Draft recommendations for Canadian physicians, which call for more cautious prescribing of opioids to patients with chronic pain, have been issued for public comment. The recommendations for clinical practice have been led by McMaster University researchers and developed by a large team of clinicians, researchers and patients. The work was funded by Health Canada.

An intense focus on research by medical students has earned international praise for the Niagara Regional Campus of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. The Association of American Medical Colleges recently awarded "The Star of Education Innovation" to the campus in recognition of the school's efforts of "promoting scholarship through development of a positive research culture."

Assistant professor of medicine Dr. Teresa Chan has won the 2017 Young Educators Award from the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC).

Imagine that one day you're working in the heart of London, UK and then the next you're travelling to Jordan amidst the Syrian refugee crisis… That just begins to describe the experience of Health Policy PhD student Ahmad Firas Khalid, who spent three months this summer in London, UK at an internship with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders. He writes about his experience as a Queen Elizabeth Scholar and shares his insights.

The 2016 listing of the world's most highly cited researchers includes 14 scientists from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. Clarivate Analytics recently released its Highly Cited Researchers list, formerly known as Thomson Reuter's annual publication of The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds. Nine McMaster researchers were listed in the clinical medicine category, five in social sciences, and one in psychiatry/psychology.

The professor who wrote the "cult classic" paper about why most published research findings are false, will give the Chanchlani Global Health Research lecture at McMaster University on Feb. 6. Dr. John Ioannidis, a Stanford University professor and one of the most cited experts in clinical medicine and social sciences, will talk about the current status of research practices and examine how these affect the use of scientific research in biomedicine and beyond.

Back in the '90s, patients would ask radiation oncologist Dr. Stephen Sagarabout other approaches to their cancer care, but often those alternatives did not make sense or were potentially harmful. Those requests prompted the McMaster University oncology professor to start research into which evidence-based complementary therapies could be helpful, particularly with symptom control. He and his team have integrated acupuncture, exercise, meditation, yoga, tai chi and nutritional changes with conventional care.

Hamilton, ON (Jan. 10, 2017) – Little money is spent researching the health of prisoners in Canada, even though this is a large population with a disproportionate burden of illness, says a new study from McMaster University.

Dr. William Walsh, one of the five "founding fathers" of the McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, died on Jan. 7 at age 92. Walsh was the second faculty member hired for the new medical school when the Hamilton physician was appointed assistant dean by the founding dean Dr. John Evans in August 1965. Along with three of Evans' colleagues from the University of Toronto -- Dr. Fraser Mustard, Dr. William Spaulding and Dr. James Anderson -- the five envisioned a then-radical approach to training physicians.

Ever wondered how the Ontario health system works? You can find answers in a book edited by the McMaster Health Forum's director, entitled 'Ontario's health system: Key insights for engaged citizens, professionals and policymakers.' The goal of this book is to help make the system more understandable to students, the professionals who work in it (and future professionals who will one day work in it), citizens who pay for it and are served by it, and the policymakers who govern it.

The widening scope of disciplines and expertise of McMaster University's Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CE&B) has led to a name change. The department is now officially the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, to be known in short form as HEI. The name change, approved by the university's senate and the board of governors, was effective Jan. 1. "Our new name powerfully connects us to the department's history in evidence-based medicine and the global impact it has had," said Holger Schünemann, chair of HEI since 2009. "The name also captures the department's strategic goal of extending its leadership in achieving greater direct impact on people's health."

Early bicycle exercise during their stay in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU) may help some patients recover more quickly. Researchers at McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton have demonstrated that physiotherapists can safely start in-bed cycling sessions with critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients early on in their ICU stay.

The 18-Month Visit Planner is a free planning and educational app that lets parents decide which health priorities they want to talk about at the checkup. The app even suggests questions for parents to ask in the important areas of physical health, motor and language skills, safety, parenting and healthy habits, and social and emotional development.

Dr. Harriet MacMillan received her investiture as a member of the Order of Canada in Ottawa last week from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.

Three McMaster research projects have received a combined investment of $1.68M over three years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC).

