As resistance to antimicrobial drugs rises, understanding the mechanisms at play could help doctors treat patients Researchers are investigating how disease-causing fungi become resistant to antifungal drugs to help prevent potentially devastating consequences of the growing resistance harmful microbes are developing to drugs. “Antimicrobial drugs are fundamental for us to live healthy lives,” says Daniel…
Contamination actually occurred during vaginal delivery, clinical procedures or DNA sequencing Scientific claims that babies harbour bacteria while still in the womb are inaccurate, according to University of Alberta researchers involved in an international study. The perspective paper, published in Nature, should settle a debate in the research community about whether a fetal microbiome exists,…
Investment in iconic Bay Building preserves city’s heritage while creating a vibrant hub for innovation The City of Edmonton is in the midst of a major drive to breathe new life into its downtown core, investing $4.7 billion since 2015 in new residential, office, cultural, educational and entertainment space. A key part of that revitalization…
Finding unexpected because women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s more often than men Scientists at the University of Alberta have discovered that important risk factors in Alzheimer’s disease affect males and females very differently. “Two types of risk for Alzheimer’s disease work differently for males and females, and dramatically so,” says Mackenzie Heal, neuroscience master’s student…
Portraying views opposed to those held by health experts stokes needless controversy When they launched their study, Timothy Caulfield and Marco Zenone could hardly have anticipated how the issue would capture headlines in Alberta. And yet they decided to examine how the common COVID-19 vaccination requirement for organ transplant recipients is represented in the popular…
Making faster, safer decisions in real-time would enhance the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles Imagine a child jumping out in front of your car as you drive down a residential street. Now count to three. That’s how long it could take a self-driving car with insufficient data – confused over whether to brake or…
Fabric could be used to produce protective uniforms for soldiers, hospital workers, firefighters and paramedics Clothing that can kill viruses and bacteria on contact helps protect the people who protect us, but getting that type of protective finish onto the uniforms first responders wear is a big challenge. University of Alberta researchers are working to…
The stigma attached to being a Covid long-hauler has the potential to negatively impact patient outcomes High levels of stigma experienced by some COVID long-haulers are associated with more intense symptoms, reduced physical function and loss of employment due to disability, according to newly published research from a Lancet medical journal. Specialists working in Edmonton’s…
The drugs target an enzyme involved in lowering blood sugar Researchers have found that a class of older antipsychotic drugs could be a promising new therapeutic option for people with Type 2 diabetes, helping fill a need among patients who can’t take other currently available treatments. “There is a growing need to find new therapies…
Homeless make more than 26,000 visits to Alberta emergency departments each year Edmonton emergency department patients who lack housing will soon get a chance to find permanent homes following their hospital stay, thanks to a new transition housing program. “No one should leave emergency without a place to go and a roof over their head,”…