A toast to anatomical training
Monday, May 7, 2012
A student-run extra-curricular club is providing first and second year medical students at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, with an opportunity to learn anatomy in a relaxed environment, combining education and recreation. The club is called Surgically Oriented Anatomy Prosectors or SOAP. It’s been so successful, organizers are sharing the idea with others through a paper published in the May/June issue of Anatomical Sciences Education. The student and faculty authors are featured on the journal’s cover.
London's most unusual prom bridges the generation gap
October 20, 2011
Western hosts international traumatic stress conference
It can be an occupational hazard: compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma experienced by psychiatrists, psychologists and other helping professionals. Françoise Mathieu is a leader in training professionals self-care, and will give the opening presentation tonight at 4:30 p.m. for a conference called “Brain, Mind & Body: Trauma, Neurobiology and The Healing Relationship,” at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn and Conference Centre in London. Media is welcome to attend this event, or any of the sessions on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 21,22).
October 3, 2011
Michael J. Fox to speak at Robarts Research Institute’s 25th anniversary dinner
Actor Michael J. Fox will be the guest speaker at the Leaders in Innovation Dinner which celebrates the 25th anniversary of Robarts Research Institute at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. The dinner will be held on November 21st at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn and Conference Centre in London.
August 29, 2011
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry welcomes 171 first year medical students
The medical school at The University of Western Ontario celebrates its 130th anniversary this year. There were 16 students in the first class, entering right out of high school so long as they had their Junior Matriculation Certificate. This year, Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is welcoming 171 first year medical students, all of whom have at least four years of postsecondary education. One thing hasn’t changed though; it’s still a four year program to achieve a Medical Degree. The Class of 2015 will start its journey with the traditional White Coat Ceremony on Wednesday, August 31 in Room 145 of the Natural Sciences Building. Students andtheir families will begin arriving at 9:00 a.m. for registration, with the program running from 10:00 till noon.
August 17, 2011
Better diagnostics could reduce risky surgery for asymptomatic carotid stenosis
New research from Neurologist Dr. David Spence of The University of Western Ontario has shown that using 3-D ultrasound to identify ulcers in the carotid arteries is an effective way to pinpoint the small number of high-risk patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) who would benefit from surgery to prevent stroke.
August 17,2011
Schulich medical students donate over $44,000 to Regional HIV/AIDS Connection
Morgan describes Open Closet, a social support group at Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC), as her second home. Open Closet is for youth between 14 and 18 years of age who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited, queer and questioning their sexual orientation (LGBT2Q). The group learns and has discussions about issues such as coming out to parents and friends, safer sex, and healthy relationships. Medical students at The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry are donating over $44,000 to the RHAC, and $25,000 of it will go to ensure Open Closet continues for at least another three years.
July 8, 2011
MedQuest -far more than a summer camp
The MedQUEST Health Career Exploration Program is a clinical teaching elective designed by the Southwestern Ontario Medical Education Network (SWOMEN) at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry to provide first and second year medical students with a unique opportunity to experience living, learning, and working within rural and regional communities in Southwestern Ontario.
June 28, 2011
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry expands its family medicine training sites
The University of Western Ontario is expanding its family physician training in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry’s rural/regional program. Two new sites, Stratford and Petrolia, are being added to train residents in the Department of Family Medicine starting July 1, 2011.
June 13, 2011
Stem cell scientific leader awarded the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine
The University of Western Ontario (London, ON) is pleased to announce this year’s recipient of the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine is Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch, a founding member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
June 8, 2011
Research identifies how cancer cells cheat death
Research led by David Litchfield of The University of Western Ontario has identified how biochemical pathways can be "rewired" in cancer cells to allow these cells to ignore signals that should normally trigger their death. It’s one way that cancer cells may become resistant to therapy. The findings are now published in Science Signaling.
May 27, 2011
Medical students fan out across southwestern Ontario to discover rural practice
Mike Verbora was a first year medical student last year when he was asked to scrub-in and assist with a surgery at the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital to remove a nail-gun nail from a man’s thumb. That same week Verbora’s classmate, Clark Eeuwes was in a medical clinic in Clifford learning just how hard it can be to draw blood from an elderly woman. These are examples of the kind of hands-on experience that make students at The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry so eager for “Discovery Week.”
