Elena Torban, McGill University

Research

Biomarkers Canadian Disease Models Diversity Genetics Kidney Kidney Injury Knowledge Translation

Latest papers

Emerging therapeutic strategies for cystinosis.
Frontiers in pediatrics · 2025 · senior author
Translational readthrough therapy for ADPKD induces polycystin1 expression and partially rescues functional deficits in PKD1 mutant cells.
Scientific reports · 2025 · first author
Use of patient-derived cell models for characterization of compound heterozygous hypomorphic C2CD3 variants in a patient with isolated nephronophthisis.
Human molecular genetics · 2025

All 36 publications

Latest funding

The Molecules and Mechanisms Mediating Kidney Health and Disease (M3K) Meeting and Investigator Summit
CIHR · 2022 · Nominated PI
$10,000
Rare variants in syndromic ciliopathy genes as novel causes of isolated renal disease in adults
CIHR · 2022 · Supervisor
$105,000
Actin regulation of ciliogenesis: unraveling novel mechanisms of human ciliopathies caused by mutations in the PCP effector genes
CIHR · 2019 · Nominated PI
$776,475

All 7 grants and awards

36 publications.

01

Emerging therapeutic strategies for cystinosis.

Goodyer P, Torban E

Frontiers in pediatrics2025Senior author

DOI: 10.3389/fped.2025.1601409 PMID: 40469087

02

Translational readthrough therapy for ADPKD induces polycystin1 expression and partially rescues functional deficits in PKD1 mutant cells.

Torban E, Canaff L, Babayeva S, Kachurina N, Chung CF, Ong ACM, Alam A, Goodyer PR

Scientific reports2025First author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-26775-7 PMID: 41274954

03

Use of patient-derived cell models for characterization of compound heterozygous hypomorphic C2CD3 variants in a patient with isolated nephronophthisis.

Sentell ZT, Mougharbel L, Nurcombe ZW, Babayeva S, Henein M, Chu LL, Akpa MM, Chung CF, Rivière JB, Pupavac M, Li R, Rosenblatt DS, Majewski J, Goodyer PR, Torban E, Kitzler TM

Human molecular genetics2025

DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae182 PMID: 39690811

04

Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of CC2D2A-related ciliopathies: a rare homozygous nonsense variant in a patient with suspected nephronophthisis.

Sentell ZT, Nurcombe ZW, Mougharbel L, Anastasio N, Rivière JB, Babayeva S, Goodyer PR, Torban E, Kitzler TM

European journal of human genetics : EJHG2024

DOI: 10.1038/s41431-024-01668-x PMID: 38987663

05

The CPLANE protein Fuzzy regulates ciliogenesis by suppressing actin polymerization at the base of the primary cilium via p190A RhoGAP.

Sharma R, Kalot R, Levin Y, Babayeva S, Kachurina N, Chung CF, Liu KJ, Bouchard M, Torban E

Development (Cambridge, England)2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1242/dev.202322 PMID: 38546045

06

Wilms' tumor gene 1: lessons from the interface between kidney development and cancer.

Torban E, Goodyer P

American journal of physiology. Renal physiology2024First author

DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00248.2023 PMID: 37916284

07

Primary cilia and actin regulatory pathways in renal ciliopathies.

Kalot R, Sentell Z, Kitzler TM, Torban E

Frontiers in nephrology2023Senior author

DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2023.1331847 PMID: 38292052

08

Can Peer Review Be Kinder? Supportive Peer Review: A Re-Commitment to Kindness and a Call to Action

Clase CM, Dicks E, Holden R, Sood MM, Levin A, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Moore LW, Bartlett SJ, Bello AK, Bohm C

Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease202211 citations

DOI: 10.1177/20543581221080327

09

Advancing Discovery Research in Nephrology in Canada: A Conference Report From the 2021 Molecules and Mechanisms Mediating Kidney Health and Disease (M3K) Scientific Meeting and Investigator Summit

Burger D, Abdelrasoul A, Alexander RT, Ballermann B, Bridgewater D, Chan JSD, Cunanan J, Cybulsky AV, Gerarduzzi C, Gunaratnam L

Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease2022

DOI: 10.1177/20543581221144824

10

Identification of a novel variant of the ciliopathic gene FUZZY associated with craniosynostosis.

