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Eno Hysi, a post-doctoral researcher with the division of nephrology in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital who is affiliated with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's department of medicine, has won a 2021 Polanyi Prize in Physics for his work on the use of photoacoustic imaging to map scarring in kidneys.

The prestigious John Charles Polanyi prizes are awarded in honour of John Polanyi, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Funded by the government of Ontario and administered by the Council of Ontario Universities, they recognize innovative researchers who are continuing postdoctoral work or have recently been appointed as faculty at an Ontario university.

Hysi, a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Banting and Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training program (KRESCENT) fellow, uses photoacoustics to investigate light and sound interactions in kidney blood vessels and surrounding soft tissues – enabling better identification of kidneys not suitable for transplant due to excessive scarring.

“Donated kidneys save thousands of lives each year, but more can be done to optimize transplant processes and improve outcomes for patients,” said Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “Eno Hysi’s research on the interplay of optical and acoustical signals in donated kidneys is helping to provide a clearer picture of kidney health for physicians, enabling them to reduce wait times and improve outcomes for patients with kidney failure – and the University of Toronto congratulates him on this important recognition of his work.”