News

  • Western grads receive Governor General’s Gold Medal

    November 01, 2024
    We are thrilled to celebrate Marie Lan's remarkable achievement in receiving the Governor General’s Gold Medal for academic excellence. Her groundbreaking research on the economic impact of hypertension management in dementia prevention showcases her dedication and brilliance. Marie’s contributions to the field of epidemiology and biostatistics are inspiring, and we can't wait to see where her talent takes her next!

  • Western researchers closing in on treatment for long COVID 

    October 29, 2024
    Two new projects funded by the Schmidt Initiative for Long COVID investigate drug treatments and patients most likely to suffer from the condition

  • Extending CT Stroke Scan to the Heart Significantly Boosts Clot Detection

    October 29, 2024
    “This simple and easy extension of the scan that all suspected stroke patients already receive creates hardly any extra work but allows the identification of high-risk patients with clots in their heart, who can be prioritized for anticoagulation and AF monitoring as appropriate,” lead investigator Luciano Sposato, MD, told Medscape Medical News.

  • Curbing the addiction: Pioneer study explores CBD’s potential to reduce opioid use after knee surgery

    October 23, 2024
    Dr. Joel Gagnier, and a team from the University of Michigan, are undertaking a large-scale study to determine the effectiveness of cannabidiol in reducing pain after knee replacements.

  • Expert insight: What you need to know about cold and flu season

    October 17, 2024
    Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Jennifer Guthrie outlines precautions to take against the upcoming flu season

  • Expert insight: Lack of office workers not to blame for ailing downtown businesses

    October 10, 2024
    Municipalities hope more office workers will mean higher spending at restaurants and other businesses.

  • In synch: Balancing the aging body and mind with Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso

    October 09, 2024
    Leading geriatrician Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso, PhD discusses his groundbreaking trial that highlights the strong link between physical health, mobility and cognitive function. Listen now!

  • Endocarditis exacts heavy toll for marginalized people: study

    October 04, 2024
    According to Dr. Silverman, the study is the first of its kind and demonstrates that improving short- and long-term survival rates among individuals who inject drugs requires addressing more than just the infection. He emphasizes the importance of providing in-hospital counseling and addiction care.

  • Honoring the past and looking forward: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    September 30, 2024
    According to Dr. Nicole Redvers, Canada has come a long way but this day is just a starting point for what needs to be done

  • CIHR funding boost helps answer challenging questions that could save lives

    September 12, 2024
    Positive results come from 80-per-cent increase in grant applications building on an upward trend, says vice dean of Research & Innovation

  • Real-world evidence shows flash glucose monitors* reduce diabetes-related hospital visits

    August 31, 2024
    Led by Dr. Stewart Harris and Dr. Alexandria Ratzki-Leewing of Western University, as well as Dr. Remi Rabasa-Lhoret of Université de Montréal, the FRONTIER study used data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluation Sciences (IC/ES) and real-world practice data, which were analyzed for more than 45,000 Ontarians diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who met specific criteria.

  • Mpox Outbreak: Return of Lockdown?

    August 23, 2024
    On Nexus this week we ask two infectious disease experts, Dr Amesh Adalja in the United States and Dr Sameer Elsayed in Canada, what makes this variant a cause for concern and how it can be treated.

  • Small towns offer family doctors cash bonuses to work in their communities

    August 13, 2024
    Dr. Maria Mathews, family medicine professor at Western University and a Canada Research Chair in Primary Health Care and Health Equity, says recruiters need to listen to what family physicians are asking for and make adjustments accordingly.

  • Health systems need to be better prepared for wildfires, says Yellowknife doctor

    August 10, 2024
    Dr. Nicole Redvers, the director of Indigenous Planetary Health at Western University, has praised Howard's work, calling it one of the most comprehensive reviews on this subject. She notes the frequent occurrence of wildfires over the past decade, which not only threaten homes but also contribute to long-term health risks.

  • Commentary: Olympians are challenging gender norms by competing while pregnant

    August 09, 2024
    Women athletes in various stages of pregnancy have continually challenged the perception of what a woman can do while pregnant, but they need more support, say these health expert from Western University Dr. Jane Thornton

  • Children’s Health Foundation donation propels paediatric research at Western

    July 08, 2024
    Dr. Craig Campbell is the inaugural holder of the Children’s Health Foundation Chair in Paediatrics Research. A new $3-million endowment will bolster paediatric research by Campbell and other scientists.

  • Faster, cheaper, more efficient: Building Canada’s capacity for pragmatic clinical trials

    July 05, 2024
    Dr. Amit Garg is training doctors how to run pragmatic clinical trials and, in the process, helping Canada manage future health threats.

  • Retirement Announcement: Dr. Neil Klar

    June 26, 2024
    The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics acknowledges Dr. Neil Klar's substantial contributions to research, education, and service over his distinguished academic career. We extend heartfelt best wishes to him as he embarks on his well-deserved retirement.

  • 'Delicate balance' needed between Indigenous and western approaches to climate change, researcher says

    June 21, 2024
    In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Dr. Nicole Redvers shares how her teaching aims to educate medical students about the connections between human and planetary health

  • Congratulations to the Graduates of 2024!

    June 21, 2024
    Join us in celebrating the achievements of all the students who graduated from our programs in 2024.

  • International study indicates living kidney donation is safe in the longer-term

    June 21, 2024
    The study, spanning 17 transplant centers in Canada and Australia from 2004 to 2014, followed 1,042 living kidney donors and 396 non-donors for an average of seven years. Donors completed health assessments before donation, three months post-donation, and annually until 2021. Dr. Amit Garg noted that 'Donating a kidney has been widely considered safe for carefully selected candidates, despite some inherent risks.' He emphasized that 'our large international study found no significant differences in blood pressure or long-term quality of life between living kidney donors and other healthy individuals.'

  • Risk factors for prevalent and incident hypertension in rheumatoid arthritis: data from the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort

    June 20, 2024
    New research led by the Department's former MSc student Brook Hadwen, Chair Saverio Stranges, Cross-Appointed Lillian Barra has revealed important findings about hypertension (high blood pressure) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study, conducted with the CATCH Investigators, aimed to understand how common hypertension is and what factors contribute to its development in this specific group of patients.

  • Guidelines Address Specific Clinical Scenarios in Unresectable, Locally Advanced NSCLC

    June 18, 2024
    George Rodrigues, MD, PhD, and colleagues noted in JAMA Oncology that lung cancer remains the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the US, with an estimated annual incidence of over 235,000 cases. They highlighted that it continues to be the leading cause of cancer mortality, with an estimated 130,180 deaths expected in 2022.

  • Dr. Jane Thornton appointed as new IOC Medical and Scientific Director

    June 13, 2024
    Dr. Jane Thornton, an Olympian and a Canadian national, has been appointed as the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s new Medical and Scientific Director.  

  • Expert explainer: Ethical approaches to mitigate H5N1 bird flu

    May 30, 2024
    Restrictions and testing of livestock among efforts to slow spread of H5N1

  • Two Lawson researchers each receive $400K CIHR grants to improve kidney care

    May 29, 2024
    Two researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute have each been awarded $400,000 as part of the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s (CIHR) new Health System Impact Embedded Early Career Researcher Awards.

