Projets novateurs réalisés

A mass balance modelling framework for chemicals and their primary metabolites for ecological and human health assessment – Year two

Chemicals manufactured and used in society degrade through physical and biological processes (e.g., photolysis, biotransformation) into break-down products (e.g., metabolites). Most “parent” chemicals can breakdown relatively quickly so that they are not persistent or bioaccumulative; however, some metabolites formed during the degradation processes can persist in the environment thus requiring consideration for ecological and human health assessment. The environmental fate, bioaccumulation, exposure and associated risks of these formed metabolites are largely unknown. The proposed research includes the development and testing of an exposure modelling framework for the holistic assessment of parent chemicals and their primary metabolites formed during degradation processes in the environment (e.g., air, water) and in biota. This research will combine Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) methods and mechanistic, multi-media environmental fate and exposure models. QSAR models will be developed to estimate degradation properties (e.g., reaction rates, half-lives) and databases and models will be used to estimate metabolite formation pathways. The Risk Assessment IDentification And Ranking (RAIDAR) multi-media mass balance model will be revised to incorporate this information and quantify the fate and exposure of parent chemicals and selected metabolites to humans and ecological receptors. Case studies will be performed to evaluate the performance of the new modelling framework.

A feasibility study on semi-solid casting for aluminum metal matrix composites

The purpose of this project is to study the feasibility of using SEED process to produce

aluminum metal matrix composite (MMC) slugs with high quality, which will be formed to the

net shape cast parts using a high pressure die casting machine. The study includes

understanding rheological behaviors of the semi-solid MMC slugs, the effects of different

SEED parameters on the slug quality, and the relationship between the microstructure of the

MMC slugs and the castability of final castings. This project will be benefit to the industrial

partner for a better understanding the SEED process for semi-solid MMCs casting.

A mass balance modelling framework for chemicals and their primary metabolites for ecological and human health assessment

Chemicals manufactured and used in society degrade through physical and biological processes (e.g., photolysis, biotransformation) into break-down products (e.g., metabolites). Most “parent” chemicals can breakdown relatively quickly so that they are not persistent or bioaccumulative; however, some metabolites formed during the degradation processes can persist in the environment thus requiring consideration for ecological and human health assessment. The environmental fate, bioaccumulation, exposure and associated risks of these formed metabolites are largely unknown. The proposed research includes the development and testing of an exposure modelling framework for the holistic assessment of parent chemicals and their primary metabolites formed during degradation processes in the environment (e.g., air, water) and in biota. This research will combine Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) methods and mechanistic, multi-media environmental fate and exposure models. QSAR models will be developed to estimate degradation properties (e.g., reaction rates, half-lives) and databases and models will be used to estimate metabolite formation pathways. The Risk Assessment IDentification And Ranking (RAIDAR) multi-media mass balance model will be revised to incorporate this information and quantify the fate and exposure of parent chemicals and selected metabolites to humans and ecological receptors. Case studies will be performed to evaluate the performance of the new modelling framework.

Behavioural Economic Interventions to Promote Health and Wellness on a Canadian Mobile Health Application

Behavioural economics demonstrates that people consistently behave in irrational ways that lead to poorer health outcomes. Yet the way in which people behave irrationally is predictable, which governments and organizations around the world have used to design “nudges” to “[alter] people’s behaviour in a predictable way without forbidding any options” (Thaler & Sunstein, 2008). Carrot Rewards is a Canadian mobile health (mHealth) application that serves as a platform for delivering nudges on a mass scale. It incentivizes its 850,000+ users to improve their health and wellness with loyalty reward points redeemable for consumer goods. Since the app was launched in 2016, it has introduced new features designed to leverage behavioural economic principles. While these principles have been found to be effective in other contexts, their effectiveness has yet to be determined in the context of an mHealth app. The objectives of the proposed research is the evaluation and optimization of these features, which will benefit the partner organization by enhancing the impact of their product, while providing an opportunity for the fellow to practice applying his research and statistical expertise in the product development and evaluation processes of the company.

Optimizing the placement of Med-El’s BoneBridge implant: image-guided positioning and biomechanical efficiency – Year two

Med-El’s BoneBridge implant provides the sensation of sound to hearing-impaired persons. The device’s transducer is surgically implanted in the skull. Key surgical problems are to find a location on the individual patient’s skull that is thick enough to house the transducer and to place and configure the transducer to maximize sound energy transfer to the cochlea, the organ of hearing. This project will (1) develop software for patient-specific, image-based BoneBridge placement planning and (2) investigate how BoneBridge placement and configuration affect energy transfer. The software will allow surgical planning by identifying the best position(s) for the implant from clinical images taken preoperatively. Our biomechanical investigations provide guidelines to surgeons on optimizing device performance by providing information on sound energy transfer patterns in various implantation scenarios. Med-El, surgeons and patients will benefit because the software and guidelines we develop will make implantation easier, safer, and optimal.

Optimizing the placement of Med-El’s BoneBridge implant: image-guided positioning and biomechanical efficiency

Med-El’s BoneBridge implant provides the sensation of sound to hearing-impaired persons. The device’s transducer is surgically implanted in the skull. Key surgical problems are to find a location on the individual patient’s skull that is thick enough to house the transducer and to place and configure the transducer to maximize sound energy transfer to the cochlea, the organ of hearing. This project will (1) develop software for patient-specific, image-based BoneBridge placement planning and (2) investigate how BoneBridge placement and configuration affect energy transfer. The software will allow surgical planning by identifying the best position(s) for the implant from clinical images taken preoperatively. Our biomechanical investigations provide guidelines to surgeons on optimizing device performance by providing information on sound energy transfer patterns in various implantation scenarios. Med-El, surgeons and patients will benefit because the software and guidelines we develop will make implantation easier, safer, and optimal.

