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Lab study provides new hope for people with rare muscle disease
August 29, 2024
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Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital and uOttawa played a key role in a study that could lead to a new understanding of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
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MicroRNA could protect the kidneys, according to animal study
August 13, 2024
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“Our research shows microRNA holds promise for protecting against both acute kidney injury and its complications. We hope to test it soon in clinical trials."
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Are EVs travelling to injured lungs?
March 15, 2024
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Tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown clear potential to treat several lung diseases in animal models by reducing inflammation. However, there has been debate about where MSC-EVs end u
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ELEVATE seed grants to help researchers at The Ottawa Hospital improve treatment for inflammatory and immune conditions
February 21, 2024
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The Ottawa Hospital’s Research Institute is awarding four ELEVATE seed grants to help researchers understand the role of inflammation and the immune system in various diseases and develop better treatments.
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Researchers develop “field guide” to 22 ovarian cancer mouse models
February 14, 2024
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Researchers use mouse models of ovarian cancer to better understand the disease and develop new treatments. However, it can be difficult to know which model is best for a particular experiment.
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Treatment-resistant depression: mouse study reveals surprising new insights
January 29, 2024
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Dr. Paul Albert’s team found that not one, but two systems of neurotransmitters play a key role in mouse models of treatment-resistant depression.
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How do developing brain blood vessels and nerves link up? New study has some answers.
September 1, 2023
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Dr. Baptiste Lacoste is fascinated by how blood vessels in the brain contribute to brain and mind health.
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When the hangman isn't hanging: how cell death proteins might protect against ALS
August 18, 2023
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For more than 30 years, caspases have been known as tiny cellular executioners, just waiting for a signal to chop up a cell’s proteins and initiate what is known as “programmed cell death.”
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With autism, the brain adapts to blood vessel problems by changing how it uses energy
July 12, 2023
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Dr. Baptiste Lacoste wants to find out what’s going wrong with the blood vessels in the autistic brain.
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Molecule triggered by running could help with stroke recovery
April 18, 2023
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Research suggests that VGF plays a key role in healing the brain after stroke
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Meet Dr. Manoj Lalu, the clinician-scientist bringing lab discoveries to patients every day
March 16, 2023
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From looking at how we can use stem cells to treat diseases like sepsis to dealing with patients directly in the ICU and OR, Dr. Lalu is making an impact behind the scenes and beyond.
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Prenatal exposure to low doses of methylmercury causes autism-like behaviors in mice
March 9, 2023
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A study co-led by Dr. Jing Wang and Dr. Laurie Chan is the first to show that exposing pregnant mice to low doses of methylmercury causes autism-like behaviors in their offspring.
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How a chronic lung disease in preterm babies also affects the brain
February 16, 2023
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Dr. Bernard Thébaud and his team have uncovered clues as to why premature babies with the chronic lung disease bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) may have problems thinking, learning and remembering.
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A self-proclaimed nerd with a knack for nephrology
January 26, 2023
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Dr. Kevin Burns never thought he’d be practicing award-winning kidney research in Ottawa. But after falling in love with Ottawa and with nephrology, Dr. Burns became an integral part of The Ottawa Hospital team.
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Huge hope for our smallest patients
November 2, 2022
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Dr. Bernard Thébaud clearly remembers the day he decided to become a doctor—his dad had suggested the soccer-loving teen become a sports physician. But from the first day of his pediatric surgery rotation, Dr. Thébaud knew he wanted to help
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Fireflies help researcher shine a light on COVID-19
November 2, 2022
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As a child watching fireflies in northern Iran, Dr. Taha Azad never dreamed he would someday use the secret behind their glow to help fight cancer and a global pandemic.
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Tweaking the ovary’s immune system may help prevent ovarian cancer
October 5, 2022
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The diabetes drug metformin prevents fibrosis in the ovaries by adjusting the organ’s immune cells, according to a study in mice published in Science Advances.
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Research reveals novel mechanism controlling muscle stem cells
October 5, 2022
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New research from Dr. Michael Rudnicki’s team shows for the first time that a cellular structure called a primary cilium, which functions somewhat like an antenna, plays a crucial role in priming muscle stem cells for repair and regeneration.
