Innovative Projects Realized

Transformation of healthcare data management using blockchain technology

The healthcare industry is focusing on utilizing emerging technologies to make healthcare systems secure, interoperable, and efficient. Blockchain technology offers promising features, such as immutability, security, traceability and decentralization, appropriate for clinical healthcare interoperability and data sharing.
This project is part of Lab2Market program, which provides a commercial opportunity to utilize blockchain technology, a new promising decentralized technology, in the healthcare sector. The proposed framework is backed by one of the existing blockchain platforms and automated smart contracts to enhance collaboration between multiple parties for medical data sharing and access management. It also provides a unified perspective for both patients and healthcare providers.

Dynamique du transport sédimentaire dans la Rivière Saint-Jean Saguenay – Restauration des processus naturels

Les rivières du Saguenay ont été grandement affectées par la crue de juillet 1996. Suite à cet évènement majeur, des enrochements massifs de berges ont été réalisés. Ces enrochements contribuent aux problèmes de déconnexions des bandes riveraines engendrant des modifications aux systèmes fluviaux et à la diminution des sédiments nécessaires au maintien des processus naturels. Ce projet se réalisera sur la rivière Saint-Jean, L’Anse-Saint-Jean, où 71% des berges ont été enrochées depuis 1996, où un barrage a été érigés en 1957 et où les modifications dans le cours d’eau ont provoqué un déficit sédimentaire. Ces modifications de la dynamique naturelle ont mené à la diminution de la qualité de l’habitat pour le saumon et la truite de mer. Ces ajustements survenus et leurs impacts sur la dynamique naturelle expliquent la réduction de la superficie et la quantité de secteurs potentiels de fraies qui sont en diminution dans la rivière. L’objectif de ce projet est de quantifier la dynamique hydrosédimentaire de la rivière Saint-Jean afin de restaurer les processus hydrogéomorphologiques naturels.

Injection and Ignition Characteristics of Gaseous Fuels

Greenhouse gas emissions from commercial vehicles are a major contributor to climate change worldwide and need to be reduced to meet net-zero GHG targets. High-efficiency engines will continue to be used in many countries for the foreseeable future; switching the fuel to low-carbon methane blended with renewably generated Hydrogen offers a pathway to low net GHG emissions. This project aims to develop underpinning understanding of the injection and ignition of methane and hydrogen and their blends. The work includes optical assessment of fuel injection and ignition processes with a conventional glow-plug as an ignition source. This knowledge will allow Westport to develop better engine systems that can run at maximum efficiency over a range of low carbon fuels.

Accessing Greenspace: Barriers and Solutions in a Deprived area

The purpose of this research is to gain a greater understanding of current levels of nature connectedness and barriers to accessing local greenspace within the deprived area of Workington, England.

Research Aims
The aim of this piece of research would be to work closely with local organisations and community groups to assess existing levels of nature connection and access to local greenspace, with a focus especially on young people, those in the older demographic and people experiencing mental health issues and physical conditions which limit ability to access nature.

Using the principles of nature connectiveness and collaborative co-production, the research would investigate barriers and solutions to increasing connectivity with nature at a local level. The resulting research would put forward solutions for tackling local barriers and proposals for activities that would inspire and engage people to connect in a meaningful and relevant way with nature.

Engineering Sustainability Policies within the Building Sector in Ontario as a Basis for Impact on Equity Seeking Groups

Currently, the building sector accounds of 36% of end-use energy consumption in Ontario. With the rise of appeal towards green energy, the government has focused greatly on developing sustainability policies. Additionally, Ontario has seen a rise in the equity-seeking communities’ population over the last few decades. Aknowlegding the success of sustainability policies is greatly depends in the participation of the entire population leads to the question of inclusivity of inclusive population. The proposed research will investigate the overarching perceived impacts of sustainability movement on equity-seeking groups in Ontario. This research will be completed via conducting comprehensive literature review, interviews with sustainability experts and data analysis.

