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University of Ottawa


University of Ottawa led research team deciphering what serotonin is saying inside our brains

A University of Ottawa-led research team has deciphered the message that serotonin conveys to the brain, discovering a 'prospective code for value' that explains why neurons are activated by rewards and punishments. This finding has implications across multiple fields, including neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateApr 9, 2025

With risk on the rise, University of Ottawa-led team examines the punishing costs of TB care across the globe

A University of Ottawa-led team examines the punishing costs of TB care, finding that patients face 'catastrophic' expenses despite free treatment being available in many countries. The review identifies areas for intervention to reduce patient costs and improve sustainable TB mitigation strategies.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 9, 2025

New study validates lower limits of human heat tolerance

A new study from the University of Ottawa's Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit has validated lower limits of human heat tolerance, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change impacts on human health. The research found that many regions may soon experience conditions exceeding safe limits for human survival.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 31, 2025

Cold plunges actually change your cells, uOttawa study finds

A new study found that repeated cold exposure improves autophagic function in young males, enhancing cellular health and increasing cellular cold tolerance. This research provides scientific backing for the potential health benefits of cold water immersion and suggests its potential to prevent diseases and slow down aging.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalAdvanced Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2025

Rethinking how we study the impact of heat on heart health

A new meta-analysis of over 400 laboratory studies involving more than 6,800 participants highlights the effects of different heating methods on heart performance under heat stress. The study shows that exposure to encapsulated heating methods can lead to significantly increased heart rates and cardiac strain.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 19, 2025

Taking taiga’s temperature

A new study introduces a powerful tool for analyzing satellite imagery of boreal forests, offering insights into their health and dynamics. The 'needleleaf index' provides critical information on forest cover fluctuations, particularly the impact of recent wildfires, highlighting the vulnerability of these ecosystems to climate change.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·Journalnpj Natural Hazards·TypeCase study·DateMar 11, 2025

Canadian Women’s Movement Archives Collection added to the Canada Memory of the World Register

The Canadian Women’s Movement Archives Collection has been added to the Canada Memory of the World Register, preserving a unique resource for learning about feminist advocacy groups and collective resistance. The collection includes documents, photographs, posters, buttons, textiles, and audiovisual recordings highlighting key issues s...

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·TypeNews article·DateMar 5, 2025

Patient-doctor common tongue key to decreasing cardiovascular disease, longer life

A retrospective cohort study from the University of Ottawa and Manitoba found Canadians with hypertension whose preferred language was spoken by their doctor were 36% less likely to have a major adverse cardiovascular event. Patients with language-accessible care had a 28% lower risk of death compared to those without such access.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 21, 2025

uOttawa study unveils new insights into how neural stem cells are activated in the adult human brain

A University of Ottawa neuroscientist has led a Canadian research team to discover how neural stem cells integrate signals from different cell types and decode them. The study found that low daughter cell numbers trigger activation, while high numbers keep them in quiescence, offering new insights into cellular relationships and potent...

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateFeb 6, 2025

Harnessing electromagnetic waves and quantum materials to improve wireless communication technologies

A team of researchers from the University of Ottawa has developed innovative methods to enhance frequency conversion of terahertz (THz) waves in graphene-based structures, unlocking new potential for faster, more efficient technologies in wireless communication and signal processing. These advancements hold great promise for wireless c...

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2025

A ‘smoke-free generation’ in Canada? New analysis says it would result in vast health gains, healthcare cost savings

A new analysis suggests that implementing a lifetime ban on tobacco products for individuals born after 2009 would result in vast health benefits and healthcare cost savings. The study estimates $2.3 billion less in healthcare costs and 476,814 more quality-adjusted life years for Canadians over a 50-year timespan.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 15, 2025

Unlocking RNA’s benefits to combat complex diseases

Researchers at the University of Ottawa have developed a nanoparticle strategy to deliver both mRNA and siRNA, enhancing and interfering with multiple gene and protein expressions. This approach holds significant promise for treating major diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalNanoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 9, 2024

uOttawa physicists make laser cast a shadow

Researchers at the University of Ottawa have demonstrated a new phenomenon where a laser beam casts a visible shadow, similar to traditional shadows. The study's findings suggest that under certain conditions, light can block other light, creating this effect.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2024

Language comprehension impacts medical prescriptions for Ontario's long-term care Francophone, Allophone residents: uOttawa study

A new study by uOttawa highlights the importance of providing culturally and linguistically concordant care to avoid inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotics. Francophone and Allophone residents are more likely to experience inappropriateness compared to English-language patients.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalBMC Geriatrics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 15, 2024

Tailoring radiation therapy for brain cancer treatment: a personal investigation

Researchers have developed a novel platform for testing radiation therapy effects on brain cells, providing insights into how the brain reacts to cancer treatment. The study aims to improve treatment strategies by understanding the impact of radiation on neural circuits, ultimately leading to personalized care for patients.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 18, 2024

Can’t buy me love: TikTok users seek authenticity in sponsored content, dismissing top influencers in favor of smaller creators

Research from uOttawa's Telfer School of Management reveals that consumers distrust super-influencers with high follower counts and instead engage more with smaller creators promoting sponsored content. This is attributed to the size of these micro-influencers, which fosters a stronger sense of trust with their audience.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalPsychology and Marketing·TypeContent analysis·DateAug 22, 2024

The search for the earliest traces of life on Earth

Researchers from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University have re-examined the carbon in 3.9-billion-year-old Canadian rocks, challenging previous interpretations that they showed signs of biological life. The study found that graphite in these rocks may have formed without organic life through a carbon-extraction process.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 8, 2024

Unveiling 1,200 years of human occupation in Canada’s Arctic

Researchers detected Paleo-Inuit and Thule-Inuit settlements on Somerset Island using sediment samples, providing new insights into Arctic cultures. The study suggests the Thule-Inuit population arrived earlier than previously estimated, with increased presence from the 13th to 15th centuries.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeContent analysis·DateJul 11, 2024

Sugar-coating quantum systems to harvest science

A team of international scientists has developed a method to confine light inside an organic material, forming a hybrid quantum state. By using a planar resonator and depositing a thin glucose layer, the researchers created a strong interaction between light and glucose molecules in sugar, resulting in new physical properties.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2024

Healing faster: Unveiling the future of tissue & organ repair

A team of scientists at the University of Ottawa has developed a novel peptide-based hydrogel that can be used for on-the-spot repair to damaged organs and tissues. The material shows great potential for closing skin wounds, delivering therapeutics to damaged heart muscle, and reshaping and healing injured corneas.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2024