL, and 3) to investigate the relationship between IBD parameters and physical activity. We hypothesized that a CD-TDI would be more effective when compared to conventional management (CM) to induce clinical and biochemical remission and improve patient-reported QoL in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with active, mild luminal CD. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial whereby 51 participants were randomly allocated in a 2:1 ratio to the intervention group (CD-TDI) or CM for 13 weeks. Patients receiving the CD-TDI, an anti-inflammatory diet developed specifically for CD with foundational principles rooted in the Mediterranean diet, were offered patient-centered counseling by a Registered Dietitian for 12 weeks. QoL was measured using the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12). Physical activity was measured using ActivPAL® inclinometers (PAL Technologies, Glasgow). The Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) and fecal calprotectin (mcg/g) were used to assess clinical and biochemical remission. Results The CD-TDI group experienced both significant decreases in HBI from baseline to week 13 (Wk0: 3.0, IQR:1.0-5.3; Wk13: 2.0, IQR:0-3.0; p=0.05) and FCP from 130 ug/g (IQR: 38-411) at baseline to 72 ug/g (IQR:3-153) at week 13 (p= 0.01). The CM group saw no change in HBI and there was an increase in FCP by 337 ug/g or 55% from baseline to week 13. The SF-12 yielded two summary scores, the mental component score (MCS-12) and physical component score (PCS-12). The CD-TDI group experienced an increase in both the PCS-12 from 46.9 (SEM: 2.0) to 50.0 (SEM: 1.6) (p=0.10) and the MCS-12 from 49.2 (SEM: 1.8) to 50.9 (SEM: 1.8) (p=0.17), moving both scores to the mean healthy population score of 50, but the changes were not significant. Linear modelling revealed that both FCP (F(1, 58), p<0.001) and CRP (F(1, 62), p<0.001) act as significant predictors of the MCS-12 change score from baseline to week 13. There was no significant change in step count (p=0.41) within the CD-TDI group from baseline to week 13. Conclusions It can be concluded that the CD-TDI group experienced a significant decrease in gut inflammation and improved symptoms. Deeper analysis is underway to examine the influence of physical activity parameters on QoL. Funding Agencies CIHRNSERC CREATE, University of Calgary

A221 GENERALIZABILITY OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS TO ROUTINE CLINICAL CARE IN ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Abstract Background Historically, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been criticized for being poorly generalizable to patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) evaluated in routine care. Aims We aimed to evaluate the proportion of patients with UC starting an advanced therapy who would be eligible to participate in phase 3 registrational UC RCTs. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of UC patients starting vedolizumab, ustekinumab, or tofacitinib at two IBD clinics at the University of Calgary. Patient charts, endoscopy reports, and laboratory results were reviewed, and compared against the inclusion and exclusion criteria from five RCTs (GEMINI-I, UNIFI, OCTAVE, ELEVATE, and LUCENT). The proportion of patients who would have been deemed eligible vs. ineligible for trial participation at the time of starting a new advanced therapy was determined. Results A total of 125 patients with UC were included: 78 (62.4%) would have been eligible for at least one of the considered RCTs (Table 1). Trial-eligible patients were younger, less likely to be exposed to prior immunosuppressants, and had higher C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin. The most common reason for trial ineligibility was having inadequate disease activity at baseline (Mayo endoscopy subscore <2 or absence of rectal bleeding). A significantly greater proportion of patients would have been eligible for LUCENT (44.9%) compared to GEMINI-I (24.8%), OCTAVE (35.2%), or ELEVATE (35.2%) (p<0.01 for all comparisons) (Figure 1). Conclusions Half of patients with UC starting advanced therapy in routine care may be eligible for participation in phase 3 RCTs. Disease activity is the primary reason for trial exclusion. Funding Agencies None

