The Dr. Frans Leenen Trainee Award for Publication Excellence is a prestigious recognition presented by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) to honour outstanding research by a trainee. Named after Dr. Frans Leenen—a respected clinician scientist and dedicated mentor—the award celebrates a trainee-led publication from the previous year that demonstrates innovation, impact, and scientific excellence.
Deyanira Hernandez Sanchez is a PhD Candidate in Biochemistry at University of Ottawa Heart Institute whose research bridges engineering, biomaterials, and cardiovascular medicine. Deyanira’s publication, Miniaturized Devices for On‑the‑Spot Generation of Small‑Diameter Vascular Grafts, captures the essence of the Dr. Frans Leenen Award: bold innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and trainee‑led research with real translational promise. Her first‑authored work in Advanced Materials Technologies marks a significant advance in the way vascular grafts can be fabricated and tailored to patient needs.
This study introduces a tiny medical device that can create small blood vessel grafts right inside the body, exactly where they are needed. Using special light‑activated materials that mimic natural tissue, the device can quickly form grafts that are customized, precise, and designed to help the body heal. This represents a major shift from traditional grafts, which rely on taking vessels from the patient or using pre‑made synthetic tubes that often do not work well in small arteries.
Scientifically, this paper addresses a persistent challenge in cardiovascular surgery: the lack of reliable small‑diameter grafts for procedures such as coronary artery bypass, peripheral artery reconstruction, and hemodialysis access. Clinically, it opens the door to potentially faster, more adaptable, and more personalized vascular repair, especially for patients who previously had no suitable graft options.
As co‑first author, Deyanira played a central role in validating the technology. She led device testing, graft characterization, and feasibility studies, working across engineering and biomaterials teams to generate the experimental evidence that brought this concept to life. She also contributed to data analysis and manuscript preparation, helping advance the platform from an innovative idea to published translational research.
The publication has attracted significant attention featured in The Beat, the Ottawa Citizen, and CTV News Ottawa. This publication has sparked new international collaborations in Mexico, Brazil, the UK, and Denmark. This growing interest highlights the global relevance of technology and its potential to reshape future approaches to vascular reconstruction.
Deyanira’s work reflects trainee‑driven innovation grounded in rigorous science and strengthened by interdisciplinary collaboration. This publication highlights her growing leadership in cardiovascular biomaterials with her and her teams ‘potential to advance next‑generation regenerative vascular therapies.