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Arginine supplement prevents cancer spread after surgery in mice, but more research in humans is required
September 1, 2022
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Two new papers from Dr. Rebecca Auer’s group are shedding light on how cancer spreads after surgery and how we might stop it.
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Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring compound, awakens stem cells to repair damaged muscle
August 4, 2022
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A new study published in the journal Science reveals a unique form of cell communication that controls muscle repair.
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“Dream team” of researchers tackles leading cause of vision loss
July 27, 2022
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Dr. Catherine Tsilfidis has assembled a world-class team to bring discoveries with game-changing potential to patients with retinal disease
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Whole-body approach needed to treat neuromuscular disease SMA
July 13, 2022
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Treating a patient’s entire body, not just the nerves in their muscles, is essential for the complete treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a study led by Aoife Reilly in Dr. Rashmi Kothary’s group.
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Do changes in brain metabolism play a role in autism? Prestigious grant to help researchers find out
June 7, 2022
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Dr. Baptiste Lacoste received a $550,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs to investigate whether brain metabolism could play a role in autism.
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Ottawa researchers recognized with international awards for reproductive biology and health
April 29, 2022
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Ottawa’s reproductive biology researchers took the lead in international recognition this year, receiving three of 12 prestigious awards from the Society for the Study of Reproduction.
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The Ottawa Hospital’s push to demystify Parkinson’s disease
April 29, 2022
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Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, affecting at least 100,000 Canadians. Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are on the global stage seeking answers for patients desperately waiting for a breakthrough.
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Cancer cells break their own DNA to buy time to repair radiation damage
April 28, 2022
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A research team from Europe and Canada has discovered that cancer cells break their own DNA in a controlled, reversible way to buy time to repair the massive DNA damage that occurs during radiation treatment. Their research, published in top journal
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Kiss of sleep: how blood cancer cells put the immune system’s Natural Killer cells to sleep
April 13, 2022
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Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have discovered that a kind of kiss between cells, called trogocytosis, plays a key role in the battle between the immune system and blood cancer cells.
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Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital awarded five grants for high risk, high reward and interdisciplinary research
April 4, 2022
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The New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) 2021 Exploration competition has awarded $25 million to support 102 research teams across Canada that bring diverse disciplines together in pursuit of breakthrough ideas and high-reward outcomes.
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Nano therapy for micro-preemies protects lungs, brain in lab study
March 30, 2022
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Very premature babies need extra oxygen and mechanical intervention to breathe, but this damages their lungs, causing a chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
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Men and women process pain signals differently
March 22, 2022
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A new study published in the journal BRAIN shows for the first time that neurons in the spinal cord process pain signals differently in women compared to men. The finding could lead to better and more personalized treatments for chronic pain, which a
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Advancing personalized medicine for breast cancer
March 16, 2022
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While breast cancer can often be cured if caught early, once it spreads to other organs the five-year survival rate is just 28%. Dr. Luc Sabourin and his team hope to put the brakes on aggressive forms of breast cancer, and their latest study in Brea
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Research on brain blood vessels could lead to new treatments for brain diseases
March 9, 2022
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Could a better understanding of brain blood vessels lead to new approaches to prevent or treat brain disease? Dr. Baptiste Lacoste and his team think so, and they recently contributed to two important papers in this area.
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Bioluminescent bacteria enable translational research on hip implant infections
February 2, 2022
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A team has developed a unique rat model of an infected prosthetic hip which can help researchers better understand and treat this challenging problem
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Study explores patient engagement in lab research
January 6, 2022
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A study found that engaging patients in laboratory research is possible, and can benefit both the patients and the researchers.
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Supercharging stem cells
November 12, 2021
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Dr. Jeff Dilworth is receiving The Ottawa Hospital’s Chrétien Researcher of the Year Award for his groundbreaking research, which could bring new energy to exhausted stem cells and help them repair the body
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Could a drug that controls appetite also treat schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s? Mouse studies show promise.
