Trait-based mass-ratio and complementarity effects shape community structure, population dynamics, and ecosystem functioning. A question remains on how these processes interact in maintaining forest biomass along the elevation. Leaf element contents will be used to test these interactions since they are surrogates of ecosystem functioning. An extensive survey was conducted during 2017-2018 along a wide […]

Gene therapy has risen as one of the more promising treatment options for neurological disorders. Using modified viruses to deliver genetic material has shown success however has several disadvantages including increased safety risks. Using a non-viral vector system has the potential to overcome many of the challenges that arise with using viral vectors. Mediphage Bioceuticals […]

Heart valve disease affects a large number of Canadians, especially the elderly. Surgery for repairing heart valves is quite complex, and requires a great deal of expertise. This project will focus on creating a library of silicone valve models representing different heart valve diseases. With these silicone models, new cardiac surgeons will be able to […]

Tumorigenesis and metastasis require constant stimulation of cells by growth factors. In colorectal cancer (CRC), the second most common cancer in Canada, such growth signal is primarily provided by a factor called hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) that acts on its receptor MET. Alongside growth stimulation, escape from cell death is crucial to cancer cell survival […]

Bats are ecologically important mammals, but recent studies have also identified them as reservoirs of emerging viruses. These viruses include SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Intriguingly, bats that are naturally or experimentally infected with these viruses do not develop severe disease. Thus, bats provide us with […]

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the second leading cause of mortality among infectious diseases. Mtb extensively remodels its cell-survival dynamics inside the host including the process of its division. Hence it is imperative to understand mycobacterial cell division. It is known that Mtb DivIVA protein called Wag31 is essential for cell elongation and […]

The project will consist of assisting Prof. Mike McLaughlin graduate student research on deep banding in Australia. Specifically, the project will aim to explore the fundamental processes controlling P fertilizer efficiency in a wide range of soils, using a combination of spectroscopic, and speciation techniques. This will help develop a different perspective on phosphorus (P) […]

Cardiovascular disease kills 17.9 million people globally each year. 85% of these deaths were caused by either a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke. Current tests for predicting heart attacks provide rapid results when presented with a blood sample, but these samples must be preprocessed using time-consuming methods. This project will develop a paper-based platform […]

Lateralization is one of the key principles of human brain organization. With a background in neuroimaging analysis of brain inter-hemispheric differences, the applicant Bin Wan will conduct his project in a Canadian research group which focuses on multimodal neuroimaging data. The intern will help with data acquisition of 7 Tesla MRI data in healthy individuals […]

The floral composition, including algae, of the Qazvin basin, is poorly known. This basin is located on a mountain range that is a very important place in the world for its biodiversity and endemism, generated by the geological and topographic complexity. In this project we will identify the diatoms (silica algae) that inhabit the Shahroud […]

Livestock ranch operations balance complex production efficiencies with economics, resources and climate and could benefit from automation or implementation of new technology. However, the practical details of using technology on the ranch need to be further investigated to determine their true value. Often, on-farm scenarios with live animals introduce additional issues causing technology to function […]

Following the completion of the Annapolis River Tidal Power Generating Station in 1984, the abundance of many native diadromous fish species declined in the river. In 2019, new regulatory directives resulted in the abrupt termination of power generating activities, and tide gates that had barred access to the river were left open for the first […]