Mutations are small changes in DNA that can have big effects on how organisms adapt and evolve. My project investigates how mutations arise in yeast and how factors like ploidy, environment, and genome organization influence their occurrence. I will use a fluctuation test, a fast and reliable method for measuring mutation rates at specific genes, […]

Le projet porte sur la synthèse totale de l’hodgsonox, c’est-à-dire la construction par une succession de réactions chimiques au laboratoire de la structure complète de la molécule. L’hodgsonox est une molécule naturelle isolée au début des années 2000 et jamais synthétisée depuis. Elle est isolée d’une plante de Nouvelle-Zélande et possède des activités insecticides contre […]

Immunotherapy has achieved remarkable responses in cancers that were once fatal. However, Ovarian Cancer (OC) clinical trials have shown disappointing responses with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Our research team is studying how to target the factors influencing interactions between OC and immune cells to improve the treatment of OC. One particular target is the SWI/SNF […]

Free-ranging horses forage for 16-20 h/d, travel up to 20 miles and interact with conspecifics as they choose. Conversely, domesticated horses are often kept in individual stalls, meal-fed, turned out for short durations and not given a choice with whom they interact. These living conditions challenge efforts to mimic horses’ natural feeding rhythms and balance […]

Gene therapy is a cutting-edge treatment that can fix or replace faulty genes to treat diseases, but producing the necessary gene delivery cargo, called vectors, is currently expensive and complex. Many of today’s vectors also trigger immune responses in patients, limiting their efficacy. This project explores a new type of vector made from a harmless […]

This project explores how different processing methods affect the nutritional quality and health benefits of proteins from lupin, a sustainable legume crop. Lupin is rich in protein, environmentally resilient, and cost-effective to produce, making it an attractive alternative to meat and dairy proteins. However, the way proteins are extracted and processed can strongly influence how […]

This international research project brings together scientists and students from Canada and Brazil to study how the immune system becomes disrupted in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes—two major chronic diseases. These conditions are linked to ongoing inflammation in the body, which can lead to serious health problems. A hormone-like molecule called interleukin-10 (IL-10) […]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects movement, much like an orchestra losing its conductor; signals become uncoordinated, leading to tremors, stiffness, and difficulty moving. This happens when dopamine-producing cells in the brain’s substantia nigra die. A major cause of this cell death is oxidative stress, an imbalance between harmful molecules called free radicals and the body’s protective […]

Freshwater turtles are one of the most at-risk vertebrate groups, with nearly two-thirds of species facing extinction risk. Nest predation by mammals is a major threat to freshwater turtles, which has resulted in community-based nest protection efforts in many regions around the world, including Nova Scotia, Canada. Although widely implemented, the efficacy of nest protection […]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, often leading to slower walking, difficulty maintaining rhythm, and increased risk of falls. This project investigates whether combining two approaches—transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, and rhythmic auditory stimulation using music—can help improve walking in individuals with PD. The […]

Heart failure is a serious condition that affects millions of people, and doctors need better ways to track how well patients are doing in their daily lives and how their symptoms develop in time. Smartwatches and similar devices could help by measuring movement and activity, but they lack proper standard. Their accuracy can vary between […]

The proposed project aims to implement cutting-edge made-in-Canada approaches to assess and improve the restoration of habitats impacted by resource extraction. This process—known as reclamation—is often implemented by consulting firms and typically does not produce new publicly-available technologies nor public biodiversity data. By implementing modern DNA barcoding and metabarcoding technologies at Canada’s largest copper mine, […]