School of Biomedical Sciences - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Francesco Bellini (1947–2025)

Neale McDevitt, Editor, 91ֱ�� Reporter — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:15:03 +0000

Francesco Bellini, one of Canada’s most influential biotech innovators and a champion of scientific advancement, died July 10 in Calgary at the age of 77. A scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist of international stature, Bellini played a pivotal role in shaping biomedical research and education – nowhere more so than at 91ֱ��, where his generosity helped establish a major centre for life sciences.

Professors J. Donald Boudreau and Claire M. Brown named to Ordre de l’excellence en éducation

Stephanie Wereley — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:11:15 +0000

Joseph Donald Boudreau and Claire M. Brown, both of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, are among the latest appointees to the Ordre de l’excellence en éducation du Québec, the highest distinction awarded by the Quebec government in the field of education.

Professors Boudreau and Brown were among 24 new honourees. The group was feted at a June 10 ceremony at the National Assembly in Quebec City.

Think you know how to dispose of your lab waste? Think again

Stephanie Wereley — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 16:05:00 +0000

If you work in a 91ֱ�� laboratory and have been frustrated by the lack of recycling options for non-hazardous waste, there’s good news.

Thanks to a multi-disciplinary team and financial support from the Sustainability Projects Fund, 91ֱ�� is expanding the number of lab items accepted for recycling and compost.

It now accepts such items as nitrile gloves, tip boxes and pipette tips for recycling, as long as they were not in contact with hazardous waste.

D2R awards $400K to translate RNA research into real-world solutions

Emily Cholette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:56:24 +0000

Montreal, June 25, 2025 – The DNA to RNA Initiative (D2R) at 91ֱ�� has awarded $400,000 to four projects that aim to bring RNA-based innovations closer to clinical and commercial reality, including vaccines and therapies for rare and infectious diseases.

Human genetics professor receives Banting Discovery Award

91ֱ�� Research and Innovation — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:40:03 +0000

Sirui Zhou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics, has been awarded a prestigious 2025 Banting Discovery Foundation’s Discovery Award. The award program recognizes innovative biomedical health research projects led by outstanding new investigators at universities and research institutes in Canada.

Graduate supervision and teaching awards for Terry Hébert and Tania Janaudis-Ferreira

Health e-News staff — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:45:04 +0000

Terry Hébert, PhD, Assistant Dean, Biomedical Science Education, has been chosen for the David Thomson Award for Graduate Supervision and Teaching. Prof. Hébert, who is also Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics as well as Director of the 91ֱ�� Regenerative Medicine Network, was recognized by his students and peers for his outstanding contributions to promoting graduate student excellence as a supervisor and teacher over the years.

91ֱ��’s President honours outstanding early-career researchers

Robin Koning — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:37:29 +0000

Three 91ֱ�� scholars were recognized with the 2025 President’s Prize for Outstanding Emerging Researchers at the Health Sciences Convocation Ceremony on May 27. The award honours exceptional early-career researchers whose work is expanding the frontiers of knowledge in their fields.

Although researchers across all disciplines were eligible, this year’s recipients – Professors Guojun Chen, Mahsa Dadar and Phoebe Friesen – are all members of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Provost honours FMHS profs

91ֱ�� Research and Innovation — Tue, 06 May 2025 14:37:44 +0000

Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi has named 28 91ֱ�� professors – including six from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences – as Distinguished James 91ֱ�� Professors, James 91ֱ�� Professors or William Dawson Scholars. The internal awards recognize exceptional research achievements.

91ֱ�� discovery sheds new light on autism, intellectual disabilities

91ֱ�� Newsroom — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:56:18 +0000

A new study by 91ֱ�� researchers yields insights into how the disruption of calcium transport in the brain is linked to autism and intellectual disability. The findings, published in the journal Nature, not only upend a long-held belief among neuroscientists, but could pave the way for treatments.

Génome Québec and Cystic Fibrosis Canada invest $1.2 million in research tackling rare, orphan CFTR mutations

FMHS Health e-News — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:20:06 +0000

Génome Québec and Cystic Fibrosis Canada today announced a $1.2 million investment in two new research projects focused on rare genetic mutations that are linked to cystic fibrosis and have no available treatment options. The projects are being funded through the two organizations’ joint Tackle Rare, Orphan CFTR Mutations Competition and have the long-term goal of developing new therapies for cystic fibrosis.