This project aims to develop SARS-CoV-2 genomics tools to apply to the tracking of COVID-19 in municipal wastewater. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater has been used to estimate prevalence of the virus in the corresponding community. This has the potential to be a relatively inexpensive early warning system that is complementary to testing […]

Rapid diagnostic testing has proven essential for stemming the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Given the global threat of COVID-19 transmission, millions of tests are needed per month to isolate infections and to facilitate safe reopening of societies. This internship will contribute to COVID-19 diagnosis efforts by first developing a faster and cost-effective protocol for viral nucleic-acid […]

Up to half of patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU) will develop ICU-Acquired Weakness (ICUAW). Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) holds promise to both prevent and treat ICUAW. NMES applies electrical impulses to muscles through electrodes placed on the skin to induce muscle contractions, and is highly effective in maintaining […]

Mothers can influence the behaviour and physiology of their young even before hatch. In birds that occurs through the deposition of hormones and nutrients into the egg. Mother-hens can be housed in various systems that offer different challenges to the bird. Our project will investigate how housing a mother-hen can affect the resilience of their […]

The proposed research will explore two types of business strategies – cross-border business and remote work uptake – that can help small Canadian companies adapt to and recover from the shutdown policies put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the intern will begin by conducting two literature reviews – one to explore the costs […]

Social distancing and case tracking are effective steps to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 and prepare for the recovery of economy. QR code scanning is applied in many countries for case tracking purpose; however, as a smart phone is required and concerns of the privacy have raised, a simple-to-use and cost-effective approach based on […]

This project will develop thin polymer strips that dissolve rapidly in the mouth and can deliver a therapeutic payload. Specifically, the proposed strips will be loaded with vaccine particles that can be delivered directly to the bloodstream via the sub-lingual mucous membranes. It has been previously shown that sub-lingual vaccination is effective for a number […]

Social isolation is having a significant impact on the quality of life, physical activity, and sleep patterns of our population. While self-isolation and social distancing provide the most successful method for limiting the progression and spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, we often overlook the impact of these rules on our population. This impact is […]

The Centre for Global eHealth Innovation (UHN) is leading the development of a mobile web application for asthma self-management on behalf of Ontario Lung Association, in a project funded by Canada Health Infoway. The internship will involve the research and development of the user-interface of this novel application, which can be accessed by users via […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us with social isolation, financial uncertainty, and daily life disruptions. Parents and children may be uniquely impacted as parents attempt to navigate the stressors of working from home, caring for children, and, potentially, caring for their elderly parents and other family members. Children and youth, in turn, are influenced by […]

A critical step in the fight against COVID-19 is effective screening of infected patients for infection detection and risk assessment. While viral testing such as rt-PCR is the gold standard for infection detection as it is highly specific, it is moderately sensitive and is a very time-consuming, laborious, and complicated manual process that is in […]

Social distancing due to COVID-19 has meant that older adults have not been as able to see their doctors. Older adults have chronic conditions, such as diabetes, that can flare up and cause emergencies. So, finding older adults who are unwell is very important. Community support services, such as those providing meals-on-wheels, are available to […]