Barrell WB, Adel Al-Lami H, Goos JAC, Swagemakers SMA, van Dooren M, Torban E, van der Spek PJ, Mathijssen IMJ, Liu KJ

European journal of human genetics : EJHG2022

DOI: 10.1038/s41431-021-00988-6 PMID: 34719684

The Molecules and Mechanisms Mediating Kidney Health and Disease (M3K) Meeting and Investigator Summit

Nominated PICIHR2022Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Torban, Elena

Keywords: Biomarkers; Canadian; Disease Models; Diversity; Genetics; Kidney; Kidney Injury; Knowledge Translation; Mechanisms Of Disease; Molecular Biology

$10,000

Rare variants in syndromic ciliopathy genes as novel causes of isolated renal disease in adults

SupervisorCIHR2022Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Principal investigators: Sentell, Zachary T

Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease; Crispr-Cas9; Exome Analysis; Genetics; Mendelian Inheritance; Molecular Diagnostics; Next-Generation Sequencing; Patient-Derived Cells; Precision Medicine; Zebrafish

$105,000

Actin regulation of ciliogenesis: unraveling novel mechanisms of human ciliopathies caused by mutations in the PCP effector genes

Nominated PICIHR2019Project Grant

Principal investigators: Torban, Elena

Keywords: Actin Cytoskeleton At The Primary Cilium; Actin Regulation; Ciliogenesis; Drug Testing Ex Vivo, In Vivo And In Vitro; Human Ciliopahty; Neural Tube Defects; Planar Cell Polarity Pathway; Polycystic Kidney Disease; Protein Interactome; Transgenic Mice

$776,475

The 12th International Podocyte Conference, May 30-June 2, 2018

Nominated PICIHR2017Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Torban, Elena

Keywords: Planning/Dissemination

$20,000

Interactions between host and viral genes in the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome

Principal investigatorCIHR2015Environments, Genes and Chronic Disease - LOI

Principal investigators: Goodyer, Paul R; Cybulsky, Andrey V; Mazer, Bruce D; Pei, York P; Torban, Elena; Zappitelli, Michael

Keywords: Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis; Lymphocyte; Mutant Genes; Nephrotic Syndrome; Podocyte; Viral Genes

Molecular and Cellular mechanisms of idiopatic Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Nominated PICIHR2013Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Torban, Elena

Keywords: Cell Culture; Genetic Screening; Human Glomerular Disease; Patient Cohort; Podocyte Biology; Signal Transduction; Transgenic Mouse Models; Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha

$619,108

Involvement of planar cell polarity pathway in glomerular disease

Nominated PICIHR2009Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Torban, Elena

Keywords: Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis - Fsgs; Immunochemistry; Kidney Disease; Mouse Models Of Human Disease; Planar Cell Polarity And Actin Rearrangements; Podocyte Biology; Transgenic Mice

