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Toronto, ON, Oct. 30, 2026 鈥� 91亚色 has welcomed six to campus this fall for the second year in a row, recipients of Canada鈥檚 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亚色 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鈥檚 scholarship.

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

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

鈥淪chulich Leader Scholarships help Canada鈥檚 leading universities identify and support exceptional STEM students with the potential to become tomorrow鈥檚 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,鈥� 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.

鈥淭hey arrive with remarkable accomplishments, but what excites me most is the curiosity, ambition and sense of possibility they bring with them,鈥� says Goodyer. 鈥淲e 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鈥檙e learning and help future students see what鈥檚 possible for them at Lassonde.鈥�

Faculty of Science Dean Maydianne Andrade also gave a warm welcome. 鈥淲e are delighted to welcome our Schulich Leader to the Faculty of Science, and are so pleased that they will pursue their degree in 91亚色's Centre of Actuarial Excellence,鈥� says Andrade. 鈥淚 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

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

鈥淚 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,鈥� says Menezes. 鈥淚t'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鈥檚 what I鈥檓 looking to get from my education at Lassonde.鈥�

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鈥檚 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亚色 for the close-knit community, he says the 鈥渃herry on the top鈥� 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. 鈥淚 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.鈥�

Evelina Demcov

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

鈥淗e was really into technology and as a child, he would give me his old technology,鈥� says Demcov, who comes from Richmond Hill, ON. 鈥淪o I would play with the technology, optimize it, clean it, open it up.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 want to bring my creativity and my love for computers, combine it together and just help people.鈥�

Attracted to 91亚色 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.

鈥淭hey have a lot of resources that I feel are very helpful,鈥� says Demcov. 鈥淏eing able to connect to someone else who may have similar desires can 鈥� it's really nice to be able to reach out to them and maybe ask for help.鈥�

Nathaniel Moodie

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

鈥淚t can be applied to almost any field and any problem,鈥� says Moodie. 鈥淚鈥檝e also always enjoyed solving problems and the wizardry involved in figuring out how things work.鈥�

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

鈥淚 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鈥檓 also looking forward to getting involved with people with similar interests as me.鈥�

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

鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful to have been recognized for my hard work and achievements in school. I鈥檝e 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,鈥� says Moodie.

鈥淚t 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.鈥�

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 鈥渁 massive accomplishment.鈥� 

鈥淎fter a few hours I fully realized it, and it felt amazing,鈥� 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亚色 for the philosophy behind the engineering program. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very people-centric approach on how engineering should be taught and implemented,鈥� 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. 

鈥淚 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.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 just applied and hoped for the best and I almost forgot about it, honestly, until I got the email,鈥� says Johnson, who will be staying in Scarborough with her family during her studies at 91亚色. 鈥滿y mom was  jumping for joy and stuff, literally. 鈥楳y baby, you did it!鈥欌��

鈥淚 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.鈥�

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

鈥淚鈥檓 a hands-on learning person,鈥� says Johnson. 鈥淚 feel like since there鈥檚 a lot of hands-on opportunities, like the 3D printing and all kinds of labs, I feel that will definitely build into what I鈥檓 looking forward to in my future.鈥�

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

 Zackery Nudelman

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

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

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

鈥淎ctuarial Science excites me because it applies mathematical clarity and structure to real鈥憌orld problems, especially those involving financial security and risk.鈥�

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

鈥淭he university鈥檚 commitment to innovation, inclusion, and community aligns with my goal of using mathematics to support financial security, equitable systems, and meaningful social impact,鈥� he says.

Watch a video of the 2026 Schulich Leaders .

With files from Michael Kasaboski

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About 91亚色:

91亚色 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亚色's Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 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亚色鈥檚 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亚色 was recently named one of Canada鈥檚 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亚色 Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

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

The 91亚色 Lions Football team will no doubt be going into this weekend鈥檚 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鈥檚 Football student-athletes at 91亚色 and the competitive performance of the program for the next five years.聽聽

鈥淒avid Cynamon鈥檚 investment in 91亚色 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鈥檓 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. 

