Scientists have identified a gene in the French-Canadian population that predisposes them to the development of intracranial aneurysm (IA), a potentially life threatening neurological condition that is responsible for approximately 500,000 deaths worldwide per year, half of which occur in people less than 50 years of age.

Using genetic analysis, the team of researchers found rare variations of one gene, RNF213, that appeared more frequently in IA patients than in the control group. Both patients and the control group came from French-Canadian families. 

McGill once again ranked first in the “medical-doctoral” category in scholarships and bursaries for students, as well as in social sciences and humanities grants relative to faculty size. Maclean’s published the results online Wednesday evening.

“Our leading position in scholarships and bursaries in this ranking underscores our commitment to ensuring accessibility to education for all talented students, regardless of their financial means,” said Principal Suzanne Fortier.

A study conducted at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) suggests screening breast cancer patients for the prolactin receptor could improve the prognosis for patients and may help them avoid unnecessary and invasive treatments. Using a database of 580 women with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), the researchers found that survival was prolonged in patients who expressed the prolactin receptor and that prolactin hormone was able to reduce the aggressive behavior of cancerous cells. It does so by decreasing their ability to divide and form new tumors.

Who are the key players and actors on the issue of sexual violence on university campuses across Canada and internationally?

Shaheen Shariff, Associate Professor with the Faculty of Education, Director of Define the Line Projects at McGill University has been awarded a $2.5 million Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Grant to address sexual violence on university campuses across Canada and internationally.

The Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship at McGill University and the Research Chair in Electoral Studies at the Université de Montréal will be hosting a public forum on the Canadian electoral reform on October 20.

When: October 20, 2016 from 19h30 to 21h30
Where: McGill New Residence Hall, 3625 Av du Parc, Montréal

A mussel never reported in Canada was identified in the port of Montreal, a soft shell clam never seen in the Arctic was discovered in the Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba, and a barnacle that was not thought to occur north of San Francisco was detected in Nanaimo, British Columbia. These are invasive species and researchers from McGill University detected 24 of these non-indigenous species across 16 major ports in Canada, including 11 that were identified in previously unreported locations. Their findings were published Biodiversity Research.