2014

  • Dr. Michael Rieder has been re-appointed to the position of CIHR - GSK Chair in Clinical Pharmacology

    November 17, 2014
    In 1988, he became Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University. Dr. Rieder became an Associate Professor in 1992, and in 1996, he was a Professor. Dr. Rieder’s previous administrative experience includes Acting Assistant Dean, Student Affairs (2009), Chair, Section of Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology (1992-present), Residency Program Director, Clinical Investigation Program (2005-present) and Assistant Dean, Learner Equity and Wellness (Undergraduate) (2012-present).

  • ‘Maturity,’ ‘readiness’ led to cluster designation

    November 10, 2014
    From a pool of interesting and innovative ideas, one group of Western researchers – and their readiness for the “next level” of research collaboration – stood out for reviewers. Announced Monday, Musculoskeletal Health has been named the university’s second Cluster of Research Excellence. The cluster will be supported by a $5-million funding commitment from the university over five years.

  • Inaugural department newsletter released!

    October 31, 2014
    Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology newsletter, Connections. This new electronic newsletter is designed to reach out to our current Department members, alumni, former colleagues and friends on an annual basis.

  • Western University researchers identify potential therapeutic target for Osteoarthritis

    October 27, 2014
    Researchers at Western University have identified a specific gene that plays a key role in the degradation of cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA). The study, published online in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology showed that when the gene, PPARdelta, was removed from cartilage the progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis was considerably slowed. Study co-author Frank Beier, PhD, a professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, says this promising new research may be the first step to identifying new treatments...

  • Grad student awarded International Scholarship from OARSI

    October 22, 2014
    Schulich Medicine & Dentistry PhD Candidate Anusha Ratneswaran first became interested in studying Osteoarthritis when she saw the effects of the disease first-hand while working as a kinesiologist in a cardiac rehabilitation program. “Many of the patients with osteoarthritis were unable to gain the benefits that the exercise conferred because they were unable to fully participate,” she said. “That really motivated me to pursue my research in this field.”

  • Stevenson Lecture and Research Day: Harry C. Dietz, MD

    October 16, 2014
    Join us on Tuesday, November 4th, for our annual James A.F. Stevenson Distinguished Lecture and Research Day. Student poster presentations will take place at 10:30am in the Great Hall, Somerville House, followed by research talks at 2:00pm in LHSC, University Hospital, Auditorium A. Research talks to be given by Michael Pest, PhD Candidate; Cory Yamashita, Phd, MD, FRCPC; and Jim Petrik, PhD. Stevenson Lecture given by Dr. Harry C. Dietz immediately follows at 4:00pm

  • Graduate Studies Lecture Series

    October 14, 2014
    Join us for one of our upcoming Lecture Series events for program overviews, application information, and student presentations: Pathology & Pathologist's Assistant; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Physiology and Pharmacology. For more information and to register, please visit: www.schulich.uwo.ca/gradstudies/about_us/event_registration.html

  • Research Profile: Understanding back pain - Cheryle Seguin

    October 01, 2014
    Every day our spines undergo massive amounts of stress and mechanical load; even as we sleep, our spines are working to maintain posture. Because of this constant work, back pain has become the leading cause of disability globally, a problem that Cheryle Séguin, PhD, and her team at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry are committed to investigating further.

  • In the Media (via The Globe and Mail)

    September 24, 2014
    Dr. Dan Hardy on epigenetics and development: “I really am a believer that we can change the epigenetic environment, and change your outcome, with early intervention,” Hardy says. In a study published earlier this year, Dr. Daniel Hardy and his colleagues at Western University in London, Ont., found that...

  • Three faculty members become newest fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

    September 23, 2014
    Congratulations to our Schulich Medicine & Dentistry faculty, Lorelei Lingard, PhD, Ruth Martin, PhD, and Dr. Bryan Richardson, who were inducted this week as fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS).

  • London researchers help lead national consortium on dementia and aging

    September 12, 2014
    Four Schulich Medicine & Dentistry researchers, Jane Rylett, Robert Bartha, Manuel Montero-Odasso, and Dr. Michael Borrie are leading the charge as part of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), a collaborative research program focused on tackling the challenge of dementia...

  • Providing a refuge of tranquility and friendship

    September 10, 2014
    Dr. Richard Philp, professor emeritus, Physiology and Pharmacology, devoted years of his life to educating students. It's that same enjoyment and connection he felt while teaching that makes volunteering his time as an art instructor at the Horton Street Seniors’ Centre – Boys and Girls Club of London a satisfying commitment to the community.

