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From racecar driving to prosthetics engineering: Six Schulich Leaders pursue their dreams at 91��ɫ U this fall

egamulin — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 15:10:50 +0000

Toronto, ON, Oct. 30, 2026 — 91��ɫ has welcomed six to campus this fall for the second year in a row, recipients of Canada’s largest, most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarship. The students say they are thrilled to receive the generous scholarship, allowing them to concentrate on their studies at the Lassonde School of Engineering and Faculty of Science at 91��ɫ in preparation for future career paths without having to worry about finances.

Chosen from a national pool of more than 350,000 graduating high school students, more than 1,300 nominees were put forward by their schools, with 100 outstanding students earning this year’s scholarship.

Christian Menezes (Lassonde), Evelina Demcov (Lassonde), Nathaniel Moodie (Lassonde), Shaheryar Ahmed (Lassonde), Taylean Johnson (Lassonde) and Zackery Nudelman (Science) are this year’s 91��ɫ Schulich Leaders.

Recipients pursuing an engineering degree will receive $120,000, while those pursuing a science, technology or math degree will receive $100,000.

“Schulich Leader Scholarships help Canada’s leading universities identify and support exceptional STEM students with the potential to become tomorrow’s innovators, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. As these scholars develop groundbreaking ideas and create new opportunities, it is important that Canada continues to foster an environment where talent can thrive,” says President of The Schulich Foundation Judy Schulich.

Jane Goodyer, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering says the school is incredibly proud to welcome five new Schulich Leaders.

“They arrive with remarkable accomplishments, but what excites me most is the curiosity, ambition and sense of possibility they bring with them,” says Goodyer. “We want them to explore big ideas, take risks and use engineering, science and technology to make a difference. As Schulich Leaders, they also have a unique opportunity to inspire others, share what they’re learning and help future students see what’s possible for them at Lassonde.”

Faculty of Science Dean Maydianne Andrade also gave a warm welcome. “We are delighted to welcome our Schulich Leader to the Faculty of Science, and are so pleased that they will pursue their degree in 91��ɫ's Centre of Actuarial Excellence,” says Andrade. “I am confident their particular combination of an entrepreneurial mindset and passion for applied mathematics and statistics will be developed in this rigorous but welcoming program. At the same time, their curiosity and unique perspective will enrich our community."

Christian Menezes

Christian Menezes

Hailing from Whitby, ON, Christian Menezes was drawn to the Lassonde engineering program at 91��ɫ through an unusual path: Racecar driving.

“I race cars professionally and the setups and physics and aerodynamics behind what makes a car fast, what makes the car slow are fascinating to me,” says Menezes. “It's one thing to be behind the steering wheel and control the car, but to be able to understand what it's capable of, how to make it that couple of times faster, that’s what I’m looking to get from my education at Lassonde.”

One day happening upon an electric go-cart track while barely old enough to participate during a family vacation to Buffalo set him on his life’s path. He became a national go-karting champion and at 15 made the switch to racing cars, and now participates in races like Formula Ford 1600, won silver at the Junior F1600 in Canada, competed in the former Toronto Indy and plans to be at the Markham Indy in 2027.

Drawn to 91��ɫ for the close-knit community, he says the “cherry on the top” is the opportunity to join a student club that builds racecars.

Competing in a very expensive sport, Menezes is grateful for the financial assistance of the Schulich Leader scholarship and says his entrepreneurial mindset also helps here. “I unfortunately didn't come from a family that could drop a million dollars on my racing career. So I've had to find funding through sponsorships and building a business around my personal brand.”

Evelina Demcov

Evelina Demcov

Computer science student Evelina Demcov was inspired by her father to study STEM.

“He was really into technology and as a child, he would give me his old technology,” says Demcov, who comes from Richmond Hill, ON. “So I would play with the technology, optimize it, clean it, open it up.”

She is most excited to connect with other students that have her same interests and is excited to connect her technology skills with helping others.

“I want to bring my creativity and my love for computers, combine it together and just help people.”

Attracted to 91��ɫ because of the wide-range of scholarship opportunities, access to nature and community and clubs like the rocketry club, Demcov says being a Schulich Leader makes her feel more secure in her future.

“They have a lot of resources that I feel are very helpful,” says Demcov. “Being able to connect to someone else who may have similar desires can — it's really nice to be able to reach out to them and maybe ask for help.”

Nathaniel Moodie

Nathaniel Moodie

Nathaniel Moodie is from Maple, ON and is in his first year of Computer Science at 91��ɫ, a field he was drawn to due to its versatility.

“It can be applied to almost any field and any problem,” says Moodie. “I’ve also always enjoyed solving problems and the wizardry involved in figuring out how things work.”

Drawn to 91��ɫ for the combination of academics and extracurriculars, he is especially looking forward to opportunities related to co-op experiences and research.

