Innovative Projects Realized

Explore thousands of successful projects resulting from collaboration between organizations and post-secondary talent.

13270 Completed Projects

1072
AB
2795
BC
430
MB
106
NF
348
SK
4184
ON
2671
QC
43
PE
209
NB
474
NS

Projects by Category

10%
Computer science
9%
Engineering
1%
Engineering - biomedical
4%
Engineering - chemical / biological

Fundamental understanding of brewing phenomena and shelf-life extension of single-serve coffee – Year two

Brewing of premium coffee in single-serve capsule is challenging due to many design and machine constraints. Moreover, parameters that affect the brew quality are not fully understood. By collaborating with Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee Inc., this project will systematically evaluate the brewing parameters on the physical and sensorial properties of drip and espresso coffees. Building upon the increased understanding of the single-serve brewing process, and the research findings derived from a previous collaborative project with the industrial partner, novel methodologies will be developed to enhance the quality of coffee brew, through applying creative designs on capsule and brew system, as well as exploiting spent coffee ground – a significant by-product generated by the coffee industry. Single-serve coffee capsule products have witnessed considerable growth over the past few years. Findings from this project will allow the industrial partner to differentiate their products from those of their competitors.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Loong Tak Lim

Student:

Xiuju Wang

Partner:

Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee Inc.

Discipline:

Food science

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Guelph

Program:

Elevate

Development of a simulation model for prediction of performance of an anesthesia circuit using a novel CO2 separation system

Anesthesia is delivered to patients in vapour form, supplied via Mechanical ventilation in closed loop anesthesia circuit. This necessitates the removal of the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced during respiration. Currently, anesthesia circuits use granulate-based CO2 absorbents that react with CO2 to remove it from the gas stream. However, anesthetic vapours also react with the chemical absorber producing toxic bi-products that have been connected to negative patient outcomes. DMF Medical Inc. has developed an early stage prototype device that provides an alternative method for CO2 removal. To finalize device specifications and produce a market ready system, optimization of device performance and material properties is required. In this project, Dr. Hanafi will create a comprehensive and accurate computer model that enables testing a range of mechanical ventilation conditions on different simulated patient conditions to find the optimal design parameters to minimize concentration of CO2 in the system.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jan Haelssig

Student:

Hamed Hanafialamdari

Partner:

DMF Medical

Discipline:

Engineering - biomedical

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Dalhousie University

Program:

Accelerate

Developing a newly tunable Phase-Mask Interferometer for Fiber Bragg Grating inscription – Year two

Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) have attracted considerable interest in the past three decades as a key technology in different applications. The intention of this project is to develop a FBG writing technique based on a scanning tunable Phase-Mask Interferometer using different UV lasers. The project includes optimizing the tunability of the interferometer, and analyzing the specific problem situations encountered in the process in order to develop the interrogation methods of the proposed technique. The candidate will improve the flexibility and the ease of use of the device to fabricate different types of FBGs and to adapt many FBGs based applications. Also, the candidate will design the strategic planning of the product to the particular circumstances. The project helps the partner to offer a wider selection to the target customers taking particular pride in more efficient services such as special orders as well as a stable, and knowledgeable sales.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ke Wu

Student:

Mohamad Diaa Baiad

Partner:

PhotoNova Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Information and communications technologies

University:

Program:

Elevate

Integration of social media tools into student-centred virtual learning management system

This research project will provide the intern with the opportunity to work with end users (students and faculty) to refine, further develop and test a prototype of NursApp, a learning management system (LMS) designed to create opportunities for students to use technology to learn in post-secondary education. The intern will work with co-owners to conduct focus groups with students and use feedback to refine, further develop and integrate social media components into the NursApp. The intern will synthesize findings from the research project by developing video tutorials for students and faculty. A beta test with potential users will be conducted at the end of the internship. The intern will collaborate with contracted designers and co-owners during all phases of the internship who have expertise in conducting participatory design research and in user experience design. The internship will provide the partner organization opportunities to collaborate with students and faculty to develop a relevant and comprehensive learning management system that has applicability in a variety of contexts and to further its mission to involve students in the development of technology to be used in the classroom.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Kenneth Kent

