Innovative Projects Realized

Machine learning-based data analysis for cancer targeted gene panels

Cancer develops from the accumulation of mutations in key genes, which drive disease progression in individual patients. Currently, cancer genomic analysis results in the reporting of dozens to hundreds of mutations and other genomic alterations, without providing any indication of which genes are the most functional, and relevant for the survival of the cancer cell.
In this project, we aim at performing a comprehensive targeted gene sequencing of DNA and RNA extracted from over 60 cancer patient samples. Our main goal is to develop a bioinformatics pipeline to perform variant calls on the sequencing data, which will be used to generate reports on functional oncogenes and effective targeted drugs in individual cancer patient samples.
Our main methodology will utilize Artificial Intelligence techniques for Deep Machine Learning to understand the contributions, interactions, and relationships among the genomic variants. We will validate our findings by using existing large-scale cancer specific genomic databases.

An Integrated Multi-Case Study Approach to Advancing Business-to-Business (B2B) Online Marketing Strategies

With the growth of the internet, online and social media marketing have replaced tv and print advertising. Many companies have become extremely savvy in the use of online marketing tools to reach consumers. But how should online marketing be used when a company is working within a business-to-business context? Online marketing techniques often do not apply in this context. Developing appropriate strategies for business-to-business companies are important as they will drive brand recognition, acquire new customers and create significant financial returns for the company.
Through a multiple sector approach, this study will create a new series of best practices for how business-to-business companies can use online and social media marketing tools for their context

Modular quantum efficiency devices

Quantum efficiency (QE) test equipment becomes abundantly important in numerous applications such as solar cells devices, charge-coupled devices (CCD), photodetectors, both in visible range and in infra-red (IR) spectral range. Although QE tests are becoming prevalent, every application has specific requirements to the excitation source, photovoltaic devices or instrument geometries. Sciencetech Inc. is a global designer and manufacturer of optical spectroscopic instrumentation, for industry and academia. This project will focus on developing modular QE test system, with possibility to exchange different components and extended detection capability in short-wave (SWIR) range. A postdoctoral researcher, working in collaboration between Western and Sciencetech, will use her expertise in growth of the multilayer thin film structures at Western to test new developed structures and to incorporate them into SWIR detector technologies at Sciencetech. She will work on developing a scalable visible-to SWIR device directly integrated on silicon platform. This technology provides a potential for lower cost and larger size QE systems operating in a broader wavelength range.

High Throughput Vacuum Chamber

Building a high throughput vacuum chamber for our group’s transient grading spectroscopy (TGS) project, which uses picosecond, ultrasonic laster acoustics to probe the sub-surface, thermo-elastic properties of materials. We are particularly interested to study the thermal diffusivity of material under irradiation, which requires probe depths of single microns conducted in vacuum. Our current chamber is small, fragile, and restricted in sample size & throughput. We often need to analyze many similarly irradiated materials in vacuum, and having a larger, optically transparent vacuum chamber to do so will greatly increase the throughput of out experiments. Once completed, it will be used to study the performance of alumina coatings on Zircaloys as potential accident tolerant fuel cladding for light water reactors, in addition to comparing the changes in thermal transport in irradiated SiC and FeCrSi alloys under ion and neutron irradiation.

Magnetic field measurement with Thomson Scattering

Counter-streaming plasma has been featured in many experiments due to its prevalence in astronomy around supernova shocks, as well as in other lab plasma applications. These plasmas develop magnetic fields which are interesting due to their ability to accelerate particles as well as their roll in the formation of collisionless shocks.
These fields are normally measured by proton radiography, where the deflection of protons projected through the plasma is measured to infer the field strength of the whole plasma. Thomson scattering, however, gives information about the plasma at a small location, depicting the characteristics of an individual filament. We show measurements of magnetic field strength from the Thomson scattering spectrum, and asses the capabilities and limitations of the Thomson scattering spectrum.

Development of nanoscale and microscale delivery vehicles for plant immune aids using protein coacervation and spray drying – Year two

Modern pesticides have revolutionized agriculture. However, growing concerns with pest resistance, environmental run-off, and a lack of capacity to deal with abiotic stresses associated with drought or extreme heat (critical issues with regards to climate change) demand new solutions. Suncor has developed new plant immune aids that address these challenges by fortifying the immunity of plants, with demonstrated efficacy in crop models. However, current formulations suffer from low bioavailability and low leaf retention, resulting in the need for frequent and costly re-applications. In response, in this proposed Elevate PDF, food proteins and carbohydrates will be used to encapsulate plant immune aids on both the microscale and the nanoscale using scalable and inexpensive complexation techniques. The encapsulation, degradation profile, stability, and cellular uptake of the delivery systems will be assessed. Furthermore, the transport of the developed particles through the waxy leaf barrier will be optimized by modifying the surface hydrophobicity and charge of the complexes. TO BE CONT’D

Development of nanoscale and microscale delivery vehicles for plant immune aids using protein coacervation and spray drying

