Examining the Mechanism of Interaction Between Solanum tuberosum Plant Specific Insert with Lipid Membranes Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

The proposed research area of my master’s project is on the structure and function relationships of food-related proteins, at a fundamental and molecular level. My focus is on the plant specific insert (PSI), a saposin-like-protein in Solanum tuberosum, which has the potential to impact on both food safety and agricultural practices. Plants rely on their […]

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Assessing the impact of community-based biodiversity conservation on bird communities: acoustic monitoring in protected and non-protected areas in Mexico.

La biodiversité des oiseaux dans deux différents milieux de la région de Oaxaca au Mexique sera examinée par un suivi des espèces présentent et de leur distribution dans les habitats. Les chants seront enregistrés, leur emplacement noté et les espèces auditivement identifiées. L’étude nous informera 1) sur l’état des habitats à l’intérieur d’un milieu protégé […]

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Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence Training in Mobile Applications

This project aims to use literature evidences and data analysis techniques to develop new mobile games that train people’s “emotional intelligence”. The company will build the product prototypes based on current literature evidences and theoretical models. Then the data generated from the games will be evaluated to inform product performance, efficacy, and future developments. This […]

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Characterizing fucoidan-degrading enzymes from marine bacterium

Fucoidan is a polysaccharide found in brown algae (seaweed). ARC Medical Devices Inc. markets fucoidan purified from brown algae for post-surgical veterinary use to reduce interorgan adhesion development. This product works very effectively, prompting a desire to develop a similar product for use in humans. The challenge to this, however, is that fucoidan is an […]

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Examination of key nutrition, health, environmental, and welfare issues in swine to improve sustainability and societal acceptance of pork production

In order to remain competitive, pig producers must continually evolve to address current and emerging challenges to the Canadian swine industry. The Prairie Swine Centre has developed a multidisciplinary research program aimed at addressing key issues within the swine industry related to environment, society, safety, and sustainability. The main research projects included in this proposed […]

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Building a geospatial database for assessing effects of multiple stressors on inland lakes

Phosphorous is the key nutrient limiting fish productivity and algal growth in Ontario lakes: more phosphorous can mean more fish, but it can also mean more algal growth, and potentially even toxic blue-green algal blooms. Multiple stressors like climate change, human land-use practices, and shoreline development, all affect lake phosphorous levels beyond natural geo-climatic factors. […]

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Effect of Diesel Exhaust Exposure on Epigenetics in Individuals with Specific Allergies: A Translational Approach to Understanding the Role of Particulate Matter

Exposure to traffic related air pollution (TRAP) damages the lungs, particularly in people who are at risk of developing long-lasting lung diseases including asthma. This project will examine whether the chemical “coating” attached to many parts of DNA, known as methylation, is changed by TRAP exposure, as this may affect the immune system contributing to […]

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Speech perception and working memory in noisy environments

As the average age of Canadians increases, so too does the number of people who experience hearing loss. One of the primary complaints of hearing aid users is listening to speech in environments with a high degree of background noise. Advances in hearing aid technology may be able to address this problem, but understanding how […]

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Mise au point d’un entraînement perceptivo-cognitif couplé à la reconnaissance tactique chez les athlètes

Le but du projet de recherche sera de développer un nouvel entraînement cérébral (perceptivo-cognitif) de pointe pour améliorer la performance des sportifs de haut niveau. Cet outil virtuel multitâche (Figure 1) combinera un exercice de traitement de scènes visuelles dynamiques complexes (NeuroTrackerTM) et un exercice de reconnaissance tactique spécifique (ex : tir ou passe). Les […]

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Development of new approaches to promote proliferation of insulin producing pancreatic ?-cells in diabetic patients

The loss of insulin producing ?-cells in the pancreatic islets (clusters of cells containing ?-cells) contributes to elevated blood glucose levels, which is a characteristic of diabetes. Development of therapeutic approaches that focus on prevention of ?-cell loss or promoting ?-cell proliferation is therefore of great importance. Studies performed in this project to-date (first internship […]

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Clinical development of avocado-derived lipids as modulators of fatty acid oxidation for the treatment and management of obesity and diabetes

Obesity and diabetes are a significant global burden and there is an immediate need for novel treatments and management strategies. Our lab has shown that an avocadoderived lipid is a potent inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation (i.e., the cellular breakdown of fat for energy) which reduces mouse weight gain without toxicity. Inhibition of fatty acid […]

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Pre-clinical development of a novel antioxidant

Both ?-lipoic acid (ALPHA-LA) and Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) are used to control many diseases due to their antioxidant . We have evidence indicating if the two compounds are chemically attached, superior pharmaceutical properties are achieved. These evidence have resulted in a patent that gives the sponsoring Company exclusivity on its use. The proposed project is developed […]

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