  • Annual Corn Roast Pictures

    September 08, 2014
    Pictures from our annual corn roast are now posted to the Physiology and Pharmacology Flickr gallery!

  • Western neuroscientist explores nuances of ‘touchy’ subject

    September 03, 2014
    When you reach into your pocket, you can easily tell a button from a coin. But how? Solving this seemingly simple problem is actually amazingly complicated.

  • Dean's Stipend for Graduate Research awarded

    September 03, 2014
    Four outstanding graduate trainees at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry have received the 2014 Dean’s Stipend for Graduate Research.

  • Annual Corn Roast

    August 20, 2014
    Hello Everyone! We are delighted to invite you and your family to our Annual Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Corn Roast to kick off the new academic year. It will be held on Thursday, September 4th at the Watson Porter Pavilion in Fanshawe Park beginning at 4:30 pm. Welcome and dinner served at 6:00 PM SHARP! ...

  • Research IDs heart disease risk factor for women

    July 28, 2014
    When it comes to heart disease, Dr. Ross Feldman says women are often in the dark. Historically, it was thought heart disease was a men’s-only disease, however, data has shown that post-menopausal women are just as likely as men to get heart disease and are less likely to be adequately diagnosed and treated.

  • Goodale, Owen to lead human consciousness network

    July 03, 2014
    After a year-long international competition, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) has selected Western’s Adrian Owen and Melvyn Goodale to lead a new research network focused on the brain, mind and consciousness.

  • CIHR Fellowship Award

    June 10, 2014
    Congratulations to Dr. Dan Stolzberg, for finishing in the 98th percentile of CIHR fellowship applications. Dr. Stolzberg studies the effectiveness of cochlear prostheses implanted in younger versus older patients.

  • Marco Prado and Robert Bartha receive $1.3 million grant from Weston Brain Institute

    May 22, 2014
    Robarts Research Institute scientists Marco Prado, PhD, and Robart Bartha, PhD, are among the first to receive funding from the Weston Brain Institute, established with $50 million dollars in funding from the W. Garfield Weston Foundation.

  • Congratulations Dr. Lauren Kelly

    May 21, 2014
    Dr. Lauren Kelly successfully defended her PhD thesis. Her co-supervisors are Gideon Koren and Michael Rieder

  • Congratulations to our Trainees

    May 21, 2014
    A number of our trainees are recipients of Ontario Graduate Studentships for 2014-2015

  • London Health Research Day 2014 award winners

    April 29, 2014
    Congratulations to our award winning trainees. For a list of the award winners please visit the London Health Research Day website.

  • In Memoriam: Dr. John MacDonald

    April 28, 2014
    It is with sadness that we share that Dr. John F. MacDonald passed away on April 22. Dr. MacDonald was one of Canada's pre-eminent neurophysiologists and served as the Scientific Director at Robarts Research Institute from 2008 to 2010.

  • New CRC in musculoskeletal research for Frank Beier

    April 22, 2014
    Frank Beier, PhD, of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology has been awarded a new Tier I CRC in Musculoskeletal Research to study the connection between skeletal development and osteoarthritis

  • Excellent faculty and staff recognized

    April 22, 2014
    Congratulations to this year's winners of the 2014 Dean's Awards of Excellence. The department is proud to recognize five winners this year. Jamie Simek and Chris Webb - Staff Team Award Dr. Rommel Tirona - Undergraduate Educator Award Dr. Lina Dagnino - Individual Faculty Award Dr. Cheryle Seguin - Junior Faculty Award The winners will be honoured at the 2014 Celebration of Excellence Dinner and Awards Banquet on Wednesday, May 21 at the Great Hall

  • Solving the mysteries of bone growth

    April 17, 2014
    For Dr. Jeff Dixon, DDS, PhD, uncovering the intricacies of bone growth is like his own Sherlock Holmes mystery that needs to be solved. For more than two decades, Dr. Dixon, a professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and Schulich Dentistry, has been investigating how skeletal cells communicate with each other in order to control the formation and destruction of bone. Two recent grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are enabling Dr. Dixon and his team of outstanding graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and technical staff to look at how physical movement and exercise impact bone growth and the cellular mechanisms that cause this to happen