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Ancient viruses in our DNA may hold clues to what makes us human

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:41:55 +0000

Fragments of ancient viral DNA once dismissed as “junk” may play a role in controlling our genes, according to a new international study.

Using a novel method to trace the evolutionary history of viral DNA, researchers from �� and Kyoto University uncovered sequences that had been overlooked in earlier genome annotations.

�� researchers develop safe, scalable vibration technique to improve lab-grown tissues

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:45:52 +0000

Researchers in ��’s Department of Mechanical Engineering have discovered a safe and low-cost method of engineering living materials such as tissues, organs and blood clots. By simply vibrating these materials as they form, scientists can dramatically influence how strong or, weak they become.

The findings, published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, could have a range of innovative applications, including in organ transplants, wound healing and regenerative medicine.

Millions of buildings at risk from sea level rise, ��-led study finds

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:49:34 +0000

Sea level rise could put more than 100 million buildings across the Global South at risk of regular flooding if fossil fuel emissions are not curbed quickly, according to a new ��-led study published in npj Urban Sustainability.

�� scientists develop cleaner, cheaper way to make lithium-ion batteries

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 13:11:10 +0000

A team of �� researchers, working with colleagues in the United States and South Korea, has developed a new way to make high-performance lithium-ion battery materials that could help phase out expensive and/or difficult-to-source metals like nickel and cobalt.

Study finds Montreal cycling infrastructure doesn’t match demand

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 12:02:46 +0000

Bike lanes, BIXI stations and other micromobility infrastructure make up just two per cent of Montreal’s street space – even in neighbourhoods where cycling demand would justify more – according to a new study by �� researchers. They think that the measure they developed to arrive at their findings can also help assess the situation in other cities.

Availability of respite care almost triples a palliative care patient’s chance of dying at home

admin — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 13:20:18 +0000

Access to respite services for family caregivers increases a palliative care patient’s probability of dying at home almost threefold, according to a ��-led study.

Previous surveys suggest most Canadians with a serious illness would prefer to spend the end of their lives at home. In Quebec, fewer than one-in-10 palliative care patients die at home, a rate that has remained largely unchanged for two decades and lags behind the Canadian average of 15 per cent.

How tapping into nurses’ full potential could ease health system strain

admin — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:09:35 +0000

As health care systems across Canada and beyond struggle with staff shortages, international experts are backing a promising strategy: expanding the role of advanced practice nurses.

�� scientists turn marine waste into a sustainable solution for wound care, wearable devices and more

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 12:59:20 +0000

An interdisciplinary team of �� researchers has developed an ultra-strong, environmentally friendly medical glue, or bioadhesive, made from marine waste. The discovery has promising applications for wound care, surgeries, improved drug delivery, wearable devices and medical implants.

“Being able to produce glues that can close wounds  or make something strongly adhere to the skin is critical for many medical interventions,” said Audrey Moores, Professor in the Department of Chemistry.

Students with overprotective parents are more vulnerable to anxiety during their transition to university, researchers find

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 13:16:27 +0000

First-year undergraduates who grew up with overly cautious or controlling parents tend to experience increased anxiety when faced with stresses associated with the transition to university, researchers from �� and the University of California (Los Angeles) have found.

Smoking both cannabis and tobacco may alter brain’s ‘bliss molecule,’ study finds

admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:02:41 +0000

People who use both cannabis and tobacco show distinct brain changes compared to those who use cannabis alone, according to a new study led by �� researchers at the Douglas Research Centre.

The finding may help explain why people who use both cannabis and tobacco often report increased depression and anxiety, and why quitting cannabis is harder for them than for people only using cannabis

Racial-minority business owners can benefit from ‘white guilt,’ marketing study finds

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:17:56 +0000

Researchers who explored how consumers’ ethical values can shape their shopping habits suggest that business owners from marginalized racial groups can appeal to socially conscious consumers by highlighting their identity, helping promote racial equity through values-driven purchasing.

Study raises red flags about BPA replacements

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:46:31 +0000

Chemicals used to replace bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging can trigger potentially harmful effects in human ovarian cells, according to �� researchers.

A new study examined several chemicals commonly used in price stickers on packaged meat, fish, cheese and produce found early signs of potential toxicity.

�� researchers launch intersex health communication guide

admin — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:56:18 +0000

Researchers at ��’s Centre of Genomics and Policy (CGP) have launched a first-of-its-kind guide to help Canadian health-care providers offer more inclusive, respectful and affirming care to intersex adults.

New study reveals promising strategy to retrain neutrophils to target breast cancer

admin — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:44:30 +0000

A ground-breaking study conducted by researchers from ��, the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (LDI) at the Jewish General Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and MIT has identified a novel approach to combat aggressive breast cancers by retraining neutrophils, the body’s first responders, to directly kill tumour cells. This research offers new hope for patients with breast cancers that do not respond well to existing immunotherapies.

High-salt diet inflames the brain and raises blood pressure, study finds

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:20:36 +0000

A new study finds that a high-salt diet triggers brain inflammation that drives up blood pressure.