The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Roswell Park CEO Candace Johnson introduces Michael Wong as the center's first Physician in Chief, aiming to enhance patient care and outcomes. Wong, a former MD Anderson Cancer Center professor, will lead clinical teams and focus on improving care delivery.

Stephanie Borlase's radiopharmaceutical, developed at U of T, will track immunotherapy delivery to brain metastases in a 2025 trial at Sunnybrook, aiming to improve lung cancer treatment by using ultrasound to disrupt the blood-brain barrier.

Fentanyl's spread in the U.S. is likened to a myth, with its potency and distribution sparking political and social concerns. The opioid epidemic, particularly fentanyl, has influenced political landscapes, with affected areas showing increased Republican alignment. Studies suggest the epidemic's social harms are exacerbated in regions initially targeted by OxyContin marketing, impacting political affiliations and public health.

UCB announced FDA approval of RYSTIGGO® (rozanolixizumab-noli) for treating generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in adults. It's the first treatment for both anti-AChR and anti-MuSK antibody-positive gMG, targeting disease mechanisms to improve symptoms. Supported by Phase 3 MycarinG study data, it shows significant symptom improvement. Available in the U.S. by Q3 2023.

Paul Karanicolas of U of T presents 'Tranexamic Acid in Patients Undergoing Liver Resection: The HeLiX Randomized Clinical Trial' on Nov 22, 2024, at 1:00 pm eastern. HeLiX trial is a multicenter, placebo-controlled, pragmatic clinical trial.

Climate change increases demand for X-rays and CT scans by about 5% on hot, polluted days, according to Canadian researchers. This trend, observed over 2013-2022 in Toronto hospitals, highlights the need for proactive planning as global temperatures rise.

U of T researchers developed a computational method, Signature, using machine learning to study chromosome organization, aiding in understanding disease development. The method analyzes Hi-C data to identify inter-chromosomal contact points, validated through wet lab experiments, and aims to advance precision medicine by studying cancer genomes.

ESMO Congress 2024 presentations include: ctDNA clearance linked to better outcomes in bladder cancer patients; AMG 193, a PRMT5 inhibitor, shows promise in MTAP-deleted solid tumors; ipilimumab/nivolumab improves survival in non–clear cell renal cancer; and T-DXd combinations show efficacy in HER2-positive gastric cancers.

Canada has discontinued the Student Direct Stream (SDS), affecting faster visa processing for international students, including Indians. SDS, introduced in 2018, offered 20-day processing for study permits from 14 countries. The move aims to strengthen program integrity and provide equal access to all students. Indian students must now apply through the standard, slower process.

Axsome Therapeutics announced eight presentations on its CNS disorder therapies at NEI Congress 2024, including data on AXS-05 for Major Depressive Disorder and Alzheimer’s Disease Agitation, and solriamfetol for OSA and narcolepsy.