  • Want to keep your brain sharp? Here are 5 things you can do | CBC Radio

    May 29, 2024
    Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso recommends starting with activities that are interesting and enjoyable to avoid setting unrealistic expectations. So go ahead, challenge yourself and enjoy the journey of learning something new!

  • Brain Training: Is It Really Use It Or Lose It?

    May 27, 2024
    Manuel Montero-Odasso, MD, PhD, explained that cognitive training involves engaging in specific tasks or sets of tasks where attentional demands are increased to improve focus, concentration, and memory. He further mentioned that individuals strive to execute the new things they have learned and commit them to memory.

  • VIRTUES digital health platform helping heart patients and their providers

    May 17, 2024
    Dr. Tang, who is also one of many investigators in the development of VIRTUES, says their online system aims to empower people to learn more about their heart conditions and engage in the best management of their health issue together with their health-care providers.

  • Schulich profs help prepare for future pandemics

    May 07, 2024
    Western’s DELPHI Network one of the 16 primary care electronic medical record networks across the country to enhance early detection and response time.

  • Early Data From VERDICT Trial Show UC Disease Clearance at 16 Weeks With Vedolizumab

    May 07, 2024
    “What we’re trying to see is if you achieve this deeper target of histological remission, does that result in better outcomes for patients, that is, are they less likely to have flares, be hospitalized and need surgeries?” said lead investigator Vipul Jairath

  • Announcement - Dr. Nicole Redvers appointed as New VP Research in AFMC

    May 06, 2024
    The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) is delighted to welcome Dr. Nicole Redvers as the organization’s new Vice President, Research. As part of the AFMC leadership team, Nicole will lead the implementation of the organization’s strategic priorities related to health research and innovation, including supporting AFMC Committees and Networks in this area.

  • UA: Getting to know The Academic Issue

    May 02, 2024
    The first episode focuses on the role of artificial intelligence in academia, with host Kate Kenyon speaking to Western University’s chief AI officer, Mark Daley.

  • Announcement - Dr. Kristin Clemens appointed as Diabetes Canada Chair in Diabetes Management

    April 30, 2024
    Dr. Kristin Clemens has been appointed as the Diabetes Canada Chair in Diabetes Management at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, effective March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2029.

  • Does 'Brain Training' Really Improve Cognition and Forestall Cognitive Decline?

    April 29, 2024
    Some companies claimed that engaging in "brain games" can improve cognition or stave off cognitive decline. What's the evidence and do crosswords and Sudoku count? Medscape Medical News asked this question to Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso.

  • PhD candidate presents work at HIV research conference that opens doors to treatment

    April 20, 2024
    “This study is pivotal as it demonstrates that targeting Nef may represent a viable strategy to decrease the size of the latent HIV-1 reservoir in people with HIV during long-term treatment,” said Dikeakos. The global team included Jessica Prodger, PhD, and Art Poon, PhD, both from the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, and Dr. Andrew Redd from the Division of Intramural Research, National Institutes of Health.

  • Two Canadian teams awarded new funding to study mental illness in youth with rheumatic diseases

    April 13, 2024
    Brain Canada and Cassie + Friends are pleased to announce the recipients of the Addressing Mental Health in Paediatric Rheumatic Diseases Team Grants program. This year’s awardees are Roberta Berard, from the London Health Science Centre and Mark Ferro, of the University of Waterloo.

  • Analysis identifies areas for improvement in the overall health of Canadians

    April 11, 2024
    Investigation by Dr. Saverio Stranges and others shows improvements in overall health of Canadians have stalled compared to other high-income countries.

  • USC hosts town hall with Western’s chief AI officer, discusses student concerns

    April 10, 2024
    Western's chief AI officer Mark Daley gave a presentation to around 30 Western students in a town hall on March 25, explaining Western’s direction in artificial intelligence and his optimism for the future.

  • Patient-Reported Bowel Urgency Burden in IBD Underscores Need for Assessment in Clinical Settings

    April 01, 2024
    HCPLive: "Bowel urgency is often ignored during patient–healthcare provider interactions due to the embarrassment associated with it; therefore, patients’ individual concerns may remain unaddressed," lead investigator Vipul Jairath

  • Western students drive health-care solutions through President’s Challenge

    April 01, 2024
    Western News: Lauren Cipriano, Ivey professor and Canada Research Chair in Healthcare Analytics, Management, and Policy, speaks to participants in the President's Challenge alongside Eric Morse, executive director of the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, Powered by Ivey

  • Clinical neuroscientist awarded 2024 Ryman Prize for work on the "terrible three"

    March 29, 2024
    Dr. Vladimir Hachinski is being presented the international award by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for his contributions to advancing brain health and healthy aging

  • ChangeNOW 2024 "Health for all" with Dr. Nicole Redvers

    March 26, 2024
    Watch now as Dr. Nicole Redvers, Associate Professor at Western University, and Devika Gopal Agge, Senior VP at The New York Women's Foundation, discuss global health equity. Filmed during ChangeNOW 2024 in Paris, this insightful conversation highlights the importance of ensuring access to quality healthcare for all. Be part of creating a healthier, more inclusive future!

  • Understanding NASH/NAFLD vs MASH/MASLD

    March 18, 2024
    HCPLive: In the video, our experts in hepatology, Juan Pablo Arab, MD, and Rajarshi Banerjee, MD, PhD, MSc, an internist affiliated with Oxford University Hospitals and the chief executive officer and founder of Perspectum Diagnostics Ltd., discuss the transition in nomenclature from "nonalcoholic steatohepatitis" to "metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis" or MASH.

  • Congratulations to the recipients of the CIHR Project Grant and CIHR Priority Announcement, including our esteemed core, cross, and adjunct faculty appointees

    March 14, 2024
    Congratulations to all recipients of the CIHR Project Grant and the CIHR Priority Announcement, including our esteemed core, cross, and adjunct faculty members! Your dedication and achievements contribute greatly to our academic community's success.

  • Anishinabek Nation embracing diabetes with knowledge and care

    March 14, 2024
    Anishinabek News: Dr. Nicole Redvers from Deninu K’ue First Nation delivered her presentation on Bridging Indigenous Medicine Systems with Western Systems.

  • Benefits Canada: How plan sponsors can support employees with inflammatory bowel disease

    March 12, 2024
    With the increased availability of treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, patients can achieve longer periods of remission, said Vipul Jairath, a gastroenterologist at the London Health Sciences Centre and professor of medicine at Western University, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Chronic Disease at Work conference in February.

  • Breaking barriers: Celebrating the pioneering women who pursued their medical dreams

    March 08, 2024
    On International Women’s Day, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry celebrates the pioneering women – including Dr. Marie Jeanne Ferrari, one of the School’s oldest living alumni - who broke through barriers to pursue a career in the male-dominated field of medicine. And we catch up with the current generation of female medical students who are forging new paths of their own.

  • Study finds children in marginalized communities more likely to experience cardiac arrest

    February 26, 2024
    Lead author Samina Idrees, MSc'23, from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics emphasizes the dire outcomes for children experiencing Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (POHCA). Most victims do not survive, and survivors often face severe neurological impairments. In response to these alarming statistics, the research aims to uncover any existing disparities and shed light on opportunities for prevention.

