Irradiated cannabis might still harbour toxic fungi and residues, McGill study finds
Gamma irradiation, an industry-standard sterilization method for medicinal and recreational cannabis, does not fully eliminate toxic fungi or their chemical residues, a McGill University study has found. Current testing practices may also miss contamination, raising concerns about health risks for vulnerable users, particularly those with weakened immune systems.
Findings suggest that certain medications for Type 2 diabetes reduce risk of dementia
A large McGill University study has found that two classes of medications commonly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, both incretin-based, are associated with a reduced risk of dementia.
Drawing on clinical data from more than 450,000 patients, the research adds to growing evidence that incretin-based therapies have protective benefits for the brain.
Study offers evidence that racial bias is at play in overrepresentation of Black youth in Canadian child welfare systems
Researchers who examined Canadian child welfare data found that Black children were not only investigated at a higher rate than their white peers but were also more likely to be taken from their homes, even when the only difference between cases was the child’s race.
McGill researcher unveils new model that more accurately measures greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas
McGill engineering researchers have introduced an open-source model that makes it easier for experts and non-experts alike to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. natural gas supply chains and yields more accurate results.
New light-triggered microneedle patch could make IVF hormone delivery painless and automated
A McGill University research team has developed a painless, automated way to deliver in vitro fertilization (IVF) hormones using a light-activated microneedle patch, an innovation that could ease one of the most stressful parts of fertility treatment and open new possibilities for other diseases that require frequent, time-sensitive injections.
Do supervised consumption sites bring increased crime? Study suggests that’s a myth
Overdose prevention sites and supervised consumption sites in Toronto are not associated with long-term increases in local crime, McGill University researchers have found.
Mosquitoes’ feeding tubes make ultrafine 3D-printing nozzles
Researchers in McGill’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and at Drexel University have developed an innovative manufacturing technique that makes female mosquito proboscides, or feeding tubes, into high-resolution 3D-printing nozzles. With its unique geometry, structure and mechanics, the proboscis enables printed line widths as fine as 20 microns, or a little
New evidence challenges understanding of Parkinson’s disease
A McGill-led study is challenging a popular theory about how dopamine drives movement, a discovery that could shift how scientists think about Parkinson’s disease treatments.
Fine particles in pollution are associated with early signs of autoimmune disease
A new study has linked air pollution exposure and immune-system changes that often precede the onset of autoimmune diseases.
McGill University researchers analyzing Ontario data found that fine particles in air pollution are associated with higher levels of a biomarker linked with autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus.
Microencapsulated B-vitamins help dairy cows produce more milk with fewer emissions
A new international study led by McGill University in collaboration with Jefo Nutrition shows that supplementing dairy cow diets with microencapsulated B-vitamins can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing milk yield and quality. The use of the feed additive cut global warming potential, an internationally standardized measure of climate impact, by up to 18 per cent across seven countries.
Brain discovery opens door to earlier detection of metabolic syndrome in women
McGill University researchers have identified a brain function that helps explain why childhood stress raises metabolic health risks for some women later in life.
A new study found that variations in the brain’s insulin receptor network affect how women respond to early-life adversity. This effect has a lesser impact in men, suggesting there is a sex-specific process at play.
McGill researchers develop a cheaper, safer material for use in solar panels, sensors and optical devices
Using proteins from a common tobacco plant virus, McGill chemistry researchers have developed a simple, eco-friendly way to arrange gold nanoparticles into ultrathin sheets, strengthening the particles’ optical properties. The result: cheaper, safer materials for solar panels, sensors and advanced optical devices.
Kering Foundation, SVRI and McGill launch research program on the intersection of violence against women and children
The Kering Foundation, in partnership with McGill University and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), is launching an innovative research program to tackle the often-overlooked links between violence against women and violence against children – a critical global issue with deep social impact.
Researchers find link between psychosocial stress and early signs of heart inflammation in women
Women who report high levels of psychosocial stress, such as from caregiving and lack of emotional support, show signs of early heart tissue changes associated with cardiovascular disease – an association not observed in men, a new study reveals.
The results support the notion that there are sex-specific ways in which stress affects cardiovascular health and that risk-assessment processes should take psychosocial factors and mental wellness into account, the researchers said.
Group therapy helps cancer survivors reclaim life after treatment
A program developed by a McGill researcher to help cancer survivors cope with the fear their cancer will return is expanding across Canada.
The Fear of Recurrence Therapy (FORT) program offers evidence-based support to address what co-founder Christine Maheu calls one of the most overlooked aspects of recovery.