myMcGill - McGill News Releases

Microbes in orbit: Understanding spaceflight’s impact on gut health

McGill University — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:45:37 +0000

Scientists have uncovered how space travel profoundly alters the gut microbiome, yielding insights that could shape future space missions.

The groundbreaking study, led by a McGill University researcher in collaboration with University College Dublin (UCD), NASA’s GeneLab and an international consortium, offers the most detailed profile to date of how space travel affects gut microbes.

The brain’s balancing system

McGill University — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 13:09:31 +0000

A finding by a McGill-led team of neuroscientists could open doors to new treatments for a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders attributed to dysfunctions in specific dopamine pathways.

The power of face time: Insights from zebra finch courtship

McGill University — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:50:07 +0000

A new study on songbirds sheds light on the power of social interaction to facilitate learning, insights that potentially apply to human development.

McGill University researchers discovered that zebra finches deprived of early social experiences could still form strong bonds with a partner later in life. Once placed into cohabitation with a male, females that had never heard a mating song before could quickly develop a preference for his melody.

What time the malaria-bearing mosquito bites you might make a difference

McGill University — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 13:52:23 +0000

A discovery by McGill-affiliated researchers could lead to more effective treatment of malaria and other parasitic diseases.

When mice are infected in the middle of the night with the parasites causing cerebral malaria, the symptoms of the disease are less severe than for those inflected during the day, and the spread of the parasites within the hosts is more limited, research teams from McGill University, the Douglas Research Centre and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre have discovered.

Exciting advance in stem cell therapy

McGill University — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:06:25 +0000

A new technique developed by McGill researchers for mechanically manipulating stem cells could lead to new stem cell treatments, which have yet to fulfill their therapeutic potential.

Stem cell therapy has been heralded as a new way to treat many diseases, ranging from multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and glaucoma to Type 1 diabetes. The anticipated advances have yet to materialize in part because it has proved much more difficult than originally thought to control the types of cells that develop from stem cells.

Dream discovery: Melatonin's key role in REM sleep revealed

McGill University — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:19:28 +0000

A significant breakthrough in the understanding of sleep mechanism opens new promise for treating sleep disorders and associated neuropsychiatric conditions: Scientists have pinpointed the melatonin receptor MT1 as a crucial regulator of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.

$1.45M to boost Indigenous youth mental health services

McGill University — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 17:06:15 +0000

A national initiative to bolster Indigenous youth mental health services across Canada has secured $1.45 million in funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Ultrafine particles linked to over 1,000 deaths per year in Canada’s two largest cities

McGill University — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:17:25 +0000

A first-of-its kind study conducted in Canada’s two largest cities by McGill-led researchers has linked about 1,100 premature deaths per year to an unregulated air pollutant.

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) primarily come from vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Canada’s federal and provincial governments have not set concentration limits for UFPs, as they have for larger fine particles known as PM2.5.

Study yields new insights into the link between global warming and rising sea levels

McGill University — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 18:16:49 +0000

A McGill-led study suggests that Earth's natural forces could substantially reduce Antarctica’s impact on rising sea levels, but only if carbon emissions are swiftly reduced in the coming decades. By the same token, if emissions continue on the current trajectory, Antarctic ice loss could lead to more future sea level rise than previously thought.

The finding is significant because the Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest ice mass on Earth, and the biggest uncertainty in predicting future sea levels is how this ice will respond to climate change.

Six athletes among plethora of McGillians headed for Paris Olympic Games

McGill University — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:11:06 +0000

By Earl Zukerman, Sports Information Officer, McGill Athletics and Recreation

Listening to the voices of those most affected by climate change

McGill University — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:08:03 +0000

Researchers at McGill University recently supported the hosting of a major international conference on climate change to create space for the under-represented voices – and knowledge – of those most affected.

The global conversation on climate has been dominated by Western scientists. While international meetings such as those in the COP series are important venues for the exchange of knowledge that can be put into action, greater equity is essential, the researchers believe.

Study sheds light on origins of schizophrenia in the brain, offering hope for targeted treatments and better diagnosis

McGill University — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:49:13 +0000

A group of scientists are hopeful their research findings about how schizophrenia originates and develops over time in the brain will pave the way for targeted treatments and better diagnosis of the serious mental health condition.

Systemic sclerosis is on the rise in Quebec, especially in children, study finds

McGill University — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:51:51 +0000

The number of new cases of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is on the rise in Quebec, particularly among children, a new study has found.

The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, should serve as a call to action for health-care providers, policy-makers and researchers, suggests Elena Netchiporouk, corresponding author and Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University.

A treatment for anorexia nervosa?

McGill University — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 14:31:58 +0000

A McGill University-led research team working in collaboration with a French team (CNRS, INSERM and Sorbonne university) believes it has identified both the neurological mechanism underlying anorexia nervosa as well as a possible cure.

Cutting-edge technology detects nanoplastics in water – instantly

McGill University — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:50:18 +0000

A McGill-led research team has developed the first real-time, on-site technology capable of detecting and deciphering nanoplastics from all other particles in water, a capacity akin to being able to find a needle in a haystack within milliseconds.

Microplastic pieces are between 1 micrometre and 5 millimetres, roughly equivalent to a grain of rice. Nanoplastics are far tinier - a single nanometre is just 0.000001 millimetres. For comparison, a human hair is approximately 80,000–100,000 nanometers wide.

Treasures beneath the ocean floor? Seawater plays role in gold formation

McGill University — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:03:05 +0000

Understanding how gold forms is crucial for knowing where to find it and how to extract it sustainably. McGill researchers have answered a long-standing question in geology that could lead to new ore discoveries.

How climate change is affecting where species live

McGill University — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 15:44:19 +0000

As the climate warms, many species are on the move, raising new challenges for policy-makers around the world. Shifts in the ranges of mosquitoes and disease-bearing ticks and bats are introducing illnesses such as malaria and Lyme disease into regions where health-care systems are unprepared. Movements of commercially important fish from one jurisdiction to another are shifting job opportunities and causing trade disputes.

The 10 Montreal intersections cyclists say are most dangerous

McGill University — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:08:15 +0000

This spring, over 1,500 cyclists participated in a survey by Transportation Research at McGill (TRAM) to identify dangerous intersections for cyclists in Montreal. A new policy brief reveals the 10 most mentioned spots.

The researchers say there is a critical need for safer cycling infrastructure, to promote sustainable travel and prevent fatal collisions caused by poor road design.

The ‘15-minute city’ might not be realistic for North America, researchers find

McGill University — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 13:37:22 +0000

In the “15-minute city,” a concept popularized in Europe, everything a resident might need on a daily basis is a short walk or bicycle ride away. A study by Transportation Research at McGill University (TRAM) suggests, however, that this model may not be easily achieved in large North American cities such as Montreal.

McGill University announces a new tuition initiative for Indigenous students

McGill University — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:43:28 +0000

Beginning in the Fall of 2024, McGill University will cover tuition and mandatory fees for Indigenous students who are members of local/proximate First Nation communities as well as Indigenous students learning within programs delivered through Indigenous partnership agreements within the School of Social Work, the School of Continuing Studies and the Office of First Nations and Inuit Education.

Teens with behavioural problems, particularly girls, more likely to sext: study

McGill University — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:09:16 +0000

It’s important that programs promoting safer sexting behaviours consider the specific needs of adolescents with behavioural problems, a new study by McGill University researchers suggests.

Adolescents with behavioural problems engage in elevated levels of sexting compared with their peers without such problems. While this is the case both for male and female teens, the researchers found, the link was stronger for the young women.

‘Doom spiral’ a risk for public transit in post-pandemic era

McGill University — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:06:14 +0000

A new study from McGill University warns that cutting public transit service could lead to a "doom spiral" resulting in a collapse of the system.