“I want to gain practical experience, work on group projects with other students and professionals, and learn from professors who are doing interesting work in computer science. I’m also looking forward to getting involved with people with similar interests as me.”

He is grateful for the opportunities being a Schulich Leader will help him explore.

“I’m so grateful to have been recognized for my hard work and achievements in school. I’ve always been a high achiever, but not a very public one. Academic work has taught me the importance of being consistent, setting goals, and continuing to challenge myself,” says Moodie.

Shaheryar Ahmed

“It was especially meaningful knowing that I would be joining a community of students who are passionate about higher knowledge and making an impact on the world.”

Shaheryar Ahmed

For Shaheryar Ahmed, the knowledge that he would be a Schulich Leader took a little while to set in after he first learned the news, describing it as “a massive accomplishment.”

“After a few hours I fully realized it, and it felt amazing,” says Ahmed.

Growing up in Oshawa, ON, Ahmed looked to his engineer uncle as a role model and inspiration for his future ambitions and also credits his own creativity for taking him down this path.

One example of this was a group project he worked on as a child where he and others had to build a popsicle stick bridge with a limited amount of sticks.

"Our group came out first in that competition, and the collaboration and design process in building the project was very exciting and fun."

Ahmed was drawn to 91��ɫ for the philosophy behind the engineering program.

“It’s a very people-centric approach on how engineering should be taught and implemented,” he explains.

He would like to take an entrepreneurial path that would help create engineering systems and technologies that could be available to people from all walks of life.

“I realize I've been in a very fortunate position to chase my dreams, and I want to make sure that others also have the opportunity to chase their goals.”

Taylean Johnson

Taylean Johnson

First-year mechatronics engineering student Taylean Johnson says finding out she was the recipient of a Schulich Leader scholarship was a moment of shock and joy.

“I just applied and hoped for the best and I almost forgot about it, honestly, until I got the email,” says Johnson, who will be staying in Scarborough with her family during her studies at 91��ɫ. ”My mom was jumping for joy and stuff, literally. ‘My baby, you did it!’”

“I know for her it takes a whole weight off her chest, because I didn't want my parents to work overtime just to try and pay off my tuition.”

Johnson played soccer in high school, where teachers and coaches would point out her leadership qualities. She was attracted to 91��ɫ because of its proximity to her home, athletic opportunities and the mechatronics program, which combines multiple engineering disciplines into one degree.

“I’m a hands-on learning person,” says Johnson. “I feel like since there’s a lot of hands-on opportunities, like the 3D printing and all kinds of labs, I feel that will definitely build into what I’m looking forward to in my future.”

While still exploring future career paths, Johnson has a strong interest in prosthetics. “I've kind of stuck with that idea for a while,” she says. “Accessibility and diversity, and what technology can do and who it can reach.”

Zackery Nudelman

Zackery Nudelman

For Zackery Nudelman, hailing from Thornhill, ON, learning he was chosen as a Schulich Leader was an incredible honour.

“Initially, I think my heart stopped — I was in complete shock,” says Nudelman. “I felt grateful, excited, and proud that my hard work and unique way of approaching mathematics were recognized at a national level.”

Nudelman’s interest in fields where analytical thinking can improve people’s lives led him to study Actuarial Science in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the Faculty of Science at 91��ɫ.

“Actuarial Science excites me because it applies mathematical clarity and structure to real‑world problems, especially those involving financial security and risk.”

Nudelman says he has always approached math with a unique perspective that helps him see patterns and solutions differently and he felt like 91��ɫ would be a place where those skills are valued. He looks forward to mentoring other students who might face academic barriers,

“The university’s commitment to innovation, inclusion, and community aligns with my goal of using mathematics to support financial security, equitable systems, and meaningful social impact,” he says.

Watch a video of the 2026 Schulich Leaders .

With files from Michael Kasaboski

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About 91��ɫ:

91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for meaningful life and career paths. 91��ɫ's Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campus in Costa Rica offers students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs, while at the Markham Campus, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration are built into every program. 91��ɫ’s new School of Medicine, the first Canadian medical school to focus on community-based primary health-care education, will welcome its first cohort in September 2028 (subject to accreditation). 91��ɫ was recently named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the 14th consecutive year. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada:

Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established this $200 million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage our best and brightest students to become Schulich Leader Scholars: the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators. Through The Schulich Foundation and United Jewish Appeal, these prestigious entrance scholarships are awarded to 100 high school graduates enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities in Canada. Every high school in Canada can submit one Schulich Leader Nominee per academic year based on entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.

Media Contact:

Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

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91��ɫ Lions football team gets $1.25 million boost from Cynamon family foundation

egamulin — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:25:32 +0000

Single largest gift ever received by 91��ɫ Athletics & Recreation will support wellness and performance of student-athletes

The 91��ɫ Lions Football team will no doubt be going into this weekend’s playoff-deciding home game with a heap of extra pride, thanks to a $1.25 million gift from the David and Stacey Cynamon Family Foundation. Coming at a time when the team is on an upward trajectory under current program leadership, the funds will provide direct support for the wellness of Men’s Football student-athletes at 91��ɫ and the competitive performance of the program for the next five years.