  • Susceptibility to Long COVID increased by obesity, particularly in women

    February 14, 2024
    Exciting new findings from core faculty members Dr. Saverio Stranges and Dr. Piotr Wilk, along with Dr. Sarah Cuschieri, highlight that women, irrespective of BMI, face a heightened risk of long-COVID compared to men. Moreover, for women, a higher BMI exacerbates this risk even further.

  • Staff and students taking critical roles in enhancing the Black experience on campus

    February 10, 2024
    Schulich Medicine & Dentistry staff, faculty and students are playing major roles in two recently-funded initiatives designed to make Western a more welcoming place for current and future Black staff, faculty and students.

  • Community spotlight: Celebrating a decade of mental health care at STEGH

    February 10, 2024
    Dr. Guaiana, Chief of Psychiatry, shares insights on StThomasToday. Learn about our resilience, Memory Clinic success, and team growth addressing depression. Read now!

  • EdtechMagazine - What Is a Chief AI Officer, and Should Your University Appoint One?

    February 06, 2024
    Daley, who served as Western University’s chief digital information officer before becoming CAIO, says this newly created position is all about working together. “The CAIO is a role where big things can, and should, be done in partnership,” he says. “The CIO/CTO is a key partner for me, in everything from service delivery to thought leadership.”

  • Listen now Podcast with Dr Giuseppe Guaiana: Pharmacological treatments in panic disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis

    February 04, 2024
    A variety of drugs are used for people with panic disorder and the effects of these were brought together in November 2023 in a Cochrane review and network meta-analysis by Giuseppe Guaiana from Western University in St Thomas Canada and a large group of international authors. Here's Giuseppe to tell us about the problem, and whether these drug treatments are helpful.

  • Obstructive CAD Can Be Left Alone Before TAVI, Observational Data Suggest

    January 30, 2024
    To TCTMD, Bagur pointed out that there are some factors that can influence the decision to revascularize, noting that > 70% stenosis in the proximal segment of the LAD has been shown to be prognostically significant.

  • The London Free Press - Cornies: Earlier focus on brain health could stem the dementia tsunami

    January 27, 2024
    Vladimir Hachinski, long considered a leading expert in brain health and in his early 80s now, is taking a new approach, powered by an initial $1.4-million grant from the Weston Family Foundation.

  • Expert insight: Why Strep A is increasing and how it spreads

    January 25, 2024
    Group A Streptococcus exclusively affects humans and can sometimes develop into invasive infections

  • $6.5 million grant awarded to build consortium for improving the lives of Crohn's patients

    January 19, 2024
    Western University and the Cleveland Clinic have received funding to build a consortium to develop clinical trial outcome tools for patients with Crohn's disease living with a permanent ileostomy.

  • Listen to more on 'The Dose with Dr. Brian Goldman.' What's the least amount of exercise I can do to get the benefits?

    January 11, 2024
    Elevate your health with the right dose of exercise! Dr. Jane Thornton outlines global exercise guidelines and reveals how short bursts of activity can keep you active.

  • Expert insight: Did neighbourhood amenities impact youth mental health in the pandemic?

    January 08, 2024
    The availability of neighbourhood amenities and its influence on changes in youth mental health and stress levels during the first six months of the pandemic were explored by Schulich Medicine & Dentistry researchers. Here are their findings.

  • Meet Miguel Quiñones-Mateu and current cohort of Western Research Chairs

    January 05, 2024
    The current cohort includes strategic focus chairs Bipasha Baruah, Stefan Everling, Michael Hallett, Kun Ping Lu, Valerie Oosterveld and Nicole Redvers; advancing research chair Maxwell Smith; and leadership chairs Sarah Gallagher and Raymond Thomas.

  • CBC News - Researcher corrects Higgs's 'misinterpretation' of gender-affirming care data

    January 05, 2024
    Dr. Greta Bauer's research reveals that, despite an average nine-month wait for an appointment with a hormone specialist, 40% of young individuals opt not to proceed with prescriptions during their initial appointment.

  • Nicole Redvers brings Indigenous perspectives to WHO advisory group appointment

    January 04, 2024
    Dr. Nicole Redvers has been appointed to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Embedding Ethics in Health and Climate Change Policy. As one of 13 members, she will help deliver a range of tools, materials and evidence-based insights to address this worldwide challenge.

  • Announcement: Dr. Nicole Redvers has been named to a World Health Organization TAG

    December 13, 2023
    "During COP28, 13 members of the TAG on Ethics and Climate Health were announced. They serve in their personal capacities to represent a broad range of disciplines relevant to ethics, climate change, and health. Congratulations to Dr. Nicole Redvers and all the members of the TAG on Ethics and Climate Health with such a great recognition."

  • 2023 Highlights

    December 12, 2023
    This year, our Department welcomed change, embraced hybrid events, and achieved numerous successes.

  • Western research shows men sleep better than women

    November 29, 2023
    "The study found sleep quality was significantly linked to sex, age, income, education and ethnicity."

  • Western study shows: Exercise gains stick after financial rewards fade

    November 14, 2023
    Western researchers studied the impact on physical activity after financial incentives were offered and then removed a year later.

  • Western prof’s service to country inspired by medical career

    November 09, 2023
    Dr. Ian Ball, MD’02, was a well-established critical care physician when he joined the Reserve Force of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 2018. Inspired to improve care for sick and injured CAF members, he supports medical training and contributes to trauma and toxicology research for the military.

  • Western researchers chart new approach to improving kidney transplant access

    November 07, 2023
    “Patients with advanced kidney disease in the trial were either approaching the need for dialysis or were already undergoing maintenance dialysis,” said Garg. “About half the patients approaching the need for dialysis started dialysis during the trial period.”

  • A new classification of heart rhythm for stroke patients

    October 13, 2023
    The study, led by Western professor Dr. Luciano Sposato, proposes that atrial fibrillation detected post-stroke exhibits distinct characteristics. It has a lower prevalence of risk factors, cardiovascular comorbidities, and changes associated with upper chambers of the heart than atrial fibrillation known prior to the stroke. This could potentially explain its association with a decreased risk of another ischaemic stroke, which results from a blocked artery.

  • Study Reveals Food Insecurity Doubles the Incidence of Severe Hypoglycemia in Adults with Diabetes

    October 13, 2023
    "We have shown that food insecurity is prevalent across this population in the U.S. and it more than doubles the rate of severe hypoglycemia. Even in Canada, about one in five people experience food insecurity. " Dr. Alexandria Ratzki-Leewing says.

  • Expert Analysis: COVID-19 Outlook for the Upcoming Autumn

    October 05, 2023
    Nearly four years have elapsed since the initial human cases of COVID-19 infection, triggered by SARS-CoV-2, were documented. Despite the cessation of the global health emergency on May 5, 2023, COVID-19 continues to pose a significant public health challenge. As we approach the autumn and winter seasons, characterized by heightened respiratory virus activity, it is prudent to reevaluate the prevailing risks associated with COVID-19 and the corresponding recommendations.

  • New study finds Canadian children’s visits to the ER for mental health concerns increased during the pandemic

    September 21, 2023
    “This is the first study to explore the relationship between children’s mental health and food insecurity by examining linked health record and survey data, which gives us an accurate snapshot of how food-insecure children are using mental health services,” said lead author Kelly Anderson, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Canada Research Chair in public mental health research, and adjunct scientist at ICES Western.

