Sylvain Bouix, from École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), Martha E. Shenton and Ofer Pasternak, from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Harvard University), and René Kahn, from Mount Sinai Hospital (New York) has just received US $33 million in funding—the equivalent of CAD 45 million—over five years from the National Institute of Mental Health to better understand the mechanisms of action of new drugs designed to treat psychosis.

Kidney disease is a global health concern, but conventional tests that check creatinine levels often overlook early signs of damage. To solve this, researchers developed an innovative biosensor that detects symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), a byproduct of protein breakdown.  The sensor uses special peptides to measure SDMA in urine with high accuracy and does not need additional diagnostic equipment. This simple, cost-effective tool enables early detection of kidney issues, supporting timely interventions and improved patient outcomes.