November 2018

Western In The News is an e-Newsletter that highlights stories with a Western focus that received significant media coverage. This service is provided by Western's media relations team.

Rapid test for E.coli earns national media coverage

A new rapid testing kit developed by researchers at Western University promised to revolutionize food safety testing by producing results in hours rather than current methods which can take days. The kit detects E. coli 0157, the same food-borne bacteria causing the recent outbreak in the US and Canada linked to romaine lettuce. News of the test earned several high-profile interviews for Dr. Michael Rieder, including Your Morning (CTV), CBC News, CTV News, and Australia’s Food Processing.

MEDIA COVERAGE: Your Morning | CBC News | CTV News | Food Processing

Michael Heine provides expertise on possible Calgary Olympic bid

As Calgary’s city council debated the merits of bidding for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games, media in Calgary and elsewhere sought the expertise of Michael Heine from Western’s International Centre for Olympic Studies. Interviews were conducted with The House, CBC Calgary and BNN Bloomberg to name a few.

MEDIA COVERAGE: The House | CBC News | BNN Bloomberg

Researchers uncover gene that regulates fat accumulation and obesity

A new study from Western researcher Silvia Penuela showed that regardless of diet, a protein called Pannexin 1 (Panx1) significantly regulates the accumulation of fat in mice. The study suggests that a deletion of the Panx1 gene in the early stages of development of mouse fat cells increases the amount of fat accumulated, leading to a higher risk for obesity later in life. Penuela was interviewed by CBC News, CTV News and Global News.

MEDIA COVERAGE: CBC News | CTV News | Global News

Stephen Ledgley, Senior Media Relations Officer
519-661-2111, ext. 85283
Email: sledgley@uwo.ca

Jeff Renaud, Senior Media Relations Officer
519-661-2111, ext. 85165
Email: jrenaud9@uwo.ca