  • Study finds food insecurity link affects children’s mental health

    July 25, 2023
    “This is the first study to explore the relationship between children’s mental health and food insecurity by examining linked health record and survey data, which gives us an accurate snapshot of how food-insecure children are using mental health services,” said lead author Kelly Anderson, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Canada Research Chair in public mental health research, and adjunct scientist at ICES Western.

  • Schulich Medicine & Dentistry joins historic pledge to preserve planetary health

    May 17, 2023
    “Our planet and our health-care systems are stressed. We are witnessing environmental devastation that impacts the lives and health of some of the most marginalized and underserved populations globally. Health-care professionals and health systems need to be prepared for this,” said Western professor Nicole Redvers, co-chair of AFMC’s Committee on Planetary and Global Health. Redvers is director of Indigenous Planetary Health and associate professor in the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.

  • Western study explores link between neighbourhoods and heart health

    February 23, 2023
    While it can be debated whether good fences make good neighbours, a new study by Western researchers, Dr. Sarah S. Singh, Dr. Saverio Stranges and Stephanie J. Frisbee, shows that good neighbourhoods could indeed do a lot of good to your heart.

  • Research projects receive more than $9 million in federal funding

    February 23, 2023
    Shehzad Ali, whose research focuses on the equity and efficiency of health systems, is undertaking a project on how to maximize population health while integrating equity into policy evaluations to better inform decision-making. The resulting guidelines will, for the first time, facilitate integration of equity into economic evaluations. The project received CIHR funding of $439,876 over four years.

  • Expert insight: Ontario telehealth cuts mean fewer trans, non-binary people will have access to life-saving health care

    February 03, 2023
    Exemptions from funding cuts are needed to ensure trans and non-binary people can get medical care

  • Study shows virtual care removed barriers for patients during pandemic

    January 23, 2023
    The study, recently published in BMC Primary Care, was led by Dr. Bridget Ryan, Assistant Professor in the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.

  • Making clinical trials research more efficient focus of new funding

    January 19, 2023
    CIHR grants fund training program for pragmatic clinical trials and create new pan-Canadian consortium.

  • Expert insight: FAQ on COVID-19 subvariant XBB.1.5

    January 17, 2023
    XBB.1.5 is rapidly spreading across the globe and will likely become the next dominant COVID-19 subvariant

  • 2022 Highlights

    December 13, 2022
    This year our Department embraced changes, opened up to hybrid events and experienced many successes.

  • Digital epidemiologist Western’s newest Canada Research Chair

    November 16, 2022
    Tarun Katapally engages citizens using mobile technology to solve societal problems, address inequities

  • New Chair seeks to merge two disparate worlds

    November 02, 2022
    Nicole Redvers’ work is a delicate dance between two health perspectives that, till this point in time, haven’t quite been in step with each other. Redvers comes to Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry as associate professor, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and brings with her a new field of study as the University’s Western Research Chair and Director of Indigenous Planetary Health.

  • First combined PhD graduate uses the power of AI to bring care to those at risk

    October 20, 2022
    Jaky Kueper’s research brings together epidemiology and biostatistics with computer science

  • Western researchers selected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

    September 14, 2022
    Four Western researchers have been elected to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS). Frank Beier, Dr. Ruth Lanius, Kathy Nixon Speechley and Nadine Wathen were among 71 individuals in the Canadian health sciences community to receive the honour.

  • Does Shiftwork Impact Cognitive Performance? Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

    September 07, 2022
    New research from our Department has found how shiftwork impacts cognitive performance. The article was published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. In the large, nationally representative sample, the study found that shift workers showed poorer cognitive scores on tests for executive functioning, compared to non-shift workers.

  • Master’s student recipient of 2022 Women’s Health Scholars Award

    July 29, 2022
    At a time of unprecedented global migration, EpiBio MSc Candidate Jahin Khan’s research is aiming to better understand the factors that impact mental health for migrant women, specifically on how language may play a role in psychosis. Her work has been recognized with a 2022 Women’s Health Scholars Award from the Council of Ontario Universities. The award is one of eight across Ontario recognizing ground-breaking women’s health research.

  • New Western-led project probes health benefits of parks in Canada

    July 20, 2022
    The research team, led by Jason Gilliland, EpiBio cross appointed professor and director of Western’s Human Environments Analysis Lab (HEAL), and Wilfrid Laurier University’s Chris Lemieux, are quantifying the geographic accessibility to parks and protected areas across the country, investigating the quality of experiences in these spaces, and uncovering the policy barriers to equal participation in parks, protected areas and recreational opportunities.

  • Feature: Students prepare for the future through MD+ graduate training

    July 19, 2022
    Two Schulich Medicine & Dentistry School students will be taking part in the MD+ graduate training program this year. This is the program’s first year and the two students –Temitope (Temi) Akintola and Curtis Jeffrey – have both chosen the Basic Sciences Master’s in our EpiBio Department.

  • Announcement: Drs. Craig Campbell and Ram Singh have been reappointed Co-Chair/Chiefs of the Department of Paediatrics

    July 04, 2022
    Dr Craig Campbell, cross appointee with the EpiBio department, has been reappointed Interim Co-Chair/Chief of the Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University and its teaching hospitals, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care London, effective July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 or until a permanent Chair/Chief is appointed.

  • World Refugee Day: Building knowledge and trust to support refugee care

    June 22, 2022
    With refugee numbers surging worldwide and Canada pledging to increase its intake to unprecedented numbers, Canadian doctors need new skills and greater insight into trauma in order to care for vulnerable newcomers, says Dr. Kevin Pottie, Western University's Ian McWhinney Chair of Family Medicine Studies and EpiBio Cross-Appointee.

  • Learning bundles a gift of Indigenous knowledge

    June 21, 2022
    Indigenous peoples affiliated with Western have created six teaching modules instructors can use to share Indigenous knowledge and worldviews in their classrooms. Called learning bundles – an homage to traditional Indigenous bundles that contain Indigenous teachings and medicines – they are intended to enrich and Indigenize the curriculum at Western.

  • Congratulations to our 2022 Graduates

    June 20, 2022
    Please join us in congratulating all the students who have graduated from our programs in 2022.

  • Points to Consider for Diagnosis and Management of Autoinflammatory Type I Interferonopathies

    June 15, 2022
    Two new recommendations from the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for the management of two groups of such autoinflammatory diseases: interleukin-1-mediated and Type-I interferonopathies were recently published.

  • Recent immigrants less likely to have family doctor, study shows

    June 07, 2022
    Research from Western University, recently published in BMC Primary Care, shows that new immigrants to Canada are almost half as likely to have a family physician than established immigrants.

  • Expert insight: What is monkeypox and what does the public need to know?

    June 06, 2022
    Dr. Sameer Elsayed answers questions on monkeypox including, what are the symptoms? And does the smallpox vaccine prevent it?

