What makes RAMEN innovative is its ability to build smart, disease-focused maps of clinical variables (called Bayesian networks) that not only find direct links but also reveal subtle, indirect connections that may be critical for diagnosis and treatment. The researchers tested RAMEN on thousands of patient records and found that it consistently outperformed existing methods in identifying key indicators of disease severity, some of which were later confirmed using gene and protein data.

Because RAMEN works across different diseases and doesn’t rely on prior assumptions, it holds promise for improving personalized medicine—helping doctors tailor care based on patterns hidden in patient data. Its speed and scalability make it especially valuable for analyzing large healthcare datasets, paving the way for faster insights into disease mechanisms and better patient outcomes.

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Efficient and scalable construction of clinical variable networks for complex diseases with RAMEN. Xiong Y, Wang J, Shang X, Chen T, Fraser DD, Fonseca GJ, Rousseau S, Ding J. Cell Rep Methods. 2025 Apr 21;5(4):101022. doi: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2025.101022. PMID: 40215965

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Dr. Lands was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to CF research.

Congratulations Dr. Lands!

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New funding for cystic fibrosis research, The Institute (Montreal Children’s Hospital) March 17, 2025

Leave No One Behind: development of a genetic therapy for people living with Cystic Fibrosis who do not respond to available modulators. Génome Québec

Génome Québec and Cystic Fibrosis Canada invest $1.2 million in research tackling rare, orphan CFTR mutations. Cystic Fibrosis Canada

LinkedIn, Facebook EN, Facebook FR, Instagram, X-EN, X-FR, Bluesky

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“Beta-glucan is found in the cell walls of all fungi, including some that live in and on our bodies as part of the human microbiome,” explained Divangahi. “It is tempting to hypothesize that the levels and composition of fungi in an individual could influence how their immune system responds to infections, in part because of beta-glucan.”

The study, published in Nature Immunology, highlights beta-glucan’s potential as a therapy for influenza and other viral pathogens. Researchers noted that beta-glucan can reprogram immune cells to control excessive inflammation, a common cause of flu-related deaths.

Future research will explore its applicability to humans.

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β-Glucan reprograms neutrophils to promote disease tolerance against influenza A virus. Khan N, Tran KA, Chevre R, Locher V, Richter M, Sun S, Sadeghi M, Pernet E, Herrero-Cervera A, Grant A, Saif A, Downey J, Kaufmann E, Khader SA, Joubert P, Barreiro LB, Yipp BG, Soehnlein O, Divangahi M. Nat. Immunol. 2025 Feb;26(2):174-187.

In the News

New discovery could help protect against influenza. Preclinical trial uncovers how beta-glucan, found in all fungi, can ‘reprogram’ immune cells to prevent lung inflammation. The Institute News. February 17, 2025.

New discovery could help protect against influenza. Preclinical trial uncovers how beta-glucan, found in all fungi, can ‘reprogram’ immune cells to prevent lung inflammation. McGill News. February 17, 2025.

Fungal component may protect against flu-related lung damage. News Medical Life Sciences. February 18, 2025.

Common Mushroom Fiber May Protect Against Flu, Study Finds. Science Alert. by David Nield. February 20, 2025.

Montreal scientists make discovery that could protect against influenza. CityNews. by Tehosterihens Deer. February 20, 2025.

Un produit naturel pourrait empêcher le système immunitaire de s’emballer. La Presse. par Jean-Benoit Legault. le 20 février 2025.

Des champignons pour éviter les complications de la grippe? Le Devoir. par Jean-Benoit Legault. le 20 février 2025.

Can Mushroom Fiber Beat the Flu? Beta-Glucan 101 with Dr. Maziar Divangahi. Causes or Cures health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks. July 15, 2025. Episonde 234.

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Monica Cella (PhD with Dao Nguyen). Bourses de réintégration à la recherche / Doctorat FRQS. Title: Analyses métagénomiques pour comprendre la dynamique de transmission des bactéries résistantes aux carbapénèmes dans les hôpitaux.

Monica Cella (PhD with Dao Nguyen and Jesse Shapiro). Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships. Title: Metagenomic analyses to understand transmission dynamics of carbapenem resistant bacteria within hospital settings

Fajri Gafar (PDF with Dick Menzies). Formation postdoctorale – citoyens d’autres pays FRQS. Title: Tracer le chemin vers un traitement individualisé de l’infection et de la maladie tuberculeuse.

