This collaboration between the Tai Lab at BC Cancer Agency and the biotechnology company STEMCELL will validate a 3D culturing system that supports the growth of normal and malignant pancreatic stem cells. Specifically, we hope to optimize the culturing condition for the growth media to ensure efficient and reproducible outcomes for pancreatic stem cells growing […]

Recent advancements in the study of large biological datasets coupled with powerful machine learning tools and new analytical technologies have opened up the ability to predict risks to health and possibly intervene before disease has manifested. Molecular You has developed a web based interface that integrates all these technologies into easy to understand visual health […]

Patients with dementia will eventually experience significant loss of cognitive function. Many will have difficulty properly communicating life’s challenges and instead become agitated, resulting in verbal or physical aggression. Monitoring the risk of a resident harming themselves or others due to aggressive behavior is a priority within a long-term care facility where dementia is present. […]

Intracranial aneurysms are relatively common, occurring in 2-5% of the general population. Rupture of the aneurysm can result in a stroke with a devastating 30-day mortality of 45%. Further, severe medical conditions are possible in which up to one third of patients may die before reaching the hospital and one third will become severely debilitated. […]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an all too prevalent form of childhood trauma worldwide. Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience some form of abuse in their childhood. CSA has been linked to numerous long-term effects: PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, suicidal ideation, and cognitive impairment. Growing […]

It has been shown that a mother’s conduct, together with her relationship with her daughter, can directly and indirectly impact her daughter’s well-being and development (e.g., eating habits, body image, and self-esteem). Studies have shown that the mother/daughter relationship influences every stage of the daughter’s development, with particular influence in the formation of the young […]

Twenty years ago, the first human genome was sequenced at a cost of 3 billion dollars. Today, this can be done in a day at a cost of approximately $1000. Despite this drastic reduction, the promise of personalized medicine, to customize therapy for each patient, has not yet been realized through next generation sequencing (NGS). […]

This project explores how one congregate living environment in Edmonton Alberta supports their residents through the use of the material environment including designed spaces and objects created by architectural and interior designers. The web of person-environment relationships and interactions that is complicated, dynamic, messy, and riddled with shifting agency is unpacked revealing how humans depend […]

Development of Collaborative Service Robot (CSR) technologies usually targets a certain population group like seniors or people with developmental disabilities (DD) and requires tailored and dedicated research and development. This project is ultimately seeking to provide a proof of concept of a CSR platform that can assist people with DD. The overall project involves research […]

In partnership with True North Clinical Research, two studies are proposed to examine the moderating effect of using cannabis on anxiety in response to death-thoughts. In Study 1, participants will be randomly assigned to consume cannabis either before or after thinking about death. Self-reported affect will be assessed to determine if cannabis helps reduce death-anxiety. […]

A crisis is looming for many Ontario citizens with developmental disability and other challenges that make their support needs especially complex. In recent decades a process of deinstitutionalization moved the Province away from a morally problematic “warehousing” model towards one where people had an opportunity at meaningful lives in their communities. However, many are living […]

This research will measure the effects of the Cycling Without Age program on participants by observing a variety of indicators. An existing program in a long-term care home will be observed, and 50 residents will be recruited: a biking group (n=25) who will be biked twice a week for 12 weeks and a strolls group […]