Student:

Aakash D Shukla

Partner:

AppEAL Educational Applications for Learning

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Information and communications technologies

University:

University of New Brunswick

Program:

Accelerate

Increase adoption of new hybrid telehealth delivery system for remote & marginalized BC communities

The goal of this project is to improve the health of patients in rural and First Nations communities by improving the implementation and delivery of telemedicine services. The intern will study the telemedicine clinic in Nisga’a territory, which is run through a partnership between Livecare (a telemedicine company run by physicians) and the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (NVHA), who manage healthcare services for their members. The clinic that Livecare operates in Taylor, BC will be examined as a second case study. The intern will identify key indicators of effectiveness in telemedicine, document the benefits of telemedicine, and identify areas for improvement. The intern will accomplish these objectives through analyzing data on patient outcomes, conducting interviews with medical experts and local political leaders, leading focus groups with patients and Nisga’a community members, and carrying out an online survey of residents and patients in Taylor. There is a lack of research on the outcomes of telemedicine projects for First Nations people – this project will address that gap in the academic literature by documenting the outcomes of telemedicine in Livecare’s clinics. Livecare and their community partners will benefit from this project by using the research findings to improve their telemedicine services.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Doug McArthur

Student:

Allison Rounding

Partner:

Livecare

Discipline:

Public administration

Sector:

Management of companies and enterprises

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Accelerate

Developing Vitamin D Therapies to Block Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease is a growing problem in Canada and worldwide and is associated with obesity, diabetes and vascular disease. Current therapies only treat symptoms of CKD and have no impact on inflammatory and fibrotic process that underlie the progression of the disease toward hemodialysis, kidney transplantation, or death. OPKO Canada (Markham, Ontario) is developing new therapies to slow or block progression of kidney disease which target vitamin D signalling pathways – one approach that blocks vitamin D breakdown and another approach that significantly and directly raises vitamin D levels in kidney. The interns for this MITACS funded program will work in the Petkovich laboratory and at the OPKO Canada facilities in Markham. By working with key individuals associated with product development, analytical chemistry, project management and regulatory affairs, interns will gain invaluable knowledge for performing the appropriate animal studies and assembling the appropriate documents for submission of IND application to the FDA to gain approval for evaluating these therapies in clinical studies. These efforts will benefit the health of Canadians and provide interns with extensive experience in drug development.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Adams

Student:

Tracie Pennimpede

Partner:

OPKO Health - OPKO Renal Division

Discipline:

Biochemistry / Molecular biology

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Queen's University

Program:

Accelerate

Multiple shock dependencies with applications to insurance risks

Traditional insurance models build on the assumption of independence of risks. One of the main causes of the recent financial crisis, this assumption has facilitated the quantification of risks for decades, but it has often lead to risks’ under-estimation and as a result under-pricing. Importantly, one of the prime pillars of the novel concept of Enterprise Risk Management is the requirement that insurance companies have a clear understanding of risks’ interconnections within the risk portfolios. However, modeling dependence is not an easy call. In fact, there is only one way to formulate independence, whereas the shapes of probabilistic dependence are infinite. In this project, we aim at developing tractable technically and interpretable practically probabilistic models of dependence that describe the adverse effects of multiple risk drivers on the risk portfolio of a generic insurer. The outcomes will be applied to the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment of Sun Life Financial.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Edward Furman

Student:

Jianxi Su

Partner:

Sun Life Financial

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

University:

York University

Program:

Elevate

Predictive Models for the Manitoba Bio-Economy Atlas

The intern will develop a multi-year model of a biomass supply chain for Manitoba, which will comprise the back end for a web based Bio-Economy Atlas tool. The tool will create feasibility level assessments of the volume, consistency, variability, accessibility and logistics costs of the biofuel resource in Manitoba, including both conventional sources, such as agricultural residue, and unconventional sources, such as riparian biomass and cattails. The focus on cattails will allow for an assessment of the potential benefits of removing phosphorous, which is negatively impacting the health of the Lake Winnipeg ecosystem, through the harvesting of cattails. The intern will focus on the uncertainty inherent in the model and apply forecasting, simulation and stochastic modeling and optimization to quantify the variability associated with plans and estimates of costs and environmental impacts of the biomass harvest and supply chain.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Attahiru Alfa