Representing McMaster University, a team of nine students attended the International Women's and Children's Health Conference at Manipal University, India. The conference was hosted by Manipal School of Nursing and welcomed over 500 delegates from 19 countries. The event also reached out to members of various disciplines involved in global health including scientists, environmentalists, nurses, physicians, midwives, nutritionists, politicians and social workers.

Although they may be early in their careers, the latest recipients of the Michael G. DeGroote Fellowship Awards are already making a significant mark in their fields of study.

Women who have multiple pregnancies are at a greater risk of developing an irregular heartbeat, according to new research led by a McMaster University researcher.

A French-language version of the popular McMaster Optimal Aging Portal has been launched at https://www.mcmastervieillissementoptimal.org/.

Climate change has a web of impact. And when it comes to the health of people living in the Arctic, it is a serious issue. This was the subject of the first online lecture of the MSc Global Health program's innovative new course: Global transition within local communities. Small places, big changes.

Videos submitted by McMaster researchers have captured two of three runner-up positions in the 2016 IHDCYH Talks Video Competition.

An international search for two senior scientists with outstanding reputations in the areas of thrombosis and atherosclerosis research, and cardiology research, has found the very best candidates at home at McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

School of Nursing students who have made an extra commitment were recognized in a ceremony this week that celebrated 130 awards from the generosity of donors.

McMaster University researchers have discovered that while survivors of childhood brain tumours have a similar Body Mass Index (BMI) to healthy children with no cancer, they have more fat tissue overall, and especially around the abdomen.

A new study led by researchers from McMaster University has shown that, while relatively rare in the general population, there are a large number of varied, genetic syndromes associated with obesity.

It may be possible to reverse Type 2 diabetes in some patients, using oral medications, insulin and lifestyle therapies, according to a small pilot study led by researchers from McMaster University.

Dr. William (Bill) Bensen, a nationally recognized rheumatologist who was a McMaster alumnus, faculty member and donor, died March 15. He was 67.

An international research team with prominent Canadian leadership has found that the blood thinner rivaroxaban is as safe as aspirin, and more effective at preventing recurrence of life-threatening blood clots in the legs and lungs, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Two McMaster students will spend the summer learning about the relationship between culture and identity in five different countries around the world.

The Faculty of Health Sciences is undertaking to establish a new Indigenous Health Initiative in order to better integrate Indigenous knowledge and issues into educational and research programs within the Faculty, in concert with the ongoing work across campus.

McMaster University and Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington have been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for the design and construction of the Halton McMaster Family Health Centre (HMFHC).

Researchers from Canada, South Africa and Italy have identified a new gene that can lead to sudden death among young people and athletes.

McMaster University researchers have found a new way to treat the world's worst infectious diseases, the superbugs that are resistant to all known antibiotics.

Research from McMaster University has found that bacteria in the gut impacts both intestinal and behavioural symptoms in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a finding which could lead to new microbiota-directed treatments.

For Martin Chasen, it's all about getting into a patient's world and being brought along on their journey, where the physician feels he can truly make a difference in their quality of life. That is what inspires this year's winner of McMaster University's Elizabeth J. Latimer Prize in Palliative Care.

Dr. Amanda Bell, an alumna of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, becomes the regional assistant dean of its Niagara Regional Campus on July 1.

A Hamilton patient is the first trial participant to receive a novel experimental immunotherapy treatment for lung cancer.

Associate professor of nursing Sandra Carroll, known for her achievements in cardiovascular nursing research, will be the acting associate dean and director of McMaster's School of Nursing (SON), beginning July 1.

Associate professor Karen Saperson has a reputation for mentoring both medical residents and new faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences towards academic excellence.

Sharon Cameron, who oversaw McMaster University postgraduate medical education for 25 years, is receiving a national award for her work.

For some Mohawk College students, anatomy class is filled with anticipation and plenty of "a-ha" moments. That's because, for the first time, these students are studying the human body in McMaster University's anatomy labs.

Gut microbes cause age-associated inflammation and premature death in mice, McMaster University researchers have found. The study could lead to new strategies to improve intestinal health and immune function in older adults.

Dr. Murray Enkin, a McMaster University professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology who retired almost 30 years ago, returned to campus recently for the last of the annual Enkin Lectureships hosted by the departments of obstetrics and gynecology; health research methods, evidence and impact and the midwifery education program.

