Faculty profile

Sowmya Viswanathan

ResearcherGenetics and DevelopmentUniversity of Toronto

This profile is built from public research funding records (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) and PubMed. We have not imported them from a University of Toronto directory, so their courses and email address may be missing. Find their university profile.

Sowmya Viswanathan

Researcher

Genetics and Development

Health Sciences

University of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Supervision signals

Has led research grants, which requires an independent research appointment. Ask their department whether they supervise graduate students.
17 publications in the last five years, latest in 2026.
Senior (last) author on 7 recent papers, a sign of leading a research group.
Principal investigator on 5 research grants (2 CIHR, 2 NSERC, 1 SSHRC), most recently in 2025.

These signals come from public records, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions. Ask the professor or the graduate program whether they are taking new students.

Academic metrics

Publications

Citations

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Collaborators

Grants

Publications by year

Counts cover the works listed on the university profile; citation counts come from Dimensions.

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Signals and details

Research

Macrophages Osteoarthritis Ccr2 Cite-Sequencing Cx3cr1 Diphetheria Toxin Receptor Fate Mapping Lyve1

Latest papers

Responders vs. non-responders to mesenchymal stromal cells in knee osteoarthritis: Mechanistic correlates of donor cell and patient features.
Stem cell reports · 2026 · senior author
Charting the translational pathway: ISSCR best practices for the development of PSC-derived therapies.
Stem cell reports · 2026
Fate and function of exogenously administered mesenchymal stromal cells: current insights and future directions.
Cytotherapy · 2026 · senior author

All 54 publications

Latest funding

A comprehensive analysis of the distinct roles of resident macrophages vs. recruited monocyte/macrophages in humans and animal models of osteoarthritis using fate mapping, sequencing and targeted ablation
CIHR · 2025 · Nominated PI
$1,082,476
MitoRevolution: Mitochondrial Transplantation Transforming Regenerative Medicine - from research to patient care to global impact.
SSHRC · 2024 · Co-investigator
$3,934,956
Using mathematical models to identify optimal critical process parameters for different mesenchymal stromal cell donors that dually maximizes fitness and expansion
NSERC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$40,000

All 7 grants and awards

54 publications.

Responders vs. non-responders to mesenchymal stromal cells in knee osteoarthritis: Mechanistic correlates of donor cell and patient features.

Robb KP, Rabani R, Vohra S, Singh S, Chahal J, Audet J, Perruccio AV, Naraghi A, Gandhi R, Espin-Garcia O, Viswanathan S

Stem cell reports2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2026.103024 PMID: 42561945

Charting the translational pathway: ISSCR best practices for the development of PSC-derived therapies.

Barry J, Abranches E, Baptista RP, Barry C, Brandsten C, Bruce K, Carpenter MK, Cavagnaro J, Collins L, Csaszar E, Dashnau J, de Villa D, Fynes K, Gabaldo M, Hao J, Harel-Adar T, Hei D, Henchcliffe C, Hidalgo-Simon A, Hollands J, Hursh D, Jackman S, Kelly K, Kim JH, Kim H, Kino-Oka M, Lakshmipathy U, Lamb T, Lazic SE, Loring JF, Ludwig TE, Mariappan I, Monville C, Mountford JC, Nagy A, Okano H, Pellegrini G, Persson A, Prutton K, Rasko JEJ, Sareen D, Sato Y, Shnaiderman A, Stacey G, Svendsen CN, Tomishima M, Trounson A, Viswanathan S, Wang S, Wydenbach K, Zhang A, Zylberberg C, Mosher JT, Bharti K

Stem cell reports2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2025.102784 PMID: 41576937

Fate and function of exogenously administered mesenchymal stromal cells: current insights and future directions.

Shokoohmand A, Patel NM, Braid L, Dominici M, Heng TSP, Ankrum JA, Barua J, Caicedo A, Creane M, Davies L, Dos Santos CC, Enes SR, English K, Farge D, Fernández-García M, Galipeau J, Kadri N, Khoury M, Kilfeather S, Krampera M, Krasnodembskaya A, Lalu M, Blanc KL, Moll G, Nolta J, O'Kane C, Rocco PRM, Shi Y, Weiss DJ, Viswanathan S

Cytotherapy2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2025.102007 PMID: 41420629

Hallmarks of MSCs: Key quality attributes for pharmacology and clinical use.