A123 CNON-SHERBROOKE NODE: ADVANCING COLORECTAL CANCER RESEARCH WITH ORGANOIDS

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health issue and the second most common cancer in Canada. Human cancer cell lines have served as the main model for CRC research; however, they do not adequately capture the complexity and heterogeneity of tumors. In the past decade, 3D in vitro models, known as organoids, have emerged as more accurate representations of organs’ structure and function. In cancer research, patient-derived organoids (PDOs) provide an ideal model that mimic the heterogeneity and clinical progression of the disease. However, fine-tuning this model needs numerous optimizations, which differ between laboratories and affect the reproducibility of the data. Additionally, accessing patient tissue for PDOs remains a significant challenge. Aims The Canadian National Organoid Network (CNON), a multicentric (the University of British Colombia, University of Calgary & Université de Sherbrooke) national project supported by the Weston Family Foundation, was established to address these challenges. The Sherbrooke node is focused on building a biobank of CRC PDOs, using both tumor and healthy tissues from each patient to enable comparative studies. These PDOs, grown in various media, demonstrate differing growth patterns reflective of CRC heterogeneity. Methods CNON Sherbrooke node, also focuses on optimizing advanced methodologies for human intestinal organoids to delve deeper into the biology of CRC and its clinical applications. Results CRC arises from the accumulation of genetic mutations, yet the exact role of these mutations in cancer development remains unclear. To address this gap, we refine a comprehensive array of gene-editing tools, including CRISPR/Cas9, base editing, and prime editing, tailored for human intestinal organoids. This approach aims to produce organoids models that accurately reflect the genetic diversity and phenotypes associated with CRC, thereby enhancing the potential for personalized medicine. Furthermore, the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in cancer progression, but its interactions with cancer cells and the immune system are poorly understood. To better simulate the TME, CNON-Sherbrooke node integrates organ-on-a-chip systems that combine multiple cell types. This innovative approach provides a better understanding of the TME’s involvement in the context of CRC for drug screening, and the development of precise therapies. Conclusions In conclusion, the CNON-Sherbrooke node aims at first to enhance the accessibility of CRC-PDOs to the scientific community by optimizing and standardizing culture methods. Additionally, we seek to develop technological tools for CRC-PDOs. By combining organoids with genome editing and microfluidic systems, we aim to contribute to fundamental and translational research, drug discovery, and other CRC-related fields, ultimately enhancing the landscape of personalized medicine. Funding Agencies The Weston Family Foundation, IRCUS (Institut de Recherche sur le Cancer de l’Université de Sherbrooke)

Assessing and monitoring clinical practice of undergraduate nursing students: a middle eastern context.

This paper presents an innovative Weekly Clinical Skills Progress (WCSP) tool to support the assessment of undergraduate nursing students in their clinical placements. The WCSP tool was implemented at the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) Nursing Program in Spring 2024 to address inconsistencies in assessment documentation related to the absence of clearly defined proficiency levels in clinical courses. The UCQ clinical faculty trialed the newly developed WCSP tool on eighty-seven third-year nursing students enrolled in the clinical course Nursing Practice for High Acuity and Chronic Conditions. These students were divided into 11 groups, each consisting of six to seven members per instructor, and were placed in various medical-surgical clinical sites throughout Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar. During the course implementation and following, feedback from faculty, students and buddy nurses indicated the WCSP tool clarified the clinical goals, enabled consensus on clinical proficiency levels according to the course outline, and assessments were more consistent. Though the WCSP tool is still being refined, and more qualitative and quantitative research is needed, this paper contributes valuable preliminary results and recommendations that benefit nursing programs worldwide.

Tying measurement to action in equity, diversity, and inclusion work in academic surgical departments.

