Research conducted by McGill researchers ranks among the year’s best, according to Québec Science magazine.
The magazine has published its annual top 10 list of the province’s most groundbreaking scientific discoveries, and three have ties to McGill researchers.
The three studies affiliated with McGill researchers address some of the world’s most pressing challenges: extreme climate change, treatment for cancer patients, and the quality of seawater.
“I wish to congratulate the researchers who’ve been recognized by Québec Science for their remarkable contributions to scientific discovery,” says Martha Crago, McGill’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “This distinction reflects the excellent contribution McGill University makes to science in Quebec and also the significant impact of their work to improving the health of global populations and the planet.”
One of highlighted studies – concerning the Labrador Current in the North Atlantic – was carried out entirely by McGill researchers from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Department Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.
All winning studies represent a breakthrough or major advance in their discipline. This year’s results are a repeat of last year’s success, which saw the magazine honour three McGill studies.
Members of the public can vote for their favourite discovery amongst the 10 nominees. Head to the Québec Science website to show your support for the outstanding McGill researchers and their colleagues who worked on the following projects. Cast your vote and have a chance to win a family activity at the ASTROLab at parc national du Mont-Mégantic during the solar eclipse on April 8.
The pathways of the Labrador Current
Mathilde Jutras, Alfonso Mucci (Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences); Carolina Dufour, Lauryn Talbot (Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)
The Labrador Current is a cold-water current in the North Atlantic Ocean that flows south near Newfoundland and Labrador. Changes to its flow is leading to sudden warmings or drops in the oxygen levels of the waters in several regions – a change that has dire consequences for marine ecosystems and fisheries. To better predict what could happen in the future, McGill’s researchers set out to determine what controls the pathway of the Labrador Current.
“It’s crucial to know where all the water ends up, since this has a significant impact on the marine life and water properties in regions where it’s exported,” says Mathilde Jutras.
Predicting the recurrence of lung cancer
Mark Sorin (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Dept. of Human Genetics); Morteza Rezanejad (University of Toronto); Elham Karimi and Benoit Fiset (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute); Lysanne Desharnais (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Dept. of Human Genetics); Lucas J. M. Perus, Simon Milette and Miranda W. Yu (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Dept. of Physiology); Sarah M. Maritan (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Dept. of Medicine); Samuel Doré (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Dept. of Human Genetics); Émilie Pichette (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences); William Enlow and Andréanne Gagné (Université Laval); Yuhong Wei (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute); Michèle Orain (Université Laval); Venkata S. K. Manem (Université Laval, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières); Roni Rayes (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute); Peter M. Siegel (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Depts. of Medicine and Biochemistry); Sophie Camilleri-Broët and Pierre Olivier Fiset (Dept. of Pathology); Patrice Desmeules (Université Laval); Jonathan D. Spicer (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Depts. of Medicine and Surgery); Daniela F. Quail (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Depts. of Physiology and Medicine); Philippe Joubert (Université Laval); and Logan A. Walsh (Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Dept. of Human Genetics)
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Quebec and Canada, killing more individuals than prostate, colon, and breast cancers combined.
The research team used AI to analyse more than 1.6 million cells and was able to pinpoint a patient’s risk of recurrence with 95.9 per cent accuracy based on a 1 mm2 tumour sample.
“Our study is an example of how technology, including artificial intelligence, can help us improve clinical decision-making for cancer patients,” says Logan A. Walsh, PhD.
Determining the trigger of the ‘Snowball Earth’ event
Frédéric Dufour and Joshua H.F.L. Davies (Université du Québec à Montréal); (Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences); Thomas Skulski (Natural Resources Canada); Galen P. Halverson (Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences); Ross Stevenson (Université du Québec à Montréal)
Researchers at UQAM and McGill have confirmed the cause of an extreme global cooling event that occurred 717 million ago years old and gave birth to the Snowball Earth. The answer was located at the northernmost point of the Canada: Nunavut.
