Medical researchers get work published

Several researchers from the Faculty of Medicine recently saw their work published in prestigious scientific journals.

In 2003, five papers by University of Ottawa medical researchers appeared in the influential New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), a fitting tribute to the innovative work of the faculty’s clinical investigators.

Dr. Ian Steill’s research team published “The Canadian C-spine rule versus the NEXUS low-risk criteria in patients with trauma,” in the December issue of the NEJM. A paper by Dr. Phil Wells, entitled “Targeting a Silent Killer,” described new standards for identifying dangerous blood clots. Two additional papers came from the Centre for Blood Transfusion by Dr. Paul Hébert’s group on the benefits of leukoreduction in the critically ill patient. Other papers came from Dr. Shawn Aaron presenting his observations on the treatment of chronic lung disorders.

Michael Rudnicki, senior scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), and his research team published a groundbreaking study in Cell that demonstrates how a novel population of adult stem cells resident in muscle tissue plays an important role in muscle regeneration.

Also in September, Dr. Peter Stys had his paper, “Fortress Strategy for Brain and Spine Recovery: ‘Doomed to Fail,’” published in the journal Neuron.

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in November published a paper by Dr. Jay Baltz about a discovery that could lead to improved treatment of infertility and higher success rates for in-vitro fertilization. The same journal published the work of Dr. May Griffith on the human cornea, which led to several radio interviews and a feature in early January on the Discovery Channel.