Viswanathan S, Galipeau J

Cell stem cell2025First author

DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2025.05.008 PMID: 40480210

ISCT MSC committee statement on the US FDA approval of allogenic bone-marrow mesenchymal stromal cells.

Blanc KL, Dazzi F, English K, Farge D, Galipeau J, Horwitz EM, Kadri N, Krampera M, Lalu MM, Nolta J, Patel NM, Shi Y, Weiss DJ, Viswanathan S

Cytotherapy2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2025.01.005 PMID: 39864015

Delphi-driven consensus definition for mesenchymal stromal cells and clinical reporting guidelines for mesenchymal stromal cell-based therapeutics.

Renesme L, Cobey KD, Lalu MM, Bubela T, Chinnadurai R, De Vos J, Dunbar R, Fergusson D, Freund D, Galipeau J, Horwitz E, Lê M, Matthay M, Moher D, Nolta J, Parker G, Phinney DG, Rao M, Rasko JEJ, Rocco PRM, Rossi F, Myles MR, Viswanathan S, Thébaud B

Cytotherapy2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.10.008 PMID: 39580717

Reversible bonding in thermoplastic elastomer microfluidic platforms for harvestable 3D microvessel networks.

Moon BU, Li K, Malic L, Morton K, Shao H, Banh L, Viswanathan S, Young EWK, Veres T

Lab on a chip2024

DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00530a PMID: 39291591

Hydrogel-chitosan and polylactic acid-polycaprolactone bioengineered scaffolds for reconstruction of mandibular defects: a preclinical in vivo study with assessment of translationally relevant aspects.

Ferrari M, Taboni S, Chan HHL, Townson J, Gualtieri T, Franz L, Ruaro A, Mathews S, Daly MJ, Douglas CM, Eu D, Sahovaler A, Muhanna N, Ventura M, Dey K, Pandini S, Pasini C, Re F, Bernardi S, Bosio K, Mattavelli D, Doglietto F, Joshi S, Gilbert RW, Nicolai P, Viswanathan S, Sartore L, Russo D, Irish JC

Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2024

DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1353523 PMID: 39076208

Bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo models: a way forward to clinical translation of mitochondrial transplantation in acute disease states.

Bodenstein DF, Siebiger G, Zhao Y, Clasky AJ, Mukkala AN, Beroncal EL, Banh L, Aslostovar L, Brijbassi S, Hogan SE, McCully JD, Mehrabian M, Petersen TH, Robinson LA, Walker M, Zachos C, MITO2i-MbD Mitochondrial Transplant Consortium, Viswanathan S, Gu FX, Rotstein OD, Cypel M, Radisic M, Andreazza AC

Stem cell research & therapy2024

DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03771-8 PMID: 38816774

Failure to launch commercially-approved mesenchymal stromal cell therapies: what's the path forward? Proceedings of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) Annual Meeting Roundtable held in May 2023, Palais des Congrès de Paris, Organized by the ISCT MSC Scientific Committee.

Robb KP, Galipeau J, Shi Y, Schuster M, Martin I, Viswanathan S

Cytotherapy2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.09.001 PMID: 37804284

A comprehensive analysis of the distinct roles of resident macrophages vs. recruited monocyte/macrophages in humans and animal models of osteoarthritis using fate mapping, sequencing and targeted ablation

Nominated PICIHR2025Project Grant

Principal investigators: Viswanathan, Sowmya

Keywords: Ccr2; Cite-Sequencing; Cx3cr1; Diphetheria Toxin Receptor; Fate Mapping; Lyve1; Macrophages; Monocytes; Osteoarthritis; Tamoxifen

$1,082,476

MitoRevolution: Mitochondrial Transplantation Transforming Regenerative Medicine - from research to patient care to global impact.

Co-investigatorSSHRC2024New Frontiers in Research Fund - Transformation

Principal investigators: Andreazza, Ana

$3,934,956

Using mathematical models to identify optimal critical process parameters for different mesenchymal stromal cell donors that dually maximizes fitness and expansion

Principal investigatorNSERC2024Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Viswanathan, Sowmya

Keywords: mesenchymal stromal cells; mathematical models; liquid suspension bioreactor; design of experiment; critical quality attributes; critical process parameters; donor heterogeneity; structural equation models; machine learning models; genetic engineered mscs

$40,000

Nanobiomaterial for synergetic reduction of friction and inflammation in osteoarthritis

Principal investigatorSSHRC2023New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: Viswanathan, Sowmya

Keywords: Osteoarthritis; Synovial inflammation; Reactive oxygen species; Cartilage; Biomaterials; Nanoparticles; Lubricants; Friction coefficient; Drug deliver

