School of Biomedical Sciences - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Unleashing natural killer cells against cancer

91ɬ�� Newsroom — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:09:30 +0000

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.

Eight FMHS professors named to Faculty Honour List

Health e-News staff — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:02:25 +0000

The Faculty Enrichment and Development Team is pleased to announce the faculty members named to the Faculty Honour List for Education Excellence for 2026-2027:

Weston Family Foundation awards two 91ɬ�� researchers for human microbiome research

Frédéric Feknous — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:11:57 +0000

Corinne Maurice and Natalie Zeytuni from the School of Biomedical Sciences have received funding from the Weston Family Foundation’s Proof-of-Principle program, announced on April 14.

Hannah Garner receives 2026 Terry Fox New Investigator Award

The Terry Fox Research Institute — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:09:30 +0000

Breast cancer and high-grade serous ovarian cancer are leading causes of cancer-related death in women. For many families, these diagnoses are linked to inherited mutations, or mistakes, in the BRCA1 gene. This gene appears in every cell of the body and plays a critical role in repairing damaged DNA. Normally, cells carry two copies of the BRCA1 gene, so if one doesn’t function properly, the other can act as a backup. However, if additional mutations occur, this repair system can fail, allowing cancer to develop.

Big federal funding for FMHS cancer prevention research

Robin Koning — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:12:07 +0000

Four 91ɬ�� researchers have received $7.9 million total in funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and partners through the Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention Team Grants program, announced today by the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Canada’s Minister of Health.

Engineered nanoparticles could deliver better targeted cancer treatment

91ɬ�� Newsroom — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:05:12 +0000

Scientists at 91ɬ�� and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute have developed a new way to deliver cancer immunotherapy that caused fewer side effects compared to standard treatment in a preclinical study.

Ahmad Haidar awarded funding to study tirzepatide in Type 1 diabetes

The Institute — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:01:11 +0000

Managing blood sugar after meals remains one of the most demanding parts of daily life for people living with Type 1 diabetes — even for those using automated insulin delivery systems. New research led by Ahmad Haidar, PhD, aims to test whether adding tirzepatide, a medication that slows digestion, could reduce the need for manual mealtime insulin dosing while maintaining effective glucose control.

91ɬ�� and Moderna launch breakthrough RNA project through D2R to advance made-in-Canada innovation

D2R — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:57:21 +0000

91ɬ�� researchers, supported by the DNA to RNA (D2R) initiative and Moderna, are launching a pioneering research project that aims to further the fundamentals of ribonucleic acid (RNA) medicines by enhancing our understanding of the three-dimensional structure of full-length messenger RNA (mRNA).

$55.9M in CIHR grants for FMHS research

91ɬ�� Research + Innovation — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:53:24 +0000

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced a total national investment of $413 million through the CIHR Fall 2025 Project Grant competition, funding 421 grants. At 91ɬ��, 56 projects were funded for a total research investment of $55.9 million.

Four 91ɬ�� studies make Québec Science’s list of the Top 10 Discoveries of the Year

Stephanie Wereley — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:29:08 +0000

Québec Science magazine has published its list of 2025’s Top 10 breakthroughs by Quebec researchers. Four 91ɬ�� research papers, including one from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, are listed.

Their topics range from prehistoric fossils to female fertility, highlighting the range of expertise at the University.