91��ɫ Lions Football team celebrate after their win against rivals Toronto Varsity Blues at the 2024 Red and Blue Bowl, with Football head coach Dexter Janke, centre, holding the Argo Cup. The team has been making significant strides under the leadership of Janke and won their third consecutive bowl this year. Credit: 91��ɫ/91��ɫ Lions

“David Cynamon’s investment in 91��ɫ Lions Football is a tremendous show of confidence in our student-athletes and the future of our program. His generosity will allow us to enhance the student-athlete experience and create more opportunities for our players to reach their potential, both on and off the field. I’m personally grateful to David for believing in our vision and helping us build a stronger foundation for the next generation of Lions," says Football head coach Dexter Janke.

Donor David Cynamon, shown wearing #22 for the 91��ɫ Yeoman in the early 1980s, standing next to Coach Frank Cosentino. Credit: 91��ɫ/91��ɫ Lions.

David is a former Toronto Argonauts franchise owner who saw the team take the Grey Cup in 2004. Raised in Edmonton, Alta., he would work the stands at Clarke Stadium selling 50-cent footlongs for his father’s business. David studied at 91��ɫ in the early 80s where he was also a receiver for the Yeoman under storied head coach Frank Cosentino. He went on to start a number of businesses and is the co-founder of K2 Pure Solutions, where he serves as executive chairman, and is a volunteer for several not-for-profits.

“As a 91��ɫ alumnus and former Yeoman, David Cynamon knows better than anyone what it takes to succeed as a student-athlete. With this transformative gift, we will undoubtedly enhance the physical, mental and educational well-being of hundreds of students for years to come, and provide a competitive advantage to the program,” says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor of 91��ɫ. “This marks a historic milestone as the single largest gift ever received by 91��ɫ Athletics & Recreation, and it is only fitting that it comes from someone so passionate about Canadian football and the health and wellness of our student-athletes.”

The 91��ɫ Men’s Football team played their first season in 1968 as the Yeoman, and by 1971 they had their first player drafted to the CFL. While the Lions last made it to the playoffs 22 years ago, the team has again been making noticeable gains under Janke, a former CFL defensive back with the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Last Saturday, the Lions beat rivals Toronto Varsity Blues in their third consecutive Red and Blue Bowl. They are on a two-game winning streak, and a victory at their final home game tomorrow at 91��ɫ Lions Stadium will earn them a long-awaited playoff berth.

In gratitude for this incredible contribution, David, his wife Stacey and his family will attend the game this Saturday and will be invited to join the ceremonial coin toss. He says he has taken notice of the changes under new program leadership, inspiring him to give back now. He hopes the gift will help 91��ɫ recruit top-end student-athletes, get more alumni re-engaged with the football program, and inspire more donors to step up and support.

“91��ɫ and its football program are a significant piece of what helped set me on my path in life,” says Cynamon. “I clearly remember the struggles many of us had balancing sport and our education, and I hope that with this commitment to the program, some of those barriers may be reduced or eliminated. I’m proud to call myself a 91��ɫ Yeomen/Lion, and even prouder to directly support and impact the program’s student-athletes.”

The Lions close out the 2026 regular season tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 24, hosting the Waterloo Warriors at 1:00 p.m. at 91��ɫ Lions Stadium. Members of the public can get tickets at or watch the game live on.

91��ɫ Lions media accreditation form can be found .

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About 91��ɫ

Media Contact: Emina Gamulin, Media Relations Officer, C: 437-217-6362; egamulin@yorku.ca

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91��ɫ grad students and postdoctoral researchers receive more than $14M in scholarships

sandramc — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:23:29 +0000

TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2026 – A total of 175 91��ɫ graduate students, along with 14 postdoctoral researchers, will receive more than $14 million through the (CRTAS), announced today by the federal government.

Today’s announcement highlights award winners funded through the , administered by the (CIHR), the (NSERC), and the (SSHRC).

Lisa Philipps

“Investing in emerging researchers is an investment in Canada’s future,” says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor of 91��ɫ. “I congratulate all of this year’s recipients. Their work in health, science, the arts and beyond shows the reach of 91��ɫ research and its power to drive positive change in our communities.”

For the (CGRS M), 96 91��ɫ students will each receive $27,000 for 12 months, seven funded through CIHR, 18 through NSERC and 71 through SSHRC.

For the (CGRS D), 79 91��ɫ students will each receive $40,000 per year for 36 months, nine funded through CIHR, 18 through NSERC and 52 through SSHRC.

