The Centre for the Commercialization of Antibodies and Biologics (CCAB) is working with Empirica Therapeutics (Empirica), a Canadian start-up company focused on developing data-driven treatments for cancer, to address the unmet medical needs of glioblastoma (GBM), the most common adult malignant primary brain tumor. Current therapies are only partly effective, with frequent relapse and poor patient survival, which correlates with the presence of CD133+ brain tumor-initiating cells that are also implicated in treatment-resistant GBM. By partnering with Dr.

Proteinuric kidney diseases, such as lupus nephritis, affect approximately 1 in 10 individuals around the world. For many patients, it results in the progression to end-stage kidney disease, for which the only treatments available are dialysis and transplantation. Therefore, it is imperative to develop therapies that slow down or halt the progression of proteinuric kidney disease. Voclosporin (VCS) is a next-generation calcineurin inhibitor currently in phase 3 clinical trials. It confers increased potency when compared to other drugs currently used to treat proteinuric kidney disease.

Modern molecular targeted therapies have shown promise in treating some blood cancers, but a cure remains elusive for most acute leukemia patients. This is largely due to the survival of some leukemic cells that possess unique properties and can cause treatment failure or relapse, warranting identification of new, distinct targets for improved therapies. In collaboration with Signalchem Lifescience Corporation (SLC), we aim to develop and test a new drug combination strategy to target acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient cells that are resistant to current therapies.

Modern molecularly targeted therapies have shown promise in treating some blood cancers, but a cure remains elusive for most acute blood cancer patients. This is largely due to the survival of some blood cancer cells that possess unique properties and can cause treatment failure or relapse, highlighting the need for new therapies. In collaboration with Virogin Biotech Ltd, we aim to develop an innovative oncolytic virotherapy to effectively target acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient cells that are resistant to current therapies.

Recent scientific breakthroughs have led to the development of methods to differentiate human PSCs (hPSCs) into skeletal muscle cells. This has allowed, for the first time, the development of cellular models to study muscle diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the possibility to utilize these cells for cell therapy applications. However, the reliability, efficiency and prober characterization of cells produced from these differentiation protocols remains a roadblock for their routine utilization by the research community.

This is project that creates audio documentaries that are grounded in academic research. As part of this project, Mitacs interns will work for three distinct podcasts: Cited Podcast, Crackdown, and Blue and Goldcast. These podcasts are meant for a general audience, and have wide popular and critical appeal. They are developed in a unique collaborative approach (putting students, scholars, and professionals together), which makes for a compelling final product. Mitacs interns will conduct original research and reporting to support the development of these podcasts.

Heavy pesticide and antibiotic use are prevalent in modern agriculture and is an essential requirement to feed the ever-increasing human population. Their increased use, however, has also resulted in a loss of ecological biodiversity, environmental contamination, emerging pesticide/antibiotic resistance and is an economic burden to farmers, especially in low income nations. The research proposed aims to develop novel alternative agricultural bio-control technology centered around Baker’s yeast, a common and non-toxic organism used in baking and brewing.

Modern molecular targeted therapies have shown promise in treating some blood cancers, but a cure remains elusive for most acute leukemia patients. This is largely due to the survival of some leukemic cells that possess unique properties and can cause treatment failure or relapse, warranting identification of new, distinct targets for improved therapies. In collaboration with Signalchem Lifescience Corporation (SLC), we aim to develop and test a new drug combination strategy to target acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient cells that are resistant to current therapies.

The analysis of protein-protein interactions is critical for understanding cell growth control, and how aberrant connections contribute
to cancer and other diseases. Mass spectrometry is a critical tool in this field, but sample complexity, instrument dynamic range and
resolution limit some applications. This project will evaluate the use of the SelexION ion mobility device and High Resolution TOF
with Zeno pulsing for enhanced separation and detection of cross-linked peptides from protein complexes and to detect posttranslational
modifications of proteins, specifically phosphorylation.

The high incidence of acute organ rejection following heart transplantation poses major problems for patients, clinicians, and the healthcare system. A major clinical challenge in this regard arises from the difficulty of accurately