Researchers are still discovering more about the fundamental building blocks of human cells and a University of Saskatchewan (USask)-led research project is exploring microproteins and their role in defending against viruses.
Dr. Brianne Philipenko (MD) was midway through her respirology fellowship in Calgary when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the city.
The human immune deficiency virus (HIV) first entered public consciousness in the early 1980s, after cases of unfamiliar and deadly illnesses began to overwhelm medical centres across North America.
A new evidence-based resource has been launched to help eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat in the Prairie provinces.
Many clinicians are anticipating the massive wave of impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have on the field of medicine. But instead of watching from the shore, Dr. Stephen Lee (MD) is jumping right in.
In this episode, we catch up with Dr. Sarah Forgie (MD), the new dean of the College of Medicine.
Students in the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Medicine can participate in a breadth of summer research projects within the college, at both Saskatoon and Regina campuses.
A behavioural neuroscientist in Saskatoon is uncovering important truths about cannabis's effects on fetal brain development.
The town of Canora is supporting its rural older adults to live well by developing a local primary care memory clinic delivered by health providers in the community.
A Breast Cancer Awareness Month discussion with Dr. Mita Manna (MD) — University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Medicine faculty member and medical oncologist.
New treatments for promoting nerve cells regrowth in those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are inviting optimism after pre-clinical trials at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
A top University of Saskatchewan (USask) health researcher renowned for her work in Indigenous wellness is now a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS).
Everybody ages – but new research at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) is exploring both how aging damages cells and how that aging might be countered.
What if a key to improving children's health and learning outcomes lies in the food they eat at school?
A team of University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers believe that iron metabolism could be targeted to treat an aggressive form of cancer.
Even as a teenager, Dr. Juan-Nicolás Peña-Sánchez (MD, PhD) could see stark differences in health for those who had medical coverage — and those without, thanks to his stepfather, an emergency department physician.
Understanding the interactions between microbes and their hosts can lead to new therapeutic strategies for major bacterial threats.
The answers to a crucial connection between the gut and the brain of individuals dealing with Crohn’s disease might lie in tiny, lab-grown brain and intestine organoids at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
The Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health (CCRAH) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) partnered with industry to conduct much-needed research at the annual Ag in Motion outdoor agricultural show.
Dr. Linda Chelico (PhD) is the new head of the College of Medicine’s Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology.
"When I got into medical school, the last thing in the world I wanted to be was a surgeon because I couldn't stand the sight of blood," said Dr. Mike Moser (MD).
Life-saving technology speeds heart attack response times.
A pediatrician, scholar, and esteemed educator, Dr. Sarah Forgie (MD) is the new dean of the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Medicine.
Retired Math Teacher Supports Dr. Ron Geyer’s Alzheimer’s Research
As an undergrad, Dr. Daniel Fuller (PhD) didn’t have a car, nor was he keen on taking the bus.
Researchers from across the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have received funding for a variety of creative and innovative projects through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants program.
From the laboratory to saving lives, this episode brings together three outstanding researchers from the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (APP) as they discuss their work and its implications for cardiac care.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) has chosen Dr. Sarah Donkers (PhD), assistant professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science in USask’s College of Medicine, as the 2024 New Researcher awardee for her sustained and widely acclaimed contributions to neurorehabilitation and multiple sclerosis (MS) rehabilitation.
The PESTA award recognizes scholars who excel in research that engages with the community to address issues related to social, environmental and economic impacts.
Every disease has a burning question, and multiple sclerosis (MS) is no exception. Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan take an innovative and collaborative approach to solving the enigma of disease progression in people living with MS – and how it can be slowed or stopped.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers Dr. Changiz Taghibiglou (PhD) and Dr. Sara Mardanisamani (PhD) are bridging biology and data science to develop a new, non-invasive AI screening tool for those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Jacob Alhassan (PhD) felt inspired to study health systems while growing up in Ghana. His work in Saskatchewan led him to explore the health outcomes tied to public transportation.
A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team’s discovery of the additional health benefits of an appetite-suppressing protein has doubled the potential for scientists to find new avenues for treating obesity and metabolic disorders in animals and people.
Using an innovative new method, a University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher is building tiny pseudo-organs from stem cells to help diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s.
A rare cell type in the airways of the lungs may lead to new and innovative cystic fibrosis treatments.
Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are developing a comprehensive health and rights program in Mozambique.
Dr. Sabira Valiani (MD) was one of the frontline physicians working inside Saskatoon’s critical care units four years ago, during the initial lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers with the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health (CCRAH) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are testing movement and functional abilities for patients’ post-surgical treatment of breast cancer.
Improving patient’s cancer treatments and minimizing side effects is the focus of new research at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) which aims to explore an innovative and potentially life-changing treatment targeting the most aggressive form of breast cancer.