Development of Twin Slice TRASE MRI

A new Magnetic Resonance Imager (MRI) design, Twin Slice TRASE MRI, will be verified. The new MRI design is suitable for use in space, on the Moon and in the Canadian north where the operating environments are extremely rugged and demanding. The design will be verified by modifying a basic TRASE MRI ankle-size prototype that has flown in zero-g on an NRC jet. The verification of the MRI design with clear test images, along with the ruggedness already proved by the zero-g flight, will position Pelican MRI. Inc. to develop a head-size version for deployment to northern Canadian health clinics.

Dataset Building for climate change cloud application

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are used to document the climate impact of construction and other materials. The Company is working with nonprofit BuildingTransparency.org to digitize EPDs and make them available in a free, open-access database. The company uses scripts and AI to read the PDF-based EPDs and digitize them. The project involves reviewing partly-digitized EPDs, correcting errors, and using the fixed EPDs to train and refine the digitization procedure.

Universal Wireless Charger

The proposed project consists of creating a universal charging solution for different EV brands. Through this project, we test and evaluate several designs of our transmitter and receiver coil to achieve a wireless charging solution that provides flexibility for different types and brands of batteries and EVs. As a result of this project we identify the most important variables in our design that can provide high power with high speed charging. This finding will enable us to focus on developing a compact and efficient charging solution that enables fast charging.

Development of Fast Longitudinal Cortical surface extraction, deformation, and Normalization (FALCON) for the measurement of cortical thickness over time from brain magnetic resonance images Year Two

The project involves development, validation, and application of new medical image analysis algorithm where cortical thickness is measured from serial brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with improved efficiency and greater sensitivity. Cortical thickness is a relatively new metric that correlates with clinical and cognitive worsening in a variety of neurologic disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Because the partner industry, NeuroRX, is a contract research organization that evaluates potential neurologic therapies through analysis of MRIs, NeuroRX will significantly benefit from the proposed technology, directly applying the new technology for MRI analysis. Academically, we will distribute the developed algorithm as Freeware so that researchers around the world can use it. The distribution of the developed algorithm helps validate the robustness of the developed software and advance understanding of normal, developmental, and diseased brains.

Electron beam welding of refractory metals: improving niobium process window with fast beam deflection

Niobium (Nb) has properties that make it very attractive for high performance applications in space (e.g. rocket engines) and on earth (superconducting cavities used in particle accelerators), yet it also creates some particular challenges for the successful manufacturing of parts from it. The material is difficult to form into the complex shapes required for application. Welding also requires very high temperatures and very clean environments. These factors mean that electron beam welding, performed in high vacuum and capable of providing very high energy density, is the chosen process for welding Nb components. This proposal seeks to answer the question of whether electron beam welding can also be used to help reduce problems arising from the difficulty of forming. Using the very fast and flexible beam deflection capability in UBC’s LEAM electron beam processing facility, this work will look at beam motion strategies that can help to fill gaps created by imperfect shapes resulting from forming of Nb components. This would reduce scrap and allow for higher part success from very expensive Nb sheet.

Ecology and stability of sourdough fermentation for pasta production

In the last decades, Kaslo Sourdough Inc. has developed a sourdough propagation scheme for baking and pasta making. This sourdough differs fundamentally from other sourdoughs for which literature data is available in two aspects. First, the sourdough is used for production of bread and pasta. Only limited information is available on the impact of sourdough on pasta quality. In addition, the process of pasta making does not support microbial activity in the pasta dough and microbial metabolites in past carry over from the last sourdough fermentation step. Second, Kaslo uses a propagation scheme that differs from other sourdoughs that are documented in the scientific literature. Current knowledge is insufficient to ensure a stable microbial composition of Kaslo’s sourdough or a consistent metabolic activity and impact on pasta quality. The project therefore aims to determine the long-term stability of the Kaslo sourdough and to identify the contribution of bacterial metabolites on pasta quality. