School of Biomedical Sciences - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Professor Simon Roy wins Marathon of Hope Clinician-Scientist Award for melanoma research

Health e-News — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:21:43 +0000

Simon Roy, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, is one of four early-career clinician-scientists across Canada to receive the 2025 Clinician-Scientist Award from the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN).

The Award supports outstanding young clinician-investigators pursuing high-quality precision oncology research in collaboration with and under the mentorship of established MOHCCN-funded teams. Each will receive $450,000 ($225,000 from the Network and $225,000 in matching funds).

Physiology professor Claire M. Brown appointed inaugural Chair for Inclusion in Science and Engineering

Health e-News — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:06:01 +0000

Claire M. Brown, Professor in the Department of Physiology, has been selected as Chair for Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) in the province of Quebec. The newly established CISE program is jointly funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT).

Moving from planning to action: Welcome to the Fall Semester

Health e-News — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:38:46 +0000

To all members of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,

I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy a restful and restorative summer. As we return to our two campuses and many affiliated sites across the province to begin a new academic year, I want to take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.

Eleven ɬ�﷬ researchers honoured by the Royal Society of Canada

ɬ�﷬ Research and Innovation — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:28:34 +0000

On September 4, the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) announced its newest cohort of Fellows, and members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Amongst the 2025 cohort are eleven ɬ�﷬ researchers and scholars – seven newly elected Fellows and four new Members – recognized for their exceptional contributions to their fields. In addition to these appointments, three ɬ�﷬ scholars received prestigious RSC awards:

John Stagg appointed Director of the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute

Health e-News — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 17:48:40 +0000

I am pleased to announce the appointment of John Stagg, PhD, as Director of the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI), School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), ɬ�﷬, effective September 1, 2025. Prof. Stagg replaces Morag Park, PhD, a world-renowned breast cancer researcher who has served as the GCI’s visionary Director since 2013, playing a key role in its evolution to an interdisciplinary institute. We thank Prof. Park for her expert leadership and wish her continued success in her research program.

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

ɬ�﷬ Newsroom — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:57:24 +0000

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

CIHR grants $48.4M to ɬ�﷬ health research

ɬ�﷬ Research and Innovation — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:23:27 +0000

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) recently announced a total national investment of $411 million through the CIHR Spring 2025 Project Grant competition, funding 444 grants led by 428 lead investigators. At ɬ�﷬, 53 projects were funded for a total research investment of $48.4 million.

“These projects span disciplines and regions, united by a shared goal: improving the health, prosperity and well-being of all people in Canada”, said Paul C. Hébert, President, CIHR.

Powering off cancer: Slowing down the spread of aggressive breast cancers by targeting their cellular powerhouse

CIHR — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 20:09:08 +0000

One in eight Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Even though research has led to major advances in screening and treatments, stage 4 breast cancers remain a challenge. In Canada, the five-year survival rate for stage 4 breast cancer is around 23%.

Common hereditary cancer mutation in Quebec traced to single ancestor

ɬ�﷬ Newsroom — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:22:15 +0000

Researchers have shed new light on the most common genetic variant linked to hereditary cancer in Quebec’s French-Canadian population. Their findings could result in cheaper and more effective screening methods.

The variant is associated with Lynch syndrome, a condition that greatly increases the risk of colorectal and other cancers.

FMHS students win prestigious national research awards

Neale McDevitt — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 20:06:24 +0000

Twenty-three ɬ�﷬ doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, including nine from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), have been awarded major funding from the Government of Canada in recognition of their academic excellence, leadership and research potential.

Sixteen ɬ�﷬ students (eight from the FMHS) received the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, which provides up to $50,000 per year for three years. Seven postdoctoral scholars earned the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship – including one from the FMHS – valued at up to $70,000 annually for two years.