This project aims to develop intelligent control systems for robotic exoskeletons that can better assist human movement. Using artificial intelligence, specifically deep reinforcement learning, the project will train controllers in advanced computer simulations that model both the human body and the robotic device. Muscle activity signals (EMG) will be incorporated so that the exoskeleton can […]

Power-lines and electric appliances are the main sources of daily human exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields (MF, 60 Hz in North America). In order to protect the public and workers from potential adverse effects, international agencies publish MF exposure guidelines based on the “best estimate” available regarding the levels producing an acute biological effects in […]

This research project aims to better understand whether listening to music can improve sleep and daytime functioning, such as mood, fatigue, and concentration, in the general population. The project will consist of a systematic review of scientific studies that have examined the effects of music listening on sleep across different age groups and health conditions. […]

Challenges in today’s Intensive Care Units (ICUs) involve the management of patients’ life critical physiological systems. ICUs must constantly make fast and personalized treatment decisions (e.g. ventilation settings, fluid management, and vasopressors) that require constant monitoring, patient specific response predictions, and real time decision support. This project explores the use of Cellular Discrete Event System […]

The proposed project is focused on developing an improved therapeutic protein for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). More than 10% of the world population (primarily those over the age of 50) are impacted by OA, an inflammatory joint disease that affects all the joint tissues due to cartilage loss and to date lacks curative treatment. […]

This project will help develop GutSight, a new test to monitor inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) without relying only on colonoscopies. Over four months, I will improve the way we measure gut biomarkers, strengthen the computer model that predicts disease activity using data from 400 patients, and do basic research on how […]

Most technology engages our eyes and ears, rarely our sense of touch. When a phone vibrates or a steering wheel buzzes, the goal is to alert us, not to guide us. Yet in daily life, touch guides our actions. Turning off an alarm in the dark, for example, relies on tactile feedback to find the […]

Outdoor air pollution is a human carcinogen. This classification is based largely on a series of studies that has shown it increases respiratory cancers in adults. There is more limited evidence that that suggests it increases the risk of childhood cancer. To date, there have been few Canadian studies on this topic, and none that […]

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer. Its metastatic form (mRCC) remains incurable and resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Current treatments targeting the tumor microenvironment offer limited benefit, highlighting the need for new strategies based on disease biology. ccRCC is difficult to target due to its cellular heterogeneity […]

This project aims to improve a home-based reminder system that supports people living with dementia and their caregivers. The system, called Remindful, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect unusual changes in daily routines that may signal health concerns. This research will make the system more trustworthy by adding features that show how confident the AI […]

We propose to use AI to generate tuned antibodies that reduce side effects using GPT models fine-tuned from the AbilityGPT base language models created in the previous project. Starting with the AbilityGPT models based on several sizes, fine tune the models using sequences known to be active for selected targets. These may be selected from […]

Complex diseases like neurological disorders, rare pediatric conditions, chronic kidney diseases, sepsis, and complications from maxillofacial surgery are putting pressure on the global healthcare system. As the volume of medical data grows, ranging from imaging and physiological signals to electronic health records, there is an increasing need for more precise and personalized approaches to diagnosis […]