Alice MacLachlan

“91��ɫ’s graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are making important contributions to research that deepens our understanding of the world and helps address complex challenges,” said Alice MacLachlan, vice-provost and dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. “These awards recognize the excellence, creativity and dedication of emerging researchers while providing valuable support to advance their work. Their achievements reflect the strength and breadth of graduate and postdoctoral research at 91��ɫ.”

Program of study for both the CGRS M and the CGRS D students include disciplines in health, science, art, social sciences and humanities, engineering, the environment and more. This year, as 91��ɫ prepares to open its new School of Medicine in 2028 (pending accreditation), it has nine CGRS D recipients in health, six more than the previous year.

For the (CPRA), worth $70,000 per year for 24 months, 14 91��ɫ researchers were awarded.

The awards promote and support high-quality research leading to high impact careers. Altogether, more than $480 million through the CRTAS.

Media Contact: Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations,  sandramc@yorku.ca

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Global cardiac rehabilitation access remains limited despite growing cardiovascular disease burden

sandramc — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:03:05 +0000

Hybrid and alternative delivery models for cardiac rehabilitation are less expensive and more accessible but globally the number of programs has stagnated creating inequities and increasing the risk of related health issues.

TORONTO, Oct. 9, 2026 – Despite rising incidents of cardiovascular disease (CVD), along with evidence that cardiac rehabilitation programs improve outcomes for those living with CVD, availability of these programs has not increased worldwide in the past decade, according to a new study by 91��ɫ researchers.

Availability even for the more affordable hybrid or alternative cardiac rehabilitation programs has not increased since 2016 and is lower than during the pandemic.

The researchers, including 91��ɫ and University of Toronto Adjunct Professor Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi, 91��ɫ Professor Sherry Grace of the Faculty of Health, and 91��ɫ grad student Rachael Carson, are surprised and disheartened by the results.

From Left, 91��ɫ and UofT Adjunct Professor Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi and 91��ɫ grad student Rachael Carson

Cardiac rehabilitation is a chronic disease management program proven to reduce death by more than 25 per cent and hospitalization by almost 20 per cent. These programs often begin with patients in the hospital and continue as an outpatient service before moving into a longer-term community-based secondary prevention service. Hybrid programs are both clinic and home-based and are designed to improve outcomes for patients and can involve exercise, healthy living education and stress counselling.

“More people around the world are surviving cardiovascular events and living longer with chronic heart disease, yet access to cardiac rehabilitation remains inadequate,” says Lima de Melo Ghisi. “Hybrid and alternative models can help overcome barriers such as distance and transportation, but our findings show that gains made during the pandemic have not been sustained. Limited reimbursement, staffing and funding continue to constrain these services and contribute to inequities in access.”

Without adequate funding, the costs to run the programs often fall to patients and those in rural areas are particularly disadvantaged if the program is far from where they live.

“Multiple studies have already shown that cardiac rehabilitation programs work, playing an outsized role in reducing mortality, hospital readmissions and improving quality of life,” says Carson of 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Health. “Despite that, these programs are under-utilized.”

The paper, , was published today in the journal PLOS One.

It is the first global post-pandemic assessment of hybrid and alternative cardiac rehabilitation programs. The number of programs were tallied, including level of reimbursement for them, and countries were compared by income class. Close to 7,000 cardiac rehabilitation programs were identified in 90 countries, but only 286 out of 1,233 programs in 40 of those countries indicated they received reimbursement for the hybrid/alternative models of delivery by government or insurance companies.

In high-income countries like Canada, there were 72,849 cases of ischemic heart disease in 2023 and 380 programs. For the United States, there were 1,144,557 incidents and 2,687 programs. In Japan, there were 292,531 incidents and 678 programs and in Germany there were 362,984 and 155 programs.

Compare this to low-income countries like Afghanistan with 34,207 incidents and zero programs, Ethiopia with 28,903 incidents and zero programs, and outlier Malawi with 3,872 incidents and 23 programs.

Overall, about one-third of responding cardiac rehabilitation programs reported offering a hybrid or alternative model, while fewer than one-quarter reported reimbursement for these models. Among programs offering hybrid or alternative care, almost half (45.8 per cent) reported insufficient capacity to meet demand, most commonly because of staffing and funding constraints.

The results point to the need for not only increased implementation of these programs but for more sustained reimbursement which would go a long way in providing cardiovascular care globally.

Media Contact: Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations,  sandramc@yorku.ca

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Pharmaceutical company marketing negatively influences prescribing

sandramc — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:30:50 +0000

TORONTO, Oct 8, 2026 – Doctors’ prescribing habits are heavily influenced by payments, gifts, and free meals from pharmaceutical companies, leading to more expensive, less appropriate and more drugs being prescribed, a new Cochrane review finds. This can seriously harm both individual patients and health systems.

Pharmaceutical companies use a variety of strategies to market and promote their drugs. This can include one-on-one visits by sales reps to doctors' offices and hospitals, gifts and payments including for example paid meals, travel costs to conferences, entertainment, consulting fees, honoraria for participation in advisory boards, and advertising.