Employing the use of flexible engineering approaches as a bank erosion mitigation technique on the Nicola River in the Thompson Okanagan region

Rivers naturally shift and move through lateral erosion and deposition, which can cause problems for infrastructure that is built on riverbanks. Traditional engineering solutions have entirely halted lateral movement, which can have negative consequences. This research is investigating an alternative method, which uses grains that are within the grain size distribution of the riverbed, rather than the method known as riprap, which are much larger grains. This research will use a flume to model the Nicola River, alongside computer models. If successful, Kerr Wood Leidal will use the flexible engineering approach to stabilize the channel and minimize further bank erosion.

Formulating a novel goat-whey based drink and studying its nutritional and health functions – Year two

This project will create novel goat milk-based products and test their health effects in healthy adults. Interest in goat milk is increasing, mainly due to two market trends: consumers’ new taste trends for niche/ethnic products, and the perception of goat milk having added health properties. Goat milk is perceived as having intestinal anti-inflammatory effects and improved digestive properties compared to bovine milk, due to the unique functionalities of its oligosaccharides and triglycerides. However, the basis of claims is often founded on anecdotal evidence, and these health effects have not been extensively studied, particularly in adults to whom these products are marketed.
Objectives: To manipulate goat milk fractions to prepare a product matrix with nutritionally significant amounts of oligosaccharides and higher fat. This matrix will need to be acceptable to consumers, so that further studies can evaluate the mechanisms behind the health benefits. Specifically, human intervention trials will investigate physiological and biochemical markers. In particular, the development aims at highlighting the health beneficial effects of oligosaccharides and short and medium chain fatty acids on postprandial satiety and gut health markers. The research findings will be exploited to create highly functional ingredients and new products for the Canadian and export markets.

Formulating a novel goat-whey based drink and studying its nutritional and health functions

This project will create novel goat milk-based products and test their health effects in healthy adults. Interest in goat milk is increasing, mainly due to two market trends: consumers’ new taste trends for niche/ethnic products, and the perception of goat milk having added health properties. Goat milk is perceived as having intestinal anti-inflammatory effects and improved digestive properties compared to bovine milk, due to the unique functionalities of its oligosaccharides and triglycerides. However, the basis of claims is often founded on anecdotal evidence, and these health effects have not been extensively studied, particularly in adults to whom these products are marketed.
Objectives: To manipulate goat milk fractions to prepare a product matrix with nutritionally significant amounts of oligosaccharides and higher fat. This matrix will need to be acceptable to consumers, so that further studies can evaluate the mechanisms behind the health benefits. Specifically, human intervention trials will investigate physiological and biochemical markers. In particular, the development aims at highlighting the health beneficial effects of oligosaccharides and short and medium chain fatty acids on postprandial satiety and gut health markers. The research findings will be exploited to create highly functional ingredients and new products for the Canadian and export markets.

Needs assessment of challenging behaviours in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and coping strategies from the stakeholders’ perspective

The objectives of this project are to determine the behavioural and emotional problems affecting

children with FASD and their parents/guardians and to determine the specific services and supports

this group requires to deal with the identified challenges. This information will be gathered by

telephone interviews of 100 parents/guardians and 30 clinicians.

The intern will be responsible for completing the telephone interviews of the families, clinicians and

organizing, maintaining and analyzing data obtained from these interviews. The intern will also

complete the report and other deliverables requested by the partner (PHAC), including

recommendations on how best to use the data findings and a poster presentation.

Towards creating intelligent heat stress monitoring and management solutions to safeguard health and wellness

The scientific challenge for this research project is to advance our understanding of the impacts of heat stress in heat vulnerable workers and to use this information towards the creation of intelligent heat stress monitoring and management solutions to safeguard health and wellness. Currently, our understanding of the effects of heat exposure on vulnerable individuals remains incomplete, limiting our ability to implement protective measures to optimize performance/safety during work in hot environments. Our work employing the world’s only air calorimeter (device to measure precisely whole-body heat loss) shows that government-recommended heat exposure guidelines fail to protect workers, especially older adults, against dangerous increases in core temperature during work in the heat. This is because they do not consider factors like age, chronic disease and others that can affect heat dissipation. Moreover, they do not account for factors that modify a person’s day-to-day tolerance to heat (exposure time, hydration, others). Thus, this project aims to develop thresholds for ‘high-risk’ work conditions based on ambient temperature, work intensity and duration, and biometric data which will be integrated into a first-generation ‘heat’ app and lead to the creation of a physiological monitoring system for the assessment of heat strain in heat vulnerable workers.

Development of a next-generation in vivo human gene-editing therapeutic platform – Year two

The over-arching goal of our project is to develop a robust next-generation gene-editing platform to repair the deleterious mutations that are responsible for genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis and cancer. First-generation precision endonuclease technologies have been tremendous for in vitro gene disruption studies and ex vivo treatments, but there has been limited success at developing safe and effective in vivo human gene-editing therapies. To address these issues, we propose to package a highly specific RNA-guided dual nuclease technology (TevCas9), into liposomal delivery vehicles developed by Specific Biologics Inc. (SBI). By combining these technologies, we will create a powerful therapeutic platform that fulfills the target product profile for an ideal in vivo gene-editing platform. As proof-of-principal, we propose to target and repair the CFTR delta F508 mutation, a monogenetic mutation that results in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and in which >85% of CF patients carry at least one copy of the mutation. CF was chosen as our model due to the high unmet medical needs of these patients and the suitability of SBI’s proposed liposomal (lipid-based) delivery system to target cells of the respiratory mucosa through nebulization. However, following our initial studies TevCas9 will be retargeted to other clinically relevant targets.