We aim to develop tools to assess patient outcomes following treatment and removal of bone metastases. We will identify markers for enhanced patient outcomes, so as to predict which patients may benefit from more aggressive treatments to better their quality of life. We also aim to use 3D printed bone implants to help in the treatment of patients with bone metastasis. These implants will serve as a local reservoir for the anticancer drugs that will improve bone regeneration while also preventing tumor recurrence.

This project aims to assess how the use of the novel “ultra-short echo-time” (UTE) MR imaging technology can “add value to” conventional MRI for detection and quantification of blood products in hemophilic joints. We will test this novel technology in joints of hemophilic patients with different stages of arthropathy presenting with blood products at different stages of degradation as compared with existing MRI sequences.

There are several platforms that allow users to share real time video with the public. However, these platforms lack the tools that would allow creative professionals to create artistic video compositions extemporaneously. Our prior research assessed the potential for artistic expression within live video broadcasting by developing and integrating new creative tools within the Generate platform, a mobile tool for dynamic artistic video compositions. Behavioral analysis provided the information to determine the effectiveness and relevance of video art in an online real time nature.

NeuroRx is an imaging contract research organization (CRO) specialized in the central nervous system (CNS). This company utilizes state-of-the-art digital image processing techniques to produce accurate and precise outcome measures for clinical trials of drugs in development. Prior to analysis, all scans must pass Quality Control (QC). The goal of my project is to incorporate advanced computer algorithms to automatically classify the quality of high-resolution structural brain Magnetic Resonance Images. The advanced computer algorithms will include deep learning algorithms.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) is a common form of leukemia that affects approximately 3 people per 100,000 individuals, and is the most common form of cancer in children and adolescents. Current therapies are effective in children, however, treatment success in infants, adolescents, and adults needs improvement. Indeed, there is a need for new chemotherapeutic drugs and drug formulations that can improve survival rates in susceptible age groups, reduce relapse rates, and improve outcomes in relapsed patients.

A higher incidence of colon cancer is reported in populations consuming high amounts of red meat, as well as in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, where gut bacteria participate in the development of inflammation. We found that dietary supplementation with heme, an element found at high levels in blood, is detrimental to gut health and it fosters the growth of harmful bacteria. In this project, we propose to establish new procedures for both the manipulation of the gut bacteria (microbiota), as well as its characterization using a new state of the art sequencer.

The research intern will be working with Sportball to offer one of their multi-sport after-school programs to children who are living with serious heart defects. Physical activity has many health benefits for children, and after-school programs are an effective way to increase daily physical activity levels. Children living with heart disease are a vulnerable group who don’t regularly participate in physical activity, putting them at risk of developing chronic diseases later in life.

Using growth media available from Stemcell technologies, along with our own tools and techniques, we can isolate and grow intestinal stem cells from mice or human patient donors into enteroid cultures. Enteroids are 3D cell cultures that replicate many of the structures and types of cells found in the intestinal lining. We propose to work with Stemcell technologies to continue to develop their growth media for enteroid culture and apply these new media and techniques to further or understanding of how these cells help the body defend against infection.

Food safety is a major concern and current approaches may take weeks to detect harmful bacteria that has contaminated food. This project involves the development of a rapid detection test kit to allow food processors to see if food has been contaminated by potentially harmful bacteria before the food is sent to market. The interns’ main objectives are to develop these rapid test kits working with our industrial partner. The kit will benefit food processors by finding contamination before food is shipped from their plants while the consumer benefit by having safer food.

Pulmonary arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a severe disease that affects both the pulmonary vasculature and the heart with no curative options. The apelinergic system which can be defined by the cell surface receptor APJ, mostly expressed in the heart and vessels, and its endogenous ligands Apelin and ELABELA appear as a promising therapeutic pathway in the context of cardiovascular dysfunction.