$250,000

Understanding and enhancing anti-inflammatory stromal cell functions to treat osteoarthritis

Nominated PICIHR2019Project Grant

Principal investigators: Viswanathan, Sowmya

Keywords: Collagenase Induced Oa; Gene Markers; Inflammation; Interleukin 6; Macrophages; Osteoarthritis; Polarization; Potency; Soluble Il6 Receptor; Stromal Cell Therapy

$650,250

A systematic approach combining process optimization and clinically-relevant quality attributes to manufacture high potency mesenchymal stromal cells for clinical and veterinary applications

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Viswanathan, Sowmya

$168,000

Workshop on Early Knee Osteoarthritis: Novel biomarkers, Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Clinical Cohorts for Early Detection and Intervention

Co-investigatorCIHR2016Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Kapoor, Mohit

Keywords: Biomarkers; Computational Biology; Drug Discovery; Epidemiology; Knee; Oa Clinical Cohort; Oa Diagnostics; Oa Therapeutic Targets; Osteoarthritis

$9,916

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2025

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Macrophages Dear Professor Viswanathan, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Responders vs. non-responders to mesenchymal stromal cells in knee osteoarthritis: Mechanistic correlates of donor cell and patient features." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "A comprehensive analysis of the distinct roles of resident macrophages vs. recruited monocyte/macrophages in humans and animal models of osteoarthritis using fate mapping, sequencing and targeted ablation" (2025), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

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Sowmya Viswanathan

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Responders vs. non-responders to mesenchymal stromal cells in knee osteoarthritis: Mechanistic correlates of donor cell and patient features.

Charting the translational pathway: ISSCR best practices for the development of PSC-derived therapies.

Fate and function of exogenously administered mesenchymal stromal cells: current insights and future directions.

Hallmarks of MSCs: Key quality attributes for pharmacology and clinical use.

ISCT MSC committee statement on the US FDA approval of allogenic bone-marrow mesenchymal stromal cells.

Delphi-driven consensus definition for mesenchymal stromal cells and clinical reporting guidelines for mesenchymal stromal cell-based therapeutics.

Reversible bonding in thermoplastic elastomer microfluidic platforms for harvestable 3D microvessel networks.

Hydrogel-chitosan and polylactic acid-polycaprolactone bioengineered scaffolds for reconstruction of mandibular defects: a preclinical in vivo study with assessment of translationally relevant aspects.

Bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo models: a way forward to clinical translation of mitochondrial transplantation in acute disease states.

Failure to launch commercially-approved mesenchymal stromal cell therapies: what's the path forward? Proceedings of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) Annual Meeting Roundtable held in May 2023, Palais des Congr&#xe8;s de Paris, Organized by the ISCT MSC Scientific Committee.

A comprehensive analysis of the distinct roles of resident macrophages vs. recruited monocyte/macrophages in humans and animal models of osteoarthritis using fate mapping, sequencing and targeted ablation

MitoRevolution: Mitochondrial Transplantation Transforming Regenerative Medicine - from research to patient care to global impact.

Using mathematical models to identify optimal critical process parameters for different mesenchymal stromal cell donors that dually maximizes fitness and expansion

Nanobiomaterial for synergetic reduction of friction and inflammation in osteoarthritis

Understanding and enhancing anti-inflammatory stromal cell functions to treat osteoarthritis

A systematic approach combining process optimization and clinically-relevant quality attributes to manufacture high potency mesenchymal stromal cells for clinical and veterinary applications

Workshop on Early Knee Osteoarthritis: Novel biomarkers, Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Clinical Cohorts for Early Detection and Intervention

Frequent collaborators

Armand Keating

Rajiv Gandhi

Mohit Kapoor

Manoj Lalu

Vinod Chandran

Lorena Braid

Harold Atkins

Teodor Veres

Osvaldo Espin Garcia

Konstantin Shestopaloff

Osvaldo Espin Garcia

Andras Nagy

Filio Billia

Marcelo Cypel

Fabio Rossi

James Piret

Julie Fradette

Ali Naraghi

Robert Deans

Dean Fergusson

Dominique Farge

David Moher

Christopher McCabe

Milica Radisic

Failure to launch commercially-approved mesenchymal stromal cell therapies: what's the path forward? Proceedings of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) Annual Meeting Roundtable held in May 2023, Palais des Congrès de Paris, Organized by the ISCT MSC Scientific Committee.