The researchers describe a vicious circle in which service cuts brought on by budget deficits drive transit users away; this drop in ridership triggers additional service cuts, which lead to further declines in usage.

Many health-care providers are ill-equipped to recognize pain in abused children

McGill University — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:51:34 +0000

Many health-care professionals are ill-equipped to assess pain in children who have suffered abuse, a new study by McGill researchers suggests. This can lead to inadequate pain treatment, making the physical and emotional effects of abuse even worse.

"Our findings show a critical need for training programs for health-care providers about the effects of child maltreatment,” said Matthew Baker, the study's lead author and a PhD student in the School/Applied Child Psychology program at McGill.

McGill University issues updated offer to McGill members of the encampment, calls for return to good-faith discussions

McGill University — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:58:57 +0000

Despite the walkout by encampment representatives from discussions, McGill remains steadfast in its commitment to an open and transparent dialogue conducted in good faith. Yesterday, the University extended an updated offer to members of its community in the encampment, going beyond previous proposals.

This continued effort to reach a peaceful resolution to the encampment, which has been in place on the lower field for over six weeks, comes in addition to the University’s renewed suggestion to appoint a neutral third-party mediator to facilitate discussions.

Government of Canada invests $6M in climate change adaptation and interdisciplinary research at McGill

McGill University — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:55:03 +0000

Two McGill-led climate change mitigation projects receive funding from the New Frontiers in Research Fund’s (NFRF) International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Competition. Thirteen researchers receive grants through the NFRF Exploration Competition.

Two McGill Projects selected for funding by Genome Canada

McGill University — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:23:56 +0000

Quebec-based projects awarded over half of the total national allotment, demonstrating the province’s strength in the transformative science of genomics

McGill project awarded $1.7 million to mitigate housing crisis and climate change

McGill University — Wed, 29 May 2024 18:29:09 +0000

As Canada faces the dual challenges of contending with a housing crisis at the same time as facing the impacts of severe climate change, the need to find innovative and practical solutions remains one of the nation’s highest priorities. McGill’s Professor Daniele Malomo was recently awarded $1.7 million by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for a proposed solution that addresses both problems.

Battery breakthrough could usher in greener, cheaper electric vehicles

McGill University — Tue, 28 May 2024 18:52:54 +0000

The global shift to electric vehicles is gaining momentum, yet the extraction of battery materials has a significant environmental footprint that comes with high costs.

Now, two groundbreaking studies led by McGill University researchers offer hope in the search to manufacture cheaper and greener lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs).

Their findings unlock the potential to produce batteries using more sustainable and less costly metals, known as disordered rock-salt-type (DRX) cathode materials.

McGill University celebrates graduates and honorary doctorate recipients at 2024 spring convocation

McGill University — Tue, 28 May 2024 13:13:41 +0000

As part of this year’s Spring Convocation celebrations, McGill University will confer honorary degrees upon ten inspirational individuals, five of whom are from Quebec.

Leaders in their respective fields, these honorary doctorates stand as examples of creativity, compassion, dedication, service, and a pioneering spirit. They represent a diverse array of leaders whose contributions span disciplines, industries, and continents.

Sustainable Data Science Training Program awarded $1.65 M from NSERC CREATE

McGill University — Thu, 16 May 2024 14:35:33 +0000

Today, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) announced more than $26 million in funding for 16 new training initiatives through its Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program.

McGill University’s Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and Welcome Hall Mission celebrate Jim Lund Dental Clinic expansion

McGill University — Tue, 07 May 2024 19:42:18 +0000

McGill University’s Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and the Welcome Hall Mission celebrated the completion of the Jim Lund Dental Clinic expansion project, which started in October 2023.

Established in 2011 in partnership with the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, the Jim Lund Dental Clinic at Welcome Hall Mission has long been recognized for its commitment to helping Montrealers in need with free dental care.

