Projets novateurs réalisés

Developing a prognostic model of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

As you’re walking, suddenly, your feet become glued to the floor, unable to move. This is what people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) often experience, a symptom called Freezing of Gait (FOG). Despite how common it is and its impact on daily life, finding effective treatments has been challenging because we don’t fully understand why it happens. In this project, we use brain scans (MRI) and computer algorithms to predict who might develop this symptom. To create a model that can predict the onset of FOG, we look at changes in the brain’s structure and connections, especially in areas controlling movement. This research could help doctors better manage PD, leading to more targeted clinical trials and potentially sparking the development of new treatments to prevent or lessen the effects of FOG.
Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario (PSSO) offers a variety of Programs and Services to support people affected by Parkinson’s throughout the region. The research findings and resulting articles and newsletters from this project will help PSSO communicate results to the community and attract new donors (e.g., for directed donations).

Metadata Commons

A large number of biological samples have been collected from research participants and are stored in freezers. In addition, huge volume of omics datasets exist. However, currently there is no place where all these resources are listed thus the research community is not aware of the existence of most of these samples and data. To solve this challenge, as a funding agency focused on applying genomics to pressing societal and economic challenges, Genome British Columbia initiated the Metadata Commons platform to foster a collaborative culture and provide more equitable and integrated information to the research community worldwide. This platform will contain information about both biological samples and omics datasets. This project will focus on improving the platform and engaging the larger user community. The Metadata Commons holds promise for stretching the research funds further, leading to new findings by reusing data beyond its initial purpose, and ultimately improving patient care.

AI-Driven Platform for Streamlined Creation of Interactive Simulation Labs in STEM Education

This project aims to develop an interactive platform with AI capabilities to facilitate the creation of complex simulation labs for STEM education. The significance lies in enabling educators to design and deploy interactive lab environments efficiently, enhancing student engagement and understanding in STEM disciplines. The objectives include exploring generative AI models for lab creation, integrating them into the existing simulation engine, and deploying the solution at scale. Methodologies encompass experimentation with various AI algorithms, rigorous testing in simulation environments, and iterative optimization for seamless integration. This research addresses the pressing need for innovative educational tools by leveraging AI-driven automation to streamline lab development processes.

PetDrifts Digital Marketing

Partner organization is a tech startup that develops smart pet collars, and this project is to support the sale of the product
and the operations needed for product launch in the market. This is the organization’s first product in the market; operations like preparing digital media campaigns, attending local events, signing up new customers are the focus areas of this project.

Global Market Expansion and Process Innovation Initiative

OPAS Mobile is an innovative software made by Mavin Industrial Limited that enhances workplace safety and productivity through AI-powered incident management solutions. To address current challenges and seize growth opportunities, we aim to expand into international markets, improve technical marketing, develop market-specific onboarding processes, craft compelling project proposals, and plan impactful industry events.

The “Global Market Expansion and Innovation Initiative” will strategically position OPAS Mobile for success in new markets. Our intern, a recent business graduate, will conduct market research to identify key international opportunities, analyze competitors, and understand local regulatory requirements. The intern will also develop targeted marketing campaigns, refine messaging, and create region-specific marketing materials to communicate the advantages of our AI-powered software.

In finance, the intern will conduct market entry financial analysis and develop funding leverage plans. They will design culturally appropriate onboarding processes to enhance customer satisfaction and retention. Additionally, the intern will draft and finalize proposals for public and private sector projects and plan industry events to boost OPAS Mobile’s presence.

This project will benefit Canada by contributing to economic growth, creating jobs, and positioning Canada as a leader in innovative technology solutions. It will also reduce workplace injuries and environmental incidents, aligning with Canada’s commitment to health, safety, and environmental sustainability.

Through this initiative, OPAS Mobile aims to drive growth, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance our global presence by leveraging innovative solutions and strategic market positioning for sustainable success.

Automatic transformation of API parameters

Shabodi designs software platforms to empower developers, engineers, and businesses to create and deploy high-performing, network-aware applications. This means that developers can create applications that are not confined to specific platforms or networks. One of the challenges Shabodi faces is the variety of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) used by different software applications. An API is a set of rules and protocols that allows software applications to communicate with each other. Seamless integration between different systems requires an API router, which is also known as an API gateway or API reverse proxy. An API router transforms an ingress API of a consumer into one or more egress APIs of providers. It consists of a knowledge base (KB) of parameter definitions and transformation rules. Manually building the KB is a time-consuming process that requires extensive domain knowledge. This project proposes to develop a platform to automatically build the transformation rules in the KB using API documentation and provided examples.

Examining neural substrates of freezing of gait with structural MRI in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common brain disorder affecting movement, with one of its challenging symptoms being freezing of gait (FOG), where a person temporarily feels as though their feet are glued to the ground. Current treatments often fail to help with FOG, highlighting the need for more research. This study uses advanced MRI techniques to examine specific brain regions involved in this gait problem. By studying the responsible brain regions with the novel MRI technique, we hope to uncover the mechanisms behind the freezing of gait to identify new treatment options for this disabling symptom.
The Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario (PSSO) supports those affected by PD through various programs focused on support, education, advocacy, and research. They offer support groups, and educational resources for families and healthcare providers, and publish a bi-annual magazine. The results from our research will be shared with the PSSO community, helping to attract new donors and support ongoing efforts. With the increasing prevalence of PD in Canada, this research will provide essential educational resources and enhance support systems for patients and caregivers.