Health care research projects at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) ranging from breast cancer treatments to pandemic preparedness have been awarded funding in the latest round of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grants.
Dr. Haissam Haddad (MD) inadvertently horrified his family when he signed up for engineering courses in his first year of university. The teenager returned the next day to change his major to medicine – a move he's glad he made.
When it comes to cancer research, scientists like Dr. Humphrey Fonge (PhD) know they are always working against the clock for patients who often don’t have the benefit of time.
It was a bitterly cold day in December 2012, when two First Nation women from northern Saskatchewan stepped off the bus in Saskatoon. One had travelled 12 hours, the other seven, both to see physiotherapist Dr. Stacey Lovo (PhD) for back pain.
Dr. Hassan Vatanparast (PhD) and other University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers were honoured for their contributions to health research at the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) Santé Awards on Jan. 25.
In the heart of the Health Sciences Building, Dr. Amanda Hall (MD) studies a tray of organoids under a microscope.
Dr. Angelica Lang (PhD) knows most of the people she sees have to keep working, even if they have shoulder pain.
SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are developing models to more accurately determine the effects of cannabis on consumers.
Osteoporosis is often seen as a disease that affects older adults. But compared to their peers, kids with Type 1 diabetes grow into adults eight times as likely to suffer bone fractures.
As the global fight against HIV and AIDS continues, this challenge is particularly evident in Saskatchewan, where HIV infection rates are more than five times the national average.
Dr. Valerie Verge (PhD) was in her early twenties when she landed her first job, doing neuroscience research and she loved it. But 43 years ago, her research journey began to take a twist.
Dr. Evyn Peters (MD) has created pivotal changes for patients arriving at Royal University Hospital's (RUH) mental health short stay unit and its emergency department.
By the end of grade eight, Dr. Wendie Marks (PhD) was sure about one thing: she knew she wanted to study health and the way early-life development affected the human body.
The University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Medicine is creating a first of its kind department in a Canadian medical school, dedicated to improving the health outcomes of Indigenous Peoples in Saskatchewan through academics and education.
A joint project co-led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers and City of Saskatoon officials will use data-driven assessment tools to create “healthy, sustainable transportation” strategies in Saskatoon.
Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation (SCHF) recently announced a gift of $750,000 to support the ongoing and crucial work of Dr. Michael Levin and his team in the area of multiple sclerosis research. It’s one of many acts of generosity and leadership that the foundation has shown in their decades-long history of supporting MS research in Saskatchewan.
A new gift of $750,000 from the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation (SCHF) will provide funding to the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Medicine to support the Saskatchewan Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinical Research Chair for the next three years.
Dr. James Benson (PhD) and Dr. Laura Hopkins (MD) believe the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has the tools to provide groundbreaking cancer treatment services to women across Canada.
The University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Medicine is creating a first of its kind department in a Canadian medical school, dedicated to improving the health outcomes of Indigenous Peoples in Saskatchewan through academics and education.
Representatives from the University of Saskatchewan (USask), the City of Saskatoon, and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) are going to Copenhagen to study what goes into building healthy and sustainable cities.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers Dr. Alan Rosenberg (MD) and Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine (PhD) were named members of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) in recognition of their work in the greater health sciences community.
Like many Canadians, Dr. Changiz Taghibiglou (PhD) has seen first-hand the devastating effects of Parkinson’s disease.
The College of Medicine Staff Awards recognize outstanding staff across the college who go above and beyond in their roles.
The same tools used for creating special effects in film and video games are being harnessed by a University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher determined to better understand shoulder function.
SASKATOON - University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers from a variety of colleges and departments have received funding for projects through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants program.
Newly appointed Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) Dr. Wendie Marks (PhD) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) is investigating links between obesity in Indigenous children and their exposure to environmental factors during pre-conception, prenatal, or early postpartum periods.
Dr. Ernesto Figueiro (MD, PhD) and his team are conducting clinical research on the use of placental growth factor (PlGF) test as a tool to manage high-risk pregnancies, aiming to improve outcomes for Saskatchewan mothers and babies. A $150,000 grant will help expand the team as they develop the test for clinical use.
SASKATOON – A University of Saskatchewan (USask) research team is working directly with Indigenous communities throughout Saskatchewan to improve methods for preventing Type 2 diabetes.
Since 2017, the Cameco Chair in Indigenous Health and Wellness at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Medicine has carried out extensive and innovative research to improve the health outcomes of Indigenous people in Canada. A new commitment of $1.25 million from the Royal University Hospital Foundation (RUHF) will ensure that work continues for an additional five years.
Research on new ovarian and pancreatic cancer diagnostics and therapeutics among the projects to receive funding.