  • Announcement: Dr. Vladimir Hachinski honoured with 2022 Potamkin Prize

    May 20, 2022
    Often described as the “Nobel Prize of Alzheimer’s Research,” the Potamkin Prize recognizes the achievements of scientific researchers who do innovative work, find ground-breaking discoveries and push forward the field of study in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s, and related brain degenerative diseases. Dr. Hachinski is a Distinguished University Professor in Clinical Neurological Sciences and Epidemiology & Biostatistics.

  • New study shows significant gains from computer-based depression treatment

    May 18, 2022
    The study, published in JAMA Network Open, involved a clinical trial of 175 adult patients in the U.S., of which the majority (61.5 per cent) are in the low-income category, with low educational attainment and limited access to the internet – a relatively deprived and underrepresented segment in clinical trials, study co-author Shehzad Ali, professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, said. Nearly 85 per cent of participants also identified as belonging to racial and ethnic minority groups.

  • New census report offers first-time insight on gender diversity

    May 04, 2022
    Western researcher Greta Bauer weighs in on historic report, says more work could be done

  • Feature: Bringing world perspectives to research

    April 28, 2022
    Dr. Saverio Stranges is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, as well as championing research with global impact, as he begins his second term as Chair, Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

  • Students bring home prize at the Proteus Innovation Competition

    April 22, 2022
    Ronald Cheung, Eastelle Ding and Clara Sun, along with their teammates, were among the top prize winners for their commercialization plan for the dynamic cardiovascular imaging for rapid patient treatment planning technology.

  • Driving randomized trials for global impact

    April 21, 2022
    Dr. Amit Garg is leading a new initiative that will support and enable researchers to conduct randomized trials that directly influence health care.

  • Global vaccine equity key to ending COVID-19 pandemic

    February 02, 2022
    As the COVID-19 crisis continues around the world, public health and infectious disease experts at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry are pushing for global vaccine equity to end the pandemic.

  • How can we improve mental health at the population level?

    January 28, 2022
    Kelly Anderson, PhD, Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Public Mental Health Research, is using population data to better understand the distribution of mental health disorders and patterns of service use.

  • Artificial intelligence helps improve outcomes for depression treatment

    December 09, 2021
    Shehzad Ali, PhD, was the lead health economist on a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that shows the benefits of AI for mental health care.

  • Study dispels harmful gender dysphoria myth

    December 08, 2021
    A first-of-its-kind study by Greta Bauer, PhD, and her team at Trans Youth CAN! dispels a controversial gender dysphoria theory that activists and experts have called inaccurate and harmful to transgender people.

  • The Story of Insulin Starts Here: Unique Study Uncovers Realities of Hypoglycemia

    November 03, 2021
    Results of a break-through study led by PhD Candidate Alexandria Ratzki-Leewing and Dr. Stewart Harris, are giving voice to people living with diabetes and hypoglycemia, and challenging traditional assumptions surrounding the disease.

  • New research to support suicide prevention

    October 20, 2021
    Clinical psychologist and associate professor Dr. Marnin Heisel will be working to prevent suicides among vulnerable populations thanks to two separate grants worth a total of $1.2 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Movember Foundation.

  • New study explores transgender youth experiences in Canada

    October 07, 2021
    First-of-its kind research led by Greta Bauer, PhD, Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, aims to help inform gender-affirming care.

  • New global study shows ‘collateral impact’ of COVID-19

    October 07, 2021
    Janet Martin, PharmD, and co-investigators find cancer patients missed scheduled surgeries due to lockdowns.

  • New Space for the Start of the New Academic Year

    September 15, 2021
    The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics has officially moved into our new space and is now located on the third floor of the Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine.

  • Data-driven dementia prevention: Study of Canadian incidence aims to develop cost-effective models

    July 30, 2021
    Through support from the Weston Family Foundation’s Transformational Research 2020 Grant, Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, professor of clinical neurological sciences at Western, and cross-appointee with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is leading interdisciplinary research involving scientists from across Canada, as well as from the U.K. and New Zealand.

  • New CFPC-AMS TechForward Fellow, Jaky Kueper, PhD Candidate, will explore artificial intelligence opportunities in family medicine

    June 01, 2021
    The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) has announced Jaky Kueper, a dual PhD Candidate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Computer Science, and supervised by Daniel Lizotte, PhD, as the first CFPC-AMS TechForward Fellow.

  • 2021 Alumni of Distinction Award recipients include Ayden Scheim, PhD'17

    April 21, 2021
    Ayden Scheim completed his doctoral degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry in 2017, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Infectious Disease and Global Public Health at the University of California San Diego. Scheim is currently an Assistant Professor in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Drexel University in Philadelphia, an Affiliate Scientist in Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.

  • Dr. Saverio Stranges re-appointed as Chair of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

    April 16, 2021
    Dr. Saverio Stranges has been re-appointed as Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, effective October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2026.

  • Two New Research Chairs Named in 2020 from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

    April 01, 2021
    This May, Greta Bauer was named one of the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s new Sex and Gender Science Chairs, and in December, Kelly Anderson was named Canada Research Chair in Public Mental Health. Congratulations to both researchers for their hard work and dedication.

  • CIHR Project Grant recipients announced

    March 12, 2021
    The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced more than $7.4 million in research funding through their project grants competition for 12 research projects at Western University, including two projects led by members of our department. Congratulations to Principal Investigators, Sisira Sarma, PhD, and Marnin Heisel, PhD, and their teams.

  • Research teams receive funding from the Faculty Support for Research in Education (FRSE) program.

    February 12, 2021
    Congratulations to Greta Bauer, PhD. FSRE grants facilitate and enable scholarship in education at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. These grants support projects with the potential to improve the state of knowledge and inform educational practice or curriculum.

  • Research News: Incentive payments to physicians may reduce non-urgent ED visits

    January 20, 2021
    New research shows that providing primary care physicians with incentives to see patients after hours may result in fewer visits to the emergency department for non-urgent issues, potentially helping to reducing emergency department overcrowding and lowering health care costs.

  • Research News: How do social media and loss of sleep affect young people's mental health?

    January 15, 2021
    How exactly does sleep influence mental health and how does social media play a role? Researchers in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics are working to understand the relationship in two recently published papers.

  • Welcome to our New Faculty Members, 2020

    January 01, 2021
    A list of the new faculty members who have joined our department for the first time in 2020.

  • Congratulations to our 2020 Graduates

    January 01, 2021
    Please join us in congratulating all the students who have graduated from our programs in 2020.

  • A Message from our Chair

    January 01, 2021
    A message from Dr. Saverio Stranges, Professor & Chair, of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

  • Annnouncement: Four new Canada Research Chairs named at Western, one renewed

    December 18, 2020
    Kelly Anderson, PhD, has been selected as the Canada Research Chair in Public Mental Health Research at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

  • Research News: Exploring the experiences of trans and non-binary Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic

    December 16, 2020
    A new survey led by Greta Bauer, PhD, and co-principal-investigator Ayden Scheim, PhD, at Western University is exploring the experiences of trans and non-binary Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic – statistics that until now were largely invisible in the Canadian data. The first reports shown that during the pandemic, more than 30 per cent of trans and non-binary Canadians had interruptions to health care and one in ten avoided COVID-19 testing/care.

  • Dual honours for a remarkable physician

    November 16, 2020
    ​​​​​​​London hospitals honour infectious diseases expert Dr. Michael Silverman, a cross-appointee with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, for his tireless commitment and expertise from the earliest days of the pandemic.

