Key molecule responsible for learning and memory discovered
Unlike old dogs, old adults can indeed learn new tricks thanks to a protein molecule called netrin.
Music improves social communication in autistic children
Engaging in musical activities such as singing and playing instruments in one-on-one therapy can improve autistic children’s social communication skills, improve their family’s quality of life, as well as increased brain connectivity in key networks, according to researchers at Université de Montréal and McGill University.
Cundill History Prize jury pushes the boundaries of history writing with finalists that are "Great Literature"
Three exceptional American historians – writing passionate, innovative works of history about new frontiers at times when the world was undergoing dramatic change – have been named as finalists for the world’s leading history prize, run by McGill University.
Making the announcement on behalf of the jury at an exclusive event in Toronto this evening, eminent Canadian journalist and author Jeffrey Simpson said:
Scientific breakthrough: promising new target for immunotherapy
Following the 2018 Nobel Prize for Medicine, global attention is now more than ever turned toward the promise of immunotherapy in oncology. An international team’s work has shed new light on a molecule called TIM-3 that might play a key role in the regulation of the immune response.
Alterations to seabed raise fears for future
The ocean floor as we know it is dissolving rapidly as a result of human activity.
The spiders who came in from the cold
A sprawling study of spiders across northern Canada has turned up more than 100 species in provinces or territories where they had never before been recorded. The findings, by researchers from McGill University, provide a valuable new benchmark for monitoring biodiversity across Canada’s vast northern expanses.
Safe cannabis pain relief without the “high”
In the wake of cannabis legalization, a team of scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and McGill University have delivered encouraging news for chronic pain sufferers by pinpointing the effective dose of marijuana plant extract cannabidiol (CBD) for safe pain relief without the typical “high” or euphoria produced by the THC. The findings of their study have been published in the journal PAIN.
Naomi Azrieli, Ken Dryden to receive honorary degrees
Naomi Azrieli, a passionate champion of support for brain research, and hockey great-turned-public servant Ken Dryden will be honoured at McGill University’s Fall Convocation ceremonies.
The two honorary doctorate recipients will address graduating students at the Nov. 26 ceremonies at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts. In all, more than 1,640 students will be graduating this fall.
Good spatial memory? You’re likely to be good at identifying smells too
People who have better spatial memory are also better at identifying odors, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications. The study builds on a recent theory that the main reason that a sense of smell evolved was to aid in navigation, since most animals rely primarily on smell to find food and avoid predators.
Bone cell response to mechanical force is balance of injury and repair
Scientists have revealed the intricate process that bone cells use to repair themselves after mechanical injury, according to a study in the open-access journal eLife.
The research provides new insight on how the body adapts to all kinds of mechanical stresses – from pressure placed on bones during simple walking, to extreme forces experienced during intense exercise.
How Brexit Can Transform the Governance of Global Civil Aviation
The McGill University Institute of Air and Space Law has released a detailed new paper by its Director, Professor Brian F. Havel, that comprehensively analyses the legal and policy consequences of Brexit for the airline industries of the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), and the United States (US).
VIU And McGill Partner To Create Learning And Research Opportunities In Indigenous Studies
A deep and shared commitment to supporting the recommendations of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) have led McGill University and Vancouver Island University (VIU) to form a unique collaboration to create new opportunities in Indigenous studies.
Youth violence lower in countries with complete ban on corporal punishment
A study published today in the BMJ Open shows that in countries where there is a complete ban on all corporal punishment of children there is less fighting among young people. There was 31% less physical fighting in young men and 42% less physical fighting in young women in countries where corporal punishment was banned in all settings, compared with those where corporal punishment was permitted both at school and at home.
Why heart contractions are weaker in those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
When a young athlete suddenly dies of a heart attack, chances are high that they suffer from familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Itis the most common genetic heart disease in the US and affects an estimated 1 in 500 people around the world. A protein called myosin acts as the molecular motor which makes the muscles in the heart contract. Researchers had suspected for some time that the R403Q mutation in some of the myosin genes is among those that play a role in causing HCM.
Expanded financial support for new and returning Indigenous students at McGill
McGill University’s Indigenous students can now rely on dedicated financial support thanks to a new partnership with Indspire, an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of Indigenous peoples. Indspire will manage the awarding process through its Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards program to secure matching funds from the Government of Canada.
