Media Releases
Below is a selection of recent press releases. For all the latest news please visit www.utoronto.ca/news
General Inquires +1 (416) 978-0100 Email media.relations@utoronto.ca
Machine learning reveals unexpected genetic roots of cancers, autism and other disorders
TORONTO, ON -- In the decade since the genome was sequenced in 2003, scientists, engineers and doctors have struggled to answer an all-consuming question: Which DNA mutations cause disease? A new computational technique developed at the University of Toronto may now be able to tell us. A Canadian research team led by professor Brendan Frey has developed the first method for ‘ranking’ genetic mutations based on how living cells ‘read’ DNA, revealing how likely any given alteration is to cause…
University of Toronto cell biologists discover on-off switch for key stem cell gene
TORONTO, ON – Consider the relationship between an air traffic controller and a pilot. The pilot gets the passengers to their destination, but the air traffic controller decides when the plane can take off and when it must wait. The same relationship plays out at the cellular level in animals, including humans. A region of an animal’s genome – the controller – directs when a particular gene – the pilot – can perform its prescribed function. A new study by…
Northern Biologics to develop antibody therapeutics in Toronto
TORONTO, ON -- A collaboration of Toronto-area academic and industry partners, including the University of Toronto (U of T), Canadian biotechnology incubator Blueline Bioscience (Blueline), and University Health Network's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (UHN), has announced the creation of a company that could change biotechnology development in Canada. Based in Toronto's Discovery District and backed by venture capital firm Versant Ventures, Blueline formed Northern Biologics with the other organizations earlier this year. Northern Biologics has in-licensed intellectual property from both…
Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and University of Toronto sign historic Memorandum of Understanding to explore education and research collaborations
TORONTO, ON--The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) has signed an official Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Toronto (U of T), through the Temerty Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, and the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education to explore education and research collaborations. The Memorandum, a first between the two institutions, will provide opportunities to foster cooperative relationships in areas of research and education. This cooperation could be realized in such areas as research and…
New technique offers spray-on power
TORONTO, ON -- Pretty soon, powering your tablet could be as simple as wrapping it in cling wrap. That’s Illan Kramer’s hope. Kramer and colleagues have just invented a new way to spray solar cells onto flexible surfaces using miniscule light-sensitive materials known as colloidal quantum dots (CQDs)—a major step toward making spray-on solar cells easy and cheap to manufacture. “My dream is that one day you’ll have two technicians with Ghostbusters backpacks come to your house and spray your roof,”…
Research Excellence Fund will help U of T compete globally
TORONTO, ON -- The University of Toronto and other leading Canadian universities will be better equipped to compete globally, thanks to the newly-launched $1.5 billion Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), says University of Toronto President Meric Gertler. Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled details of the fund December 4; it will initially offer $50 million for Canadian university research in 2015, growing to $200 million annually. “The Canada First Research Excellence Fund will enable Canada’s leading institutions of advanced research…
Two University of Toronto students awarded 2015 Rhodes Scholarships
TORONTO, ON -- University of Toronto undergraduates Moustafa Abdalla and Caroline Leps are heading to Oxford University next year for postgraduate studies as two of Canada’s 11 students named 2015 Rhodes Scholars. The prestigious Rhodes Scholarship program is the oldest, postgraduate award program supporting outstanding, all-round students at Oxford. Rhodes Scholars have gone on to become Pulitzer Prize winners, heads of state or government and Nobel Laureates. Among the well-known Rhodes Scholars: Bob Rae; from U of T President David Naylor; Bill Clinton; and Rachel Maddow. “It hasn’t settled in…
The way you interact with your mobile devices is about to change
TORONTO, ON—Poking at your smartphone with your finger is so 2014—it’s time to find new ways to interface with the mobile devices we all carry. That’s the challenge Professor Parham Aarabi of The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at University of Toronto posed to his graduate class. “I encouraged students to think outside the box of how we interact with mobile devices, including wearables,” says Professor Aarabi. “I wanted them think: can we do better?”…
University of Toronto chemists identify role of soil in pollution control
TORONTO, ON – Scientists have long known that air pollution caused by cars and trucks, solvent use and even plants, is reduced when broken down by naturally occurring compounds that act like detergents of the atmosphere. What has not been well understood until now are the relative contributions of all the processes producing such compounds. A new study, led by University of Toronto atmospheric chemist Jennifer Murphy, shows a key component of the process is the soil beneath our feet.…
Two new appointments at Rotman ICPM strengthen Centre’s strategic and operational capabilities
Toronto, ON – Two global pension and investment leaders, Rob Bauer and Donald Raymond, have been appointed to the Rotman International Centre for Pension Management (Rotman ICPM), an internationally-recognized research centre for effective pension design and management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. Rob Bauer was appointed to a five-year term as executive director of Rotman ICPM. He has been involved with the Centre since its inception in 2005. He was a member of the board from 2005…