$348,521

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

Frequent collaborators

Claudio Rigatto and Clara Bohm: 35 shared papers
Andras Kapus and Katalin Szaszi: 13 shared papers
Elena Torban and Paul Goodyer: 10 shared papers
Amber Molnar and Clara Bohm: 7 shared papers
Catherine Clase and Adeera Levin: 7 shared papers
Philippe Gros and Elena Torban: 7 shared papers
Sunny Hartwig and Adeera Levin: 7 shared papers
Catherine Clase and Claudio Rigatto: 4 shared papers
Philippe Gros and Jacek Majewski: 4 shared papers
Amber Molnar and Catherine Clase: 3 shared papers
Catherine Clase and Sunny Hartwig: 3 shared papers
Tomoko Takano and Elena Torban: 3 shared papers
Claudio Rigatto and Adeera Levin: 3 shared papers
Sunny Hartwig and Dylan Burger: 3 shared papers
Sunny Hartwig and Leanne Stalker: 3 shared papers
Adeera Levin and Clara Bohm: 3 shared papers
Casimiro Gerarduzzi and Caroline Lamarche: 3 shared papers
Amber Molnar and Claudio Rigatto: 2 shared papers
Darren Bridgewater and Elena Torban: 2 shared papers
Darren Bridgewater and Sunny Hartwig: 2 shared papers
Darren Bridgewater and Dylan Burger: 2 shared papers
Tomoko Takano and Sunny Hartwig: 2 shared papers
Tomoko Takano and Jacek Majewski: 2 shared papers
Tomoko Takano and Lakshman Gunaratnam: 2 shared papers
Philippe Gros and Jerry Pelletier: 2 shared papers
Elena Torban and Sunny Hartwig: 2 shared papers
Elena Torban and Dylan Burger: 2 shared papers
Elena Torban and Thomas Kitzler: 2 shared papers
Paul Goodyer and Thomas Kitzler: 2 shared papers
Adeera Levin and Leanne Stalker: 2 shared papers
Amber Molnar and Laurel Trainor: 1 shared paper
Amber Molnar and Elena Torban: 1 shared paper
Amber Molnar and Leanne Stalker: 1 shared paper
Catherine Clase and Laurel Trainor: 1 shared paper
Catherine Clase and Elena Torban: 1 shared paper
Laurel Trainor and Darren Bridgewater: 1 shared paper
Laurel Trainor and Elena Torban: 1 shared paper
Darren Bridgewater and Andras Kapus: 1 shared paper
Darren Bridgewater and Katalin Szaszi: 1 shared paper
Darren Bridgewater and Lakshman Gunaratnam: 1 shared paper
Darren Bridgewater and Casimiro Gerarduzzi: 1 shared paper
Darren Bridgewater and Barbara Ballermann: 1 shared paper
Darren Bridgewater and Caroline Lamarche: 1 shared paper
Tomoko Takano and Andras Kapus: 1 shared paper
Tomoko Takano and Katalin Szaszi: 1 shared paper
Tomoko Takano and Casimiro Gerarduzzi: 1 shared paper
Tomoko Takano and Barbara Ballermann: 1 shared paper
Tomoko Takano and Thomas Kitzler: 1 shared paper
Tomoko Takano and Caroline Lamarche: 1 shared paper
Ines Colmegna and Elena Torban: 1 shared paper
Ines Colmegna and Paul Goodyer: 1 shared paper
Ines Colmegna and Thomas Kitzler: 1 shared paper
Claudio Rigatto and Elena Torban: 1 shared paper
Philippe Gros and Gregor Andelfinger: 1 shared paper
Andras Kapus and Elena Torban: 1 shared paper
Andras Kapus and Lakshman Gunaratnam: 1 shared paper
Andras Kapus and Barbara Ballermann: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Gregor Andelfinger: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Katalin Szaszi: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Jacek Majewski: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Adeera Levin: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Jerry Pelletier: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Lakshman Gunaratnam: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Casimiro Gerarduzzi: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Barbara Ballermann: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Clara Bohm: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Leanne Stalker: 1 shared paper
Elena Torban and Caroline Lamarche: 1 shared paper
Paul Goodyer and Jerry Pelletier: 1 shared paper

Medicine
Medicine/Nephrology
Biochemistry
Nephrology
Internal Medicine
Pathology & Molecular Medicine
Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Other

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Biomarkers Dear Professor Torban, 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 "Emerging therapeutic strategies for cystinosis." (2025), 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 "The Molecules and Mechanisms Mediating Kidney Health and Disease (M3K) Meeting and Investigator Summit" (2022), 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]