/medhealthsci-research/ en /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/public-education-will-be-critical-provinces-roll-out-new-cervical-cancer-screening-method%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E As Canada moves to modernize cervical cancer screening, a new study suggests most women do not yet understand or trust the shift from the Pap test to human papillomavirus (HPV) based screening. The national survey, published in Current Oncology, examined women’s preferences for cervical screening – including how they want to be screened and how they want information communicated – as Canada transitions from Pap tests to HPV testing. “We now have better tools to prevent cervical cancer, but if people don’t have confidence in the change, they may delay or avoid screening,” said senior author Dr Thu, 07 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1620 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/covid-antiviral-drug-paxlovid-speeds-recovery-doesnt-reduce-hospitalization-vaccinated%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) does not reduce hospital admissions or deaths in vaccinated adults at higher risk of severe COVID-19, according to results from two national trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings from 4,232 participants provide crucial evidence for targeting Paxlovid to those who may benefit most, now that widespread vaccination has dramatically reduced population-level risk of severe outcomes. In Canada, the CanTreatCOVID trial, led by Dr. Andrew Pinto, director of the Upstream Lab (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital Wed, 06 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1619 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/unleashing-natural-killer-cells-against-cancer%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Scientists have developed a strategy to boost the cancer-fighting power of natural killer (NK) cells, part of the immune system’s first line of defence. NK cells can detect and destroy cancer cells, but tumours often create a protective barrier that blocks them, allowing cancer to grow. Researchers at 91ɬ��’s Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the Research Institute of the 91ɬ�� Health Centre, found that suppressing two specific proteins helps NK cells overcome this blockage, turning them into more potent cancer killers. In preclinical Wed, 06 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1618 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/mcgill-researchers-engineer-faster-more-effective-blood-clots%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Researchers at 91ɬ�� have developed a rapid way to engineer blood clots that stop severe bleeding and support tissue healing more effectively. Their technique, called “click clotting,” links red blood cell surface proteins through a chemical reaction, resulting in a biocompatible clot that is 13 times more resistant to fracturing and four times more adhesive than natural blood clots. The team said the method could be used to develop life-saving biomaterials to help control severe bleeding, as well as benefit people with clotting disorders. “Natural blood clots can be slow to form Wed, 06 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1617 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/rsv-related-hospitalizations-among-children-more-doubled-canada-2022-2023%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) more than doubled in 2022–2023 compared to pre-pandemic years. The surge exceeded 5,000 hospitalizations and has strained the capacity of Canadian pediatric hospitals, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Research Institute of the 91ɬ�� Health Centre (The Institute) and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Infants under 6 months of age, who are particularly at risk of complications, accounted for the majority of intensive care admissions. RSV is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract Wed, 06 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 health e-News 1616 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/new-risk-score-step-toward-improving-prediction-cardiovascular-disease-after-pregnancy%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E A Canada-wide study led by Natalie Dayan, MD, a scientist at The Research Institute of the 91ɬ�� Health Centre (The Institute), has developed a new risk score to predict cardiovascular disease after childbirth. Published in JACC: Advances, the study draws on national administrative data from nearly two million births between 2008 and 2021. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death and disability in women. Complications such as preeclampsia and other forms of severe maternal morbidity are risk factors specific to women that predict both short-term and long-term Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1615 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/beige-fat-plays-unexpected-vasoprotective-role-blood-pressure-regulation%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E A major international study, published in the journal Science, has revealed an unexpected role for fat tissue in the regulation of blood pressure and vascular health. Researchers Rhian M. Touyz, MBBCh, PhD, and Augusto C. Montezano, PhD, from the Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan Program at The Research Institute of the 91ɬ�� Health Centre (The Institute), are co-authors. The study shows that beige fat—a metabolically active form of fat related to brown fat—does more than regulate energy balance. It also actively communicates with blood vessels, influencing how they Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1614 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/achilles-heel-pancreatic-cancer-could-pave-way-new-treatments%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E A team from the Research Institute of the 91ɬ�� Health Centre (The Institute), led by Jean-Jacques Lebrun, PhD, has identified a protein that pancreatic cancer cells rely on to survive and grow. This discovery opens a promising avenue for the research and development of more effective and targeted therapies to treat one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common form of pancreatic cancer, is currently the third leading cause of cancer death in Canada and could become the second leading cause by 2040. With a 5-year survival Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1613 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/nserc-awards-two-mcgill-professors-165-million-each-prepare-next-generation-researchers%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E Professors Ioannis Ragoussis and Jake Barralet from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences have each received $1.65 million for projects to improve the job readiness of the next generation of researchers. The funding comes from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)’s Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program. Theirs are among 21 projects nationwide selected this year. Preparing for a rapidly evolving MedTech ecosystem Surgical robots, artificial intelligence and image guided surgery and other emerging technologies are revolutionizing Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1612 /medhealthsci-research/%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci-research/article/weston-family-foundation-awards-two-mcgill-researchers-human-microbiome-research%22%20hreflang%3D%22en%22%3Eview%3C/a%3E The Weston Family Foundation, through the Weston Brain Institute and the Weston Family Microbiome Initiative, supports science-based approaches to significantly improve the health and well-being of Canadians. The Proof-of-Principle program, through the Weston Family Microbiome Initiative, funds Canadian research efforts that advance the application of the microbiome to improve human health. Gut–virus interactions and early‑life health Corinne Maurice, Canada Research Chair in Gut Microbial Interactions, Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, and co-Director of the Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400 Health e-News 1611