Scientists in the Bhatia lab at McMaster University's Stem Cell and Cancer Institute (SCC-RI) have uncovered a solution to a major roadblock in unlocking the potential of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), the cells that hold the potential to become any cell type in the body.

In a landmark study, researchers at McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton have found that providing clinical (low) doses of penicillin to pregnant mice and their offspring results in long-term behavioural changes.

A new study suggests that the use of cannabis may impact treatment in women undergoing methadone treatment therapy.

Susan Birnie says there are many McMaster people who deserve the honour of the President's Lifetime Achievement Award, so she is especially humbled that she was chosen.

McMaster University has received $417,500 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for research projects that analyze data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).

A trial led by a McMaster University respirology professor shows promising results for a new medicine for severe asthma patients.

John You and Deborah Cook were among the nation-wide recipients sharing an $8 million investment. The funding is aimed at boosting Canada's knowledge base and body of evidence to transform care for older adults living with frailty.

Two new physicians are graduating from the Niagara Regional Campus of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine with a "sense of wow".

At law school Thom Ringer spent much of his time providing pro bono legal services to immigrants, low-wage workers, and survivors of domestic violence. Once called to the bar, the young lawyer found he preferred working in an interdisciplinary environment and assisting people with problems impacting their daily lives in a tangible and immediate way.

Whether it's volunteering at her children's school or planting trees in the community, Jennifer Kays Sommer says a key part of her identity is defined by giving back to the Waterloo region.

In a study published in the medical journal Gastroenterology (May 2), researchers of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute found that twice as many adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) reported improvements from co-existing depression when they took a specific probiotic than adults with IBS who took a placebo.

Seven researchers from across the disciplines have earned Early Researcher Awards to advance their work – a collective investment of nearly $1 million from the Province of Ontario.

International university collaborations were the focus of the visit to McMaster University by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and her husband Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven on Monday.

The McMaster University Faculty Association (MUFA) presented Lori Burrows, member of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research and a professor and associate chair of biochemistry and biomedical sciences with a MUFA Award for Outstanding Service at the Association's Annual General Meeting yesterday.

For retired Nursing professor and two-time McMaster graduate Alba DiCenso, food was the way to keep culture alive.

Canadian physicians are being advised to reduce their prescribing of opioid medication to patients with chronic non-cancer pain in a new guideline for clinical care that focuses on harm reduction.

Dr. Mark Levine, professor and chair of oncology at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, is inducted as a member of the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada David Johnston in an investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on May 12.

The 2017 Canadian Guideline for Opioid Therapy and Chronic Non-Cancer Pain was developed in co-operation with Health Canada and The Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Back in 1914, Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture, a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River territory, had to move to the U.S. for nursing school. Discrimination and restrictions on higher education for Indigenous people prevented her training in Canada.

Molecular clouds and microbiota. Galaxies and gastrointestinal tracts. Planets and probiotics.

A McMaster University professor with a legacy of improving health care for the past 50 years, particularly for children and their families, has been named to the Order of Canada.

Acting chairs have been appointed for short terms in pathology and molecular medicine, and oncology.

Mark Crowther, the chair of pathology and molecular medicine, will become the chair of the Department of Medicine for the Faculty of Health Sciences on July 1.

A bright yellow bench sits in the lobby of the Health Sciences Library at McMaster University, but it has more significance than just another place to study or drink an iced latte.

A team of researchers at McMaster University has identified a unique feature of cancer stem cells that can be exploited to kill the deadly cells thought to be the reason that cancer comes back after therapy. Understanding this feature will be useful for delivering more targeted cancer therapeutics to the right patients.

J. Mark Walton, a professor of pediatric surgery, has been appointed as the inaugural associate dean of faculty affairs for the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. This is a new position that will provide guidance to the Faculty's dean and vice-president on faculty issues, professional development and engagement.

An international team involving dozens of stakeholders from patients and policy makers to payers and government agencies are getting together to set how gene therapies in hemophilia should be measured for effectiveness.

Jonathan Bramson, the assistant dean of research infrastructure, will become the new associate dean of research for the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) on July 1.

A department chair and program assistant dean will remain seated, while another department chair is temporarily filled, in appointments which have been announced. Eileen Hutton has been reappointed assistant dean of midwifery, while David Koff and Cathy Risdon have been named acting chairs for radiology and family medicine, respectively.