Modern pesticides have revolutionized agriculture. However, growing concerns with pest resistance, environmental run-off, and a lack of capacity to deal with abiotic stresses associated with drought or extreme heat (critical issues with regards to climate change) demand new solutions. Suncor has developed new plant immune aids that address these challenges by fortifying the immunity of plants, with demonstrated efficacy in crop models. However, current formulations suffer from low bioavailability and low leaf retention, resulting in the need for frequent and costly re-applications. In response, in this proposed Elevate PDF, food proteins and carbohydrates will be used to encapsulate plant immune aids on both the microscale and the nanoscale using scalable and inexpensive complexation techniques. The encapsulation, degradation profile, stability, and cellular uptake of the delivery systems will be assessed. Furthermore, the transport of the developed particles through the waxy leaf barrier will be optimized by modifying the surface hydrophobicity and charge of the complexes. TO BE CONT’D

A novel adaptive skin detection and adjustment

Color has been a central issue in the digital imaging device industry. Customers want more

vivid and natural color presented on imaging devices such as displays, printers, and cameras.

Among various colors in the display system, skin color is the most critical references since it

has the most perceptive impact on human visual system and occupies relatively large area in

the reproduced video signals. Therefore, preferred skin color reproduction in imaging devices

has gained significant research attention recently. The objective of this research project is to

develop a preferred skin color reproduction technique that maximally enhances perceptual

visual quality of digital visual data while minimizing introduction of unnatural artifacts. The

proposed system will initially detect region that contain skin pixels within input image/video

frame and apply color correction algorithm to convert detected skin color to the preferred skin

color. The success of this project will strengthen our industrial partners’ technological

leadership and competitiveness.

Investigating the Antioxidant and Therapeutic Potential of Ergothioneine to prevent Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Subjects

Oxidative stress and inflammation can cause neuron degeneration and lead to mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Dementia is debilitating and poses economic burden to the patients, families, and society. Currently, no curative drugs have been developed to treat dementia. This study will be elucidating the mechanism of action and examining the anti-oxidative and therapeutic effects of ergothioneine (EGT) in cognitive impaired aged persons. EGT is proposed to decrease oxidative stress and inflammation. These will be characterized by special biomarker from body fluid such as 8-oxo-G (oxidized DNA nucleotide by oxidation) and IL6 (pro-inflammatory molecule). Within the three-month period at National University of Singapore, I will examine the level of oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers from blood and urine collected from elderly cognition impaired patients. The MRI scanning of the brain and cognitive assessments will also be analyzed to determine the therapeutic potential of EGT on these patients. Our hypothesis is that there will be a decrease in biomarkers, and the MRI scanning and cognitive assessment will reveal that patients taking EGT will have an enhancement in cognition.

Regulation of p53 translation following inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH)

A novel class of DHODH inhibitors called tetrahydroindazoles was recently identified in the group of professor Sonia Lain through screening of a commercially available chemical library for activators of p53. The hit compound HZ00 is able to slow tumor cell growth in culture, an effect which was reversed upon supplementation with uridine, and had little effect on the growth of normal cells. The aim of this project is understanding the mechanisms that underlie increased translation of p53 mRNA after DHODH inhibition. For that purpose, we will study whether inhibition of DHODH by different DHODH inhibitors alters the expression of a set of selected proteins and small non-coding RNAs that regulate p53 translation. The selection will be based on mRNA and small RNA sequencing data. The expression of small RNAs, mRNAs and proteins of interest will be investigated using RT-qPCR, siRNA and WB analysis in different cell lines.

Radon: Building a BC Based Response – Year two

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium in rocks and soils. Radon can enter buildings and reach high levels in indoor air (Khan and Gomes, 2017). It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer (after smoking). killing approximating 3200 Canadians a year (Chen et al. 2012). High radon concentrations can be easily remedied, and doing so is a cost effective way to prolong life and reduce death from disease (Gaskin, et. al. 2018). However, Canada’s legal rights and remedies to respond to radon in Canada are largely inadequate (Dunn and Cooper, 2015). Action has been slow due to a lack of strong policy networks, and clear legal frameworks for change (Quastel, et. al.2018). In response, the British Columbia Lung Association (BCLA) has a new program on Indoor Healthy Environments, which includes scaling up radon education and awareness, building advocacy networks, and promoting legal change. BCLA requires someone with knowledge of law, policy and social science of the built environment for this new program. TO BE CONT’D

Radon: Building a BC Based Response

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium in rocks and soils. Radon can enter buildings and reach high levels in indoor air (Khan and Gomes, 2017). It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer (after smoking). killing approximating 3200 Canadians a year (Chen et al. 2012). High radon concentrations can be easily remedied, and doing so is a cost effective way to prolong life and reduce death from disease (Gaskin, et. al. 2018). However, Canada’s legal rights and remedies to respond to radon in Canada are largely inadequate (Dunn and Cooper, 2015). Action has been slow due to a lack of strong policy networks, and clear legal frameworks for change (Quastel, et. al.2018). In response, the British Columbia Lung Association (BCLA) has a new program on Indoor Healthy Environments, which includes scaling up radon education and awareness, building advocacy networks, and promoting legal change. BCLA requires someone with knowledge of law, policy and social science of the built environment for this new program. TO BE CONT’D