Strategies to address inequities, bias, and discrimination that disadvantage Canadian physicians from marginalized groups are urgently needed. We describe a multilevel needs assessment of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in 2 departments of surgery that focused on identifying evidence-based interventions. We invited members of the departments of surgery at the University of Calgary and the University of Saskatchewan to complete the Diversity Engagement Survey (DES), a 22-item instrument designed to understand workplace engagement and inclusion among physicians, with higher scores indicating greater engagement and inclusion. Leaders completed a Leadership EDI Readiness Assessment to understand their own barriers to EDI work and an Organizational EDI Readiness Assessment to understand structures for EDI in their division. Leaders were provided resources and interventions to address the identified gaps in these assessments. The most common organizational gaps in structures for EDI work in surgical divisions and training programs (n = 34, 37.4%) were in community outreach and measurement and reporting. Surgeons who identified as cisgender men (n = 101) felt more engaged and included than those who identified as cisgender women (n = 43; 3.81 [standard deviation (SD) 0.73] v. 3.51 [SD 0.78]; p = 0.04). White cisgender men (n = 66) had the highest feelings of engagement and inclusion (mean 3.95 [SD 0.62]). Participating surgical sections and training programs were directed to evidence-informed initiatives to improve community outreach and measurement and reporting to address EDI in their settings. Our findings support that gender and racial or ethnic identities influence the workplace experiences of surgeons in Canada. A multilevel approach to EDI work in surgical departments can direct leaders to areas for intervention.

Global Trends of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Over the Past Decade: A Scientometric Analysis Based on WOSCC and GBD Database

To present a global overview of the current research landscape and emerging trends in mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) over the past decade. A thorough search was conducted on the Web of Science on May 20, 2024, focusing on original articles and reviews in English. Bibliometric tools were employed to make a network analysis and visual representation. Additionally, data on disability-adjusted life years, prevalence, and incidence of ischemic strokes were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease database. A total of 7776 papers were included, indicating a steady increase from 169 to 1311 between 2014 and 2023. The United States led in core publications with 2887 papers. The incidence and disability-adjusted life years of ischemic stroke have continued to rise in Asia but have recently declined in North America and European countries. The University of Calgary emerged as the leading institution and Mayank Goyal was the most prolific author. Neurointerventional Surgery was the top contributing journal with 790 articles. The analysis identified 6332 keywords forming 5 clusters, with "mechanical thrombectomy" serving as the largest cluster, focusing mainly on interventional thrombectomy techniques for AIS. The term "tissue plasminogen activator" exhibited strong burst strength of 46.58. Keywords such as "injury", "diagnosis", "posterior circulation", and "severity" burst in 2020 and lasted until2024. Interest in mechanical thrombectomy for AIS was progressively increasing. Future research directions may include minimizing intraoperative injuries, refining diagnostic techniques, investigating interventions for posterior circulation, and tailoring thrombectomy strategies based on stroke severity and large vessel occlusion etiology.

Generalizability of Randomized Controlled Trials to Routine Clinical Care in Ulcerative Colitis.

Historically, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been criticized for being poorly generalizable to patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) evaluated in routine care. We aimed to evaluate the proportion of patients with UC starting an advanced therapy who would be eligible to participate in phase 3 registrational UC RCTs. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of UC patients starting vedolizumab, ustekinumab, or tofacitinib at 2 IBD clinics at the University of Calgary. Patient charts, endoscopy reports, and laboratory results were reviewed, and compared against the inclusion and exclusion criteria from 5 RCTs (GEMINI-I, UNIFI, OCTAVE, ELEVATE, and LUCENT). The proportion of patients who would have been deemed eligible versus ineligible for trial participation at the time of starting a new advanced therapy was determined. A total of 125 patients with UC were included: 78 (62.4%) would have been eligible for at least one of the considered RCTs. Trial-eligible patients were younger, less likely to be exposed to prior immunosuppressants, and had higher C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin. The most common reason for trial ineligibility was having inadequate disease activity at baseline (Mayo endoscopy subscore <2 or absence of rectal bleeding). A significantly greater proportion of patients would have been eligible for LUCENT (45.6%) compared to GEMINI-I (24.8%), OCTAVE (35.2%), or ELEVATE (35.2%) (P < .01 for all comparisons). Half of patients with UC starting advanced therapy in routine care may be eligible for participation in phase 3 RCTs. Disease activity is the primary reason for trial exclusion.

