Migratory birds are in a conservation crisis, with accelerating population declines documented Canada-wide. It is a federal responsibility to protect migratory birds; however, a major gap in the ability to mitigate threats to these species is a lack of knowledge of their year-round movements. By using new tracking technology, our project will quantify movements and […]

Les populations d’abeille domestique connaissent actuellement un déclin important qui se traduit par une diminution du rendement des ruchers et occasionne des pertes économiques substantielles pour les apiculteurs et agriculteurs. L’utilisation de produits de synthèse fait partie des facteurs pouvant contribuer au déclin des abeilles. Bien que l’attention des chercheurs soit dominée par les insecticides, […]

The purpose of the funding is to provide initial support towards the establishment of an Inter-disciplinary Assessment and Rehabilitation Centre for Excellence. This center will be initiated between the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), Multi-Health Systems (MHS), Rehabilitation Research, Education and Evaluation Services (RREES), with consultation and data collection support by RTW Integrated Health Management […]

Currently, storage of donor kidneys at low temperatures is limited to 24 hours. If the storage time of donor kidneys could be extended, this would allow more opportunity to identify and prepare suitable recipients for this life-saving procedure. Our improved method of kidney storage at subzero temperatures will also allow patients at more remote locations […]

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Canadians and expected to claim nearly 65 000 lives in 2015. Approximately 75% of these deaths are preventable by having a healthier lifestyle, including a better diet. Another risk factor is having a family history of heart disease, mainly because of inherited genetic risk factors. A […]

The progression of Alzheimer’s disease is strongly linked to small beta-amyloid polymers found outside the neurons of the human brain. These polymers interact with neurons and disrupt their function, leading to the neurodegenerative symptoms seen in Alzheimer’s patients. However, certain small molecules are able to promote the aggregation of these polymers into large fibril structures, […]

The therapeutic effect of a vaccine depends on its chemical composition, and in particular the integrity of its protein components. Conditions under which a vaccine is manufactured and stored can damage the proteins it contains; however, since proteins are structurally complex and reactive, their degradation during routine handling is unpredictable. In the project described here, […]

Ginseng is a medicinal plant with a long history of traditional use. The medicinal properties of ginseng root have been attributed to two main classes of chemical compounds: ginsenosides and polysaccharides. While much is known about ginsenoside pharmacology, less is known about polysaccharide pharmacology. One of the most important properties of ginseng root polysaccharides is […]

Salt marshes are important coastal ecosystems because they provide many services to surrounding areas. However, due to their highly productive nature, they have a long history of being converted into farmland in Maritime Canada. In recent years, there has been strong interest in restoring salt marshes to protect against coastal erosion, mitigate sea level rise, […]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) treatment in model systems for wound healing, spinal cord injury and heart disease have demonstrated a greater versus the ‘vehicle’ treated group due to the cells ability to engraft and contribute to new tissue as well as decrease apoptosis and inflammation. All of these properties are associated with superior tissue healing. […]

Egg yolk contains IgY antibodies that target various infectious disease and food allergens. IGY Inc is a company focused on utilizing chicken immune system for antibody production. IgY antibody contains 0.64% of total wet egg yolk, after cracking each egg IGY Inc generates 60-70g of liquid egg white which has a low commercial value. Egg […]

Heart Lake Road (Brampton, Ontario) bisects a Provincially Significant Wetland. Increases in traffic volumes on the road have led to large numbers of road kill during the spring migration. The TRCA has been monitoring the road kill for two years and has found that thousands of frogs and toads as well as hundreds of turtles, […]