May 19, 2011
Western graduates 144 new medical doctors
The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry will hold convocation for 144 new physicians Friday, May 20th starting at 9:30 a.m. at Alumni Hall. This marks not only the largest class of medical graduates to date but also the first graduation ceremony for Dean Michael Strong, who took over from Dr. Carol Herbert in July.
May 17, 2011
Honour ceremony for indigenous medical graduates
The Indigenous Student Affairs and Admissions Committee cordially invites you to an Honour Ceremony for Meds Class 2011
April 29, 2011
Orthopaedic surgeons donate $1.5 million to honour their division’s founder
A group of 25 orthopaedic surgeons at The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry has committed $1.5 million dollars in honour of Dr. J.C. Kennedy, the first Professor and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Western. The donation will be matched by the university to create a $3 million endowed chair to strengthen research and education in orthopaedic surgery, effective July 1.
April 25, 2011
Medical students encourage elementary students to consider becoming doctors
Three medical students from The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry will be conducting an educational outreach program called “Doctors of Tomorrow” at Lord Elgin Public School, 1100 Victoria Drive in London, on Tuesday, April 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
April 18, 2011
Successful strategy developed to regenerate blood vessels
Researchers at The University of Western Ontario have discovered a strategy for stimulating the formation of highly functional new blood vessels in tissues that are starved of oxygen. Dr. Geoffrey Pickering and Matthew Frontini at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry developed a strategy in which a biological factor, called fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9), is delivered at the same time that the body is making its own effort at forming new blood vessels in vulnerable or damaged tissue.
April 14, 2011
$1.7 million to support heart and stroke research in London
Health research in London has received a $1.7 million boost from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Researchers at The University of Western Ontario (Western) and Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) share in this funding announcement.
April 6, 2011
Substance in tangerines fights obesity and protects against heart disease
New research from The University of Western Ontario has discovered a substance in tangerines not only prevents obesity, but also offers protection against type 2 diabetes, and even atherosclerosis, the underlying disease responsible for most heart attacks and strokes. Murray Huff, a vascular biology scientist at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, along with Erin Mulvihill, a PhD student, studied the effects of a flavonoid in tangerines called Nobiletin. Their research is published in the journal Diabetes.
April 5, 2011
Research discovers how marijuana affects the way the brain processes emotional information
Drugs like marijuana act on naturally occurring receptors in the brain called cannabinoid receptors. However, the mechanisms by which these drugs produce their sensory and mood altering effects within the brain are largely unknown. Research led by Steven Laviolette at The University of Western Ontario has now identified a critical brain pathway responsible for the effects of cannabinoid drugs on how the brain processes emotional information. The findings, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, also help to explain the possible link between marijuana use and schizophrenia.
March 24, 2011
Future dentists share smiles with people with special needs
Dentists and dental students from The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry will again partner with Community Living London and the organization ‘Oral Health, Total Health’ for the second annual Sharing Smiles Day on Sunday, March 27th at the Great Hall in Somerville House from 10:00 am to 2:00pm. Sharing Smiles Day is aimed at removing barriers, raising awareness, and educating students and dentists about the importance of oral health care for persons with special needs.
March 3, 2011
A Canadian first using the strongest MRI in the country
Canada’s only human 7Tesla MRI, located at The University of Western Ontario, has scanned its first clinical research case. A patient with temporal lobe epilepsy was put through the scanner to study whether it can be used to better pinpoint where seizures originate. The 7T scanner provides images of the brain with much stronger resolution and contrast compared to common 1.5T MRIs found in most hospitals.
January 25, 2011
Blocked arteries? There’s an App for that.
Researchers at The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry have developed an iPhone web application (app) that shows patients at high risk of stroke, what their own arteries look like.
January 21, 2011
New Biomedical Device Laboratory Heads Nearly $2 Million in Funding at Western
Researchers at The University of Western Ontario have established a new facility for producing biomedical devices that pairs existing research strengths in biomedical imaging with state-of-the-art prototyping technology.
January 17, 2011
Schulich medical graduates ranked best in Canada
The 2010 graduating class from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario achieved the highest ranking of all medical schools in the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE).
January 13, 2011
30,000-year old mammoth tusk could reveal new information about bone loss
Researchers at The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry are using a section of 30,000 year old woolly mammoth tusk, unearthed in the Yukon, for modern medical research. Stephen Sims, a physiologist in the Musculoskeletal Health Research Group at Western, studies the cells that cause bone loss.