ASSESSING AGE INCLUSIVITY USING THE AGE-FRIENDLY INVENTORY AND CAMPUS CLIMATE SURVEY

Abstract During a time of increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in institutions of higher education, age inclusion remains largely unexplored. The Age-Friendly Inventory and Campus Climate Survey (ICCS) is a tool that institutions of higher education can use to identify strengths and weaknesses specific to age-friendliness. This instrument measures age inclusivity by comparing age-friendly practices with student, staff, faculty, and lifelong learners’ perceptions of these practices. This symposium explores the process of using the ICCS at four different universities to understand the methods used to target each institution’s unique needs, with the goal of improving age-friendliness in higher education: 1) Zimmer et al., present the outcomes of using the ICCS to establish a baseline of age-friendliness at the University of Calgary and the process to generate action items from the results to develop a plan to enhance age-friendliness. 2) Waterhouse et al., describes the process of customizing the ICCS to meet the unique needs of an academic medical campus at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 3) Zisberg et al., report on the experience of translating the ICCS into Hebrew and the subsequent results implementing the tool at the University of Haifa. 4) Eaton &amp; Friberg-Felsted explore the use of the ICCS within the College of Nursing at the University of Utah to identify ways to meet the learning needs of age diverse groups. Dr. Susan Whitbourne, from the team that developed the ICCS, will facilitate discussion surrounding age inclusivity in higher education.

USING THE AGE-FRIENDLY INVENTORY AND CAMPUS CLIMATE SURVEY AT A MAJOR CANADIAN UNIVERSITY

Abstract Since the University of Calgary became a member of the AFU Global Network, establishing a benchmark of the institution’s age-friendliness has been a priority for the Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging. The Age-Friendly Inventory and Campus Climate Survey was selected for our baseline assessment because it captures both objective and subjective elements of age-friendliness that align with the AFU principles. Prior to data collection, the instrument was modified for our national and institutional context by adding, removing, and changing the language of some items. The Age-Friendly Inventory was completed by administrators to determine the current status of our campus practices and environmental features, while the Campus Climate Survey was completed by faculty, staff, and students to understand their awareness and perceptions of these practices and features. A total of 10 administrators, 178 faculty, 608 staff, and 1167 students participated in the assessment. The results indicated that our university is moderately age-friendly, but participants were generally unaware of its age-friendly elements. To generate action items from the results, we analyzed the data further. Each inventory and survey item was mapped onto the AFU principle it most closely aligned with and then grouped with similar items to form categories for each principle. Through this process we identified areas of strength and growth for each principle, and prioritized principles (1, 4, 6, and 10) for our Centre to address. The findings from this study will inform an action plan to raise awareness of and enhance the University of Calgary’s age-friendliness.

Inga D. Neumann: Molecular underpinnings of the brain oxytocin system and its involvement in socio-emotional behaviour: More than a love story

Professor Inga Neumann stands at the forefront of neuropeptide research, bringing over three decades of expertise to her role as Chair of the Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology at the University of Regensburg, Germany. Her journey in science began in East Germany at the Karl-Marx-University in Leipzig (now the University of Leipzig), where she earned both her diploma in biology and her PhD. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, her career path led her through a postdoctoral position at the University of Calgary in Canada and seven enriching years at the Max-Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich before assuming her current position at Regensburg in 2001. As the first woman to be appointed full professor at the Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, she has shaped the University's neuroscience landscape by establishing and directing the Elite Masters Programme in Experimental and Clinical Neuroscience. Currently, she heads the Graduate School “Neurobiology of Socio-Emotional Dysfunctions,” a prestigious program funded by the German Research Foundation since 2017. The heart of her research lies in understanding how neuropeptides, particularly oxytocin, vasopressin, and CRF, orchestrate stress responses and social behaviours. Her work spans multiple levels of analysis – from molecular mechanisms and epigenetics to neural circuits and behaviour – primarily using rodent models to unlock the mysteries of the social brain. In this Genomic Press Interview, Professor Neumann shares her reflections on a life dedicated to unravelling the intricate relationships between brain chemistry and behaviour, offering insights into both her scientific journey and personal philosophy.