2018
MRI technique shows unique signatures of concussion
December 19, 2018
Using MRI to study the brains of young female athletes has helped researchers develop an objective way to monitor a concussion injury.
Video: Exploring 3D Ultrasound Technology
December 12, 2018
It is a true example of innovation in action. For the most recent episode of SchulichMedDent Live, we were on location at Robarts Research Institute in Aaron Fenster's lab to show how 3D ultrasound technology is improving care for patients and providing important health benefits for individuals and populations.
Rapid E. coli test ready for commercial use
November 22, 2018
The goal is to identify E. coli in your food before it ever leaves the processing plant, ensuring that it never makes it to the shelves of your neighbourhood grocery store.
Ali Khan, PhD, named Canada Research Chair
November 15, 2018
Robarts scientist Ali Khan, PhD, was named the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Computational Neuroimaging. The Tier 2 designation is awarded to exceptional emerging researchers recognized for their potential to lead in their fields.
Trainees bring home top prize in case competition
November 08, 2018
How might artificial intelligence help to categorize the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to opinions online?
Governor General's Academic Gold Medal
October 09, 2018
Congratulations to former Robarts trainee Dante Capaldi, PhD, on receiving a Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal.
Translational Breast Cancer Research Studentships
September 20, 2018
Five Robarts trainees are recipients of the 2018-2019 Translational Breast Cancer Research Studentships.
Dr. Geoff Pickering named fellow of CAHS
September 14, 2018
Congratulations to four of the newest fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Drs. Geoffrey Pickering, Janet Pope, Frank Prato and Emil Schemitsch.
Robarts to be home to Canada’s first MPI system
September 13, 2018
Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) – considered the most promising and emerging imaging technology of the past 20 years – is coming to Western University.
Susan and David Axelrod join Leaders in Innovation
August 27, 2018
Frustrated with the inability to protect her child from the devastation of uncontrollable seizures and the side effects of medications, Susan Axelrod joined forces with two other concerned parents to spearhead the search for a cure for epilepsy. Axelrod became the Founding Chair of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), and along with her husband David Axelrod has raised more than $43 million to fund research grants around the world.
Temerty Foundation gift strengthens ALS research
August 23, 2018
Tens of thousands of ALS patients and their caregivers could see their lives improve thanks to a $2.5-million gift from the Temerty Foundation.
Trainee receives 2018 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
July 25, 2018
PhD Candidate Jason Lee, a trainee at Robarts Research Institute, is among the recipients of the 2018 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, the Government of Canada’s most prestigious scholarships for doctoral students.
3D Slicer Project Week at Robarts
July 19, 2018
The Biomedical Imaging Research Centre (BIRC) hosted international experts and more than 40 participants for the second 3D Slicer Project Week at Robarts Research Institute.
Congratulations to Rubai Zhou
July 13, 2018
Robarts Trainee Rubai Zhou is using brain images from MRI to get a better picture of what determines social function and working memory in patients with depression.
Researchers awarded more than $11 million in CIHR funding
July 11, 2018
From using CRISPR to alter the gut microbiome to looking at how the brain rewires itself in deafness, researchers at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Robarts Research Institute are the recipients of $11.3 million in project and bridge grant funding announced by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) this week.
Study rules out potential treatment target for Alzheimer's
July 09, 2018
An unexpected result discovered by neuroscientists at Western University won’t prevent the formation and growth of Alzheimer’s disease but it potentially rules out a major potential treatment focus that drug manufacturers – and researchers around the world – have been targeting for years in the fight against the debilitating disease.
Corey Baron receives Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award
July 04, 2018
Congratulations to Robarts scientist Corey Baron, PhD, on receiving a 2018 Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award. Baron, an assistant professor with the Department of Medical Biophysics, is developing multidimensional imaging biomarkers for ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to learn more about the brain.
