This project aims at developing a magnetic nanoparticle-based technology that couples novel aptamers (MNP@apt) for targeting T-cell enrichment for CAR-T cell therapy applications. The proposed method offers several advantages to antibody-based isolation of T-cells, namely stability and ability to release captured T-cells. Finally, we aim to develop a method that can be amenable to large-scale […]

The innate immune system is the first line of defense of our body against pathogenic bacteria. It uses a sophisticated arsenal of proteins that recognize and fight infection. Certain bacteria, like the food-borne pathogen Salmonella, can enter cells in your body to hide. We recently identified novel immune sensors that allow the recognition of these […]

Boundary Pass is a busy vessel traffic area of the Salish Sea and is a critical foraging habitat for many cetacean species, specifically Southern Resident killer whales, transient (Bigg’s) and humpback whales. With the shipping lanes passing through this area, whales are at risk of disturbance from underwater noise and, at times, from close vessel […]

As many as one in 8 pregnancies are to women with disabilities, including physical, sensory, and developmental disabilities. These women often face negative attitudes and assumptions by others about their parenting abilities and are at risk of Child Protective Service (CPS) involvement. This project aims to characterize CPS involvement experienced by women with disabilities in […]

Conventional agriculture needs large inputs of nutrients, through the addition of fertiliser, in order to produce the amount of food needed globally to sustain the population. Typical fertilisers are hugely wasteful, polluting the atmosphere and waterways, and affecting human health, wildlife, and ecosystem stability. Nanomaterials are very small particles that have potential to be used […]

Diabetes is a disease affecting around 10% of the population which is caused by an inability to regulate blood glucose levels. Sex differences exist in diabetes; men have increased incidence of type 2 diabetes compared to pre- menopausal women. Blood glucose levels are normally tightly controlled by insulin release from beta cells in the pancreas, […]

Building on research initiated by CERCA and Project Watershed on microplastic presence in the Cowichan and Comox estuary respectively the scope of the proposed project has been substantially expanded by including live samples of crustaceans, fish, and algae apart from sediment and water samples from the estuaries and their tributaries. The research will be conducted […]

Drugs act by binding to a target protein. Determining the three-dimensional shape the complex between a drug and a protein is challenging, particularly when the protein spans the membrane separating the interior and exterior of a cell. Cryo-electron microscopy allows these structures to be measured experimentally, but often the resolution is too low to aid […]

Insects, being dominant in almost all ecosystems, are vitally important for regulating ecosystem health. There are growing concerns that insect abundance is declining globally, causing serious consequences for ecosystem services. To understand insect abundance trends, and their drivers, we need long-term monitoring schemes that are sensitive enough to detect change over time whilst balancing against […]

The barber-pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) is a parasitic worm of sheep, goats and cattle common in both UK and Canada. Infection of the barber-worm causes reduction in animal growth and milk production in addition to general poor health and high risk of death, costing millions from production losses annually in Canada and the UK. Symptoms […]

Le stage en stratégie d’entreprise Mitacs que j’effectue pendant huit mois consistera en développement des dossiers techniques dont celui pour le marquage CE (« conformité européenne ») sous la nouvelle réglementation Européenne 2017/745. Dans le cadre du stage, j’aurai comme responsabilités d’établir et exécuter une stratégie réglementaires pour les portions du projet qui me seront […]

Le projet vise à caractériser le potentiel d’habitat de plusieurs espèces culturellement significatives, dont le lynx du Canada, sur le territoire de 2 communautés autochtones de l’Abitibi, à proposer un zonage du territoire selon des vocations identifiées par les communautés (ex. chasse au petit gibier) et à élaborer des recommandations d’aménagement du territoire. Le stagiaire […]