Sylvain Bouix, from École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), Martha E. Shenton and Ofer Pasternak, from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Harvard University), and René Kahn, from Mount Sinai Hospital (New York) has just received US $33 million in funding—the equivalent of CAD 45 million—over five years from the National Institute of Mental Health to better understand the mechanisms of action of new drugs designed to treat psychosis.

Kidney disease is a global health concern, but conventional tests that check creatinine levels often overlook early signs of damage. To solve this, researchers developed an innovative biosensor that detects symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), a byproduct of protein breakdown.  The sensor uses special peptides to measure SDMA in urine with high accuracy and does not need additional diagnostic equipment. This simple, cost-effective tool enables early detection of kidney issues, supporting timely interventions and improved patient outcomes.

The presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in all the world’s oceans but one has been in steady decline since 2001, when 152 countries agreed on a comprehensive global ban. The exception has been the Arctic Ocean, which has seen a sharp rise in POPs in its frigid waters over the past several decades. A new study in Science Advances says ocean and air currents are transporting POPs northwards, where cold waters extend their half-lives. This could impact the overall health of the fragile Arctic ecosystem as it permeates the food web.