Miniature research with maximum potential It's the little things that make Yara Hosein, PhD, tick. The postdoctoral fellow is currently working with miniature implants used in orthodontic treatment with the hope that she will develop a better design...
Making mental health a priority this year With Bell Let's Talk Day coming up on January 28, Kelly Gutpell and her team of graduate student representatives are challenging students to change how they approach the topic of mental health...
Where are they now? Liisa Galea, PhD'94 Liisa Galea was one of the first PhD graduates from the Department of Neuroscience. Now she is making headway with her research on how stress and sex hormones affect the brain...
Getting in touch with the brain Have you ever wondered how the brain works to move the hand? Andrew Pruszynski, PhD, is conducting research that involves how the brain and body interact to create purposeful movement and experience sensation...
Exploring the power of citrus fruits Amy Burke is working to prove the power of citrus fruits to fight against obesity and prevent heart disease. It's a project that convinced the PhD Candidate to continue pursuing her studies at Western University...
A global mission to help conquer mental illness Creating new and innovative ways to solve problems and answer questions is what keeps Dr. Arlene MacDougall excited about her research on global mental health and early psychoses...
Peer review and its fundamental role in science This month, Andrew Watson, PhD, associate dean, discusses the importance of the peer review process, and the good and the bad that often comes with it...
Bringing new life into transplant research When Dr. Terry Zwiep isn’t covering night and weekend shifts at the hospital, or making plans for the baby he and his wife are expecting in a few months, you can find him in the lab working toward his MSc in Surgery...
London Health Research Day: A celebration of our trainees London Health Research Day will be taking place on April 1. Andrew Watson, PhD, associate dean, encourages everyone to spend time at the London Convention Centre to learn more about the discoveries our trainees have made in the past year...
High hopes for a future in neurological research Should marijuana be legalized in Canada? The ongoing discussion around this topic makes Michael Loureiro's research on cannabinoid compounds and the brain very timely...
Turning a head trauma into triumph When Shannon Leblanc was young, she suffered a serious head injury. As difficult as it was, her health care experience motivated her to enrol in the the Master of Public Health program...
When two worlds of research collide Lauren Flynn, PhD, has made the most of her joint appointment by concentrating on a number of new interdisciplinary projects that involve her research on human fat and stem cells...
Seeing double: Taking on the MD/PhD program Charles Yin was in the tenth grade when he completed his first research project. Now in his first year of Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s MD/PhD program, he is excited to unlock the potential of combining medicine and research. Yin sat down with us to discuss the seven-year journey ahead of him...
Why you should embrace the dreaded PhD defence For many trainees, the PhD defence can be an intimidating situation. This month, Andrew Watson, PhD, discusses the importance of embracing the challenge, and outlines some of the essential skills trainees will gain by completing "the test"...
The power of positivity and persistence Mohammad Fazel Bakhsheshi, PhD, doesn't take no for an answer. The postdoctoral fellow's ability to reject failure has paid off, as he and his team at Robarts Research Institute have successfully developed a safe and simple device to selectively reduce brain temperature...
Like something out of a science fiction movie Superbugs. Bacteria. A post-antibiotic era. This might sound like the recipe for a successful science-fiction blockbuster film. It’s not. It’s what Omar El-Halfawy, PhD, focuses on every day...
Congratulations to the Class of 2015 Family, friends and faculty members gathered at Alumni Hall on the morning of June 11 to celebrate the 100 trainees graduating from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry's Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies programs...
A new breed of clinician-researcher “I’m a better clinician because of the research I’m working on,” said Dr. Sandrine deRibaupierre, associate professor and paediatric neurosurgeon. She is part of a new breed of clinician-researcher that has recently emerged at the School — one that is vibrant, open minded and focused on translational research.
Bridging the gender gap in science “There are major issues in the world that scientists are trying to find answers for, yet half the population is discouraged from being part of finding those solutions.” Ramina Adam, PhD Candidate, is channeling her own passion to help make the field of science more inclusive for female students and trainees.
From bedside to basic research While working as a kinesiologist in a cardiac rehabilitation program, Anusha Ratneswaran saw the debilitating effects musculoskeletal problems had on patients. Seeing these barriers inspired the award-winning PhD Candidate to perform research that she hopes will alleviate these conditions.
Collip Winner June 16, 2014 When Joshua Giles, PhD, arrived at Western University as a young undergraduate student he had fully intended to pursue software engineering. He became unexpectedly captivated by the fascinating and ever-evolving area of biomedical engineering. With an armload full of research achievements, he recently completed his PhD and was just awarded the 2014 Collip Medal.
Prospering through change June 16, 2014 Change has been a constant for Mohamadreza Najiminaini, PhD. He has moved half way around the world, and changed his research focus from computer hardware engineering to optics and nanotechnology. Now two years into his postdoctoral training, he is focused on making change in the detection of various forms of cancer and other health complications through plasmonic nano-structure applications
Passion fueled research June 16, 2014 Mellissa Mann, PhD describes her research as her passion. Catching the bug at an early age, when she cloned carrots for a high school science project, she is now studying epigenetics and hoping to increase the understanding of genomic imprint regulation in early embryos.