November 24, 2010
Three new Canada Research Chairs named at Western; six renewed
On a day several hundred Canada Research Chairs (CRC) gathered in Toronto to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the prestigious program, the Government of Canada announced three new and six renewed Chairs at The University of Western Ontario.
November 1. 2010
One egg yolk worse than a KFC double-down when it comes to cholesterol
Three leading physicians have published a review in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology warning about the danger of dietary cholesterol for those at risk of a heart attack or stroke. And they say one of the worst offenders is the egg yolk which, depending on size, can contain 215 to 275 mg of cholesterol.
October 28, 2010
Neuroimaging leader to receive the 2010 Taylor Prize in Medicine
Dr. Charles DeCarli’s research has led to new brain imaging techniques and a new way of looking at Alzheimer’s disease, and now it’s earned him the 2010 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine from The University of Western Ontario’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. “Imaging of the aging brain” is this year’s Taylor Prize topic.
October 21. 2010
Breathing new life into science: Gairdner Award recipient to explain how cells sense oxygen
One of the 2010 Canada Gairdner International Award recipients will spend Monday, October 25, at The University of Western Ontario where he’ll meet with undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students, as well as high school students from the region. Dr. Peter J. Ratcliffe was selected for the prestigious prize for his work identifying how cells sense oxygen.
October 14, 2010
"Building better doctors" this weekend at Western
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario will play host this weekend to the 2010 Ontario Medical Student Weekend, (www.omsw.ca ) the largest annual academic conference of medical students in Canada.
September 16, 2010
Cardiac imaging breakthrough developed at The University of Western Ontario
Cardiologists and surgeons may soon have a new tool to improve outcomes for patients requiring pacemakers, bypass surgery or angioplasties. Research led by Dr. James White and his colleagues at The University of Western Ontario has led to a new imaging technique, which provides a single, 3D high-resolution image of the heart revealing both its vasculature and the presence of scar tissue within the muscle.
June 2, 2010
Western announces new Centre for Human Immunology
Why is it that some people pick up every cold or flu virus going around, while others can be in the same room with those people and yet never get sick? Our immune system plays a huge role in our health, and yet researchers still can’t define what is normal for the immune system. The new Centre for Human Immunology announced today at The University of Western Ontario will generate knowledge about the immune system and how it mediates our health in relation to infections, inflammation and chronic diseases.
June 9, 2010
Medical clinic opens in Ilderton to train next generation of family doctors
The Department of Family Medicine at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry will officially open a new medical clinic in Ilderton to train family physicians. Media is invited to tour the Middlesex Centre Regional Medical Clinic at 36 Heritage Drive in Ilderton (at the corner of Hyde Park & Ilderton Roads) starting at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, June 11th. The official opening is set for 11:00 am.
May 27, 2010
Award-winning program allows medical students to discover rural/regional medicine and lifestyle
On Monday, May 31st, first-year medical student Julie Lebert will be heading to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to have her first real experience with patients as part of “Discovery Week”. She and her classmates from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario will spend four days in hospitals and health care centres in 32 communities in Southwestern Ontario, observing physicians, and in some cases, actively participating in patient care.
May 13, 2010
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry confers degrees on 139 new doctors
Someone can take away your possessions, but they can’t take away your knowledge; it’s a lesson Samir Raza says his parents taught him early in life. On Friday, Raza will graduate with both a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and a Bachelor of Engineering Sciences (BESc) degree from The University of Western Ontario. The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry will hold its convocation ceremony for 139 new doctors Friday, May 14th starting at 9:30 a.m. at Alumni Hall.
April 29, 2010
Bridging the generation gap through dining and dancing
It’s that time of year again, as seniors and university students prepare for London’s most unusual gala. The Intergenerational Gala (IGG) has become a tradition where residents of Grand Wood Park Apartments & Retirement Residence and Trafalgar Terrace Retirement Residence pair off with students from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario for an evening of dining, dancing and music. The 6th annual Gala, themed “Young at Heart: A Celebration” will take place Sunday, May 2nd from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.
April 27, 2010
Vitamin B therapy dangerous for millions of diabetics with kidney disease
The use of vitamin B to stop kidney damage in people with diabetes needs a closer look, and those with kidney damage now taking high vitamin B doses, should stop. That is the advice from a leading researcher at The University of Western Ontario who found surprising results in a study looking at the effects of vitamin B therapy on diabetic nephropathy. The study is published in the April 28 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
February 23,2009
Protecting the brain from of a deadly genetic disease
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a cruel, hereditary condition that leads to severe physical and mental deterioration, psychiatric problems and eventually, death. Currently, there are no treatments to slow down or stop it. HD sufferers are born with the disease although they do not show symptoms until late in life. In a new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience, Stephen Ferguson and Fabiola Ribeiro of Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario identified a protective pathway in the brain that may explain why HD symptoms take so long to appear. The findings could also lead to new treatments for HD.