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鈥檚 business. David studied at 91亚色 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. 

鈥淎s a 91亚色 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,鈥� says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor of 91亚色. 鈥淭his marks a historic milestone as the single largest gift ever received by 91亚色 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.鈥�  

The 91亚色 Men鈥檚 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亚色 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亚色 recruit top-end student-athletes, get more alumni re-engaged with the football program, and inspire more donors to step up and support. 

鈥�91亚色 and its football program are a significant piece of what helped set me on my path in life,鈥� says Cynamon. 鈥淚 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鈥檓 proud to call myself a 91亚色 Yeomen/Lion, and even prouder to directly support and impact the program鈥檚 student-athletes.鈥� 

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

91亚色 Lions media accreditation form can be found . 

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About 91亚色 

91亚色 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亚色's Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 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亚色鈥檚 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亚色 was recently named one of Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers for the 14th consecutive year. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future. 

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

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

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

鈥淚nvesting in emerging researchers is an investment in Canada鈥檚 future,鈥� says Lisa Philipps, interim president and vice-chancellor of 91亚色. 鈥淚 congratulate all of this year鈥檚 recipients. Their work in health, science, the arts and beyond shows the reach of 91亚色 research and its power to drive positive change in our communities.鈥�

For the (CGRS M), 96 91亚色 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亚色 students will each receive $40,000 per year for 36 months, nine funded through CIHR, 18 through NSERC and 52 through SSHRC.

鈥�91亚色鈥檚 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are making important contributions to research that deepens our understanding of the world and helps address complex challenges,鈥� said Alice MacLachlan, vice-provost and dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. 鈥淭hese 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亚色.鈥�

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亚色 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亚色 researchers were awarded.

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

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

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.

鈥淢ore people around the world are surviving cardiovascular events and living longer with chronic heart disease, yet access to cardiac rehabilitation remains inadequate,鈥� says Lima de Melo Ghisi. 鈥淗ybrid 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.鈥�

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.

鈥淢ultiple studies have already shown that cardiac rehabilitation programs work, playing an outsized role in reducing mortality, hospital readmissions and improving quality of life,鈥� says Carson of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Health. 鈥淒espite that, these programs are under-utilized.鈥�

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.

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TORONTO, Oct 8, 2026 鈥� Doctors鈥� 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亚色 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.

鈥淭his 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 鈥� appropriateness, cost and quantity 鈥� that prescribing deteriorates,鈥� 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鈥� approved formularies, although what little exists suggests it might.

鈥淥verall, when doctors have more contact with drug company promotion, prescribing tends to become less appropriate, more frequent, and more expensive鈥�, says study author Dr Lisa Bero from the University of Colorado Anschutz, USA. 鈥淭his 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.鈥�

The overprescription of opioids is the most infamous example of pharmaceutical companies鈥� 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.

鈥淧atients should be offered the most appropriate treatment for their condition, based on clinical evidence not industry marketing,鈥� adds Dr Bero. 鈥淭he 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.鈥�

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.  

鈥淚t's very common for doctors to receive free meals from companies,鈥� says lead author, Dr Barbara Mintzes from the University of Sydney, Australia. 鈥淒octors often think that this is trivial and doesn鈥檛 influence them, that they 鈥榗an鈥檛 be bought for the price of a sandwich鈥�, 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.鈥�

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鈥� prescribing habits.

鈥淚t鈥檚 encouraging to see that robust conflict-of-interest policies in place tended to be effective,鈥� Dr Mintzes says. 鈥淭he data shows that they probably improve prescribing appropriateness and possibly reduce the number of prescriptions.鈥�

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鈥�, 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亚色, sandramc@yorku.ca

Mia Parkinson, Cochrane Press Office, mparkinson@cochrane.org鈥痮谤鈥�press@cochrane.org,鈥� +44 20 4591 8310鈥� 

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