For all new medicines, pharmaceutical companies target prescribers with offers of free meals and other gifts and payments. These payments and gifts lead to prescribing of the company's promoted drug, which may not always be needed or be the most appropriate or affordable medicine for each patient.

Less appropriate prescribing and higher medicine costs

The review included 93 studies involving a number of different study types. Almost all of these studies observed real-world prescribing patterns rather than running controlled experiments. The majority of the studies (88 per cent) came from the United States, in part because the requires pharmaceutical companies to publicly report details of all payments to doctors, which are compiled in a publicly searchable and analyzable database.

However, co-author 91��ɫ Professor Emeritus Dr. Joel Lexchin, who has studied drug prescribing in Canada for the past 40 years, points out that the ways drugs are prescribed in Canada generally follows what the U.S. does.

“This review puts to rest the myth that doctors prescribing benefit from exposure to drug company promotors. Overwhelmingly, we found in the three dimensions of prescribing that we examined – appropriateness, cost and quantity – that prescribing deteriorates,” says Lexchin of the Faculty of Health.

Analyzing millions of prescribers, the authors grouped industry interactions into three distinct categories to examine how each one affects a doctor's prescribing habits. These were advertising and education, gifts and payments, and free samples. The authors also looked at conflict-of-interest policies as a mitigation strategy.

Advertising and education, such as sales rep visits, seemed linked to prescribing that was less clinically suitable and pricier, with fairly strong evidence that it also drove up prescription volume.

The largest and most consistent body of evidence covered gifts and payments. Gifts and payments were also linked to less appropriate prescribing, more prescriptions, and probably increased costs.

The evidence was too sparse or weak to draw clear conclusions on free drug samples and whether promotion affects hospitals’ approved formularies, although what little exists suggests it might.

“Overall, when doctors have more contact with drug company promotion, prescribing tends to become less appropriate, more frequent, and more expensive”, says study author Dr Lisa Bero from the University of Colorado Anschutz, USA. “This is problematic for a number of reasons and it matters because it directly affects patient care. These less appropriate, more expensive drugs can have fewer benefits or more side-effects than alternatives, or simply be unnecessary in the clinical context.”

The overprescription of opioids is the most infamous example of pharmaceutical companies’ promotion exaggerating benefits and minimizing harms. This review found that even inexpensive meals increased opioid prescribing and that the more payments a doctor received from opioid manufacturers, the more likely they were to prescribe dangerously high opioid doses. The widespread inappropriate overprescribing of opioids has led to an epidemic of addiction and deaths from overdoses.

“Patients should be offered the most appropriate treatment for their condition, based on clinical evidence not industry marketing,” adds Dr Bero. “The opioid crisis in North America was perhaps the most egregious example of inappropriate over-prescribing, but this was not an isolated incident. It was high-profile due to the significant harms involved, but the systems that enabled it are unfortunately considered business-as-usual within the industry. Interactions between pharmaceutical companies and prescribing physicians are widespread, and the harms they cause are rarely so visible.”

More meals paid for, more drugs prescribed

Notably, the research shows a clear dose-response relationship between paid-for meals and inappropriate prescriptions. The more meals a doctor received from a company, the more of the company's drug they prescribed. This was true for a range of different types of drugs, from drugs for high blood pressure and cholesterol to antidepressants and opioid painkillers.

The authors also point out that this practice is seen as normal and unproblematic in the medical field.

“It's very common for doctors to receive free meals from companies,” says lead author, Dr Barbara Mintzes from the University of Sydney, Australia. “Doctors often think that this is trivial and doesn’t influence them, that they ‘can’t be bought for the price of a sandwich’, but the data shows this is an effective marketing strategy. The more free meals a doctor receives, the more likely they are to prescribe less appropriate or more expensive drugs.”

Restricting industry interactions may improve prescribing

Some hospitals and medical centres have rules or institutional restrictions in place, also known as conflict-of-interest policies, to limit how much contact industry reps can have with doctors or what gifts or samples they are allowed to provide. The review found that these can mitigate the negative impact of pharma strategies on doctors’ prescribing habits.

“It’s encouraging to see that robust conflict-of-interest policies in place tended to be effective,” Dr Mintzes says. “The data shows that they probably improve prescribing appropriateness and possibly reduce the number of prescriptions.”

While this review found that drug promotion negatively influences prescribing within a broad range of drugs and clinical settings, the authors wish to emphasize that this is not about a few "bad apples”, but about improving the system and a key positive finding is that strict conflict-of-interest policies are a way forward.

was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

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For further information, contact:

Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ, sandramc@yorku.ca

Mia Parkinson, Cochrane Press Office, mparkinson@cochrane.org o�� press@cochrane.org,  +44 20 4591 8310 

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Visual illusion reveals what today’s AI vision is missing – 91��ɫ study

sandramc — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:09:21 +0000

Using a classic visual illusion, 91��ɫ researchers identify a history-dependent computation present in primate vision that current AI models fail to reproduce.

