Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Brief Bio

Sandra has over 25 years of experience in network development and scientific research and has fulfilled several roles at OIRM including, Vice President, Strategy & Partnerships and Associate Director. Prior to working with OIRM, she was the Program Manager for the Ontario Stem Cell Initiative where she expanded a Toronto-based initiative into a virtual network of 145+ stem cell research programs across the province, leading to the establishment of the OIRM. She also managed a clinical research program in spinal deformity, benign bone tumors and club foot deformity in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children. During this time, she collaborated to develop a North American Clinical Trials Network in paediatric orthopaedic surgery and managed its first international, multi-centre clinical trial across 50 institutions, overseeing all scientific, ethical and regulatory approval processes (A RCT comparing intralesional bone marrow and steroids for simple bone cysts). Previously, Sandra worked in orthopaedic research programs at several Ontario hospitals including Women’s College, Mount Sinai, Princess Margaret and London Health Sciences Centre. She has published clinical research in a variety of orthopaedic journals and was also a freelance health columnist for CBC News Online. Sandra has a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario, a Certificate in Medical Writing and Editing from the University of Chicago, and is a member of the Canadian Society of Association Executives.