September 8, 2021
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Two recent studies suggest that the drug trodusquemine has the potential to treat symptoms of both schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. This is because the drug targets an enzyme called PTP1B, which plays a role in both diseases
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Research unravels links between fasting, lifespan and muscle stem cells
June 2, 2021
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Intermittent fasting (or skipping meals) has often been reported to increase lifespan in various animals, but the observation that it also affects muscle stem cell function has been less well-studied.
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Beyond the brain: how autism impacts the body
April 30, 2021
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People with neurodevelopmental disorders like Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders are at increased risk of conditions that affect the body’s metabolism including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
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Study in mice reveals possible new target to treat schizophrenia
March 10, 2021
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The enzyme PTP1B may be a new target for treating schizophrenia, according to a study published in Neuropsychopharmacology.
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Research reveals potential approach to make ovarian tumours ‘hot’
September 23, 2020
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In recent years, researchers have begun to recognize that some tumours are naturally “hot”, meaning they contain lots of immune cells that are actively fighting the cancer cells. Other tumours are “cold”, meaning, meaning they have little to no immun
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Vascular development may be at risk in autism
July 13, 2020
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A Canadian collaboration led by Dr. Baptiste Lacoste has undertaken the first ever in-depth study of vasculature in the autistic brain. The product of four years of work, a paper published today in Nature Neuroscience lays out several lines of novel
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Decoding the mystery of Parkinson’s disease
July 10, 2020
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For more than 200 years, no one has been able to solve the Parkinson puzzle. While the exact cause of the disease remains a mystery, dedicated researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are gaining ground—determined to solve the puzzle.
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TOHAMO awards $1.2M for COVID-19 research projects
June 12, 2020
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Could artificial intelligence help predict which COVID-19 patients will become gravely ill? Could a home-based spit test diagnose COVID-19? Could virtual care after surgery reduce patient returns to hospital?
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Stem cells may heal lungs of premature babies
March 4, 2020
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Premature babies need extra oxygen and mechanical intervention to breathe but this can damage their lungs, causing a chronic lung disease. A stem cell treatment soon to be tested in clinical trials at The Ottawa Hospital may help heal the lungs of pr
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Study in mice reveals possible new target to treat autism
March 2, 2020
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The enzyme PTP1B may be a new target for treating autism spectrum disorder, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
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Margaret's Gift
February 20, 2020
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Ovarian cancer claimed Margaret Craig’s life. Now her generous gift is opening new doors to preventing the disease. Margaret knew research would ultimately provide the solution to ovarian cancer. Her donation through her will is opening new doors to
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Cell therapy for premature babies: new lab study suggests wider treatment window may be possible
February 19, 2020
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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease caused by the breathing equipment that keeps premature babies alive.
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Researchers find potential biomarker to detect ovarian cancer earlier
November 27, 2019
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The protein gelsolin may help doctors detect ovarian cancer earlier, according to a preliminary study led by Dr. Benjamin Tsang. Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage because there is no reliable screening test to catch it early.
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“Wild idea” opens possible new frontier for preventing ovarian cancer
October 9, 2019
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A laboratory study published in Clinical Cancer Research offers a new hypothesis about how ovarian cancer forms and suggests how it might be prevented. The study is the first to show that the natural stiffening of the ovaries called fibrosis occurs w
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Findings could improve quality of life for people with spinal muscular atrophy
September 10, 2019
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People with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) could be at higher risk of cardiovascular and liver disease, according to the most comprehensive study to date. This means that screening for these conditions, establishing nutritional guidelines, and persona
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Feature grant: Researchers investigate how cholesterol regulates inflammation in white blood cells
August 7, 2019
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Drs. Xiaohui Zha and Alexander Sorisky were awarded $48,000 to test whether cholesterol regulates inflammation in human white blood cells by altering gene expression.
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The Ottawa Hospital awarded 13 grants worth $11.2 million from Canadian Institutes of Health Research
July 26, 2019
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Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital have been awarded 13 grants worth a total of $11.2 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The new projects focus on areas such as cancer immunotherapy, hepatitis C infection, blood clots, ar
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Researchers get $745,000 boost from NSERC
May 29, 2019
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Four scientists from The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, were successful in the recent discovery grant competition from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
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Dr. John Bell wins public and patient engagement award
April 15, 2019
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Dr. John Bell won the inaugural European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Public and Patient Engagement Award.
