An interdisciplinary team of scientists and medical practitioners from Western University’s Bone and Joint Institute have made a major breakthrough into better understanding a highly prevalent spine disease that affects an astounding 25 to 30 per cent of North...
Research & Innovation
Brain health of older adults enhanced by low-intensity physical activity
Older adults who engage in short bursts of physical activity can experience a boost in brain health even if the activity is carried out at a reasonably low intensity, according to new findings from Western University. Researchers from Western’s School of Kinesiology...
New BrainsCAN study suggests reciprocal relationship between obesity and self-control
In a review published today in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, researchers explore the age-old chicken-or-the-egg conundrum but this time looking at whether obesity reduces self-control or if reduced self-control leads to obesity. The authors argue that the...
Tobacco plants transformed into ‘green bioreactors’ to benefit human health
Researchers at Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute are using tobacco plants as ‘green bioreactors’ to produce an anti-inflammatory protein with powerful therapeutic potential. The plants are being used to produce large quantities of a human protein...
Western helps train post-secondary employees respond to disclosures of sexual violence
The Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC) co-developed a free and accessible online training program that helps employees in post-secondary institutions provide positive support to those who disclose they’re a sexual...
Research confirms Canadian financial advisors are reliable barometers for broader economy
Canadian financial advisors are remarkably attuned to changes across a wide range of broad economic indicators – from GDP and inflation to employment and housing prices – according to five years of data from the Advocis Financial Advisors Index (FAI) compiled by...
Study shows London’s vulnerable populations live near primary care, but language remains a challenge
Researchers at Western University are using geography to better understand access to primary care in London, Ontario, and have shown that accessibility for vulnerable populations is quite good in the city, while access along linguistic lines is less certain. The team...
Your spinal cord is ‘smarter’ than previously thought: research shows our spinal cords contribute to sophisticated hand function
We often think of our brains as being at the centre of complex motor function and control, but how ‘smart’ is your spinal cord? Turns out it is smarter than we think. It is well known that the circuits in this part of our nervous system, which travel down the length...
Organ donor registration rates in 2016 range from 20 to 46 per cent across the province
Organ donor registration increased by 62 per cent across the province from 2011 to 2016, but where you live has a lot to do with whether you have signed up to be a donor. There is large regional variation of organ donor registrants across the province ranging from 20...
New self-powered, smart implant may greatly reduce knee replacement surgeries
Knee replacement surgery is one of the world’s most common orthopedic procedures, but the implants don’t last forever. They can wear out, loosen or just fail to meet patient expectations and require revision surgery. A new self-powered, load-sensing smart implant...
Canada’s first groundhog was a bear
Move over Punxsutawney Phil, Wiarton Willie and Shubenacadie Sam – it turns out the earliest animal to predict the coming of spring in North America was not a groundhog, but a bear. Alan MacEachern, Canadian history professor at Western University, has dug deep into...
Injection of opioids linked to significant increase in bacterial heart infections
People who inject drugs are at a high risk for a number of health issues. In a new study from ICES, Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University, researchers discovered a significant rise in the risk of infective endocarditis, a serious heart infection,...