Over generations, members of the Western community have made transformative contributions to the world.
Michael Strong discovers a protein interaction that halts motor neuron loss, offering hope for ALS treatment.
Eric Arts and Miguel Quiñones-Mateu create the country’s first vaccine seed bank to support pandemic preparedness.
Building on Adrian Owen's landmark 2006 discovery, the term 'cognitive motor disassociation' is officially adopted to describe patients who appear unresponsive yet can understand and respond to commands.
Mark Daley becomes Canada’s first university Chief AI Officer.
Charles Weijer creates global ethics standards for cluster randomized trials in health research.
Shiva Singh and Richard O’Reilly discover DNA differences in identical twins, reshaping mental health genetics.
The first full-scale hurricane wind test on a house takes place, informing building codes and policy.
Graham Thompson identifies gene regions linked to cooperation and conflict in honeybees, shaping sociogenomics.
Paula Foster shows that MRI can detect a single cell in living animals.
Miodrag Grbić leads sequencing of the spider mite genome, supporting global food security.
Tim-Yim Lee pioneers life-saving use of x-ray dye and CT scanning to measure blood flow to bodily tissues, including the brain, tumors and heart.
The Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children is launched, becoming a national model for research and policy on gender-based violence.
Robert Sica builds the first large liquid metal mirror for atmospheric research—still used today.
Susan Scollie develops Desired Sensation Level software to help clinicians fit hearing aids for children, improving hearing and educational and social outcomes.
The first successful combined liver–bowel transplant is performed, transforming transplant medicine.
Researchers complete the country’s first human brain MRI scan.
A team at University Hospital, led by Cal Stiller, shows cyclosporine can halt disease progression, proving it is an immune disorder.
Fred Possmayer develops a surfactant that helps premature infants breathe, saving lives around the world.
Western’s Writer-in-Residence program begins.
Western launches Canada’s first academic department of family medicine.
The Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel becomes the first to model natural wind effects on structures.
Robert Noble and Charles Beer isolate vinblastine, one of the world’s first chemotherapy drugs.
Ivan Smith leads the world’s first use of Cobalt-60 radiation, tripling cervical cancer cure rates.
Western sets the national benchmark for business education.
Murray Barr discovers the sex chromatin-now known as the Barr body-ushering in a new era in research and diagnosis of genetic disorders.
Helen Battle was the first to use fish eggs to study the cellular effects of carcinogens, advancing cancer research and laying the foundations of modern cell biology.
Frederick Banting conceives of the idea that leads to insulin—transforming Type 1 diabetes from a fatal to a treatable condition.