Small changes make global impact June 16, 2014 Phaedra Henley, PhD, completed what has been described as one of the most unique research projects at Western University. Here ecosystem health research involved the active participation of the communities in Canada and Kenya has shown that fairly small changes can have a big impact on human health.
The fantastic four take flight May 20, 2014 They have chased dragons and pirate ships, become resilient from years of tough love, and have grown as a result of the nurturing lab and clinical environments - Drs. Matthew Cecchini, Harry Marshall, Pencilla Lang, and Shirine Usmani are the newest graduates of the MD/PhD program...
A field of possibilities May 20, 2014 Within the environment and the human body, there is not much the study of Microbiology and Immunology does not touch. This is what drew Brad Thompson, PhD, to the field in the first place...
Education research offers new hope for youth with mental health disorders May 20, 2014 At the age of 10, Stacey Espinet, PhD, watched in quiet amazement as her older sister walked across the stage to accept her university diploma from Western University. This moment of inspiration came full circle for Espinet when she returned to Western, this time to pursue postdoctorate research at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry...
A leap of faith brings unexpected rewards April 21, 2014 Five years ago, Wendy Teft, PhD, took a leap of faith switching her research focus and moving from a basic science lab to a clinical lab. Today she is doing the most rewarding work she has ever done, and helping to improve the patient experience...
The balancing act of mentorship and supervision pays off April 21, 2014 For nearly two years, Kathy Speechley, PhD, has served as a mentor and supervisor to Kariym Joachim. It’s a part of the job that Speechley loves the most. And her support has enabled Joachim to grow and a person, and to give back to those who were there for him as a young child...
The Reproducibility of Research Results April 21, 2014 This month, Andy Watson, PhD, associate dean, comments on a recent article, Unreliable research at the Lab, from The Economist magazine, and poses some provocative questions about the research undertaken every day...
Complexities of immune systems inspired research career April 21, 2014 Rodney DeKoter, associate professor, Microbiology and Immunology, first became interested in a research career while working with the renowned Dr. Calvin Stiller. It was the complexity of the science that intrigued him then and still does today...
Lorelei Lingard and Education Research April 21, 2014 Lorelei Lingard and the team at the Centre for Education Research & Innovation are positioning themselves to be national leaders in research education...
Graduate students revel in the spotlight at London Health Research Day March 28, 2014 Presenting one's reserach to an audience can be daunting, but the 380 graduate students who gave poster and platform presentations at London Health Research Day let their inner superstar shine through. From explaining their research to answering tough questions, all the presenters took their moment to shine...
A journey to make the world a better place March 28, 2014 Stephanie Aldom has journeyed through the jungles of Bolivia, served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and provided nursing care in one of Canada’s largest acute care hospitals – all in an effort to make the world a better place. Now, a student in the Master of Public Health program, she is hoping to gain new skills to help bring about even more change...
Minding the gap junctions March 28, 2014 A childhood ear condition drove John Kelly, PhD, to study the effect mutations in gap junction proteins have on the auditory system...
New research to eliminate cookie-cutter approach to exercise for those living with diabetes March 28, 2014 Dr. Rob Petrella, professor, Departments of Family Medicine, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beryl and Richard Ivey Research Chair in Rehabilitation and Geriatric Medicine, and medical director, Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging is using his expertise in exercise physiology to research how exercise prescriptions can prevent chronic diseases including diabetes...
Funding new opportunities - Monica Guzman, PhD February 19, 2014 Three research areas, three degrees, three countries; Monica Guzman has always followed her passion no matter the cost. Of course, pursuing graduate education is always easier with funding. That is one reason Guzman has made it a priority to apply to the grants and scholarships available to all graduate and postdoctoral trainees.
Double degree, double pressure - Yige Bao, PhD Candidate February 19, 2014 Dr. Yige Bao has blazed a trail from Chengdu, China all the way to London, Ontario. He is the first trainee to participate in the Dual PhD program developed through a unique partnership between Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Sichuan University in Chengdu.
Exploring New Directions with Ilka Heinemann, PhD February 19, 2014 Any microbiology textbook will tell you that DNA replication and RNA transcription always proceed in the same direction and no polymerase (the enzyme responsible for the process) has ever been able to do it in the other direction.
Grace Parraga January 22, 2014 Parraga graduated with her MSc, in 1986 from the Department of Biochemistry. From there, she completed her PhD at the University of Washington and a postdoctoral position at the Biozentrum at the University of Basel. What followed was a career path some might view as unorthodox.
A Series of Fortunate Events - Morgan Black January 22, 2014 As Morgan Black walked through the auditorium of the UCC on Graduate Studies Preview Day she wasn’t sure what steps she would be taking next with her studies. A risk-taker by nature, who always welcomed new opportunities, she was determined to keep an open mind while she perused the many booths.
Born to Research January 22, 2014 You could say that Don Spratt, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry was born into higher education. He came into this world as his parents were pursuing their own graduate degrees.
