One major challenge in studying holdfast bioadhesive properties is that cells synthesize only a very small quantity of holdfast at one pole of the cell. Therefore, all studies of holdfast bioadhesive properties have been conducted by atomic force microscopy (AFM). While AFM is a powerful technique, any development of holdfast for practical applications will require […]

The proposed research project seeks to explore the application of foam-like inserts to improve the shelf life of commonly used proteins. Many commercial proteins are used in a variety of applications such as food production, pharmaceuticals, and scientific research. These proteins must be stored at sub-zero temperatures as they are prone to degradation at higher […]

In an effort to reach zero waste in Canada by 2030, this work is dedicated to the discovery of microbes with enzymatic capabilities to biodegrade plastic. A library of microbes (bacteria and fungi) isolated from a range of marine environments will be screened for unique and novel plastic biodegrading activities. Preferred microbes will be selected […]

The aim of the project is to develop microfluidic technologies to analyse heterogenous tumor tissues/cells via a multi-modal approach using spatial genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data. The resulting data obtained could be used for prognostics, diagnostics and prediction of therapies. Microfluidic scanning probes (MFP) technology, invented by the Kaigala team while at IBM Research in […]

Renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric dams, provide electricity to many Canadians and are important for meeting climate change targets. However, during construction, dams permanently alter the physical characteristics of the river systems and this may have consequences for the species using these ecosystems. This project will evaluate the potential changes in the distribution, abundance, […]

Communication between cells that make up our body is essential. It is required to ensure that our body functions accurately during our lifetime. Failure for cells to send, to receive or to correctly understand signals may lead to problems such as cancer. The cellular actors responsible for such signals are called proteins. Most, if not […]

Learning and memory is generally thought of as the process by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved in the nervous system. A lot of information is now available about what genes are needed for an organism to remember normally. However, little is known about the genes with the opposite function, i.e. limiting the process […]

Sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers controls the river morphology, aquatic habitat, and landscape evolution. The sediment supply together with the flow dictates the amount and texture of the supplied sediment to the channel and likely influences the transport rates, bed stability, and evolution of the bed surface. However, the previous research mainly focused on the […]

We have developed a natural product acaricide that is based on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) essential oil. The product kills overwintering ticks. It is designed to be applied to lawns, gardens and municipal parks in the late fall to kill ticks over the winter. The purpose of this project is to complete testing under semi-natural […]

The results obtained in this project will lead to new tools for the preparation of molecules of interest, possibly with biological activities. These studies will contribute to the development of new green synthetic methods using environmentally friendly catalysts. Efficient and practical synthetic methods are in high demand in the industrial and academic sectors. In particular, […]

Urbanization can have a strong impact on biodiversity. In particular, the changes in temperature, habitat fragmentation and pollution are expected to affect the species that are present in cities, both directly and indirectly via their effects on other species. In this proposal, we aim to test if certain plant reproductive strategies are favoured by urbanization. […]

Stem cells and other pluripotent cells are under active investigation for the development of new therapeutic treatments to regenerate and repair diseased and damaged tissues. Published studies indicate that some mesenchymal cells derived from adult human hair follicles exhibit stem cell properties and can form different cells types if they are given specific biological signals […]