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Dr. Greg Korbutt (left) and Ivan Ma (second from right)

Ivan Ma, a PhD learner in the Department of Surgery, has earned national recognition for his pioneering work in diabetes research and surgical education. He was recently awarded the Andre Marti Graduate Scholarship for his research on cell-based therapies for type 1 diabetes, and also claimed the Silver Scalpel Award at the prestigious Golden Scalpel event during the Canadian Conference for the Advancement of Surgical Education (C-CASE). Ivan says, “Our work aims to increase the availability of donor pancreatic islets that produce insulin with the goal of making islet transplantation a more widely accessible treatment option for people living with type 1 diabetes.”

His award-winning research, titled “Islet Recovery and Functionality Retained After 24-hour Static Cold Storage of Neonatal Porcine Pancreas in University of Wisconsin Solution,” explores innovative methods for preserving pancreatic islets—an essential step toward advancing cell-based treatments for diabetes. The Andre Marti Graduate Scholarship recognizes graduate learners who demonstrate excellence in diabetes research, particularly in islet or cell-based therapies, and who contribute significantly to academic and public knowledge through publications, presentations, or outreach.

Ivan was nominated by the Department of Surgery to represent the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø at the Golden Scalpel event, where top surgical trainees from across Canada compete. His presentation earned him second place, earning the title of Silver Scalpel Winner.

Dr. Greg Korbutt, Ivan’s supervisor, praised his dedication and intellectual curiosity: “Ivan has proven to be a very dedicated learner who has a keen interest in diabetes research. He is not the average learner who simply wants to go through the process of getting a PhD. In contrast, Ivan wants to understand the logistics and reasoning behind how every assay in the lab was developed.”

Since joining Dr. Korbutt’s lab in September 2023, Ivan has received eight graduate scholarships, including the prestigious Canada Graduate Scholarship – Masters from the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

Ivan’s achievements mark him as a rising leader in Canadian health sciences, with a promising future in both research and surgical education.