We propose a novel approach that will provide researchers with an improved method to study multiple molecules, simultaneously in the same tissue section. Our strategy is to use novel nanoparticles that each emit unique multispectral signature and can be used simultaneously. We aim to develop a novel method to detect 15 breast cancer and immunotherapy-related biomarkers at the same time. The capability to detect a multitude of biomarkers simultaneously on the same tissue section would provide unprecedented headways in the field of cancer research and particularly on tumor profiling.

The purpose of this research will be to analyze microbial volatile organic compounds for the purpose of the development of an analytical method for the detection and speciation of moulds in an indoor environment.

The aim of this project is to develop and characterize metal matrix composite materials for applications in the field of power electronics and automotive. The material under study are constituted by a copper or aluminum matrix, reinforced by carbon (fibers or platelets) and it is known that the composite properties depend on the orientation of the reinforcements. The objective of this research is to study and to evaluate the effect of a deformation (e.g extrusion) of the material on its thermal, electrical and mechanical properties.

Through the Mitacs internship program, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is partnering with Western University researchers to build confidence in the lifetime of copper-coated steel containers, proposed as one of several barriers that will keep nuclear waste contained and isolated from the environment. The intern, Ms. Thalia Standish, will simulate the corrosion of copper-coated steel materials in a variety of conditions, followed by three-dimensional imaging using X-ray microtomography. Together with her supervisor, Dr. David Shoesmith, Ms.

In the wake of the Paris meeting on global climate change in December of 2015 (COP21), commitments to drive down greenhouse gas emissions have escalated around the world. Man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are accepted as the largest contributor to climate change. Promising next-generation technologies for decreasing CO2 emissions are being investigated at the lab scale. Unfortunately, the technology developers often lack next-step projects and connections with industrial end-users to allow the technology to advance and become commercialized.

As computer chips approach the nanometer-scale size, it is becoming increasingly clear that the next revolution in computing technologies will be enabled by quantum computing. A pioneer in quantum technologies aimed at quantum computing, the Canadian company D-wave Systems has developed quantum annealing processors consisting of superconducting circuit that can be used as efficient devices for solving high-dimensional optimization or sampling problems. The same problems can be solved using conventional computers and it is not yet clear if quantum annealers offer quantum speedup.

The complement system is an essential component of innate immunity, but also causes self-damage when the system is aberrantly activated or self-protective capacity is exceeded. There are many conditions where failure to protect against self-damage from the complement system has been implicated in the pathology, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinemia, atypical hemolytic uremia syndrome and age-related macular degeneration.

In this project, we will establish biomarkers that objectively reflect the severity of injury, measure its progression, and predict neurologic outcome after acute spinal cord injury (SCI). This will be accomplished by comprehensively analyzing blood and spinal fluid samples from acute SCI patients. In addition, we will conduct a parallel experimental study in a large animal model of SCI with a similar analysis of blood and spinal fluid samples.

Saliva is a promising alternative specimen since it is easy and non-invasive to collect, and available at any time. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has been recently introduced as a green, simple, fast and sensitive sample preparation technique for high-throughput and in vivo analysis of drugs in various biological fluids, including saliva.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common condition in which the cavities in the nasal channel become inflamed and swollen. This condition interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up. Delivery of the positively charged proteins containing short chains locally to the nasal area can be used for the treatment of this problem. This proposal suggests synthesis and characterization of negatively charged polymeric systems with specific modifications to bind to these proteins and stabilize them.