Study underscores new strategies to fight drug-resistant bacteria

McGill University — Tue, 07 May 2024 18:42:00 +0000

Several billion years ago, a genetic arms race began between bacteria and their viral killers. This seemingly eternal struggle continues today, with implications for diseases killing tens of thousands of people around the world each year.

Huit universités montréalaises s’unissent pour accélérer l'action climatique et renforcer la résilience de la métropole

McGill University — Tue, 07 May 2024 15:00:30 +0000

Montréal, 7 mai 2024 — Aujourd’hui, dans le cadre du Sommet Climat Montréal, huit institutions universitaires montréalaises — l’École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), HEC Montréal, l’Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Polytechnique Montréal, l’Université McGill, l’Université Concordia, l'Université de Montréal (UdeM) et l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) — s’engagent à collaborer pour accélérer l’action climatique de la collectivité montréalaise en partageant leurs savoirs et leurs pratiques, tout en faisant preuve d’exemplarité dans la réduction d

Eating the way we do hurts us and the planet, study finds

McGill University — Mon, 06 May 2024 14:48:42 +0000

In an age of abundance and variety in food options, are Canadians eating better than they were half a century ago? According to a recent paper by researchers at McGill University and the International Food Policy Research Institute, those relying on Canada’s food supply for their dietary needs not only face deficiencies in healthier alternatives, but they also contribute to the disproportionate levels of environmental degradation caused by Canadian agricultural and food distribution policies.

McCall MacBain Scholars Announces Class of 2024

McGill University — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:13:09 +0000

The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill today announced its fourth cohort of recipients, beneficiaries of a landmark $200 million gift made in 2019 by John and Marcy McCall MacBain. At the time, it was the largest single donation in Canadian history.

Weeding out the dealers in Canada’s cannabis market

McGill University — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:44:03 +0000

It's been five years since Canada stepped into the forefront of cannabis legalization, setting a significant precedent in the realm of drug policy. With Canada and 24 US states now embracing recreational cannabis, the battle against the illegal market remains a key concern, one highlighted in the federal government's final report on the Cannabis Act.

Ehab Abouheif named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

McGill University — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:11:25 +0000

Ehab Abouheif, James McGill Professor in the Department of Biology at McGill, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the highest distinctions in the global science community, which recognizes contributions to science and technology, scientific leadership, and extraordinary achievements across disciplines.

Divisive diagnosis raised in George Floyd case under scrutiny

McGill University — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:04:07 +0000

A movement to discredit a controversial medical diagnosis is being bolstered by a new study out of McGill University. Excited delirium describes a state of agitation, aggression, and distress and has become a common defense to counter charges of police brutality. In the case of George Floyd, the syndrome was initially used as a legal defense for the Minneapolis police officer charged in his death.

Clearing the air: wind farms more land efficient than previously thought

McGill University — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:16:02 +0000

Wind power is a source of energy that is both affordable and renewable.

However, decision-makers have been reluctant to invest in wind energy due to a perception that wind farms require a lot of land compared to electric power plants driven by fossil fuels. Research led by McGill University and based on the assessment of the land-use of close to 320 wind farms in the U.S. (the largest study of its kind) paints a very different picture.

Millions of gamers advance biomedical research

McGill University — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:01:01 +0000

Leveraging gamers and video game technology can dramatically boost scientific research according to a new study published today in Nature Biotechnology.

Campus garden initiatives can help grow the next generation of environmental change-makers

McGill University — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:22:43 +0000

For many Canadians, one of the most visible climate impacts is on the availability and cost of the food we eat as climate change, global crises and profit-driven food companies have combined to drive food insecurity. Amid this crisis, students are sowing seeds of change on university campuses across the country, including at McGill.

Student-led food initiatives such as campus gardens, food waste diversion projects, and community food security partnerships are on the rise and are a proven way of localizing climate action and transforming food systems.

