uOttawa medical scientist leading team bolstering Canada's ability to respond to future pandemics, public health emergencies
Grant and Award Announcement
This month, we’re focusing on infectious diseases, a topic that affects lives and communities around the world. Here, you’ll find the latest research news, insights, and discoveries shaping how infectious diseases are being studied, prevented, and treated globally.
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 17-Dec-2025 12:11 ET (17-Dec-2025 17:11 GMT/UTC)
With $3M in new federal funding over two years, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine molecular virologist Dr. Marc-André Langlois and a multidisciplinary team of collaborators will be a vital part of Canada’s ability to respond effectively to infectious disease threats & future pandemics. With this investment from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the national network of experts led by Dr. Langlois will be able to support large-scale scientific research, protect vulnerable communities, and strengthen the country’s ability to face future health emergencies.
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects millions and lacks effective treatments due to safety concerns, cost, and growing drug resistance. In a recent study, researchers from Japan discovered that onnamides, compounds isolated from marine sponges in Okinawa, exhibit potent anti-leishmanial properties. These molecules showed high efficacy and low toxicity in laboratory tests, offering a promising foundation for new therapies targeting leishmaniasis and other protozoa-derived infections.
A new international study has uncovered a concerning lack of public understanding about cystitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs) – common health issues that disproportionately affect women. The findings, which also highlight widespread misconceptions about prevention and treatment, underscore the urgent need for education to combat rising antibiotic resistance.
In a survey of over 3,000 adults across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, 35% of respondents could not correctly define cystitis as a bladder infection, with some confusing it for a skin condition or even food allergies. Among younger adults aged 18–24, fewer than half (45%) were able to identify cystitis correctly.