TORONTO, Oct. 2, 2026 – Our eyes do not always tell us exactly where things are – and that may be a feature of how biological vision works, rather than simply a flaw. A new study by 91��ɫ researchers uses a common illusion to ask if artificial intelligence is meant to see more like us, should it make some of the same systematic perceptual “mistakes”?

For example, after staring at something moving steadily in one direction, a stationary object viewed immediately afterward can appear slightly displaced in the opposite direction. This well-known visual illusion, called a motion aftereffect, gives scientists an unusual window into the computations underlying perception: the image itself has not moved, but our experience of where it is has changed.

“Today’s AI vision systems are impressive, but they still do not always see the world the way we do. This study captures the promise of NeuroAI and what it can do when neuroscience and artificial intelligence are brought together. By using smart experiments to reveal the computations biological vision uses and AI still lacks, we can use those insights to build better, more brain-like artificial systems,” says senior author 91��ɫ Assistant Professor Kohitij Kar, the Canada Research Chair in Visual Neuroscience and a member of 91��ɫ’s Centre for Vision Research and Centre for Integrative and Applied Neuroscience.

Current AI vision systems can often determine where an object is accurately, but they generally do not reproduce the way recent visual experience can reshape that answer. In humans, staring at motion can make a subsequently viewed stationary object appear displaced even though its pixels have not moved. The researchers found a corresponding change in the primate visual cortex – but not in the AI models they tested.

To gain better insight into the issue, the researchers examined whether artificial neural network models capture the same history-dependent changes in spatial representations seen in biological vision, or whether their position representations primarily reflect the physical properties of the image. The researchers, including the paper’s first author and 91��ɫ graduate student Elizaveta Yakubovskaya, used precise measurements to find out where AI differs from biological vision and how that gap could be bridged.

“Combining recordings from primate visual cortex with human perception experiments, we used motion adaptation to induce a visual illusion and make a stationary object appear slightly shifted in position, then asked whether the brain and AI showed the same effect. Human observers reported the illusion, and neural representations of position in the primate inferior temporal (IT) cortex shifted in the same direction, even though the image itself had not changed,” says Yakubovskaya.

The researchers leveraged motion adaptation to show where perceived and pixel-based positions diverge, allowing them to test the behavioral relevance of IT codes. The findings not only further our understanding of IT’s role in spatial information encoding but provide a new benchmark to evaluate dynamic vision models.

“There is a growing question in AI about whether increasingly capable systems will become more like us or increasingly different from us,” says Kar of the Faculty of Science and a member of the 91��ɫ-led Connected Minds. “If we want AI that works with humans and understands the world in more human-compatible ways, we cannot focus only on whether it gets the right answer. We also need to understand the computations that produce human perception and behavior. Neuroscience gives us a way to discover those computations and, potentially, build them into AI,” adds Kar.

The study titled, , is published today in Current Biology.

Media Contact: Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations,  sandramc@yorku.ca

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91��ɫ U receives nearly $10 million from Wellcome to continue the fight against antimicrobial resistance

sandramc — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 18:47:28 +0000

Global Strategy Lab’s AMR Policy Accelerator announces four-year strategic plan that will focus on global governance and national policies

TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2026 – In a global health environment where funding is increasingly tight, 91��ɫ based (GSL) is launching a four-year for its initiative, the to drive progress against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Unveiled today by GSL Director Mathieu JP Poirier and Accelerator Managing Director, Geneviève Boily-Larouche, the plan is supported by $9.6 million (£5 million) from – a leading global health philanthropy.

“The threat of antimicrobial resistance is no less pressing today than when we launched the Accelerator in 2022, but we are determined to ensure that the recent adoption of a global scientific panel and action plan for AMR will mark a turning point in the global fight against this silent pandemic,” says Poirier, also an associate professor in the Faculty of Health at 91��ɫ. “We are proud that Wellcome has been with us since day one, and this renewal of funding signals the impact of our work and the significance of our strategic plan.”

From left, David Peters, Dean of the Faculty of Health and the School of Medicine at 91��ɫ; 91��ɫ Associate Professor Mathieu Poirier, Director of the Global Strategy Lab; Dr. Geneviève Boily-Larouche, AMR Policy Accelerator Managing Director; Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health; Lisa Philipps, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor; Dr. John-Arne Røttingen, Wellcome CEO; Dr. Steven Hoffman, Founder, Global Strategy Lab and Dahdaleh Distinguished Chair in Global Governance and Legal Epidemiology

Started with support from Wellcome, the Accelerator catalyzes scientific research and evidence-informed policy to support governments to act on the ongoing crisis of AMR.

