Christmas tree growers in Nova Scotia are experiencing high demand for trees along with increasing pressure to adapt to changing climate conditions. Trees well-suited to local climates showing preferred traits like enhanced needle retention, needle length/colour and later flushing dates is required. Testing and production of these trees requires cloning new lines and somatic embryogenesis […]

Gene therapy has the potential to cure a wide range of debilitating genetic diseases. One of the best ways to correct a genetic defect is to use a viral vector to deliver a functional copy of the gene to cells in the body so that they can express a functional protein and reverse the disease […]

The use of plant growth promotion microbial extracts containing various metabolites is a promising technique to improve crop growth and combat various stress conditions. Very little is known about the effect of bacterial cell-free extracts on plant growth promotion and salt stress mitigation. The project aims to: (i) Optimization of growth media and parameters to […]

La prise en charge thérapeutique des cancers localement agressifs, dont font partie les cancers de l’ovaire (OvCa) et les glioblastomes (GBM), est aujourd’hui encore un enjeu majeur, avec une survie à 5 ans de 30% et 4% respectivement. La communauté scientifique se penche sur l’identification de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques afin de pouvoir proposer des traitements […]

The goal of this project is to bridge the gap between academic research into antibiotic alternatives and industry application. There has been extensive research into the use of alternative feed additives and water acidification to improve the ‘gut health’ of poultry; however, industry application of these findings has produced inconsistent results, resulting in a lack […]

Psychotic disorders including schizophrenia are severe mental disorders affecting 2-3% of the population and rank among the leading causes of disability worldwide. Although early intervention is effective in improving illness outcome, a significant proportion of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients experience persistent functional impairment even after clinical remission. Accurate prediction of FEP patient trajectories will allow […]

Soybean stands as one of the major field crops globally. However, its production encounters annual yield losses, partially attributed to pathogenic threats. To enhance the immunity of crops such as soybean, it is crucial to comprehend the molecular mechanisms of immune signaling. Building on our prior research, we propose that specific CDPKs may represent promising […]

Cardiovascular disease (CV) is a leading global cause of death, primarily linked to aging, but influenced by various factors like inactivity, poor diet, and limited healthcare access. Social adversities, such as social isolation and challenging childhoods, also significantly impact CV health, weakening the immune system and altering genes. Understanding how social challenges affect CV health […]

This research project is focused on improving a potential treatment for life-threatening lung disorders through gene therapy, which involves using a genetically engineered virus (a viral vector) to deliver a healthy copy of the problematic gene to the patient’s lung cells. Our project has three main goals. First, we want to increase the production capacity […]

This research addresses a persistent threat to individuals with cystic fibrosis—Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, known for biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Unlike prior studies on natural products, this initiative explores the combined impact of conventional antibiotics and MHCombiotics Inc.’s unique blend of metalloid and plant-based compounds. Demonstrated effective against P. aeruginosa, this study compares their efficacy […]

The First Nations Health Atlas aims to comprehensively analyze diverse administrative datasets from Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services to produce holistic analytics for First Nations health in the province. The initiative’s core objectives include establishing a comprehensive roster of First Nations individuals from Bigstone, Siksika, and Maskwacis nations, analyzing disease incidence and prevalence, scrutinizing […]

Overfishing has declined 75% of Canada’s recreational fisheries jeopardizing valuable fisheries and threatening wild-stock spcies. Considering that humans interact with nature at large scales, management must better identify large-scale processes affecting fish-human interactions to avoid overfishing. Confronting these challenges requires using spatial information on fish-human dynamics along with computer-modeling that can used to develop sustainable […]