A multiplex biosensor platform for the detection of breast cancer biomarkers

Our technology utilizes synthetic DNA designed to exclusively bind and sense specific target biomolecules. Our multiplex platform, a unique feature, consists of eight biosensors specifically targeting one breast cancer marker type. These markers, which are stage-dependent, along with diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers, represent a significant advancement in breast cancer diagnostics and subsequent care for cancer patients.
AinaTest Diagnostics is a startup created around university-based research assets. Our team is on a mission to develop a minimally invasive diagnostic device that detects several breast cancer markers in blood.
Since its establishment in 2024, AinaTest Diagnostics has been driven by a singular, powerful vision: to create a world with zero preventable deaths due to a lack of affordable and reliable breast cancer diagnostics. This vision is not just a goal, but a commitment that our team is dedicated to fulfilling.

L2M – ARMIS: Autonomous Real-time Mapping and Imaging System

The ARMIS (Autonomous Real-time Mapping and Imaging System) project aims to develop an advanced indoor mapping solution utilizing cutting-edge robotics, AI, and image processing technologies to create detailed, real-time indoor maps. This system will autonomously navigate complex environments such as universities, hospitals, corporate campuses, and transportation hubs, capturing 360-degree images and processing them to blur sensitive information before uploading them to Google Street View. This innovative approach enhances navigation and operational efficiency, significantly reducing the time and resources required for manual mapping. Partner organizations will benefit from improved facility management, enhanced user experiences, and increased operational efficiency, ultimately leading to higher productivity and better service delivery.

A numerical model for circulation in the Halifax Harbour estuary system

Estuaries are coastal regions where a freshwater source meets the ocean. The influence of tides, wind, and the shape of the estuary can lead to complicated flows of water that are difficult to predict. The purpose of this project is to develop a computer simulation of the Halifax Harbour estuary. We will use the General Estuarine Transport Model (GETM), which will simulate physical phenomena at smaller scales than have previously been modelled. To confirm that the model adequately represents real physical processes, the simulations will be compared with field observations of temperature, salinity, and currents. This project is partly motivated by the ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) experiments are currently being conducted in Halifax Harbour. OAE is a climate change mitigation method where water containing dissolved alkaline minerals is added to the ocean, initiating an air-to-sea transport of carbon dioxide. A deep understanding of the circulation will be established using GETM, so that the transport of the dissolved alkaline minerals can be predicted. This project is a collaboration between Dalhousie University and IOW in Germany; Dalhousie researchers will receive training on a state-of-the-art estuary model, while IOW researchers will benefit by further testing and refining GETM for a new estuary.

Modélisation et caractérisation de modules photovoltaïques bifaciaux – performances en milieu enneigé

Les performances des modules PV ont considérablement évolué ces dernières années, atteignant des valeurs supérieures à 20%. Cette amélioration est due à des progrès dans l’architecture des cellules solaires, notamment pour les cellules bifaciales. L’utilisation des modules dans des conditions d’enneigement peut considérablement modifier leurs performances. Cela est dû à l’ombrage lié à la neige en surface des modules, mais également au microclimat autour du module (température, rayonnement diffus environnant, rayonnement réfléchi par le sol) et à l’orientation et à l’inclinaison des composants.
En s’appuyant sur la modélisation et les données expérimentales, ce projet de thèse vise à expliciter l’impact de la neige sur la production électrique des modules PV mono et bifaciaux, et à proposer des modes d’installation maximisant la production d’électricité annuelle.

Stage Peptomyc/VHIO

C-Myc, N-Myc and L-Myc were shown to have a partially redundant function in cells. Since their
identification, extensive efforts were made to characterize their respective function at homeostasis and
their role in various infamous diseases. Still, very little is known about those proteins at a biophysical level,
except for c-MYC. Interestingly, despite being critical for their function, the three proteins present
significant difference in their Leucine Zipper (bHLHLZ).
With this short study, we propose to leverage our experience in bHLHLZ purification and biophysics to study
and compare the bHLHLZ of MYC, MYCL and MYCN with a special focus on the characterization of their
oligomeric state and their capacity to bind DNA and Max, MYC obligate partner. Through biochemical and
biophysical techniques, we aim to understand how the differences of charge and sequence can affect their
behavior and function.
During the first part of the project, the student will acquire competences in protein recombinant expression
and purification by IEC and / or affinity chromatography. He/she will then have the opportunity to develop
skills in biochemical and biophysical assays (ELISA, circular dichroism, Differential Scanning Fluorimetry,
Electro-Mobility Shift Assay, among others). Finally, the student will have the opportunity to test his/her
findings in biologically-relevant experimental models.