  • Guiding the Way Forward for Indigenous Health

    October 30, 2020
    Danielle Alock, an Assistant Professor in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is guiding Schulich Medicine & Dentistry in creating a space that is representative of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities as the School’s first Indigenous Lead.

  • Global study finds ‘COVID-19 free’ hospital areas could save lives after surgery

    October 08, 2020
    Janet Martin, Associate Professor at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (including the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics), is part of the CovidSurg Collaborative which includes researchers working together from around the world. The team found patients undergoing cancer surgery had better outcomes when their operation and hospital care took place in ‘COVID-19 free’ areas.

  • Funding: Researchers receive a multi-million dollar injection of funding through CIHR

    September 15, 2020
    The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced the results of their project grants competition, awarding nearly $4.9 million in research funding to eight projects from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. For Piotr Wilk, PhD, and his research team, the grant will support their research into climate change-related health inequalities in Canada.

  • Funding: Researchers using modelling techniques to improve pandemic outcomes

    August 31, 2020
    How might COVID-19 policy decisions change based on understanding social determinants of health? How important are community-tailored solutions when making plans for reopening? These two questions will be addressed by Ava John Baptiste, PhD, Shehzad Ali, PhD, and Lauren Cipriano, PhD, thanks to new funding from the Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM).

  • Funding: Youth vaping problem nets research dollars

    August 10, 2020
    Vaping among teenaged Canadians has doubled in the past two years – a troubling trend that Western researchers will examine in depth with new funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR.) The researchers are working to understand the rapid rise of vaping in Canada and measure its health effects. One of the teams that will receive funding includes Jamie Seabrook (Adjunct Associate Professor with Epidemiology and Biostatistics) and Jason Gilliland (Cross-Appointed Professor with Epidemiology and Biostatistics) as co-principal applicants, and co-applicants Kelly Anderson (Associate Professor with Epidemiology and Biostatistics), Gina Martin and Jacob Shelley.

  • Research News: Poor sleep linked to multiple chronic conditions

    July 29, 2020
    Researchers, including members of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, have shown that how well you sleep and for how long is linked to increased odds of living with multiple chronic conditions, and argue that promotion of good sleep habits should be given greater focus in clinical practice and public health.

  • Funding: CIHR funding for COVID-19 project led by Maria Mathews, PhD

    July 02, 2020
    Project led by Maria Mathews, PhD, will address pandemic planning for COVID-19, thanks to new funding announced by the Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), along with provincial partners.

  • Feature: What strategies need to be implemented in order to curb the spread early for future outbreaks?

    June 19, 2020
    Epidemiologist and public health physician Dr. Saverio Stranges has been watching the COVID-19 pandemic unfold across the globe, exploring the evidence to help understand why some countries have succeeded at controlling the outbreak of COVID-19, and others have not.

  • Announcement: Greta Bauer, PhD, named CIHR Sex and Gender Science Chair

    May 19, 2020
    Congratulations to Greta Bauer, PhD, who was named one of the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)’s new Sex and Gender Science Chairs. Bauer is one of 15 awardees across the country who will be working on research projects aimed at deepening the understanding of how biological and social influences interact to affect health and disease.

  • Future signaled in combined PhD candidacy

    May 13, 2020
    Jacqueline Kueper, MSC’17, did not intend to be a pioneer. But the more she thought about the possibilities, the more she realized becoming Western’s first combined PhD candidate made sense. She is pursuing a doctorate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Computer Science – the first Western student to study two different fields for one PhD.

  • Department Office Hours

    April 01, 2020
    As Western University has moved to a required services model, the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics staff is working remotely to hep ensure the safety of everyone on campus. If you need assistance, please email epibio@uwo.ca. While it is our goal to respond to emails in a timely fashion, the current situation may not allow for a quick response.  We kindly request that you are patient and we will respond as soon as we can.

  • Watch Now: March 20 Seminar on COVID19 available as online video

    March 23, 2020
    Video of the March 20 seminar is now available: "COVID19: Lessons learned from the Italian Experience." with Dr. Saverio Stranges and, "How can we maintain social connection in the face of social distancing?" with Marnin Heisel, PhD.

  • Researcher ‘optimistic’ as crisis hits close to home

    March 20, 2020
    Epidemiology and Biostatistics Professor& Chair, Dr. Saverio Stranges, has both a professional and personal interest in the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, as family members and friends are back home in the Lombardy Region of Italy, one of the hardest hit countries with more than 3,400 deaths.

  • Exploring the future of diabetes management

    March 12, 2020
    Can artificial intelligence help in diabetes management? New technology may offer a non-invasive, wearable alternative for monitoring blood sugar levels without a finger prick.

  • Media Release: Trans and non-binary Canadians report having unmet health care needs

    March 10, 2020
    Nearly half of transgender and non-binary Canadians who responded to the Trans PULSE Canada survey say they faced one or more unmet health care needs in the past year – with about 1-in-10 saying they avoided an emergency room visit completely. Greta Bauer, PhD, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is a principal investigator on the project.

  • Western teams recruited in effort to combat COVID-19

    March 06, 2020
    Associate Professor, Anita Kothari, a cross-appointee with Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is part of a team aimed at helping public health agencies provide timely, credible, evidence-based information on social media channels.

  • Balancing act: Addressing important questions in research ethics

    February 14, 2020
    Dr. Charles Weijer, a Cross-Appointee with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is unpacking complex questions in research ethics. He recently authored a set of guidelines for the World Health Organization on ethical considerations for health policy and systems research.

  • Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso named as one of most influential Hispanic Canadians

    February 13, 2020
    Please join our department in congratulating Dr. Montero-Odasso, Clinician Scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute, Director of the Gait and Brain Lab, and a professor of Medicine, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University, on being named one of the 10 most influential Hispanic Canadians for 2019.

  • Announcement: Danielle Alcock, PhD, appointed as Indigenous Leader in Residence

    February 03, 2020
    Danielle Alcock, PhD, has been appointed as the Indigenous Leader in Residence (ILIR) effective February 11. In this role, she will also be an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

  • Coronavirus information students, faculty and staff

    January 28, 2020
    Information for Western students, faculty and staff regarding Novel Coronavirus.

  • After stroke, both women and men are significantly more likely to suffer dangerous heart complications

    January 15, 2020
    New research from Western University has shown that both women and men are significantly more likely to have a heart attack or another major cardiovascular event within thirty days of having a stroke. The study led by Dr. Luciano Sposato, Associate Professor (and Cross-Appointee with Epidemiology and Biostatistics) and the Kathleen and Henry Barnett Chair in Stroke at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, was published in the American Heart Association Journal, Stroke.

  • World Health Organization document is evidence of the international impact of research ethics scholarship at Western University

    December 17, 2019
    Writing team led by Cross-Appointed Professor, Charles Weijer, produced the newly published World Health Organization document on “Ethical Considerations for Health Policy and Systems Research.” This new publication from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (WHO) and the Global Health Ethics Unit (WHO) considers fourteen ethical questions when conducting health policy and systems research (HPSR).

  • A Message from our Chair

    December 02, 2019
    Dr. Saverio Stranges would like to thank our department members for another wonderful year in Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

  • Highlights from 2019

    December 01, 2019
    Take a look at some of the changes, events and news that took place over the past year.

