MicroRNAs (miRNA) can be used as biomarkers for different types of cancer diagnostics. Therefore, obtaining point-of-care (POC) device for miRNA detection is of high value. Conventional miRNA sensing strategy usually involves reverse transcription PCR or target recycling strategy and hence those techniques are not suitable for POC devices. In the proposed work, electrochemical sensing strategy […]

We study an interferometer where light is injected via a fixed number of input ports. Inside the interferometer, light coming from different ports interacts, generating non-trivial outputs. Simulation of the output is exponentially hard for a classical computer: validating the output cannot be done under realistic conditions. We seek to formulate a validation procedure, i.e. […]

The concept of artificial cells, or protocells, serves to provide researchers with deeper insights into primitive cellular functions and behaviours through the study of non-living cellular analogues. Protocells are synthetic, cell-like microcompartments designed to mimic key aspects of living cells. Recently, Dr. Pierangelo Gobbo made a remarkable step forward in this research field and utilized […]

Alzheimer Disease complicated by covert stroke is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with 24.3 million patients worldwide. One new patient is diagnosed every seven minutes. The emotional toll is incalculable. Prognosis is bleak. Insidious cognitive decline eliminates a patient’s identity and renders victims dependent upon custodial care within 5-8 yrs. There is a pressing need […]

Climate change is causing rapid environmental shifts, resulting in high levels of multiple stressors impacting diverse species. To avoid extinction, species need to adapt quickly to those stressors. As coral reef ecosystems are disproportionately affected by climate change, the species within them are vulnerable to environmental changes. One mechanism by which species can adapt rapidly […]

In the late 1990s, scientists made the remarkable discovery of neurogenesis in the adult human brain, defined as the process of new neurons being formed from neural stem cells. This was a remarkable discovery since it raised hope that we can replace neurons that have died following a stroke. Thus many researchers are trying to […]

Wetlands can store carbon 30-40 times faster, and for longer periods of time, than terrestrial ecosystems. As a result, coastal wetland ecosystems are known to play a crucial role in combating climate change. Activities such as dredging and shoreline erosion have potential negative impacts on these coastal environments, hindering their capacity to store carbon. Not […]

Tributaries adjacent to greenhouse operations in Leamington, Ontario were found in 2012 to have elevated levels of phosphorus. The objective of this research is to identify the source of elevated nutrients in greenhouse ponds by collecting water and sediment samples over the course of 2 years. These samples will be analyzed to find linkages between […]

The objective of the proposed project is to better understand how the brain recovers language functions after a stroke. We want to determine what the changes are in the brain of a person who has had a stroke when they can say more words after treatment for their speaking difficulties. We want to know if […]

Celtic traditional music and dance (CTMD) plays a pivotal social, economic, and cultural role in the Shetland and Orkney Islands. In contrast to the Canadian decline of CTMD, there have been successful, state-sanctioned revivals throughout the UK for both cultural and economic development. However, highlighting the circumpolar connections of traditional music in the North Atlantic, […]

My doctoral research examines the ways in which the state facilitates the political participation of some of its most vulnerable citizens. Although individuals experiencing homelessness possess the same rights as their societal counterparts, their relationship with the state is governed by several policies that shape their citizenship. The public policies within a given welfare state […]

We combine quantitative experimental measurements of immune cells with mathematical models to systematically study the body’s anti-viral response. In particular, we are looking at how immune cells communicate with each other to coordinate an immune response. We want to understand how biochemical reactions in the cell can be used to process the complicated pattern of […]