Quazi Sufia Islam (PhD with Carolyn Baglole). Bourse Tremplin.

Sahar Mikaeeli (PhD with Jean Bourbeau and Simon Rousseau). Formation de doctorat FRQS. Title: Exacerbation aiguë de la BPCO : Variantes du gène CFTR et leur interaction avec les facteurs de risque environnementaux.

Kamila Romanowski (PDF with Jonathon Campbell). Formation postdoctorale -Citoyens canadiens et résidents permanents FRQS. Title: Distiller l’impact des séquelles post-tuberculeuses sur les décisions de coûtefficacité concernant le dépistage et le traitement de l’infection tuberculeuse au Canada.

Emily Wilson (PhD with Carolyn Baglole). Formation de doctorat FRQS. Title: L’activation des récepteurs d’hydrocarbures aryliques par les produits à base de cannabis inhalés régule l’inflammation pulmonaire.

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Recipients from the RESP Program and the Meakins-Christie Laboratories

Strauss Chair in Respiratory Medicine
Provided by The Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation
Awarded to Dr. Maziar Divangahi

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2023 CODE LiFE Research Awards. Working Together to Transform Healthcare. MCH Foundation News. October 2023

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It is with great pleasure that we announce Dr. Fajri Gafar as the recipient of the 2023-2024 Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship in Respiratory Research. Their interest in tuberculosis (TB) research began during their Master’s research project on TB treatment in children in Indonesia – after witnessing the suffering of TB patients and the significant burden caused by the disease. Dr. Gafar’s PhD project focused on optimizing the treatment of TB in children and adolescents. Their initiatives go beyond research, impacting education, mentorship, and policy. They have supervised MSc students, taught human physiology and pharmacology in Indonesia, and actively contributed to scientific communities such as the WHO Child and Adolescent TB Working Group. Dr. Gafar’s research has directly influenced TB policy and sparked hope for more equitable and effective treatments for children worldwide. Their career aspirations reflect a deep dedication and a clear vision to transform TB research and treatment, especially in high-burden settings like Indonesia.

Dr. Gafar’s current postdoctoral project, under the guidance of Dr. Dick Menzies, focuses on optimizing high-dose rifampin treatment for TB infection and disease. Drawing from their PhD experience conducting large-scale meta-analyses of anti-TB drug pharmacokinetics in children, Dr. Gafar is now applying similar methods to adult TB patients. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at McGill, Dr. Gafar plans to return to Indonesia, which bears the second-highest TB burden globally, and join the Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) as a faculty member dedicated to the clinical pharmacology and epidemiology of TB.

About the Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship

The Montreal Chest Institute Foundation and the MUHC Respiratory Division are proud to support the Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship. Over the course of her career, Dr. Becklake had a major interest in respiratory health in lower-income countries, including in childhood asthma and occupational lung disease. She conducted research in this area for many years. She also trained and hosted students in respiratory research from lower-income countries, who then became leaders in research and care in those countries. Beginning with the inaugural award for 2020-21, the Dr. Margaret Becklake Fellowship will be awarded to at least one trainee in respiratory research every year as they conduct research under the supervision of scientists at the Montreal Chest Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. Recipients are chosen from low- and middle-income countries as well as from Canadian Indigenous communities. This fellowship will help us train the next generation of respiratory researchers and specialists in areas of the world where the need is greatest.

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MI4 Seed Fund Grants – Round 4 results

Five RI-MUHC researchers receive new funding from MI4: Cutting-edge projects in infection and immunity supported in Round 4 of MI4’s Seed Fund Grant program. RI-MUHC News. April 27, 2022

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Title: Virtual home-based pre-habilitation program in lung transplant candidates

Since 2012 the CDTRP has supported research and innovation that addresses barriers within the fields of donation and transplantation, with the ultimate goal of advancing long-term health outcomes and quality of life for Canadian transplant patients. The CDTRP Research Innovation Grant competition supports new peer-reviewed pilot research projects that align with CDTRP’s One-Transplant-for-Life vision, which is to fulfill every donor opportunity and turn transplant into a cure.

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RI-MUHC success in grant competition for transplantation research
Researchers awarded funds from the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program for innovative research projects in organ and tissue transplantation. RI-MUHC News July 22, 2021.

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