“There has been some important progress made against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in the past decade. However, many countries are still facing challenges to develop and deliver impactful, evidence-based national action plans due to the complex, multi-faceted nature of AMR. Global Strategy Lab's work plays a vital role in supporting countries, particularly in the global south, to be better equipped to tackle AMR, including mobilisation of the international evidence panel,” says Jeremy Knox, head of infectious disease policy at Wellcome.

To date, projects have included research to inform , the to support implementation of national action plans on AMR and providing to over 200 AMR policymakers, international organization staff and civil society partners in 75 countries. The work has also taken on a greater emphasis on making sure gender and equity provisions are in place when considering appropriate and effective AMR policies.

"This investment is a powerful endorsement of the talent and ambition of our researchers," says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor of 91��ɫ. "Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent health threats of our time, and meeting it will take strong evidence, global collaboration and a real commitment to equity. The Global Strategy Lab brings all three. 91��ɫ is proud to be the home of this work, and grateful to Wellcome for backing it over the long term.”

GSL announced today that from 2026-2030, the Accelerator’s work will focus on two connected priority areas:

Strengthening AMR global governance: Working with international organizations and global partners to support policy solutions and normative guidance that are grounded in evidence, equity, accountability, and a One Health approach.
Championing evidence-informed national policy decisions: Working with national and regional partners to create practical tools that help translate research and global policy guidance into context-appropriate, sustainable, and feasible national-level action

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About 91��ɫ

About Wellcome

Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.

Contacts:

91��ɫ Media Relations, media@yorku.ca

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Meet me at the STAIRS: 91��ɫ U brings sundial back to campus

egamulin — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 21:33:58 +0000

Cast in bronze, highly accurate, eight-foot sundial gifted by 101-year-old former chemistry prof

In their earliest iterations, sundials were sticks and stones stuck in the ground. Human observers would read shadows cast by the sun to tell time. Some of the most accurate early sundials were from Africa, Australia, China, the Arabic world, Greece and Rome. Societies created sundials that were beautiful, large scale, and acted as gathering spaces for communities. Since solar clocks are tied directly to locations on Earth, different latitudes required different designs from human ingenuity.

It is in this spirit of sculptural appeal, scientific discovery, human connection and time and place that 91��ɫ has brought a sundial back to campus, with the help of a 101-year-old donor.

R.L Kellogg and Robert Stairs meet for the first time in person outside the STAIRS, the sundial Kellogg designed and Stairs fully funded.

Robert Stairs first happened upon 91��ɫ’s sundial in 1970, standing on a platform between the Steacie Science Library and the Farquharson building. The sundial appeared to be made of bronze, but it was actually made of wood and painted to resemble metal. Liking it so much, he bought a miniature version at a hobby shop on Yonge Street. Back on campus years later, Stairs discovered the sundial was gone.

“Unfortunately, by 1980, the wood had warped and rotted, to the point that it was beyond repair,” explains Stairs, a Trent University professor emeritus who was also the school’s first chemistry professor.

Decades passed, but time did not erase the memory of the sundial. Several years ago, Stairs embarked on a project to bring the sundial back to campus, with the help of many collaborators along the way, including Allan I. Carswell Observatory Director Elaina Hyde and R.L Kellogg, Vice President of the , who designed the new sundial, dubbed the STAIRS (Schmoyer-Type Adapted Interactive Reliable Sundial).

“91��ɫ used to have a publicly accessible sundial, which meant that everyone could come out and experience astronomy firsthand, interactively, on campus. It was a great meeting place,” says Hyde, also an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science at 91��ɫ.

Hyde says the STAIRS will serve similarly, being incorporated into observatory tours and class curriculum. “It's basically another telescope, but for the sun,” she says.

“It’s got huge educational overlap with classes in natural science, space sciences, physics and astronomy and remote sensing. We have used our precise location in Toronto, Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee, to place a particularly accurate solar clock of a unique design."

91��ɫ Prof. and Observatory Director Elaina Hyde and Trent Prof. Emeritus Stairs.

Kellogg used the iconic 1950s Richard Schmoyer sundial, which 91��ɫ acquired in the 1960s, and still lives atop the Arboretum Parking Garage in the Observatory atrium, as the basis for the update. However, Stairs requested that the 91��ɫ sundial not have a “cheat” on the gnomon, the part of sundials that cast the shadow used to read time.

“They’ve both got a funny curve, to change sun time into civil time, accounting for the seasonal correction of the sun’s variable motion,” explains Kellogg. “Shmoyer stretched this curved shape for readings during solstices.”

With the gnomon weighing in at over 200 pounds and interactive, designed to be rotated depending on the time of year, they were ok to lose this feature. “We figured in June, most of the students aren’t here, and same with Dec. 21.”

Situated south of 91��ɫ Lions Stadium and directly in line with the Observatory, the STAIRS also adjusts for longitude from the time meridian, and it was the remote sensing group at 91��ɫ that helped map true north for the instrument. The STAIRS tells time in both daylight saving, printed in Roman numerals above, and standard time, written in Arabic numerals below.

