Proteins are the workhorses of our cells, responsible for a vast array of functions that keep us alive and healthy. From building muscle to fighting disease, their intricate shapes determine their specific roles. Although the task has so far eluded scientists, they hope to ultimately incorporate lab-designed proteins into personalized[Read More…]
Tag: Medicine
SciTech Reviews: ‘Emperor of All Maladies’
Although the risk of cancer-related death is declining in Canada, cancer remains the leading cause of death in this country. Given this reality, scientists have dramatically ramped up their research in the past several decades. However, cancer is not a new disease—humanity has made note of its presence for millennia,[Read More…]
Endometriosis and mental health: A novel study on the silent battle
Commonly underdiagnosed, endometriosis affects one in 10 people assigned female at birth. Sufferers can experience difficult periods, excessive bleeding, painful sex, and infertility. Regulation of physical symptoms and surgical intervention may help, but a group of McGill researchers want clinicians to advocate for mental health support as an additional part[Read More…]
“A Disease of the Past”: Our lacklustre response to Tuberculosis
Lena Faust, a Ph.D. student in epidemiology at McGill, first became interested in tuberculosis (TB) while learning about another disease: COVID-19. What caught her attention, however, were not the diseases themselves, but the difference in global response to each. “With COVID-19, we quickly developed lots of different vaccines that are[Read More…]
To cure the incurable: Stem cell transplantation process provides insight into potential HIV cure
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a viral infection characterized by its ability to harm white blood cells that are crucial for the immune response. This makes HIV patients very susceptible to slightly or moderately acute diseases (that would not normally pose a serious risk for healthy individuals) by diminishing their[Read More…]
Predicting and preventing stroke with Sonoplaque
In 2012, Karina Gasbarrino‘s grandfather passed away from an ischemic stroke. Since then, Gasbarrino, a graduate of McGill’s PhD program in experimental medicine, has dedicated her career to understanding and developing early stroke prevention methods. In 2019, she succeeded, launching the digital health startup PLAKK, a cutting-edge tool that helps[Read More…]
From bioink to cryogenics: The rapid acceleration of 3D printing technology
A nozzle squeezes out a stream of molten plastic, ceramic, steel or even cells—layers and layers of which stack up, one after the other. Every layer laid down must wait for the last to dry before the next is begun. Patience is a virtue, and these machines are virtuous. 3D[Read More…]
The darker side of pre-med
For many pre-medical students, dreams of practising medicine have been playing through their minds since they were children. It’s the allure of being able to save someone’s life, help a person feel better, or finally provide that answer a patient has been searching for. Of course, some people have other[Read More…]
Picture this: The illustrious world of medical illustration
Before writing was used as a means for communication, ancient civilizations relied on pictorial representations of objects, which included visual representations of medical concepts. Medical illustrations date back to 15,000 BCE, and have continued to evolve over time. Over the course of many millennia, advancements in art and technology have[Read More…]
MUHC to begin trial of ciclesonide for alleviating COVID-19 symptoms
While the race for a COVID-19 vaccine continues, scientists around the world are exploring the possibility of repurposing existing drugs to effectively treat COVID-19 patients. Recently, researchers have seen a number of breakthroughs. One of these successes is dexamethasone, a corticosteroid hormone with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. The conclusions of[Read More…]