  • Researchers recognized for high citations

    November 25, 2019
    Brian Feagan, Director, Clinical Trials, at Robarts Clinical Trials, Inc. and Cross-Appointed Professor with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is one of four Western professors lauded for multiple highly cited research papers, according to the Highly Cited Researchers 2019 list from the Web of Science Group.

  • Media Release: Community-driven project improves patient outcomes for diabetes in Indigenous communities

    November 05, 2019
    The FORGE AHEAD project was launched in response to data showing the incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes was significantly higher among Indigenous populations and that people living in Indigenous communities were less likely to receive adequate care. Dr. Stewart Harris, Cross-Appointed Professor with Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is the FORGE AHEAD program’s Principal Investigator.

  • Research: Involuntary admission for psychosis higher among some first-generation ethnic minority groups

    October 21, 2019
    A new study by Kelly Anderson, PhD, and her team demonstrates that involuntary admission due to first-time diagnosis of psychosis is higher among some first-generation ethnic minority groups, particularly African and Caribbean migrants.

  • The real low-down on diabetes

    September 19, 2019
    Principal investigators from the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s Diabetes Alliance, Dr. Stewart Harris and Alexandria Ratzki-Leewing, PhD Candidate, and co-investigators Drs. Bridget Ryan and Guangyong Zou, from the Departments of Family Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, received more than $1 million to lead a global, real-world study on diabetes-related hypoglycemia.

  • Can air pollution and noise lead to epilepsy?

    September 13, 2019
    As part of a research team led by Dr. Jorge Burneo, Tresah Antaya, an MSc candidate in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, has won funding via a Student Award from Lawson’s Internal Research Fund (IRF) for a new study that will examine data from the 2006 long-form Canadian census as well as environmental and health care data to determine whether long-term exposure to air pollution and city noise increases a person’s risk of developing epilepsy. In addition, the project is receiving funding through the Collaborative Research Seed Grant competition from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University.

  • Survey explores nationwide trans, non-binary population

    August 09, 2019
    Epidemiology and Biostatistics professor Greta Bauer, PhD, expects the nationwide Trans PULSE Canada survey to bridge a massive “deficit of quantitative data across Canada on the health of trans and non-binary people.”

  • Depression drives substance use during pregnancy

    August 08, 2019
    The discovery that depression is the single largest driver of substance use during pregnancy – more important than education, income, or age – highlights the need for greater supports for the mental health of mothers-to-be, according to a team of Western researchers, including Dr. Jamie Seabrook, Adjunct Associate Professor with Epidemiology and Biostatstics.

  • New surgery method reduces transfusion need

    August 01, 2019
    A new method that limits the number of blood transfusions needed during heart surgery showed no additional risk to patients when it came to kidney injury, a common outcome of the surgery, according to a recent study. The findings could be a game-changer for a health-care system constantly seeking ways to balance demands on its blood supply. Professor Amit Garg, cross-appointee with Epidemiology and Biostatistics, stresses the importance of analyzing the use of blood transfusions during surgery. “A lot of people are generous in giving blood,” he said. “At the end of the day, we want to use this precious resource wisely.”

  • Group calls on international community to prevent dementia by preventing stroke

    July 18, 2019
    The risk factors for stroke and dementia are the same, and a growing body of evidence demonstrates that preventing stroke can also prevent some dementias. Now, a group of experts led by Western University Professor and Cross-Appointee with Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, are calling on the global community to come together to take action on preventing dementia by preventing stroke.

  • Partnership brings hope to epilepsy patients in Peru

    June 27, 2019
    Dr. Jorge Burneo and Dr. David Steven, both cross-appointees with Epidemiology and Biostatistics, collaborate on the set up of epilepsy surgery programs in Peru.

  • London scientists key players in national dementia strategy

    June 24, 2019
    Led by Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso, a Cross-Appointed Professor with Epidemiology and Biostatistics, researchers in London have been awarded $1.345 million over five years through the second phase of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), announced as part of Canada’s national dementia strategy. CCNA is a collaborative research program tackling the challenge of dementia and other neurodegenerative illnesses.

  • Announcement: Shehzad Ali, PhD, named a CRC (Tier 2) in Public Health Economics.

    June 17, 2019
    An Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Shehzad Ali has been named among Western’s nine new Canada Research Chairs (CRCs). The Canada Research Chairs Program aims to attract and retain some of the world’s most accomplished and promising minds. With this announcement, there are now 1,836 Canada research chairs at universities across Canada.

  • News: London neurologist helps pen international dementia prevention guidelines

    May 17, 2019
    An internationally acclaimed Western University neurologist is going global once again, helping pen new international guidelines to help patients stave off dementia. Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, a Cross-Appointed Professor with Epidemiology and Biostatistics, contributed to and reviewed the recommendations released by the World Health Organization earlier this week — a gold-standard that will inform how doctors treat patients and how governments address the growing health issue.

  • Awards: Congratulations to the H.O.P.E. Award Recipient, Kathy Nixon Speechley, PhD

    May 13, 2019
    Epidemiology and Biostatistics Professor, Kathy Nixon Speechley, PhD, recognized as the 2019 H.O.P.E. award recipient by Epilepsy Southwestern Ontario at the 33rd Annual Spring Gala.

  • Bacterial communities and HIV: How the penile microbiome influences transmission

    May 08, 2019
    Researcher Jessica Prodger, PhD, a Cross-Appointee with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is exploring why circumcision is protective and how the penile microbiome may contribute to HIV incidence in heterosexual men.

  • Feature: Team to offer insights into Crohn’s treatment tools

    May 07, 2019
    A North American team of researchers co-lead by Dr. Brian Feagan, Cross-Appointee to Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the 2019 Allan Donner Lecturer, hopes their work will ultimately lead to treatments that reduce infections, pain, and hospitalizations for millions of Crohn’s disease sufferers around the world.

  • News: Government of Canada supports HockeyFIT expansion across Canada

    April 08, 2019
    Peter Fragiskatos, Member of Parliament, announced that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will be investing up to $2.5 million over three and a half years to help expand Western University’s Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) program across the country. Hockey FIT is led by Dr. Rob Petrella. Co-applicants on the project include three members of faculty from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics: Dr. Saverio Stranges, Guangyong Zou, PhD, and Merrick Zwarenstein, PhD.

  • Award: Lauren Cipriano recognized for advancing health technology assessment

    April 05, 2019
    Lauren Cipriano, PhD, a Cross-Appointed Assistant Professor with Epidemiology and Biostatistics, is being honoured as the 2019 recipient of the Dr. Maurice McGregor Award from Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). The award recognizes rising stars in the field of health technology assessment.

  • Award: Janet Martin recognized for contributions to health technology assessment

    April 05, 2019
    Congratulations to Janet Martin, PharmD, associate professor in Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, on receiving an Anniversary Medal from the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH).

  • Two-Eyed Seeing: The gift of multiple perspectives

    March 22, 2019
    CIHR-funded research project led by Maria Mathews, PhD, professor in Family Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, incorporates multiple perspectives to explore Indigenous participation in the physician workforce.