Powerful instruments: The newly-unveiled STAIRS (Schmoyer-Type Adapted Interactive Reliable Sundial) is seen with the Allan I. Carswell Observatory in the background.

“I hope the sundial will be appreciated as sculpture. It is also a hands-on astronomical instrument,” said Stairs in his closing remarks during the unveiling of the STAIRS. “My personal motto, appropriate for a sundial, is ‘Horas non numero nisi serenas’ or as Brian from Monty Python might say, ‘Always look on the bright side of life.”

A popular engraving on sundials, the motto translates to “I only count the serene (or sunny) hours. The message also has a literal meeting, as sundials can only tell time on sunny days.

While the mid-September morning chosen for the unveiling of the STAIRS was overcast, the sun did make its presence known during parts of the morning, with the STAIRS reading time within minutes of what the smartphones of guests were reporting.

‘When I see it live, I am most impressed by it,” said Stairs, smiling, the light shining in his eyes.

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Additional info for media:

Contacts:

Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, egamulin@yorku.ca, media@yorku.ca

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Vaughan Community Health Lecture to discuss how technology is transforming health care

egamulin — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:28:34 +0000

TORONTO, Sept. 17, 2026 – This year’s third annual Vaughan Community Health Lecture – Digital Health: How Technology Is Transforming Health Care – will discuss what the role of digital health is and how it can support the health needs of the community, while showcasing health-innovation research from wearable monitors to how AI-powered social robots can help older adults live more independently. Top of Form

The lecture, hosted by 91��ɫ in collaboration with the City of Vaughan and Mackenzie Health, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Vaughan City Hall, Vaughan Room, First Floor, ().

The free event will connect the community with health-care experts, share insights on virtual care, artificial intelligence, and remote monitoring, including how digital tools can safely and effectively support personal well-being and future health-care solutions.

It will feature interactive exhibits, a digital health innovation zone and an expert panel discussion exploring how technology transforms health-care access, patient experiences and management.

As 91��ɫ works toward the launch of its new School of Medicine (pending accreditation), discussions like these highlight 91��ɫ’s commitment to modern, technology-enabled community health care.

Opening Remarks, confirmed speakers:

Lisa Philipps, Interim President & Vice-Chancellor, 91��ɫ 
Purvi Desai, Vice President Digital Health & CIO, Mackenzie Health  
Michael Genova, Deputy City Manager, City of Vaughan

Digital Health Panel:

Emcee and Panel Moderator Dr. Mira Backo-Shannon, Vice Dean, Integrated Community-based Learning Network and Health Systems, 91��ɫ School of Medicine

Vijay Mago, Chair & Associate Professor, School of Health Policy and Management, 91��ɫ 
Sam Fielding, Chief Information Officer, Southlake Health

Dr. Aviv Gladman, Critical Care Physician and Chief Medical Information Officer, Mackenzie Health  
Dr. Nour Khatib, Emergency Physician and Chief Medical Information Officer, Oak Valley Health

The event is open to everyone, including community members, health professionals, students, alumni and wellness advocates.

To register for this free event:

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Media Contacts:

91��ɫ Media Relations, media@yorku.ca

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School attendance is a relationship issue, Faculty of Education interim dean says

egamulin — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:51:18 +0000

Faculty of Education Interim Dean Sarah Barrett

Sept. 11, 2026, TORONTO – While there is a lot of focus right now in Ontario on attendance rules, testing and scores, 91��ɫ Faculty of Education Interim Dean and Professor Sarah Barrett says that none of this will work without a focus on what is core to teaching, which is relationships.

How fundamental this is was made especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when relationships between teachers, students, parents and even the government were particularly strained, a topic Barrett explores in her book . Available open-access online as a free PDF download, Barrett interviews 50 teachers and surveys hundreds more for the book. What emerges are stories where remote learning became a disembodied experience that weakened peer and teacher-student bonds, further marginalizing students who may have already felt like they didn’t belong, says Barrett.

“When relationships break down, that's when students have major attendance issues. If it's not about health, or being a high-performing athlete, it's about being bullied, feeling like teachers don’t care or parents feeling like their child is not being seen,” says Barrett. “Recent government changes can be beneficial, but none of them will work for the most vulnerable students unless we prioritize and protect relationships in schools.”

Barrett is available to talk to media about:

Why strong relationships are a core need of teaching
Why students who struggle the most in classrooms are the most affected when relationships break down
The importance of in-person connections in classrooms to build relationships and community
How policies regarding classroom size, testing and more can either help or hinder teachers looking to build strong relationships in the classroom and beyond
Relational struggles in classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons for contemporary pedagogy

More Faculty of Education experts can be found here

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Media Contacts: Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, egamulin@yorku.ca

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