National Meeting 2023

The second-annual CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting will be held in-person on October 28-30, 2023 in Montreal, QC.

CIRTN-R2FIC is a network focused on bringing together Canada’s islet research community. The CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting is a cornerstone opportunity to promote collaboration, networking, and professional development through workshops, lectures, and teambuilding activities. The meeting is open to all members of CIRTN-R2FIC.

View the 2023 Meeting Program Booklet

The 2023 Meeting will once again be held back-to-back with the Diabetes Canada Professional Conference.

The National Meeting is open to all CIRTN-R2FIC Members (PIs, Trainees, Researchers and other staff), as well as industry partners. Registration is required in order to attend the meeting.

Registration has now closed. If you already registered and need to modify your registration, please contact the program coordinator.

Registration Period: August 1 – October 14, 2023

Registration Fees

Registration fees are $325.00 CAD for PIs, and $100.00 CAD for students and other staff.

Participants in Cohort 1 of the CREATE Training Program do not pay a registration fee.

View the Schedule of Events

The meeting features several interactive presentations, and as such the estimated times on the schedule are subject to change.

All attendees are required to book their own accommodation.

The following hotels are recommended based on proximity to the IRCM, however attendees can book according to their own preference.

Hotel Name	Conference Rate	Booking Instructions
Hotel Zero 1	POP ROOMS: $ 171/night – single occupancy $ 196/night – double occupancy HIP ROOMS: $ 181/night – single occupancy $ 206/night – double occupancy	Book using the following link: Hotel ZERO 1 (travelclick.com) Or use code CIRTN2023 Deadline: Book before September 11, 2023
Residence Inn by Marriott Montreal Downtown	$ 259/night	Book using the following link: Marriot Hotel Booking Link Deadline: Book before September 26, 2023
Hotel 10	$ 229-239/night	Booking using the following links: Hotel 10 (English) or Hotel 10 (French) Or use code CIRTN2510 Deadline: Book before September 23, 2023
ITHQ Hotel	$196/night	Note: This hotel is the same location as the banquet dinner (included in conference registration). Breakfast also included. To receive the discounted rate, mention you are booking a room in the CIRTN reserved block when making your reservation. Phone: 514-282-5120 ext. 0, or email [email protected] with your reservation request

All students, post-doctoral fellows, and research associates attending the meeting are invited to present their work in either a 10-minute or 3-minute presentation.

If you would like to present at the meeting, please submit an abstract using the following form. Note: a Google account is required to upload an abstract. If you are not able to log in through Google, please email your abstract to the Program Coordinator.

Abstract Submission has now ended

Deadline Extended: Abstract Submission Period: August 1 – September 18, 2023

View the Accessible Presentation Guidelines

Every year, two exceptional CIRTN-R2FIC members are recognized at the National Meeting for their outstanding contributions to mentorship and leadership in the Network. All CIRTN-R2FIC members are encouraged to submit nominations for the awards, and there is no limit to the number of nominations a member may submit.

Award Nomination has now ended

Deadline Extended: Nomination Period August 1 – September 18, 2023

The CIRTN-R2FIC Mentorship Award

- Awarded to a Principal Investigator from the Network who has demonstrated exemplary trainee mentorship, and/or outstanding contributions to the Network
- The winning PI will receive complimentary travel and accommodation for the CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting, and be given the opportunity to present a mentorship lecture at the meeting

The CIRTN-R2FIC Leadership Award

- Awarded to a member of the CIRTN-R2FIC Network who is not a PI (graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, research associate, technical staff) who has demonstrated exemplary contributions to the Network, and/or within their own lab
- The winner will receive an honorarium, a certificate to include in their CV, and be recognized during the meeting

Previous Recipients

2023 Mentorship Award recipient: Erin Mulvihill (University of Ottawa Heart Institute)
2023 Leadership Award recipient: Amanda Oakie (University Health Network, Toronto)
2022 Mentorship Award recipient: Patrick MacDonald (University of Alberta)
2022 Leadership Award recipient: Noa Gang (Carleton University)

Award Requirements

Each nominee should have a track record of exemplary leadership or mentorship. For example, they should:

Foster a supportive research environment
Support mentees/peers in developing skills necessary for pursuing their career paths
Encourage the intellectual, creative, and professional growth of mentees/peers
Facilitate opportunities and successes (eg. through publications, research talks, leadership roles, public outreach)
Demonstrate a commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusivity in the research community

Award Eligibility

Both the nominee and the nominator must be CIRTN-R2FIC members
The nominator does not need to attend the CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting in order to submit a nomination
The winner of the Mentorship (PI) Award must attend the CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting
The winner of the Leadership (non-PI) Award is not required to attend the CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting
Nominations should be from a single individual, however multiple individuals can nominate the same nominee. Multiple nominations will be considered together in the selection process.
Non-PIs are permitted to nominate themselves
PIs are not permitted to nominate themselves
Nominees cannot serve on the selection committee.

The 2023 National Meeting is made possible by a generous in-kind contribution of meeting space from the IRCM.

Please view the Program Booklet for a complete list of sponsors.

If you are interested in sponsoring the CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting or one of the meeting awards, please contact Christine Doucette for details.

Where is the meeting being held?

The CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting 2023 will be held at the IRCM, with some additional meals and sessions being held offsite (within walking distance of the conference).

How much is registration?

Meeting registration is $325 for PIs and $100 for all other attendees. Registration fees help cover food costs and other meeting expenses only.

Participants in Cohort 1 of the CREATE Training Program (January 2023) do not need to pay a registration fee, and should book their registration using a CREATE ticket.

Note that registration payments are securely processed through Stripe, via Groupize. The Groupize event page is created by the University of Alberta, where CIRTN-R2FIC’s funds are held.

Is accommodation free?

Accommodation costs are the responsibility of the attendee.

Is the meeting hybrid?

The meeting is being conducted in-person only, sessions will not be recorded or broadcast virtually.

Can I present my research at the meeting?

Yes, trainees, post-doctoral fellows, and other staff are invited to present their research. If you would like a presentation slot, please submit an abstract.

If I register for the CIRTN-R2FIC Meeting, can I also attend the Diabetes Canada Conference?

The Diabetes Canada Professional Conference/Vascular 2023 is being held in Montreal on October 26-28, immediately preceding the CIRTN-R2FIC Meeting. To attend that Conference, you must complete an additional registration.

I still have questions.

Please contact the CIRTN-R2FIC Coordinator Chris Peacocke or Christine Doucette with any additional questions about the CIRTN-R2FIC National Meeting.