  • Feature: Researchers explore the effects of a Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular health

    March 13, 2019
    The review published today in the high-profile journal Cochrane Review was led by Dr. Saverio Stranges, Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, in collaboration with Manchester University and Warwick University in the UK. The review looked specifically at the effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular health.

  • Dr. Ian Arra Appointed Medical Officer of Health at Grey Bruce Health Unit

    February 13, 2019
    The Board of Health for the Grey Bruce Health Unit is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ian Arra to the position of Medical Officer of Health, effective January 25, 2019. Dr. Arra completed an MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University in 2011, supervised by Dr. George Rodrigues.

  • Study debunks shortcuts to healthy lifestyle

    February 04, 2019
    A study led by Dr. Saverio Stranges has added further evidence to the growing understanding that not only do most nutritional supplements not prevent chronic disease or increase longevity, but their widespread use should be avoided.

  • Media Release: More people die after surgery worldwide than from HIV, TB, and malaria combined

    February 01, 2019
    A new study co-authored by Janet Martin, PharmD, Associate Professor with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, shows the global burden of postoperative death.

  • Announcement: Dr. Stewart Harris reappointed as the Canadian Diabetes Association Chair in Diabetes Management

    February 01, 2019
    Dr. Stewart Harris has been reappointed to his third term as the Canadian Diabetes Association Chair in Diabetes Management at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023.

  • Congratulations: Maria Mathews, PhD and Dr. Emil Schemitsch, receive CIHR funding

    January 31, 2019
    Maria Mathews, core-appointee, to receive CIHR funding for: “Increasing Indigenous Participation in the Physician Workforce,” while Dr. Emil Schemitsch, cross-appointee, to receive CIHR funding for: “The DECIPHER Study: DEterminants of Function and Clinically Important outcomes in Proximal Humerus Fractures in the Elder Population: A National CohoRt.”

  • Website Update Notice

    January 04, 2019
    Beginning Monday, January 7, our department website will be locked down as we update to the new template provided by Western University. During this process our website will still function as usual but we will be unable to publish any changes to content. Updates, news, events, etc., will be posted to our social media feeds during this time and we strongly recommend all faculty, students and staff follow our department on Twitter and Facebook (handle: westernuepibio).

  • Announcement: Dr. Jorge Burneo appointed as the Jack Cowin Chair in Epilepsy Research

    December 10, 2018
    Dr. Jorge Guillermo Burneo, Professor of Neurology and Cross-Appointed Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University, has been appointed as the Jack Cowin Chair in Epilepsy Research, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University effective November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2023.

  • Jeffrey Chow, MSc, has paper published in European Journal of Anaesthesiology

    December 09, 2018
    The research comprised a portion of Mr. Chow's thesis, investigating bibliometrics in the anesthesiology literature.

  • Rapport Article, The Ups and Downs of Early Career Research, features Kelly Anderson, PhD and Dr. Luciano Sposato

    November 26, 2018
    Kelly Anderson, Luciano Sposato (both affiliated with Epidemiology and Biostatistics) and Stephen Renaud all agree that there are challenges to starting a research program when you are new to academia – but the rewards of the efforts are plentiful.

  • Western profs treat epilepsy with mindfulness

    November 14, 2018
    Making Mindfulness Matter, an eight-week Canadian Institutes of Health Research project, is a community-based family treatment program for children with epilepsy between the ages of four and 10 and their parents. The program is co-led by Western University’s Dr. Kathy Speechley, a professor in the Departments of Paediatrics and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Dr. Karen Bax, professor and managing director of the Mary J. Wright Research and Education Centre at Merrymount.

  • Melissa Majoni, MSc Candidate, presented her research at the 2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress

    October 24, 2018
    Melissa Majoni, MSc Candidate, recently presented her a research project, part of her thesis work, at the 2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Toronto.

  • Project and Bridge Grant Funding Announced by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

    July 24, 2018
    A total of 17 funded projects across the School and Lawson Health Research Institute were awarded project or bridge grant funding, as announced by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The recipient teams included Epidemiology and Biostatistics members Dr. Greta Bauer, Dr. Ayden Scheim (Alumnus), Dr. Luciano A Sposato, Dr. Jason Gilliland, Dr. Saverio Stranges, Dr. Jamie Seabrook, Dr. Piotr Wilk, Dr. Evelyn Vingilis, Dr. Kathy Speechley, Klajdi Puka (PhD Candidate), Dr. Guangyong Zou, and Dr. Emil Schemitsch.

  • Media Release: How family physicians are paid is linked to their rate of referral to specialists

    June 27, 2018
    Dr. Sisira Sarma, Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is the first author on a study published in the journal Health Economics that shows family physicians who switched from a blended fee-for-service payment scheme to a blended capitation model (a fixed rate per patient per year) increased their referrals to specialists by more than five per cent.

  • Dr. Evelyn Vingilis recognized nationally for impact on road safety in Canada

    June 25, 2018
    Congratulations Dr. Evelyn Vingilis, psychologist and Director of the Population and Community Health Unit, and Professor with the Departments of Family Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, on receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals.

  • Jacqueline Kueper attends CSHRF in Winnipeg

    June 20, 2018
    Jacqueline Kueper, PhD Candidate supervised by Dr. Dan Lizotte, recently attended the Canadian Student Health Research Forum in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She presented a poster titled, “A topic modelling approach to understanding the body of research on artificial intelligence and primary care.”

  • Research Day with the University at Buffalo and McMaster University

    May 28, 2018
    Faculty and students from the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, met in Buffalo on May 25th, 2018 to discuss research in their field and to foster collaborative links across the institutions.

  • Dr. Hachinski Wins 2018 Killam Prize for Pioneering Work

    May 09, 2018
    Dr. Vladimir Hachinski – past president of the World Federation of Neurology and a world-renowned stroke expert – has been named a 2018 Killam Prize winner for Health Sciences. He is a Distinguished University Professor at Western, a Professor in the Department of Neurology and a Cross-Appointee with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

  • Successful Canadian Institutes of Health Research Funding Application for Hockey Fans in Training Team

    February 25, 2018
    Dr. Robert Petrella and the entire Hockey Fans in Training (Hockey FIT) team are thrilled to announce that their recent grant application to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research was successful. Co-Applicants and Collaborators include numerous individuals from Western University, including Dr. Saverio Stranges (Chair), Dr. Guangyong Zou, and Dr. Merrick Zwarenstein, of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

  • Research by Dr. Shane Goodwin and Dr. Kathy Speechley finds that family environment influences emotional well-being in children with epilepsy

    February 08, 2018
    Published research by Dr. Shane Goodwin, PhD graduate from our program, and his former supervisor, Dr. Kathy Speechley, is highlighted in a media release from Lawson Research and in a recent interview with CTV news.

  • Dr. Philip Jones' retrospective, population-based study published in the journal JAMA

    January 25, 2018
    Research by Dr. Philip Jones, Lawson Scientist, and Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, examines the practice of handing over patient care between anesthesiologists during surgical procedures.

  • Research by Emaad Mohammad shortlisted as Highly Commended at 2017 Undergraduate Awards

    January 18, 2018
    Emaad's submission “The Effect of Statin Medication on Exercise Capacity in Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study” was selected as a Highly Commended Entrant in the Medical Sciences category of The Undergraduate Awards Programme 2017.