Alumni

Welcome message from the Dean / Message de bienvenue de la doyenne

valerie.mcleod@mcgill.ca — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:30:14 +0000

Dear Macdonald Campus Community,

It is with great excitement and gratitude that I begin my journey as the new Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Associate Vice-President of the Macdonald Campus at ��ñ��. As I begin my term, I’m excited to connect with each of you - professors, lecturers, staff, learners, students, alumni, donors, and allies. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me.

Exploring the power of research at the 2025 Lister Science Chats

admin — Tue, 20 May 2025 13:23:28 +0000

On May 2, 2025, over 60 people gathered in the John Abbott College Library for the Lister Science Chats, where four Macdonald Campus graduate students presented their research and shared how past events as well as the discoveries, sometimes unintentional, and techniques of previous scientists made their work possible.

Project to create AI model for ALS receives Génome Québec funding

admin — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:29:17 +0000

$400,000 will fuel public-private collaboration to discover new disease biomarkers

A new project co-led by Thomas Durcan, PhD, Director of The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit, and overseen by Mathilde Chaineau, PhD, the EDDU’s program manager, will receive $400,000 in support from Génome Québec. In partnership with Nardin Nakhla and Armstrong Murira from the Montreal-based company Simmunome, Durcan and Chaineau will develop a computational model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on which to test for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

New publication in Science from the Bernard lab with former and current Cell Biology graduate students Emilie Brûlé and Hailey Schultz

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:56:32 +0000

Myostatin is a paracrine myokine that regulates muscle mass in a variety of species, including humans. In this work, they report a functional role for myostatin as an endocrine hormone that directly promotes pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) synthesis and thereby ovarian function in mice. Previously, this FSH-stimulating role was attributed to other members of the transforming growth factor-β family, the activins. Their results both challenge activin's eponymous role in FSH synthesis and establish an unexpected endocrine axis between skeletal muscle and the pituitary gland.

Research | Viral DNA sequences in the human genome may help control gene activity, new study shows

admin — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:40:53 +0000

Long dismissed as “junk,” viral fragments buried in human DNA may help regulate our genes, according to a new international study co-led by Guillaume Bourque, professor in ��ñ��’s Department of Human Genetics, D2R-funded researcher and member of the D2R Research Steering Committee and Executive (RSC). The findings offer new insights into what makes us human, 25 years after the human genome was first mapped.

New publication from the Bui Lab in Current Biology on cilia tip structure

admin — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:16:09 +0000

Motile cilia are specialized organelles essential for cell movement and fluid flow, driven by the beating of their internal cytoskeleton called the axoneme. At the core of the axoneme lies the central pair (CP) of microtubules, which features a distinct distal tip structure critical for motility. However, the proteins stabilizing this region have remained largely unknown.

Human instruction with artificial intelligence guidance provided best results in neurosurgical training

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:14:02 +0000

Study has implications beyond medical education, suggesting other fields could benefit from AI-enhanced training

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a powerful new tool in training and education, including in the field of neurosurgery. Yet a new study suggests that AI tutoring provides better results when paired with human instruction.

Expanding access to specialized healthcare across Quebec: ECHO Superhub at The Neuro

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:37:02 +0000

Free, online training program strengthens training and brings specialized care to communities across Quebec

A healthcare telementoring program housed at The Neuro and supported by the Transforming Autism Care Consortium (TACC) is expanding its reach after achieving designation as an ECHO Superhub. Under the direction of Julie Scorah, PhD, this milestone ensures that specialized knowledge reaches underserved communities.

AI analysis of healthcare records reveals key factors in autism diagnosis

admin — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:23:21 +0000

Scientists argue the criteria we use for diagnosing autism may need revision

Without clear and effective biological tests for autism based on genes, brain or blood measurements, diagnosis today still largely depends on clinical assessment. The standard way of doing this is by observing how the individual fits the criteria for autism listed in gold standard manuals like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

��ñ�� Professor Simon Caron-Huot awarded a 2025 Dorothy Killam Fellowship

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:40:33 +0000

Simon Caron-Huot, Professor and Canada Research Chair in High-Energy Physics, has been awarded a 2025 Dorothy Killam Fellowship. The prestigious Dorothy Killam Fellowship is part of Canada’s National Killam Program, which also includes the Killam Prize. Eight Fellowships were awarded across the country.

The Dorothy Killam Fellowship provides researchers with up to two years of relief from teaching and administrative duties to focus on transformative research that has potential to positively improve Canadian lives.

��ñ�� researchers help ATLAS Collaboration share in 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

admin — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:35:19 +0000

Twenty-eight ��ñ�� researchers are among the winners of the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their contributions to the ATLAS Collaboration at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Sometimes referred to as the Oscars of Science, Breakthrough prizes are awarded annually by the foundation of the same name for achievements in life sciences, fundamental physics and mathematics.

2025 Faculty of Science Excellence Award winners announced

admin — Fri, 23 May 2025 15:09:58 +0000

Danielle Vlaho (Academic Associate), Joe Iantomasi (Clerical), Luisa Sabaz (Management), and Badawy Sha’ath (Technical) have been named recipients of the Faculty of Science Excellence Awards.

These awards, announced at the Faculty of Science Council meeting on May 20th, recognize the outstanding contributions made by members of the Faculty’s administrative and support staff during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Read below the citations prepared by the Faculty of Science Excellence Awards Committee.

Science Showcase helps students build communication skills

admin — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:45:58 +0000

Students from across the University gathered at the University Centre (SSMU) on March 25 to share their research, fieldwork, in-class assignments and passion projects in a supportive, non-competitive environment.

��ñ�� names winners of the 2025 President’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media

admin — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:45:04 +0000

Congratulations to Jérôme Waldispühl and Attila Szantner (Computer Science), The Eclipse Task Force (Physics), and Andrew Gonzalez (Biology), who are among this year's winners of the President’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media!

In announcing the winners and runners-up, President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini noted that they were among a strong field of applicants spanning all 12 Faculties.

“This is further evidence that the sharing of knowledge and a love of learning are core ��ñ�� values,” he said.

Appointment of Alanna Watt as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Science

admin — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:28:54 +0000

Dear community members,

I am pleased to announce that Professor Alanna Watt, of the Department of Biology, has graciously agreed to take on the role of Interim Dean of Science, effective July 1, 2025. She will oversee the Faculty while we continue the search for a new Dean of Science. In accordance with the University Statutes, an Advisory Committee will be established to support this process.

Experience and expertise