Nikki Berza knew from a young age that she wanted to make a difference in children's lives. Growing up surrounded by younger cousins, she found herself enjoying their company and helping care for them.

An award recognizing an individual's outstanding contribution to the advancement of critical care sciences in Canada is being given to Deborah Cook.

Delaying the introduction of potentially allergenic foods until after a baby's first year may increase the likelihood of a food allergy later on, according to new findings from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Study.

John Kelton, a native of Windsor, was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws by the University of Windsor at its recent Faculty of Nursing convocation.

McMaster nursing student Thomas Kambadzi is cooking up a career in health care – and he is already busy with house calls.

Health TAPESTRY, a program developed at McMaster University to help older adults stay out of emergency rooms and be more mobile, is expanding to six Ontario communities this fall.

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are Canada's most prestigious awards for doctoral students working in health sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities. Vanier Scholars receive $50,000 a year for up to three years of research.

The high quality of research by graduate and postdoctoral students was celebrated at the 2017 Faculty of Health Sciences Research Plenary Awards reception yesterday (May 31) afternoon in the Jan and Mien Heersink Reading Pavilion of the Health Sciences Library.

Heather Arthur, a renowned McMaster University nurse scientist, has passed away. Arthur, who pioneered cardiac rehabilitation research in Canada, died Thursday morning from cancer.

There's a famous saying that life is a journey, not a destination. Mohit Bhandari, professor and head of orthopaedic​surgery at McMaster, aimed to take this mantra and put it into action during a one-day team-building excursion with three of his graduate students and two of their partners in the Canadian Rockies.

A legacy is being set for Heather Arthur, a McMaster University nurse scientist who pioneered cardiac rehabilitation research in Canada. An endowed research chair is being established in her name.

Alison Fox-Robichaud, a professor of medicine, was recently named the director of medical education for Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) and McMaster University.

For the second year, doves were released across campus as part of the annual Service of Gratitude held recently to honour those who donated their bodies to the Education Program in Anatomy.

A new book will provide a definitive guide to the findings from cutting-edge clinical research on addiction to front-line clinicians.

Do extremely low birth weight babies age prematurely, and can preterm births be forecast through statistical modeling?

A new program beginning this September at McMaster that combines engineering and health sciences has attracted many of the best and brightest minds.

Global healthcare is changing, and McMaster University is at the forefront of that change with the Health Leadership Academy (HLA).

Research with more than 135,000 people across five continents has shown that a diet which includes a moderate intake of fat and fruits and vegetables, and avoidance of high carbohydrates, is associated with lower risk of death.

A major international study has found that the combination of two drugs – rivaroxaban and aspirin -- is superior to aspirin alone in preventing further heart complications in people with vascular disease.

Felicia Vulcu and Sandeep Raha were among this year's five recipients of the award which recognizes contributions to education through innovation, continued excellence in teaching and enhanced student learning at McMaster University.

Jakob Magolan is excited when he talks about the research opportunities that an organic chemist can bring to the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

Janet McMordie, a McMaster University '13 MD alumna, is keeping Canadian athletes at the top of their games at the FISU (International University Sport Federation) 29th Summer Universiade 2017 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Research from McMaster University has identified new regulators of brain metastases in patients with lung cancer.

Crawford is one of 17 undergraduate students who spent the past eight weeks participating in the Indigenous Undergraduate Summer Research Scholars (IUSRS) program.

James Paul, associate professor of anesthesia, has been named the chair of the Department of Anesthesia in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Brian Coombes has been named acting chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences.

Physical activity of any kind can prevent heart disease and death, says a large international study involving more than 130,000 people from 17 countries published this week in The Lancet.

The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA) and The Walrus Foundation are confronting the topic of mobility within Canada's aging population.

Karen Mossman, professor in pathology and molecular medicine, has been named the University's associate vice-president, research.

Dr. Russell Joffe, former dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University, is being remembered for his intelligence, leadership and larger-than-life presence.

Sam Lambert, a first-year medical student at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University, has won The Amazing Race Canada.

New recommendations on antiretroviral drugs for pregnant women living with HIV can help women make more informed choices about benefits and harms, according to a panel of international experts.

