The proposed project seeks to improve the processing of Canadian oilsands bitumen using two key technical advancements associated with the upgrading of bitumen to fuels. Firstly, we will seek to reduce the consumption of costly hydrogen by using light-ends as a source of hydrogen and secondly we will improve the catalysts used to control the […]

Among healthcare workers the yearly global needlestick prevalence is 35.1%, which is expected to be much greater due to 30-50% needlesticks going unreported, putting a large number of workers at risk for contracting dangerous diseases and infections. However, data is lacking on how animal care and research personnel experience needlesticks compared to healthcare workers. Our […]

In spite of major advances in our knowledge and better treatments, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots in the legs and lungs, continue to major causes of disability and death. Recent studies reveal that a protein (a so-called “serine protease”) in our blood, when increased, may heighten the risk of excess blood clot formation in […]

The impoundment of a reservoir can cause erosion that poses risks to public safety and land use around its shoreline. Methods that are currently available to predict shoreline erosion rates and help manage these risks rely on inputs that are challenging to constrain without historical observations, resulting in uncertain predictions that may significantly underestimate or […]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is a chronic debilitating lung disorder that affects thousands of Canadians and millions of individuals worldwide. The signs and symptoms of IPF often overlap with other common respiratory illnesses making a definitive diagnosis of this disease difficult. As a result, patients are frequently misdiagnosed and treated with inappropriate therapies. As such, […]

Post-secondary student mental health is of great concern, with increased rates of anxiety, depression, feelings of isolation, and suicidality observed. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health stressors and concerns about campus suicides, already on the rise. In response, the BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions has funded the BC Campus Suicide Prevention Initiative […]

Mineral exploration and natural disaster risk reduction involve reasoning with uncertainty about complex descriptions of parts of the Earth. Such complex reasoning is traditionally carried out by human experts who, through years of training and field experience, develop specific knowledge and are able to take the right decision at the right time. This project will […]

Despite the global growth of the flooring market and the need for more sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective flooring designs, there is little comparative information for the Canadian flooring industry to improve the design and fabrication of laminated floor panels to address both the mechanical performance and durability of their designs while manufacturing cost-effective products. The […]

Arts on Prescription is a system wherein a registered doctor can refer a patient to a cultural service offered by a professional arts organization with the goal of altering the social factors that impact the patient’s health. AoP is successfully used outside of British Columbia as a way to address the social determinants of health, […]

Our research proposal will explore the unified airway theory and determine whether the sinuses express biological similarities to the lungs in participants who only clinically present with Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS)or asthma and not with both diseases. The unified airway theory suggests that the lower (lungs) and upper (sinuses) airways are intrinsically connected and function together […]

Mine tailings pose significant environmental risks due to their poor mechanical and chemical stability. This project aims to implement a novel nature-based procedure to improve stability of mine tailings using indigenous microorganisms with biocementation properties. Microorganisms capable of surviving in the tailings environment will be discovered that precipitate calcium carbonate. These organisms will be used […]

Quantum computing (QC) is expected to deliver the next leap in information technology, with anticipated impacts as significant as the development of silicon integrated circuits and the Internet. Photonic QC provides the advantage of a scalable platform based on silicon manufacturing. Industry has recognized the potential of a purely photonic approach, as being pursued by […]