The objective of this project is to develop methodologies for automatically generating responses in a natural language to converse with humans. Responses directly generated from the question-answer database are inflexible and cannot meet users’ needs. On one hand, the responses should take into account the previous utterances that can keep a conversation more active. On […]

Membrane proteins such as ion channels, transporters or G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are excellent but difficult drug targets involved in a large number of life-threatening diseases and conditions. These proteins, over-expressed and essential for disease onset and progression, are naturally targeted by toxins from venomous organisms. During evolution, these toxins have been optimized to efficiently […]

Detecting subtle chemical and physical changes occurring at the early stages of chronic disease and many other infectious diseases caused by harmful bacteria is still a challenge, as ultra-sensitive sensors with large signal-to-noise-ratio are required to detect them. We recently explored new ways to enhance the sensitivity of magnetic nano-sensors and theoretically demonstrated that under […]

Customized image sensors will be designed by EnviroSen specifically for advanced microscopes used in biomedical imaging. The goal is to develop image sensors with improved efficiency, image resolution and speed compared to existing technologies for novel microscopes for fluorescence lifetime imaging. The McMaster Biophotonics group has recently developed a novel microscope that is capable of […]

Air pollution is a major concern in urban centers because not only does affect vulnerable populations, but also impacts the quality of life for urban dwellers. With the new implementation of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to replace the existing Ontario Air Quality Index […]

Extensive research has been conducted for the computational analysis of mass spectrometry based proteomics data, however most of the traditional computational approaches take the assumption that the acquired spectra are generated from the fragmentation of a single precursor and the peptide is simply a linear sequence of amino acid residues. This ubiquitous assumption is impeding […]

Hypoxic cells comprise most aggressive and therapy resistant population in the tumors therefore targeting proteins that are essential for hypoxia survival is an effective novel anti-cancer treatment. We have an ability to generate highly specific humanized synthetic antibodies against target of choice. We will generate antibodies against proteins that promote hypoxia survival, test their effect […]

Signaling through the Eph family of cell surface receptors is crucial for embryonic development and the maintenance of adult tissues. Given the central role of the 14 Eph receptors in controlling cell fate, it is not surprising that they also play a central role in oncogenesis and other pathological conditions. However, the signaling mechanisms of […]

Proteins can exist in two forms: left-handed (L) or right-handed (D); however, for indeterminate reasons life on this planet only uses the L-form. When studied in more detail, both protein forms possess identical physiochemical and biological properties. Yet, D-proteins show minimal proteolytic degradation and fail to elicit immune responses in animals, due to their unnatural […]

Wetland habitats are critically important to many animal and plant species, and they are in trouble. The North American prairies, for example, comprise some of the most productive wetland habitats in the world, but many areas of the prairies have lost up to 90% of their wetlands and more than 90% of their native grasslands […]

Jet noise is still the main contributor in airplane noise at take-off, which has been shown to induce health problems in the residents near airports that are now embedded in most large cities such as Toronto or Montreal. Engine manufacturers are now considering the Ultra-High Bypass Ratio (UHBR) type engine to further reduce noise. Yet […]

AVID100 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) against a validated cancer target that is undergoing IND-enabling studies. Phase I clinical trials are scheduled for late 2016. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) portion of the ADC is currently manufactured using a recombinant CHO clone that fails to meet industrial production yield standards. In order to support clinical phases […]