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In Brief
A new pathway into public health
Disease outbreaks, climate change and deepening mistrust in science have highlighted the growing importance of public health. This year, Western launched a new undergraduate program in public health, giving students interdisciplinary training in areas ranging from epidemiology and biostatistics to health policy and ethics. Building on existing strengths in infectious and chronic disease research, the program will prepare graduates to tackle complex health challenges facing communities in Canada and around the world.
A place among Canada’s medical pioneers
Calling research “an extension of my stethoscope,” Dr. Robert Hegele has spent his career translating genetic discoveries into better patient care. The professor and physician-scientist was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame earlier this year for helping unlock the genetic basis of inherited cardiovascular disease. His work helped establish the field of cardiovascular genetics, leading to more precise diagnoses and treatments for patients around the world.
Landmark gift accelerates discoveries in brain health
A $4.1-million gift, matched by Western University, established the Frank and Janice Lochan Chair in Neuroimaging for Brain Health at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. The chair supports research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
The future of fracture care
A new orthogeriatric fellowship program is training physicians to deliver more coordinated, specialized care for older adults. As Canada’s population ages, the fellowship aims to improve outcomes for patients recovering from fractures and orthopaedic injuries. The program recently marked a major milestone with its first graduate, Dr. Nadeen Al-Baz.
Global effort for an equitable HIV cure
A future HIV cure will only be effective if people can access it. Led by researchers across Western University, the IMMUNEQUITY initiative brings together academic, industry and community partners from Canada, Uganda around the world to help ensure a future HIV cure is accessible and affordable. “The ultimate goal is to make sure any cure reaches everyone who needs it,” says Eric Arts, PhD, professor and the project’s lead investigator.
New master’s program strengthens health-care teams
Ontario’s first graduate-level physician assistant program welcomed its inaugural class this year at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. The two-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies program will prepare graduates to work in hospitals, clinics and community settings. “We’re building a stronger, more sustainable health workforce for the future,” says Dr. Josee Paradis, program director and associate professor in otolaryngology.
Expanding access, training tomorrow’s dentists
A $2.9-million investment through Health Canada’s Oral Health Access Fund is helping Schulich Dentistry expand care for underserved communities while preparing students for a changing profession. The funding will strengthen community partnerships, enhance clinical training and improve clinic operations.
The brain’s predictive power
From catching a ball to navigating a crowded sidewalk, our brains are constantly preparing for what might happen next. New research led by Andrew Pruszynski, PhD, professor in physiology and pharmacology, shows that motor circuits anticipate potential disturbances before they occur, helping the body react faster and more accurately. The findings, published in Nature, deepen understanding of the body’s motor system and could lead to new approaches in stroke and injury rehabilitation, as well as next-generation brain-computer interfaces.
Inside a mock measles outbreak
A simulated measles outbreak immersed Master of Public Health students in the realities of public health emergency response. Participants were tasked with tracking cases, tracing contacts and making decisions under pressure as the fictional outbreak unfolded. Featured by The Globe and Mail, the exercise offered timely training as Canada grapples with a resurgence of measles and the loss of its elimination status.
Growing Canada’s clinical trials capacity
The new Western Clinical Trials Leadership Program is helping researchers develop the skills needed to design, lead and manage high-quality clinical studies. “By equipping faculty across disciplines with the tools, mentorship and infrastructure needed, we are building the next generation of trial leaders,” says Dr. Amit Garg, associate dean of clinical research.
A new hub for military medicine research
Western researchers are bringing together long-standing strengths in military medicine to tackle medical challenges posed by modern conflict, disaster and austere environments. The Western University Military Medicine Research Group creates new opportunities for collaboration across disciplines, from trauma care and imaging to psychiatry, engineering, aviation, ethics and history. The work builds on more than a century of military medical service, research and education.
