Microbial life forms complex communities that sustain all other living organisms on our planet. These microbial communities can colonize various environments, from inside our intestinal tract to the extreme Arctic Ocean. The set of genes in these communities is called the microbiome, and its components determine the health or disease of humans and natural ecosystems. […]

DNA is a powerful tool for biological applications, including agriculture, because of its predictable properties and biocompatibility. This project will focus on the development of DNA tools for protection of crops. The ability to use these DNA tools to manage crops in a highly selective, low intensity manner can increase the sustainability of the agriculture […]

Understand the performance of wood shearwalls with respect to heightened seismic loads especially for multi-storey wood structures. The proposed project is conducted in collaboration with the Canadian Wood Council as the industrial partner, and it aims to address the impact of extending the light frame wood shearwalls to taller buildings especially as it pertains to […]

Textiles resistant to hazardous chemicals always have utilized perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) due to the unique repellent properties of perfluorinated (-CF3) chemical groups. However, due to their toxicity in the environment and on human health, many countries worldwide are planning to bad PFAS from production. PRE Labs Inc., a safety products manufacturer headquartered in Kelowna, BC, […]

Carbon-based nanomaterials have gained substantial interest for application in cementitious mixtures. These nanomaterials can modify the microstructure of cementitious mixtures and improve their engineering properties such as their strength and durability. The strength enhancement has significant implications for the concrete industry as it can compensate for the strength reductions caused by high replacement levels of […]

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that leads to acute episodes of worsening respiratory symptoms termed pulmonary exacerbations (PEx). The current PEx treatment paradigm involves using oral or intravenous antibiotics under the assumption that all of these episodes are caused by worsening bacterial infection, but PEx can also be attributed to viral infections, air pollution, […]

Chromacare aims to revolutionize precision health through Mobile-based At-home Lab Tests. To the end, over the next 12 months, commencing in early 2024, Chromacare will develop up to three novel quantitative Lateral Flow Assays (LFA) that will be measured with our proprietary Chromacare App. We will employ two Chemistry PhD graduates on a full-time basis […]

The Fraser River Estuary, British Columbia, provides important habitat for juvenile Pacific salmon as they migrate downstream. The tidal marshes that support these juvenile salmon are under pressure from urban development, pollution, sea-level rise, and invasive species. One invasive plant that thrives in these habitats is purple loosestrife. It outcompetes native vegetation and can become […]

This project’s goal is to provide an assessment of the efficacy and the physiological and molecular effects of a biological fungicide, Serenade® (a.i. Bacillus amy/o/iquefaciens QST713, previously subtilis}, in rotation with other conventional foliar fungicides when treating Botrytis cinerea infection in wild lowbush blueberry crops. During the reproductive year of blueberry growth, the pathogenic fungi […]

The proposed project involves utilizing the TeleVu system- a cutting-edge virtual care technology-to enhance medical services for wound care in remote communities. This system allows health professionals to monitor and treat patients from a distance, which is crucial for areas where medical resources are scarce. The research undertaken will assess the effectiveness of this technology, […]

Crust Craft is a specialty bakery producing pizza doughs, flatbreads and pie crusts. In 2023, Crust Craft started to use an in-house sourdough fermentation as a tool to reduce the use of additives, and to achieve premium quality products. Current applications of sourdough fermentations in baking were not optimized to improve the quality of flatbread […]

Wheat carotenoids give durum wheat pasta a light yellow color. Wheat lipoxygenase oxidizes flour carotenoids and further loss of carotenoids is caused by extrusion of pasta. Because bright yellow pasta is preferred by consumers, oxidation of carotenoids during extrusion impairs pasta quality. To maintain the yellow color that is mediated by flour carotenoids, pasta extruders […]