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Breakthrough reveals how a stem cell decides between two fates
March 29, 2019
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Dr. Marjorie Brand’s team discovered how a blood stem cell decides whether to become a red blood cell or a platelet-forming cell in a new study published in Cell Stem Cell. By using a technique that measures tiny amounts of proteins in individual cel
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Enzyme could help develop better approaches to prevent chronic kidney disease
March 1, 2019
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An enzyme called Nox5 may help researchers develop new approaches to prevent chronic kidney disease in people with diabetes or high blood pressure, according to a study published in Antioxidants and Redox Signalling.
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Discovery points to innovative new way to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy
January 31, 2019
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Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have discovered a new way to treat the loss of muscle function caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy in animal models of the disease. As reported in Cell Stem Cell, the team restored mus
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Research shows how good heart growth turns bad
January 30, 2019
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More than 17 percent of Canadians have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, a condition that makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body. At first, heart muscle grows to meet the challenge, but eventually this growth becom
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Award-winning immunology research shows how cancer surgery paralyzes part of the immune system
January 11, 2019
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Surgery is very effective in removing solid cancers, but it also suppresses the immune system in a way that makes it easier for remaining cancer cells to survive and spread. New research led by Dr. Rebecca Auer shows that surgery paralyzes immune cel
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How “exosomes” target injured kidney cells and bring them back to life
December 20, 2018
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The kidneys are one of the most sensitive organs in the body. They are often the first to shut down during a critical illness like septic shock and the last to come back (if they come back at all). Dr. Kevin Burns and his team previously found that “
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Experimental contraceptive could give women the power to prevent pregnancy and STIs
November 30, 2018
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While condoms are the gold standard for preventing pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), there is a need around the world for solutions that can be used independently by women. New research led by Dr. Nongnuj Tanphaichitr brings a pot
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Depression linked to “junk DNA” in the serotonin receptor gene
November 21, 2018
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The human genome is thought to be 75 to 90 percent meaningless “junk DNA”, but researchers are increasingly finding that some of this junk may actually do something important. For example, new research led by Dr. Paul Albert and Dr. Eitan Friedman sh
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Worm study points to similarities in how neurons maintain their shape in old age and after damage
November 21, 2018
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Neurons are among the most long-lived and carefully-shaped cells in the human body, with long axons that send signals to different parts of the body. Unlike other cells that can be replaced when needed, neurons tend to be around for a long time, some
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Researchers get $788,000 boost from NSERC
November 21, 2018
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Four scientists from The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, were successful in the recent discovery grant competition from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden and Da
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Dr. William Stanford has been named The Ottawa Hospital’s Chrétien Researcher of the Year for his work on blood cancer and other diseases
October 23, 2018
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When Dr. William Stanford first became a biological scientist, he simply followed his curiosity and was happy to let others pursue any practical applications of his research. Today, he goes on bedside rounds with clinicians, meets with patients and d
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Chance discovery linking diet to type 1 diabetes started whole new field of research
October 22, 2018
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In the early 1980's, Dr. Fraser Scott was conducting nutritional studies on rats that were supposed to develop type 1 diabetes—except they didn't. He discovered that changing the diet of these diabetes-prone rodents had prevented the disease. Making
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New research sinks lipid raft concept
October 17, 2018
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Lipid rafts are in every cell biology text book, but new research led by Dr. Xiaohui Zha shows that they probably don’t exist in most real cells. Originally described in the 1980s, lipid rafts were thought to be semi-rigid blocks of cholesterol, sphi
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Trainee receives Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award
September 25, 2018
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Marc-Olivier Deguise, a MD/PhD student in Dr. Rashmi Kothary's lab, will receive the 2018 Jim Glionna Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award for medical students in a ceremony in Montreal on May 2, 2019. This award recognizes medical students with a tra
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$1.7 million to advance research on colon cancer, brain development, kidney disease and severe fluid loss
July 20, 2018
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Four research groups at The Ottawa Hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, have been awarded $1.7 million in the most recent project grant competition from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Their projects will advance sci
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