Process to appoint Acting Dean
June 25, 2018
As you are all now aware, Dean Michael Strong will be assuming his new role as President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research on October 1, 2018. As a result, we will appoint an Acting Dean for the period October 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 while a full search for the next Dean of Schulich Medicine & Dentistry is undertaken during that time-frame.
Dr. Michael J. Strong moving on to new role as president of CIHR
June 20, 2018
Today, the Honorable Minister of Health, Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced that Dr. Michael J. Strong, current Dean of Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, has been appointed as the President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for a five year term effective October 1, 2018.
Research shows eye wrinkles convey sincere emotion
June 11, 2018
Research led by Robarts' Julio Martinez-Trujillo has shown that our brains are pre-wired to perceive wrinkles around the eyes as conveying more intense and more sincere emotions. This eye-wrinkle feature, called the Duchenne marker, occurs across multiple facial expressions, including smiles, expressions associated with pain, and—as found by these researchers—expressions of sadness.
Gut microbiome plays a role in atherosclerosis
May 02, 2018
Researchers at Western University's Robarts Research Institute along with scientists from Lawson Health Research Institute have shown a novel relationship between the intestinal microbiome and atherosclerosis, one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke. This was measured as the burden of plaque in the carotid arteries.
Brain folding helps predict psychosis
April 25, 2018
By using images of the brain to look at how its outer surface is folded on itself, researchers at Robarts Research Institute have found they can predict which high-risk patients will develop psychosis with more than 80 per cent accuracy. Before now, there has been no way to examine young people before they become ill to reliably identify who will develop acute psychosis and who will not.
Trainee awarded Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers
April 23, 2018
Congratulations to Robarts trainee Ornela Kljakic on receiving the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers.
Dr. Lena Palaniyappan internationally recognized
April 09, 2018
Congratulations to Dr. Lena Palaniyappan who was awarded the Rising Star Award from the Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS).
Using lung MRI as a unique window for asthma
April 04, 2018
Researchers at Robarts Research Institute in collaboration with McMaster University are developing an innovative lung imaging method that provides a unique window on asthma that is aimed at guiding and personalizing treatment for Canadians with severe, poorly controlled asthma.
Ontario's Early Researcher Award
March 15, 2018
Robarts scientist John Ronald, PhD, received an Early Research Award from the Government of Ontario, one of four researchers at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry awarded.
Media: Raising funds for concussion research
March 14, 2018
Lawyer Nigel Gilby, BA’75, LLB’78, is featured in The Globe and Mail's Giving Back section for spearheading a joint effort by seven London law firms to support concussion research at Robarts.
Former Robarts Trainee earns Olympic Gold
February 20, 2018
Alex Kopacz, BESc’13 (Mechanical Engineering), who spent time as a trainee at Robarts Research Institute, and Justin Kripps captured gold late Monday for Canada’s third-ever Olympic medal in men’s 2-Man Bobsleigh. The pair actually tied with Germany’s Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis for first place after all four runs were completed, both sleds finishing with a total time of 3:16.86.
Andrew Pruszynski, PhD, receives Early Career Award
February 02, 2018
Congratulations to Robarts scientist Andrew Pruszynski, PhD, on receiving the inaugural Early Career Award from the Society for Neural Control of Movement (NCM).
Hair samples provide window into refugee stress
February 02, 2018
For the first time, researchers have been able to correlate a group’s self-reported feelings of stress and trauma with biological evidence of that stress. A study co-authored by Western researchers analyzed the concentration of cortisol – the so-called stress hormone – in the hair of refugees who had fled the Syrian war.
Rugby study shows metabolite changes in the brain
January 17, 2018
Researchers at Robarts Research Institute have shown that a regular season of play can cause changes in the brain that are similar to changes caused by concussion, though less severe. Using sophisticated Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy the researchers looked at metabolite levels in the brains of female varsity rugby players at the beginning of their season, after suffering a concussion, and again at the end of the season.
New CTE-ALS link uncovered
January 15, 2018
Researchers at Robarts Research Institute have uncovered a unique neurobiological pathway triggered by head trauma which underlies both Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease).