News - Health - Canadian Light Source

Discovery sets stage for vaccine against gastric cancer, ulcers

Researchers from Quebec's National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS) solve structure of protein that plays a key role in helping H. pylori bind to stomach lining

Customized hearing implants: How synchrotron imaging is changing the game

Researchers from Western University use CLS to obtain highly detailed images of the inner ear, paving way for customized programming strategies for hearing implants

New discovery may lead to better vaccines for pork producers

Researchers from University of Manitoba, Leiden University Medical Centre (Netherlands) gain new insights into porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which costs Canadian pork industry estimated $130M annually.

Improving antiviral medication for COVID-19 gives more patients access to treatment

University of Alberta research could pave way for immunocompromised people to safely treat infection.

New hope for fighting malaria: Decoding human antibodies

Using CMCF beamline, researchers from Hospital for Sick Children decode how human antibodies protect us against malaria

Battling antibiotic-resistant pathogens one door knob at a time

New antimicrobial coating could revolutionize cleaning methods

Improved treatment for patients with kidney failure

USask researchers have developed a better membrane for dialysis machines that could lead to safer treatment, improved quality of life for patients with kidney failure.

Newly identified protein could help fight cancer

Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have identified a new protein that helps an oral bacterium thrive in other locations around the body.

Undermining the foundations of bacterial resistance

Scientists from the University of Guelph have used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to better understand how several infectious bacteria, including E. coli., build a protective sugar-based barrier that helps cloak their cells.

Tiny proteins found across the animal kingdom play a key role in cancer spread

Researchers from McGill University have made an exciting discovery about specific proteins involved in the spread of certain cancers.

Researchers study molecular bindings to develop better cancer treatments

A research team based in Winnipeg is using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to find new, cutting-edge ways to battle cancer.

Inside cannabis flowers and chemistry

Researchers used the CLS to uncover how structures in cannabis flowers are connected to the plant's complex chemistry.

Attacking cancer cells from the inside out

Researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) are harnessing the power of proteins to stop cancer cells in their tracks.

Battling biofilm to prevent dangerous lung infections

Researchers from the University of Toronto (U of T) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have identified a promising therapeutic target to help treat lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Blood-type conversion process informed by CLS crystallography now in pre-clinical trials

Application of a discovery that was aided in part by the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan has advanced to pre-clinical trials and is now the basis of a dynamic new startup.

New bone imaging technique could lead to improved osteoporosis treatment

Osteoporosis takes heavy toll on Canadians in terms of physical suffering and economic burden.

Understanding oral bacteria to help fight periodontal disease

Wilfrid Laurier researchers are exploring how bacteria target weak points in the connective ligaments in your mouth.

Modifying water’s structure as low-energy method for removing pollutants

Fresh water is a finite resource vulnerable to contamination.

Better understanding of viral protein could lead to more effective COVID drug treatments with fewer side effects

Although the COVID-19 pandemic may feel like it is winding down for many people, there is still much to be learned about the virus that could help us to keep it at bay in the future.

Brain differences in men and women could affect post-stroke outcomes

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in Canada and have impacted close to 880,000 Canadians over the age of 20.

Unlocking the doors to effective COVID-19 treatments

Developing therapeutics for COVID-19 should lessen the length and severity of the illness, keeping more people out of the hospital and improving patient outcomes.

Scientists invent new material to improve drug delivery to patients

New glow-in-the-dark material can track path of drugs through the human body

New research on the risks of lead exposure from bullets used in big game hunting

For the first time, researchers have used synchrotron imaging to study both the size and spread of bullet fragments in big game shot by hunters.

New insights into a dynamic protein targeted in cancer therapy

New structural information about an enzyme target in cancer medicine could help the development of next generation inhibitors.

Understanding how motor proteins shape our cells

Tiny motors play large roles in our cells and are targets for new therapies.

Researchers work to reduce failures in hip implants

Using light brighter than the sun to help identify the cause of hip implant failure.

Cutting-edge imaging yields new insights into stroke

Synchrotron’s “superhuman vision” made it easy to detect markers of brain damage.

New insights into HIV virus help to understand how it evades immune surveillance

About 38 million people globally are living with HIV.

Tiny machines in bacteria could help make new medicines

Scientists work to unlock the full potential of biological machines that can have a huge impact on human health.

Creating an arsenal of COVID-19 therapeutics

Using the CLS, McGill researchers have discovered a small molecule that may help combat COVID-19 and could contribute to a new arsenal of treatments slowly making their way to market.

Studying toxic chemicals from medical implants and leather

Researchers analyze chemicals that present health concerns as materials degrade.

A promising treatment for ovarian cancer

Scientists are looking to harness the immune system to fight cancer.

Promising new approach to rebuild bone tissue

McGill University researchers used the CLS to advance a novel method for growing synthetic bone tissue.

Research to keep ageing brains lightning-fast

Dr. Kendra Furber uses Mid-IR to focus in on specialized brain cells

New research paves way for tools to target superbug

A. baumannii is a WHO-recognized critical priority pathogen for research, due to antibiotic resistance

Scientists develop new coating to protect kidney failure patients on dialysis

One in every ten Canadians has kidney disease, according to the Kidney Foundation.

Understanding sex differences in heart disease to improve outcomes for women

Heart valve calcification is one of the leading causes of death in Canada.

Developing pain medication with fewer side effects

Pain relief is a critical issue in medicine, but effective pain management is often overlooked.

Developing new drugs for superbugs like MRSA

Scientists are designing better versions of the drugs used to fight antimicrobial-resistant germs like the deadly hospital-acquired superbug MRSA.

Protecting our bones after diabetes and hypertension

Researchers used the CLS to identify a potential bone health therapy.

Understanding how a key antibody targets cancer cells

Important molecular insights for designing improved cancer therapies.

Scientists tackle indoor air pollution

Filtering out pollutants from indoor air is very important for the health of Canadians - as we spend up to 90% of our time indoors.

Dairy discovery could improve dialysis design for kidney failure patients

Researchers with USask Engineering were able to view an industrial milk-filtering #membrane in a way not seen before using our BMIT beamline

Analyzing antibodies

Researchers from the University of Toronto have developed antibodies that can neutralize COVID-19.

Developing antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19 infections

Using the CLS, researchers have isolated some promising inhibitors that could be used to treat COVID-19 infections.

Shutout

Cradle-to-grave product development of successful detergent for athletic use.

Biotron Laboratories Inc.

Determination of the chemical differences between inorganic salt-based nutritional supplements and amino acid chelate products.

Scientists break record while battling antibiotic resistance

Researchers from McGill University used the CLS to determine the physical structure of largest complex ever measured using the CMCF beamline.

The future of stroke treatment

A team of international collaborators has been researching a promising new therapeutic for the treatment of strokes and other brain injuries.

Using light to help combat Parkinson’s disease | Video

Over 100,000 Canadians are living with Parkinson’s disease. McGill researchers are using the Canadian Light Source to help search for potential drug targets for the disease.

Investigating the long-term health impacts of COVID-19

Dr. Jake Pushie is using the CLS and VIDO to study the virus that causes COVID-19 and its effects on blood vessels.

Fighting antibiotic resistance

Researchers report new insights into how a class of antibiotics commonly used in both medicine and agriculture are rendered useless by resistant germs.

Battling bad bugs

University of Guelph scientists fight antibiotic resistance by using our synchrotron to study scab disease in potatoes.

Cleaning pathogens from the air

University of Saskatchewan scientists have designed an air sanitizing device that could help protect us from airborne pathogens like the ones that cause COVID-19 and the common flu.

CO2 and increased immunity | Video

Dr. Dustin King with Simon Fraser University and colleagues are using our CMCF beamlines to get a better understanding of how CO2 could be controlled to improve our immunity.

Helping stroke patients | Video

Dr. Jake Pushie's team at the University of Saskatchewan is examining risk factors for bleeding in the brain after stroke.

Analyzing a detergent to help allergy sufferers | Video

Ecologik, a Saskatoon-based company, used our CMCF beamline to analyze their dishwasher detergent to ensure there were no unknown contaminants in their product.

Improving heart disease outcomes for all patients

McGill researchers used the CLS to get one step closer to understanding the origins of arterial calcification, a process that contributes to heart disease.

Scientists discover potential method to starve the bacteria that cause Tuberculosis

By deepening our understanding of how Tuberculosis bacteria feed themselves, University of Guelph researchers have identified a potential target for drug treatment.

Extending the lifespan of N95 masks

Researchers are working to better understand how decontamination procedures might affect the structure and potential reuse of N95 masks.

Get out your vacuum: Scientists find harmful chemicals in household dust

A team of researchers from the CLS and Memorial University set out to determine whether bromine could be found in household dust.

In search of the perfect system

Streptavidin and biotin form a strong bond invaluable for many biotechnological applications. Researchers have taken a new approach to improve these widely used biotechnology tools.

Studying how to damage the COVID-19 virus

A University of Nevada researcher is using our Mid-IR beamline to study how nucleic acids get damaged under X-ray irradiation.

Innovative testing

Researchers from the CLS and Université Laval are trying to create a device that would make healthcare testing more efficient

Water contaminant could have neurotoxic effects on children

Are those relying on private well water potentially at greater risk? Manganese isn’t considered a major water contaminant in America, but a new study is taking a closer look at whether it should be.