Student:

Kamaloddin Darchinimaragheh

Partner:

International Institute for Sustainable Development

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Natural resources

University:

University of Manitoba

Program:

Elevate

Identifying the molecular mechanisms of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and screening NETosis-suppressing drugs to treat cystic fibrosis lung disease

Recent discoveries show that neutrophils mainly die by formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in Cystic Fibrosis airways. Therefore determining mechanism and identifying FDA-approved drugs that inhibit NETosis could provide novel options to treat CF lung disease. We aimed to do the comparative gene expression analysis during NETosis induced by different NET inducing agents (PMA,LPS,A23187) in CF neutrophils. Furthermore to translate the findings for therapeutic targets, screening of large scale drugs, kinases and specific pathways inhibitors associated with NETosis are required. When therapies are developed and tested, It provides opportunities to train our healthcare professionals in the use of these drugs and therapies, assists in their dissemination and generates economic benefits. I have confident that our research findings would develop commercially applicable products, give back the economical benefits and commercial ventures to the organization (Cystic Fibrosis Canada). Over all findings would be definitely uplifting the socio-economical status of the organization.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Nades Palaniyar

Student:

Meraj Khan

Partner:

Cystic Fibrosis Canada

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Pharmaceuticals

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Elevate

Quantifying Visual Impairments using Robotics following Sport-Related Concussion

Concussions are a common traumatic brain injury and currently one of the most prominent medical concerns in contact/collision sports, at all ages and levels of competition. They are also one of the most complex injuries to manage in high-risk sports to ensure a safe return to training and competition. Our goal is to develop an objective and valid tool using novel robotic technology (KINARM) that can reliably quantify and monitor visual search and attention impairments seen with concussion. Furthermore, we wish to develop a rehabilitation program to train and restore visual motor deficits using robotics. The use of the KINARM has the potential to evolve the current standard of care for sport-related concussions, and to assist Own The Podium with ensuring high performance Olympic, National and National Development athletes’ safely return to unrestricted training and competition following concussive injury.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Brian Benson

Student:

Joseph Nashed

Partner:

BKIN Technologies Ltd

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

University:

University of Calgary

Program:

Accelerate

Training response of elite athletes using heart rate variability and low-frequency fatigue

This research aims to understand athlete recovery and training adaptation by monitoring athlete fatigue. The research will have a direct impact on multiple podium-performances in both Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic athletes since knowing how fatigue is present in athletes can help to improve training prescription; specific training prescribed during varying periods of fatigue and recovery can maximize the training response and likely improve performance. It will also further impact Canadian society since the principles of ‘athlete readiness’ can be expanded to include exercise training programs for health promotion, disease prevention and exercise rehabilitation.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Brian MacIntosh

Student:

Jared Fletcher

Partner:

Own the Podium

Discipline:

Kinesiology

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of Calgary

Program:

Accelerate

Rapid Health Impact Assessment On Introducing Permanent High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes and High Occupancy Tolls Lanes In the Greater Toronto Area

The WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. The holistic nature of this definition provides the basis for an all-encompassing evaluation of health, which is the guiding principle behind health impact assessment (HIA). An emerging area of public concern in Canada is the assessment of the potential impact that transportation infrastructure has on human health. HIA is ideally placed for such an assessment. This Mitacs project will be a Rapid HIA on a transportation policy to be potentially implemented in the Greater Toronto Area: the introduction of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. Conducting this Rapid HIA will increase Intrinsik’s experience and visibility in the field of HIA, as well as increase and expand our client base.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Donald Cole

Student:

Faiza Waheed

Partner:

Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc.

Discipline:

Epidemiology / Public health and policy

Sector:

Management of companies and enterprises

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Accelerate

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