January 21, 2010
Londoners start 2010 with a smile thanks to dental outreach program
The Dental Outreach Community Services (DOCS) program at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, offers free dental care for struggling families. DOCS breaks down barriers preventing children and adults from getting the health care they need by bringing dental clinics directly to low income communities.
January 4, 2010
Clinical trial seeks to improve patient treatment for Crohn’s disease
Robarts Clinical Trials at The University of Western Ontario has been awarded a 4.7 million dollar grant to conduct a randomized controlled trial evaluating treatment options for Crohn’s disease. The outcome is expected to lead to a more streamlined treatment path and better disease management for patients. Abbott, the global health care company, has provided a grant to complete research for the REACT (Randomized Evaluation of an Algorithm for Crohn’s Treatment) study.
December 9, 2009
Why cancer cells just won’t die
When cells experience DNA damage, they’ll try to repair it. But if that fails, the damaged cells are supposed to self-destruct, a process called apoptosis. A cancer researcher at Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario has identified a protein that regulates apoptosis, a new discovery which has implications for both the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Caroline Schild-Poulter’s findings are now published online in the journal Molecular Cancer Research.
November 20, 2009
Gaining a better picture of lung disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a respiratory disease commonly known as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. 600 million people live with COPD, and while researchers have yet to find any real treatment or cure, Grace Parraga of Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario is using various imaging techniques to gain new insight into the disease.
November 13
Providing accessible health care to those most in need
Two Nurse Practitioner-led medical clinics in London Housing Units were forced to close recently when their provincial funding ran out. The clinics at Southdale and Allan Rush Gardens were modeled after the Health Zone Clinic at Merrymount Children’s Centre, offering both clinical and social services. Over the 10 months of this pilot project, the three clinics handled 1400 patient visits, and reduced residents’ trips to emergency departments by 50%.
November 4, 2009
Conference explores wide-ranging medicinal uses for Ontario-grown ginseng
With the current outbreak of influenza-like illnesses, many people are trying to boost their immune systems with supplements. Ginseng is often a key ingredient, but its therapeutic use may extend far beyond that. Researchers are now investigating whether ginseng can help relieve health problems ranging from diabetes to depression to erectile dysfunction.
November 2, 2009
Renowned cardiovascular researcher to receive 2009 Taylor Prize
He was the first to predict the popular anti-inflammatory drug, Vioxx would increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks, and it was his discovery that led to the adoption of low dose aspirin for every day cardio-protection. For these and other outstanding scientific achievements, Dr. Garret FitzGerald has been named this year’s recipient of the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine by the Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario.
October 23, 2009
Building a culture of science, one student at a time
Leading scientists can have a profound effect on future life choices of students from high school to PhD level. So, as part of receiving a 2009 Canada Gairdner International Award, Dr. Richard Losick will share his research and his love of science with students and the general public on Monday, October 26 at The University of Western Ontario.
October 19, 2009
When people poison their environment: EcoHealth Symposium
Is it safe for pregnant women to eat fish out of the Great Lakes? How is our environment affecting our health? Why are Aboriginal Canadians being especially hard hit by environmental toxins? “EcoHealth Toxicology” is the timely and critical subject of The University of Western Ontario’s 4th Annual Ivey Symposium which will be held Tuesday, October 20th starting at 9:45 a.m. at the Lorraine Ivey Shuttleworth Auditorium in the Monsignor Roney Building at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
September 2, 2009
National Diabetes Strategy receives financial boost
Research being driven by The University of Western Ontario that will enhance diabetes management across Canada recently received support from two of Canada’s leading pharmaceutical companies in the form of a $500,000 contribution. As part of a joint venture initiative, AstraZeneca Canada and Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada announced the donation that will support the National Diabetes Management Strategy (the Strategy), a research partnership between The University of Western Ontario and the Canadian Diabetes Association.
August 24, 2009
Western welcomes largest class yet of medical students
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario will welcome its largest class to date of first year medical students with a White Coat Ceremony on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 in Room 145 of the Natural Sciences Building from 10:00 till noon. The Class of 2013 has 159 students, 12 more than last year’s incoming class. Students and their families will begin arriving at 9:00 a.m. to register.