Researchers at McMaster University have learned more about the regulation of a cellular-signalling pathway involved in the development of several types of cancer, including colon cancer.

Mark Crowther, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

As part of McMaster University's new #BrighterWorld brand introduction, 13 researchers from the Faculty are among those showcased on banners across campus.

A new $2.7 million national study is aiming to narrow the gap between the care that frail elderly Canadians want and the care that they receive by evaluating ways to improve care planning conversations between patients, families and health professionals.

Researchers Dr. Zhou Xing and Dr. Fiona Smaill have received federal funding to study anti-TB immunity and to test their innovative adenovirus-based tuberculosis vaccine which they have been developing over the past decade. Both are professors of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine and members of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research.

The 2017 inductees for the Faculty of Health Sciences' Community of Distinction are Brian Haynes and Geoff Norman of the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact and the late Maureen Andrew of the Department of Pediatrics.

The Good Bugs, Bad Bugs program, led by Canada Research Chair in Chemical Biology, Eric Brown, received nearly $6 million to allow researchers to generate a more thorough understanding of the ways in which microbes benefit us and sometimes cause disease.

Killing cancer cells indirectly by powering up fat cells in the bone marrow could help acute myeloid leukemia patients, according to a new study from McMaster University.

Canadian academic institutions and research organizations are congratulating Turnstone Biologics on a new partnership with AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, to develop cancer-fighting viruses (also called oncolytic viral immunotherapies).

McMaster University researchers Mohit Bhandari and Sheila Sprague, together with Gerard Slobogean of the University of Maryland, have received funding of more than $14 million to launch a new research program in fracture management.

Decreased exposure to bullying and family problems during childhood and adolescence could help reduce adult mental illness in extremely low birth weight preemies, according to a new study from McMaster University.

The Program for Research and Development (PERD) has been renamed the McMaster FHS program for Education Research, Innovation and Theory (MERIT).

Antibiotics administered during labour for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) affect the development of gut bacteria in babies, according to a study from McMaster University.

A play that addresses the health issues of Hamilton's homeless and vulnerably housed people and invites the audience to be involved, is being staged on Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2.

The immune system plays a pivotal role in the amount of pain and disease progression experienced by patients with osteoarthritis (OA), McMaster University researchers have found.

Every year, more than 4.5 million people around the world suffer a hip fracture, and that number is expected to climb. Globally, hip fracture ranks among the top 10 causes of disability.

For Matei Stoian and Nisha Kansal the field of medicine means providing medical assistance to marginalized communities and helping decrease the disparity that exists in health care.

Almost forty years ago, Dr. Robert Lancaster was an intern for chief resident Dr. Paul O'Byrne, now dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.

It was while caring for his younger brother that Sheetij Ricky Ghoshal realized he wanted to help take medical discovery from the bench to the bedside.

Tammy Troy-Hempey formally begins as the executive director of education services for the Faculty of Health Sciences this week.

Children at one year old who have eczema or atopic dermatitis (AD) and are sensitized to an allergen are seven times more likely than other infants to develop asthma, and significantly more likely to have a food allergy by age three.

Targeted, personalized treatment may soon be on the way for some of Canada's 2.4-million asthma sufferers, thanks to McMaster post-doctoral fellow Sarah Svenningsen.

Steinberg, a professor of medicine of McMaster's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, received the Diabetes Canada/Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Nutrition Metabolism and Diabetes Young Scientist Award. The award recognizes outstanding research conducted in Canada by scientists under the age of 45 in the field of diabetes.

Is there a way to motivate first-year university students to be physically active as a means to enhance their post-secondary experience and foster positive mental health?

Three visionary leaders considered 'giants' in their fields, whose research and contributions furthered the distinction and reputation of McMaster University and its Faculty of Health Sciences, were recognized with an induction to the Community of Distinction.

Medicinal cannabis has been legal in Canada since 2001, but there is still little research proving its effectiveness. A new research centre has been launched by McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton to address the issue.

High-risk sexual behavior like sex work may be biologically linked to an increased risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), new research at McMaster University has found.

The McMaster Health Forum convened a stakeholder dialogue, December 14, 2017, on the subject of developing a national pain strategy for Canada.