Study finds weak link between adolescent media use and psychotic experiences in adulthood

McGill University — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:00:27 +0000

As digital media becomes an increasing part of daily life for teens, the question of how heightened screen time will impact their brains in the future is becoming more pressing.

A group of researchers at McGill University has set out to determine whether the use of video games, computers and other media during adolescence was associated with psychotic experiences in adulthood.

A promising discovery in a rare neurodegenerative disease

McGill University — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:13:27 +0000

Imagine being middle aged and starting to feel that you are off balance a lot and that you are having a hard time coordinating your movements. Those are among the symptoms of Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6, known as SCA6, a rare neurodegenerative disease which typically appears in adulthood and worsens over time. Over time, other problems such as slurred speech and difficulty seeing or seeing double, may also appear. It is estimated that fewer than 5,000 people in the US have the condition, which is the result of genetic mutations in the cerebellum.

Using pulp and paper waste to scrub carbon from emissions

McGill University — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:05:56 +0000

Researchers at McGill University have come up with an innovative approach to improve the energy efficiency of carbon conversion, using waste material from pulp and paper production. The technique they’ve pioneered using the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan not only reduces the energy required to convert carbon into useful products, but also reduces overall waste in the environment.

A roadmap to improving healthcare disparities in northern Quebec

McGill University — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 18:48:12 +0000

Indigenous communities in northern Quebec face significant hurdles to healthcare access. The Nunavik region is remote, with limited transportation options and extreme weather conditions. As a result, its population faces lower life expectancy and poorer health outcomes.

New findings from McGill University provide a blueprint to address Nunavik’s urgent healthcare needs by offering concrete evidence for discussions with policymakers.

More than 2M Quebecers don’t have access to primary care: OurCare report

McGill University — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 13:28:58 +0000

More than two million people in Quebec don’t have access to primary care, the front door to the healthcare system, according to the newly released OurCare report on Canada. This is among the worst rates in the country, the report states.

To address a medical system that’s facing an aging and growing population, the OurCare report – developed in collaboration with McGill University researchers – focuses on the public’s expectations when it comes to defining good primary care and what policy changes they recommend to shape the system.

Prize-winning scholars advocate for immigrant women, killer whales and a balanced society

McGill University — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 19:01:26 +0000

McGill University is pleased to announce the winners and runners-up of the 2024 President’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media. The Prize was created to recognize outstanding achievement among those who share their knowledge on a vast range of subjects with the media and the public. This year, there were applicants from 11 of the 12 faculties, a sign that sharing knowledge and a love of learning continue to be embedded in McGill’s DNA.

Species diversity promotes ecosystem stability

McGill University — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:36:04 +0000

What maintains stability within an ecosystem and prevents a single best competitor from displacing other species from a community? Does ecosystem stability depend upon the presence of a wide variety of species, as early ecologists believed, or does diversity do the exact opposite, and lead to instability, as modern theory predicts?

McGill becomes oldest university in Canada to receive Platinum STARS sustainability rating

McGill University — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:49:53 +0000

Thanks to the efforts of the McGill community, the University has become the oldest in Canada, in terms of infrastructure, to receive a Platinum STARS rating for sustainability. The achievement is the highest rating available from one of the most broadly recognized programs to measure sustainability performance in higher education.

McGill researchers awarded over $12 million in NSERC Alliance grants

McGill University — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:41:18 +0000

Federal funding program supported 59 research projects in cleantech, astrophysics, medtech, and more.

Seventeen McGill researchers announced as Canada Research Chairs

McGill University — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:40:23 +0000

From health and disability law to the emerging field of regenerative medicine, seventeen McGill scholars named to new or renewed Canada Research Chairs positions across diverse fields

$107.5 million for eight innovative research projects led by McGill

McGill University — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:33:06 +0000

The Government of Canada makes major investment in research infrastructure through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) Innovation Fund competition.

Today at the Université de Montréal, the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced the results of the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) Innovation Fund (IF) 2023 competition.