/medhealthsci-research/ en /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/minimally-invasive-protocol-refines-marmoset-embryo-production%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E As part of ongoing efforts to reduce the use of animals in research and refine animal research practices, a collaborative team from The Institute and 91������ has developed a minimally invasive method for collecting oocytes from common marmosets, improving procedural efficiency and animal welfare aligned with the principles of the 3Rs. The study, led by Vilceu Bordignon, PhD, DVM, at 91������’s Macdonald Campus in collaboration with Keith Murai, PhD, of the Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program at The Institute and the Institute’s Animal Resources Division under the Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1638 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/neuros-virtual-integrated-patient-platform-receives-major-funding%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Brain Canada support will help accelerate the discovery of new treatments for brain and nervous system disorders Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1637 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/federal-investment-boosts-mcgills-ability-attract-outstanding-research-trainees%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Thanks to funding from the Government of Canada, 37 new doctoral and postdoctoral positions are being created at 91������ as part of a national initiative designed to attract and train top students and research talent from around the world. Across Canada, in Phase 1 of the Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards initiative, a total of 659 awards – 399 doctoral and 260 postdoctoral – were offered to nominees from 72 countries. By the end of Phase 2, 91������ will have received a total of 47 doctoral awards and 27 postdoctoral awards. The awards are valued at $40,000 per year for three years at the Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1636 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/new-findings-stem-cell-derived-islets-could-advance-diabetes-therapies%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Stem cell–based therapies for diabetes hold enormous promise — but a persistent problem has stood in the way. Laboratory-grown pancreatic tissue intended to produce insulin often contains unwanted intestinal cells that reduce its purity. Paraish Misra, MD, PhD, a Junior Scientist in the Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program at The Institute, and colleagues at the University of Toronto have identified the molecular signals that control this critical cell fate decision, offering a practical framework for producing purer, more functional stem cell–derived islets for research and Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1635 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/bethany-foster-awarded-medal-research-excellence%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Bethany Foster, MD, Senior Scientist in the Child Health and Human Development Program at The Institute and Chair of Pediatrics at 91������, has been awarded the 2026 Medal of Research Excellence by the Kidney Foundation of Canada — recognition of more than two decades of contributions to pediatric kidney transplantation research. The Medal of Research Excellence is awarded annually to a Canadian researcher recognized nationally or internationally for their career accomplishments in kidney research. Pediatrician-in-Chief at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, clinician-scientist and Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1634 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/centring-indigenous-voices-healthcare-research%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E “Bringing awareness to Indigenous culture … I think it would help a lot. In order to understand a person, you need to understand where they are coming from and understand their culture.” That message is at the heart of a study led by Romina Pace, a scientist in the Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program at the Research Institute of the 91������ Health Centre (The Institute). In this study published in CMAJ, 20 patients and 11 support persons from the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee in northern Quebec used Photovoice and interviews to document their experiences receiving care at Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1633 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/curb-overprescribing-seniors-researchers-urge-annual-prescription-checkups%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E To address the growing problem of overprescribing for seniors, a new Canadian guideline is calling for routine medication reviews. In Canada, roughly two in three adults age 65 or older take five or more medications. While often necessary, complex drug regimens can increase the risk of side effects and affect quality of life. The study underpinning the guideline – co-led by researchers at 91������ and the University of Toronto and developed by an interdisciplinary panel of experts – aligns with federal legislation calling for a strategy on appropriate medication use. “We have a Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1632 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/ajitha-thanabalasuriar-receives-path-award-advance-lung-disease-research%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1631 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/mcgill-researchers-leading-two-new-brain-canada-supported-platforms%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Associate Professor Jean-François Trempe (Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics) is leading the 91������ Mass Spectrometry Platform for Neurobiology, which allows scientists to analyze thousands of proteins, lipids, and metabolites from a single sample. By layering these molecular insights, the platform will help researchers better understand how diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, autism, and brain cancers begin and progress, opening the door to earlier diagnosis and more targeted treatments. Professor Reza Sharif-Naeini (Department of Physiology) is leading 91������’s NeuroAccess, the Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1630 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/fonds-de-recherche-du-quebec-frq-support-fmhs-investigators%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E The Government of Quebec and the Fonds de recherche du Québec (Quebec Research Fund—FRQ) have announced a $257.4M investment in scholarships and grants for the 2026-2027 funding year, supporting research across key FRQ sectors: Nature and Technologies, Health, Society and Culture and Interdisciplinary Research. 91������ research projects were awarded $16M across 9 FRQ programs. Amongst FRQ’s three sectors, 91������ received: $1.1M towards research in Society and Culture, $7.7M towards Health Research and over $8M towards research in Nature and Technologies. One 91������ research project was Fri, 29 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1629