August 20, 2009
Warning over codeine use after tonsillectomy
A report out of The University of Western Ontario, published in today’s New England Journal of Medicine, warns the use of codeine to treat pain following a tonsillectomy could prove fatal for some children. Dr. Gideon Koren, who holds the Ivey Chair in Molecular Toxicology at Western, zeroed in on the danger after investigating the death of a two year old boy following a relatively easy operation to remove his tonsils.
July 16, 2009
CIHR funds research to prevent adult obesity
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has announced funding for a three year project at The University of Western Ontario aimed at finding ways to prevent adult obesity. Sisira Sarma, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry will lead an interdisciplinary team of researchers to investigate the modifiable risk factors of adult obesity. This is one of 18 London projects to receive new CIHR funding totaling more than $9.55 million.
July 13, 2009
Study finds citrus-derived flavonoid prevents obesity
A flavonoid derived from citrus fruit has shown tremendous promise for preventing weight gain and other signs of metabolic syndrome which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study, led by Murray Huff of the Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario looked at a flavonoid (plant-based bioactive molecule) called naringenin. The findings are published online in the journal Diabetes.
June 15, 2009
Global network formed to improve hearing implant outcomes
The Cochlear Implant Program at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) working in collaboration with researchers at The University of Western Ontario’s National Centre for Audiology, has joined 16 other world-class centres to form HEARRING – the International Network of Comprehensive Hearing Implant Centers of Excellence. These centres, which are leaders within their specialities, have come together as a globally networked “cluster”. This will allow members to set scientific and clinical standards and raise the quality of patient care.
June 11, 2009
Exploring the link between HPV and head and neck cancers
The link between cervical cancer and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is well accepted, but a leading researcher from the Ohio University Comprehensive Cancer Centre says HPV is also linked to other cancers including oral cancer. Dr. Maura Gillison will present a lecture titled “The impact of HPV on prevention, screening and treatment of head and neck cancers” as part of the 6th Annual Research & Education Day by the Department of Oncology at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
May 29, 2009
Schulich medical students discover rural/regional medicine
Starting Monday, 147 first year medical students from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario will fan out across southwestern Ontario to experience first-hand all that rural/regional medicine has to offer. Discovery Week 2009 will run from Monday,June 1 to Friday, June 5 in 33 communities.
May 27, 2009
Sharing surgical lessons from the Canadian field hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Lessons learned at the Canadian-run military hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan could help surgeons prepare for civilian disasters, according to a London, Ontario physician who has served two tours at the hospital. Dr. Vivian McAlister is a professor in the Department of Surgery at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario and a general surgeon at the London Health Sciences Centre.
May 25, 2009
How superbugs control their lethal weapons
It appears that some superbugs have evolved to develop the ability to manipulate the immune system to everyone's advantage. A team of researchers at The University of Western Ontario, led by Joaquin (Quim) Madrenas of the Robarts Research Institute, has discovered some processes that reduce the lethal effects of toxins from superbugs, allowing humans and microbes to co-evolve.
May 20, 2009
LONDON MPP TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT PROVINCIAL FUNDING FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL SPACES
Khalil Ramal, MPP, along with his colleague Health Minister David Caplan will announce significant new medical school spaces for the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario
May 14, 2009
Family Medicine gaining popularity among Schulich graduates
Nearly half of the 2009 graduating class of medical doctors at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario will be pursuing a career in family medicine. Forty-five percent of the 133 students receiving their Degree in Medicine will carry on with a two year residency program to become a family physician, the highest percentage in years.
May 12, 2009
Honour ceremony for Indigenous MD graduate
The Indigenous Student Affairs and Admissions Committee will hold an Honour Ceremony for William Dunlop, the 2009 Indigenous Graduate of the Doctor of Medicine Program at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
April 6, 2009
Stem cell therapy grows new blood vessels
Research led by David Hess of the Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario has identified how to use selected stem cells from bone marrow to grow new blood vessels to treat diseases such as peripheral artery disease.
March 19, 2009
“Less is more” when it comes to treating high blood pressure
A newly published study found patients actually have more control of their high blood pressure (hypertension) when treated with less medication. The study led by Dr. Ross D. Feldman, a clinical scientist with the Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario recommends a simplified and more effective method of treating hypertension using low doses of single pill combinations, rather than multiple pills.
March 9, 2009
New funding for National Diabetes Management Strategy
The National Diabetes Management Strategy has received a $500,000 boost in funding from Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. to research diabetes treatment in primary care and ultimately improve the lives of people with the disease. The Strategy is a joint initiative of The University of Western Ontario (Western) and the Canadian Diabetes Association, led by Dr. Stewart Harris, the Canadian Diabetes Association Chair in Diabetes Management at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
March 2, 2009
Research Chair aims to improve the lives of organ transplant recipients
Research gave Pat Davis his life back. After three failed kidney transplants between 1988 and 1993, the Wallaceburg father was told a fourth transplant was impossible. By 2006, he was at the point where he couldn’t work anymore and was ready to give up on dialysis. But research advances offered Davis one last chance. Dr. Anthony Jevnikar, the Medical Director of Kidney Transplantation at London Health Sciences Centre’s University Hospital tried a new, aggressive treatment to allow his immune system to accept a transplant. In November 2007, Davis received a kidney donated by his wife Donna. “Four months after surgery I was back at work. My life is grand. I’m as healthy as anyone I know.”
January 28, 2009
Western and WORLDiscoveries aim to connect industry with research
The University of Western Ontario offers a unique opportunity for partnerships and networking between industry and leading academics at the WORLDiscoveries Research Showcase this Friday, January 30 at the London Convention Centre.
January 16, 2009
New Canada Research Chairs announced
Four researchers from The University of Western Ontario are being honoured today as the Government of Canada announced its newest Canada Research Chairs. The funding value of the four Chairs announced for Western totals $3.8 million.
December 15, 2008
Building better bones and tissue in the lab
Tissue engineering holds great promise for the treatment of conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, fibrosis, periodontal disease and traumatic injuries. However, bone and cartilage currently produced in the laboratory don’t have sufficient strength to function in the body so they’re not clinically viable. Dr. Douglas Hamilton , a dental researcher with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario
November 21, 2008
Innovative health clinics open to serve high-risk neighbourhoods
Two high-risk neighbourhoods in London are having more of their health care needs met through an innovative program by The University of Western Ontario called the Interprofessional Care Learning Labs Project. The Allan Rush Gardens and Southdale Housing Units now feature a one-stop “Centre for Family Health,” a clinic where both primary health and social care needs can be met.
November 12, 2008
Western asked for proposal to build AIDS vaccine manufacturing facility
The University of Western Ontario has received word it has been selected by the Government of Canada as one of four organizations across the country to submit a formal application to build an HIV vaccine manufacturing facility. Western is the only Ontario organization to submit a proposal.
November 10, 2008
National Diabetes Management Strategy receives contribution to advance the prevention and treatment
A half-million dollar contribution from Pfizer Canada has been earmarked to support a national partnership aimed at fighting diabetes. The contribution will support the National Diabetes Management Strategy, a research partnership between The University of Western Ontario and the Canadian Diabetes Association, established in 2007.
November 10, 2008
Research updates on Cancer and Juvenile Diabetes
The following stories this week from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario may be Of Interest:
October 24, 2008
International conference to discuss trauma and the brain, mind & body
International leaders will be meeting in London this weekend to discuss how the brain, mind and body react to trauma, and how therapies including dream interpretation and self-reflection can assist in the healing process.
Octobrer 15, 2008
Of Interest at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario is hosting a number of upcoming conferences and lectures covering topics ranging from medications in pregnancy to the latest in dental research, which may be “Of Interest”:
Monday, October 6, 2008
2008 Nobel Prize winner to speak at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry
The winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Medicine, announced today, Dr. Harald zur Hausen, will be in London on October 20th to give a free public lecture at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario. Hausen discovered that the human papilloma virus causes cervical cancer. This led directly to the development of the HPV vaccine.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Schulich's Mini Medical School visits "the Body Shop"
As we age, our bodies change, and no amount of cosmetic surgery can alter most of those changes. It’s also a sad fact that when it comes to health, some good bodies can ‘go bad’. These are just two of the topics covered in this fall’s
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Surgery unnecessary for 95% of those with asymptomatic carotid stenosis
Research led by Dr. David Spence of Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario shows that with more intensive medical therapy, the risk of stroke has become so low that at least 95 per cent of patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) would be better off with medical therapy than with surgery or stenting. ACS is a narrowing in the carotid artery, which supplies blood to the brain, which has not yet resulted in a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Friday, September 19, 2008
When healing turns to scarring: research reveals why it happens and how to stop it
For the first time, research from The University of Western Ontario has revealed the mechanisms involved in the origin of scarring or fibrotic diseases, as well as a way to control it. The study, led by Andrew Leask of the CIHR Group in Skeletal Development and Remodeling, is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Popular surgery provides no releief for esteoarthritis of the knee
A landmark study conducted at The University of Western Ontario and Lawson Health Research Institute shows that a routinely practiced knee surgery is ineffective at reducing joint pain or improving joint function for sufferers of osteoarthritis. The study appears in the September 11th New England Journal of Medicine.
Wednesday, August 6
Research reveals why some smokers become addicted with their first cigarette
New research from The University of Western Ontario reveals how the brain processes the ‘rewarding’ and addictive properties of nicotine, providing a better understanding of why some people seemingly become hooked with their first smoke. The research, led by Steven Laviolette of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry could lead to new therapies to prevent nicotine dependence and to treat nicotine withdrawal when smokers try to quit. The paper is published in the August 6th Journal of Neuroscience.
Wednesday, July 30
Study identifies changes to DNA in major depression and suicide
Autopsies usually point to a cause of death but now a study of brain tissue collected during these procedures, may explain an underlying cause of major depression and suicide. The international research group, led by Michael O. Poulter of Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario
Friday, July 11, 2008
Biological marker for Alzheimer’s holds promise for earlier diagnosis and treatment
Researchers at Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario have found clear evidence that increases in the size of the brain ventricles are directly associated with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry to collaborate with Brazilian university
A delegation from will be visiting the
Thursday, June 12, 2008
From the (Very) Small to the 'Big Picture': New Canada Research Chairs Looking at Nanoscience
One looks at the small science of nanomaterials, the other looks at big picture issues with the Canadian health care system. Today at The University of Western Ontario, both François Lagugné-Labarthet and Amardeep Thind were awarded Canada Research Chairs. one of the country's most prestigious research awards.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Alumni return to receive retroactive dental degree from Western
Seventy-five internationally-trained dentists who received Qualifying Program certificates from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry between 1999 and 2005 will retroactively receive a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from The University of Western Ontario.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Communities welcome Schulich's first year medical students
Discovery Week 2008 will have 35 communities in southwestern Ontario rolling out the welcome mat to a record number of first year medical students from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario. Starting Monday, June 2, 147 students will experience what it's like to practice medicine in a rural or regional area.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Convocation for Schulich MDs pays tribute to benefactor
In the introduction of his book, "Get Smarter," Seymour Schulich says that his "current life objective is to be important and helpful in the lives of a lot of young people." On Friday, he'll witness some of the young people he has helped graduate with their Doctor of Medicine degree from the school that bears his name.
Wednesday May 14, 2008
Stroke Researcher to Lead Robarts Research Institute
John MacDonald has been named the new Scientific Director for Robarts Research Institute at The University of Western Ontario, effective July 1, 2008.
One of Canada's preeminent stroke researchers, MacDonald joins Robarts from the University of Toronto, where he served as Chair of the Department of Physiology from 2001 to 2008 and runs a research laboratory investigating the cellular basis of neurological conditions such as stroke, pain, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Geriatrician finds senior's gait a sign of what's to come
Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso can predict future mobility problems just by measuring how fast an elderly person walks. It's a simple test that can reveal the future risk for falls, fractures, and balance issues, even in seemingly healthy seniors. Now as the first recipient of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry's Clinician-Scientist Award at The University of Western Ontario, Montero-Odasso will receive up to $200,000 a year for three years to allow him to devote more time to this important research.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
London's white coat book club is back with Physicians in fiction: Literature for the medically minded. Starting May first, a doctor from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario will team up with a professor from the Department of English in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities to discuss and lend their perspective on medically-themed novels.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Spring gala bridges the generation gap
London's most unusual prom night will take seniors and students on a journey back in time to Elizabethan England. “A Midsummer Night's Dream" is the theme of this year's Intergenerational Spring Gala, which pairs residents of Grand Wood Park Apartments & Retirement Residence and Trafalgar Terrace Retirement Residence, with 75 students from The University of Western Ontario's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Images, In Medicine and in Art: Professors Claim University's Top Research Prize
One produces medical images to better diagnose and treat cancer, the other is a visual artist whose work includes images used in printmaking. Both Aaron Fenster and Patrick Mahon have been named 2008 recipients of The Hellmuth Prize, The University of Western Ontario's highest honour for contributions to research.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tracking Stem Cells to Better Understand Cancer
Research has shown stem cells hold tremendous promise for better understanding diseases, such as cancer. Newly announced funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) will help researchers at The University of Western Ontario determine the role that complex physiological microenvironments play in the regulation of stem cells and in the growth and spread of cancer.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Exploring bodies - both human and heavenly
The following stories may be Of Interest.