Knight Cares and philanthropist Kevin Knight have generously donated $1 million to the University of Saskatchewan (USask) to improve research and care for patients affected by neurological diseases.
Dr. Scott Adams (MD, PhD) is creating artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to more accurately identify people at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
When Dr. Justin Botterill (PhD) first arrived at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), he took what he described as a 'shotgun approach' to choosing classes.
Midway through his undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, a laboratory 'help wanted' poster caught Jeff Dong's eye. He applied, gaining invaluable practical experience that summer in Stephanie Borgland's lab.
Before we’re even born, our bodies begin to grow and train an army of spies and assassins, creating a crew of immune system fighters in the upper chest's thymus gland. While this production is dominated by T cells, other immune cells such as B cells and plasma cells can be generated within the thymus, albeit at a very low level.
Roughly one in six couples in Canada experiences infertility, a figure that has doubled since the 1980s. Many of these couples are turning to assisted reproduction technology (ART) for help with conceiving.
Like a lot of kids, Anurag (Anu) Sakharkar used to dream about being a doctor, or an astronaut. His parents, both academics, encouraged him to follow his dream.
Rope-like bands of internal scar tissue that form in close to 70-90 percent of all patients who undergo abdominal surgery have bedeviled patients and surgeons alike for more than 187 years.
Increasingly, attention paid to health care in Saskatchewan and across Canada has shifted to broader concerns, like physician and other health-care worker shortages. But the pandemic is still a significant part of the challenges being faced in health care here, and worldwide.
When Dr. Rachel Asiniwasis (MD) returned to the prairies after her dermatology residency in Toronto, she noticed a pattern among many of her pediatric patients. Hundreds of them were coming to her with itchy, raw patches of skin, the result of atopic dermatitis — eczema.
After attacking a tumour with a targeted therapy, the cancer might stagger but often comes back fighting — usually even harder to defeat. University of Saskatchewan (USask)-led research has revealed a promising strategy to strike tumour cells and land a knockout blow by choosing the right combination of cellular mechanisms to target together.
SASKATOON – University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are part of a Canada-wide consortium awarded $20 million by the Government of Canada to pursue research into “long COVID,” also known as post-COVID-19 condition (PCC).
Four College of Medicine and School of Rehabilitation Science research teams received funding for Saskatchewan-aligned research needs.
Patients in intensive care units often move to a regular ward before they're discharged and sent home. Increasingly, hospitals are skipping that step, sending a handful of ICU patients directly home.
For decades, families have watched Alzheimer's disease steal their loved ones' cognitive function. It's the most common form of dementia; one that affects a third of people over the age of 85.
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers have received more than $1.3 million for an unprecedented multi-year study of the development of bone structure, density and strength in children with Type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Debra Morgan (PhD) grew up on a farm and continued farming with her husband, initially working in nursing in the winter. Nursing shifts took her from neurosurgery to pediatrics, to orthopedics, then to Saskatoon's geriatric units at City Hospital and Royal University Hospital.
In 2022, an estimated 7,000 Canadians were diagnosed with leukemia, a term used to define cancer of the blood cells. Of that 7,000, it is estimated that nearly half will face mortality. University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Medicine graduate student Ananna Arna dedicated a research project to examine how genetics and DNA replication play a role in leukemia development.
A novel therapy developed for Alzheimer’s disease — previously shown to significantly slow the progression of the disease and, in some instances, reverse cognitive decline — will be tested in a Phase II clinical trial at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
College of Medicine researchers have received Santé Awards from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation for research excellence.
If you've ever sat through a bad date at a restaurant, unsure of what to order, you're still doing better than a typical zebrafish on a date. Dr. Michelle Collins (PhD) said without safety precautions, a zebrafish male and female left together overnight will often eat their embryos.
Nehiyawak (Cree) language echoes through the auditorium at Sakāskohc High School on Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN) on a cold December evening. Four male Elders sit in armchairs at the front of the auditorium taking turns sharing knowledge, memories, and language. Their stories are being recorded for others in the community to access and they will be archived for future generations.
Diagnosing pulmonary diseases like asthma in young children is still largely a matter of trial and error, according to Saskatchewan’s top pediatric respirologist.
While experts in music and immunology may not typically have much in common, an unlikely pair of researchers are leading a new area of research focus for the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
SASKATOON – A recent investment of $17.4 million in a national research and training platform by two federal granting agencies will provide University of Saskatchewan (USask) health and social sciences researchers secure remote access to a wide array of microdata from Statistics Canada.
When Scott Widenmaier left high school, he wasn't sure what career he wanted to pursue.
SASKATOON – Chemotherapy can be a saving grace when facing cancer. When drug-induced neuropathy results from anti-cancer drugs like Cisplatin (CP), a common drug for breast cancers, a way to combat these unwanted side effects is critical for patients to maintain optimal treatment.
