On August 25, 2025, St. Boniface Hospital Research welcomed Mark Cohen to the Albrechtsen Research Centre and the Asper Clinical Research Institute.
Decades ago, the 200-seat lecture theatre in the Research Centre was named in memory of his father, Samuel N. Cohen, a generous supporter of St. Boniface Hospital. During his visit, Mark was pleased to see his father’s name and photo displayed on the auditorium wall and to learn how significant the lecture theatre has been over the years. The space has hosted countless lectures, PhD defences, public presentations, and internationally connected conferences, making Samuel N. Cohen’s legacy a part of the research community.
Mark was welcomed by Dr. Bram Ramjiawan, Director of Research Innovation and Regulatory Affairs and Director of Research at the Asper Clinical Research Institute. He was also introduced to Dr. Michael Czubryt, Executive Director of Research at St. Boniface Hospital. Dr. Ramjiawan then led a tour beginning at the Canada Italy Tissue Engineering Laboratory (CITEL), directed by Dr. Sanjiv Dhingra, Principal Investigator. There, Dr. Dhingra and his team demonstrated how they can turn a small blood sample into stem cells and then grow them into beating heart cells. These cells help researchers study disease, test new medicines, and explore future ways to repair damaged hearts — all without any invasive procedures for patients.
The tour continued through the Asper Clinical Research Institute, where discussions focused on the importance of clinical research, how clinical trials are conducted, and the safeguards and regulations that guide them.
As a special gesture, Mark presented a meaningful gift to St. Boniface Hospital Research: an award once presented to his father in recognition of his generous support. The award, signed by past board members George Campbell MacLean and Dr. Francis Patrick Doyle, will now be proudly displayed in the Albrechtsen Research Centre.