Stopping infection in its tracks

University of Calgary researchers are developing therapeutics for COVID-19.

Finding new therapies

Dr. Jiang Yin is using the CLS to find new therapies that will help treat COVID-19.

How cellular proteins control cancer spread

A new insight into cell signals that control cancer growth and migration could help in the search for effective anti-cancer drugs, according to McGill University researchers who used the CLS.

Promising new drug carrier could improve bone repair and cancer treatments

Western University and Shanghai Institute of Ceramics researchers used the CLS to explore a promising drug carrier that could be used to deliver cancer treatments and therapeutics for severe injuries.

Helping our immune systems bypass antibiotic resistance

As the search continues for new antibiotics to treat drug-resistant infections, researchers used the CLS to try to weaken the ability of bacteria to develop resistance in the first place.

Discovery could lead to stronger dental fillings … and less time at the dentist

Researchers used the CLS to discover how to create stronger dental fillings. This is great news for the 96% of Canadians who will have to contend with at least one cavity during their adult lives.

Developing microbeam radiation therapy for inoperable cancer

An innovative radiation treatment that could one day be a valuable addition to conventional radiation therapy for inoperable brain and spinal tumors is a step closer, thanks to new research led by researchers at the CLS.

Preventing hospital-acquired pneumonia

Researchers used the CLS to identify a previously unrecognized family of enzymes that put us at risk for deadly diseases.

Visualizing the bionanomachines that create potent antibiotics and other modern drugs

Researchers from McGill University and Yale University used the CLS to make a discovery that could help design future therapeutic drugs.

Discovery shows men and women develop heart disease differently

Scientists from McGill University used the CLS to uncover that different minerals block heart valves in men versus women. This discovery could impact how heart disease is diagnosed and treated for the different sexes.

Diabetes discovery challenges known research

A discovery by an international group of scientists challenges known research on diabetes and may open the door to new therapeutic approaches for the disease that affects nearly 500 million people globally.

Filtering for crystal-clear water anywhere in the world

Researchers use Canadian Light Source to advance the quest for an easy, inexpensive and effective filtration system that can be used in underdeveloped and remote areas of the world.

Targeting a deadly childhood winter illness

CLS helps biopharmaceutical company Merck to make a vaccine breakthrough for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a virus that is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in babies.

Finding the right puzzle piece to stop cancer growth

McGill researchers use the CLS to analyze a new class of compounds that could help develop novel therapies for age-related cancers.

Unlocking the door to potential therapeutic treatments for serious complications from infections

Scientists used the CLS to solve the structure of an enzyme that could help burn victims and prevent deaths from different kinds of infections.

New understanding of antibiotic synthesis

Researchers have made great strides in understanding the functioning of enzymes that play and integral role in the production of antibiotics and other therapeutics.

Analyzing poppies to make better drugs

A team of researchers from the University of Calgary has uncovered new information about a class of plant enzymes that could have implications for the pharmaceutical industry.

A new generation of anti-malarial drugs

An international research team used the CLS to help determine the atomic structure of a protein kinase in parasites that cause malaria, which could help create a new generation of anti-malarial drugs.

The future of fighting infections

Researchers used the CLS to study proteins that a pathogen uses to break down sugar chains (glycans) present in human tissue during infections. This could lead to new treatments approaches for the bacterium.

Preventing heart attacks

Scientists from Quebec take an important step towards finding a potential cure for the disease that causes some strokes and heart attacks.

Preventing colorectal cancer and stillbirths

Researchers from the University of British Columbia used the Canadian Light Source to study a protein that could help prevent colorectal cancer and stillbirths.

Revolutionary discovery in leukemia research

Leukemia affects over 6,000 Canadians per year. A team of researchers used the Canadian Light Source to discover a new way to kill leukemia cancer cells.

Fighting antibiotic resistance

Researchers from the Universities of Guelph and Alberta used the CLS to identify a possible target in the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections.

Helping people to hear

Using advanced techniques at the CLS, scientists have created three-dimensional images of the complex interior anatomy of the human ear, which is key to improving the design of hearing implants.

Scientists make breakthrough in creating universal blood type

Researchers from University of British Columbia have made a breakthrough in their technique for converting A and B type blood into universal O, the type that is most needed by blood services.

Helping to shrink cancer tumours

Guided by “blueprints” produced at the CLS, scientists made structural changes to an antibody that is now showing a lot of potential for reducing cancer tumours.

Stress can lead to heart failure

Scientists have shown that heart arrhythmia can be acquired by people who are stressed out even if they have no genetic predisposition. This condition serves as a warning signal for atrial fibrillation and potential heart failure. The good news is that these researchers may have also discovered a potential therapy.