Dean Betts, PhD - Discovering a Passion January 22, 2014 Witnessing the unveiling of a scientific breakthrough first-hand is inspirational for anyone. For Dean Betts, PhD, associate professor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, witnessing the unveiling of Dolly, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell stirred a curiosity and passion within him, and was a career-motivating experience.
Front and Centre January 22, 2014 Sarah Svenningsen, PhD Candidate, Department of Medical Biophysics recently had work featured on the cover of the journal, Thorax.
A spirited journey September 17, 2014 As she nears the completion of her PhD in physiology and pharmacology, Samar Sayedyahossein reflects on her five years at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, and her professional journey to become a clinician scientist...
Components of higher learning September 17, 2014 Andy Watson, PhD, associate dean, discusses what sets graduate studies apart from undergraduate programs and how you can make the most of your experience...
From one direction to many possibilities September 17, 2014 Kelly Gutpell and her team of graduate student representatives are shaking things up this year. They're creating open conversations about issues that impact students and trainees most...
Where are the now? Alumni Trailblazer Steve Nazarian, PhD'07 September 17, 2014 Steve Nazarian, PhD'07, is tapping into the beer craze as co-owner of the Forked River Brewing Company. And he's discovered life as a microbrewer isn't all that different from working in the science lab...
Globetrotter puts down roots at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry September 17, 2014 Katja Klein, postdoctoral associate, is an experienced world traveler thanks to her love of research. Part of Eric Arts' research group, she studies the transmission fitness of the HIV virus...
Imaging in motion September 17, 2014 David Holdsworth, PhD, and a team at Robarts Research Institute and Schulich Medicine & Dentistry are working on a project that would allow them to see the human skeleton and all of its intricately connected parts, while in motion...
Making a difference, one donor registration at a time Alvin Li, PhD candidate in epidemiology and biostatistics, has dedicated his research to raising awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donor registration in hopes that more physicians and citizens will “opt in”…
Taking advantage of scholarship opportunities Andy Watson, PhD, associate dean, discusses upcoming scholarship and award application deadlines and the importance of making the most of these opportunities for success...
Taking a closer look at disease Paula Foster, PhD, and her team at Robarts Research Institute are working to develop imaging and cell labelling technology that uses MRI to track and monitor both stem and cancer cells…
Fighting toxins with the help of yogurt Jordan Bisanz, PhD candidate, admits he couldn’t work on research that was not relevant in daily life. That’s why he’s been looking at whether or not probiotic yogurt can help fight toxins such as arsenic and mercury in children and pregnant women…
A fascination with the brain Alison Hamilton never intended to leave Northern Ireland, but when the opportunity came about to continue working on Alzheimer’s research in Dr. Stephen Ferguson’s lab as a postdoc, she booked her flight immediately…
Inspired by discovery Most people go through a process of trial and error to figure out what they want to do with their life. Not Kyle Biggar, PhD. Inspired by discovery, the answer of where life would take him was always obvious — at least to him...
The art of effectively communicating science Are you thinking about putting together your research proposal? Andy Watson, PhD, associate dean, shares the tools used in the art of effectively communicating science...
Finding her home away from home Making the decision to leave Vancouver, British Columbia to pursue her master’s wasn’t easy for Gillian Corbo. She wanted the best, however, and found it in Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s Clinical Anatomy program...
Attracted to the "Canadian Way" After travelling around the world, Martin Duennwald, PhD, has settled at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and is now enjoying doing research the “Canadian Way” — through a spirit of collaboration...
Harnessing the power of a personal connection Jennifer Au has a personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease. Now she is using that connection to fuel her passion for her research as an MSc Candidate with the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology...
Building her confidence and discovering her strengths Reflecting on her years in high school, Kathryn Manning would have never imagined herself doing brain research. After a process of self-discovery, the Medical Biophysics CAMPEP trainee has found what she believes is her calling...
The importance of preparing a successful abstract With the London Health Research Day abstract submission deadline on the horizon, Andy Watson, PhD, associate dean, shares the importance of preparing a successful abstract and offers a few tips to get your writing started...
A journey fuelled by more than good luck Mousumi Majumder, PhD, doesn’t believe in luck. Instead, the postdoctoral fellow has always gone above and beyond to create her own success…
Embracing a personal challenge When Zia Khan, PhD, received the opportunity to come back to Canada to work at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, he set some goals focused on teaching and administration. He has never looked back...
Submit your abstract for London Health Research Day 2015 The abstract submission deadline for London Health Research Day is February 2, 2015. The 2015 event offers opportunities for development, networking and learning about research being conducted across the city of London...
Dante Capaldi represents Schulich Medicine & Dentistry at RSNA’s Annual Meeting Dante Capaldi, PhD CAMPEP trainee in the Department of Medical Biophysics, represented Schulich Medicine & Dentistry at the 100th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago, Illinois...
Recognizing our achievements This month, we would like to congratulate trainees in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and the Department of Family Medicine on their recent accomplishments...