Anne McIlroy - Page 3 - The Globe and Mail

Anne McIlroy

Former Staff

Anne McIlroy has been a journalist for more than 25 years. She joined the Globe in 1996, and has been the science reporter as well as the parliamentary bureau chief. She studied journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Latest articles

January 3, 2012

Tyianna Trench,13, left, a camper from the Success Beyond Limits Camp try out the Epidemic game/software at PlayCES lab at York University on Aug. 3, 2011.

Tyianna Trench,13, left, a camper from the Success Beyond Limits Camp try out the Epidemic game/software at PlayCES lab at York University on Aug. 3, 2011.

For students, a dog day afternoon with a school's blessing

December 30, 2011

A $10-million initiative called Saving Brains, which aims to encourage healthy brain development in children in the developing world. In the 1970s, researchers tried to boost the brain power of hundreds of poor children in Guatemala with a porridge-like drink called Atole. But they were disappointed to discovered the extra protein had only a modest impact. It was a very different story 25 years later, when one of scientists, Reynaldo Matorell, assembled a team to track down as many of the former participants in the original study as possible. The atole, he discovered, had made a dramatic difference after all, but only in the children who were toddlers and babies when they began drinking it every day.

A $10-million initiative called Saving Brains, which aims to encourage healthy brain development in children in the developing world. In the 1970s, researchers tried to boost the brain power of hundreds of poor children in Guatemala with a porridge-like drink called Atole. But they were disappointed to discovered the extra protein had only a modest impact. It was a very different story 25 years later, when one of scientists, Reynaldo Matorell, assembled a team to track down as many of the former participants in the original study as possible. The atole, he discovered, had made a dramatic difference after all, but only in the children who were toddlers and babies when they began drinking it every day.

Decades after ending in 'disappointment,' Guatemalan study of infant brains inspires Canadian follow up

December 28, 2011

Research engineer Fred Tam prepares a volunteer while demonstrating the driving simulator set up with an fMRI at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.

Research engineer Fred Tam prepares a volunteer while demonstrating the driving simulator set up with an fMRI at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.

This is your brain behind the wheel

December 20, 2011

Grade 10 students Samaa Kazerouni, Cordelia Cho and George Cheng study an animated version of a Borneo rain forest at their Toronto classroom.

Grade 10 students Samaa Kazerouni, Cordelia Cho and George Cheng study an animated version of a Borneo rain forest at their Toronto classroom.

Students take field trip to virtual rain forest without leaving the classroom

December 6, 2011

Source: Boston University School of Medicine

Even in death Reggie Fleming's brain is still sending messages.

Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine have
determined the former NHL player, who endured multiple concussions
during his career, suffered from degenerative brain disease at the time
of his death. This marks the first time a hockey player has been
diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and adds to the
growing concern about the long-term effect of concussions in hockey and
the price exacted by the game's physical nature.

Source: Boston University School of Medicine

Even in death Reggie Fleming's brain is still sending messages.

Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine have
determined the former NHL player, who endured multiple concussions
during his career, suffered from degenerative brain disease at the time
of his death. This marks the first time a hockey player has been
diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and adds to the
growing concern about the long-term effect of concussions in hockey and
the price exacted by the game's physical nature.

Questions abound in hunt for CTE

November 16, 2011

X-ray of a human brain. A discovery could give doctors a new tool to help fight potentially deadly bacterial invasions in people with brain injuries.

X-ray of a human brain. A discovery could give doctors a new tool to help fight potentially deadly bacterial invasions in people with brain injuries.

Researcher honoured for work on deadly infections after brain injury

November 11, 2011

Bjarne Neilsen walks on a treadmill during his physiotherapy at the Virtual Lab of Ottawa Rehab Hospital. Sgt. Neilsen was injured by an IED during his tour in Afghanistan.

Bjarne Neilsen walks on a treadmill during his physiotherapy at the Virtual Lab of Ottawa Rehab Hospital. Sgt. Neilsen was injured by an IED during his tour in Afghanistan.

Injured soldier's daughter a big part of his recovery plan

November 6, 2011

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks with media during a closing news conference at the G20 Summit in Cannes, Friday November 4, 2011.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks with media during a closing news conference at the G20 Summit in Cannes, Friday November 4, 2011.