Medicine & Classics…
“Wandering Wombs and Prometheus' Immortal Liver: Ancient Greek Views on Anatomy and Physiology," presented by Christopher Brown of Western's Department of Classical Studies and Marjorie Johnson of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry's Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, is the final lecture in the Medicine & Classics series.
Wednesaday March 12, 2008
Schulich to receive Western's highest honour
Seymour Schulich, one of Canada's most successful investors and entrepreneurs, shares his wealth with Canadians of today and tomorrow. In celebration of his lifetime of giving, Schulich will receive an honorary degree from The University of Western Ontario at its medical convocation on Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Elite Fellowship for Dentistry Director
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has named Harinder Sandhu, Director of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Associate Dean as a fellow of the ADEA Leadership Institute.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Medicine & Classics: Ancient History for the Medically Minded
As the world prepares for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, learn how the ancient Greeks prepared for their games in Olympia almost 3000 years ago. The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario brings back its popular community outreach lecture series starting March 5th, this time with a classical twist.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tanzanian health officials strengthen ties with Western students
Health and social welfare officials from Tanzania will be visiting the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry to show how students from The University of Western Ontario are making a difference in their country. A public forum with the delegates and Western students involved in international development will be held Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in room M282 of the Medical Sciences Building.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Dr. Stewart Harris to lead diabetes research chair
Dr. Stewart Harris, the lead investigator of a study which revealed that half of Canadians with diabetes are not properly controlling their disease, has been selected as the first holder of the Canadian Diabetes Association Chair in Diabetes Management at The University of Western Ontario.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
National healthcare conference in London to focus on patient safety
Healthcare students from across Canada will learn the value of team work to improve patient safety at the fourth annual National Interprofessional Healthcare Conference at the Hilton Hotel in London January 19-20, 2008.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Colleague named to Dr. Sandy Kirkley Chair in Musculoskeletal Research
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario is pleased to announce that Dr. David Holdsworth, PhD, has been selected as the first holder of the Dr. Sandy Kirkley Chair in Musculoskeletal Research. This new research chair, supported by an endowment of more than $2 million at Foundation Western, pays tribute to the late orthopaedic surgeon's remarkable contributions to patient care and to medical research, both as a scientist and as a mentor.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Predicting Post-Traumatic Stress disorders in Canadian Forces
Canada's peacekeepers suffer similar rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) as combat, war-zone soldiers, according to research out of London, Ontario. Dr. J. Donald Richardson and his co-investigators also found that PTSD rates and severity were associated with younger age, single marital status and deployment frequency
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Disease Doc headlines Taylor Prize Symposium
Celebrating the accomplishments of the world's leading scientific minds, Robarts Research Institute presents the Taylor Prize Symposium on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. in Auditorium A, London Health Sciences Centre University Campus
Friday, November 9, 2007
Groundbreaking heart disease investigator to receive Robarts' highest honour
A British health expert estimated by BBC News to have saved “tens of thousands of livesâ€Â will be awarded the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine Wednesday, November 14 at the 21st Annual Dinner for Robarts Research Institute being held at the London Convention Centre.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
New Peritoneal Dialysis Diagnostic Discovered: Scientists Find Marker for Addressing Infection
Thanks to a discovery by scientists at Robarts Research Institute and The University of Western Ontario, patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis may soon be able to worry less about the risks of infection and lessen their hospital stays.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Mini Med School starts new term
The Mini Medical School at Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry starts its fifth year on Thursday and once again, the class is full with a waiting list
Monday, October 1, 2007
Fulbright Scholar Chooses Western
An Anthropology graduate from Princeton University has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to study at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Acetaminophen Equals Naproxen for Kids' Ankle Injuries
Although naproxen is sometimes considered more effective than acetaminophen in the relief of pain and inflammation, a new London, Ontario study shows both work equally well to relieve ankle sprain-related discomfort and disability in children.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Schulich Medicine increases enrolment
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario announces its largest class to date of first year medical students. The Class of Meds 2011 has 147 students, eight more than last year’s class.
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