Harper confident Europe can get its house in order

November 3, 2011

Brian Fidali, visiting researcher Rotman Research Institute , volunteers for an experiment of using a magnetoenceohalography scan to map his brain activity while he looks at pictures of animals on a screen at Baycrest Rotman Research Institute in Toronto.

Brian Fidali, visiting researcher Rotman Research Institute , volunteers for an experiment of using a magnetoenceohalography scan to map his brain activity while he looks at pictures of animals on a screen at Baycrest Rotman Research Institute in Toronto.

Brain fast-mapping: a way to help with memory disorders

November 2, 2011

Researcher Danny Nguyen measures the head of research assistant Carl Tremblay-Cadorette, who has Asperger's syndrome, at a Montreal hospital on Wednesday.

Researcher Danny Nguyen measures the head of research assistant Carl Tremblay-Cadorette, who has Asperger's syndrome, at a Montreal hospital on Wednesday.

The autistic advantage: Montreal team taps researchers' potential

October 21, 2011

The research being done by Dr. Sylvain Moreno, the lead scientist at the Centre for Brain Fitness, Baycrest Rotman Research Institute, is focused on children. He recently reported the results of a study in which children aged four to six did significantly better in verbal IQ tests after twenty days of instruction using a music based cognitive training program. Frames from the computer "game" is projected on the wall behind Moreno.

The research being done by Dr. Sylvain Moreno, the lead scientist at the Centre for Brain Fitness, Baycrest Rotman Research Institute, is focused on children. He recently reported the results of a study in which children aged four to six did significantly better in verbal IQ tests after twenty days of instruction using a music based cognitive training program. Frames from the computer "game" is projected on the wall behind Moreno.

A workout program for your brain

October 12, 2011

Black Death bug hasn't changed, but we have

October 10, 2011

Harmandeep Saini, 25, works on opening and going through doors with his Physio/Occupational Therapy Assistant Heather Densmore.

Harmandeep Saini, 25, works on opening and going through doors with his Physio/Occupational Therapy Assistant Heather Densmore.

Electronic stimulation shows promise for quadriplegics

October 6, 2011

The minds of creative geniuses, like Steve Jobs, remain a scientific mystery

September 30, 2011

Aubrey Francis, 42, undergoes a neural feedback therapy session which he has found very helpful in treatment of his PTSD in Kingston, Ontario on Sept 27, 2011. He and his wife, Tracy have recently started a family with the birth of their first child, Perry, three months.

Aubrey Francis, 42, undergoes a neural feedback therapy session which he has found very helpful in treatment of his PTSD in Kingston, Ontario on Sept 27, 2011. He and his wife, Tracy have recently started a family with the birth of their first child, Perry, three months.

Experimental treatment gives hope to sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder

September 26, 2011

Neuroscientist Georg Northoff scans brains of patients who have attempted suicide.

Neuroscientist Georg Northoff scans brains of patients who have attempted suicide.

Why do teens turn to suicide? Superstar scientist tries to find out

September 25, 2011

Luke and Stephanie Richardson look through countless messages of condolence and suport at their home in Ottawa, Ont. on Aug. 15, 2011. Their daughter Daron Richardson, 14, took her own life in November.

Luke and Stephanie Richardson look through countless messages of condolence and suport at their home in Ottawa, Ont. on Aug. 15, 2011. Their daughter Daron Richardson, 14, took her own life in November.

Families fight back: Turning child's suicide into life legacy

September 25, 2011

Stephanie and Luke Richardson hold a photo of their daugher at their home in Ottawa, Ont. Aug. 15/2011. Their daughter Daron Richardson, 14, took her own life in November.

Stephanie and Luke Richardson hold a photo of their daugher at their home in Ottawa, Ont. Aug. 15/2011. Their daughter Daron Richardson, 14, took her own life in November.

'If we had known': Richardsons turn suicide tragedy into community cause

September 16, 2011

Couple aims to unlock mysteries of dark matter at Perimeter Institute

September 16, 2011

Lukasz Cincio, a post doctoral reseracher, left, works through some tensor network algorithms with senior faculty member, Guifre Vidal, right, on the glass in one of the between-floor interaction centres equipped with special glass that turns opaque the more you are at right angles to it.

Lukasz Cincio, a post doctoral reseracher, left, works through some tensor network algorithms with senior faculty member, Guifre Vidal, right, on the glass in one of the between-floor interaction centres equipped with special glass that turns opaque the more you are at right angles to it.

Hawking Centre opens to foster future Einsteins in Waterloo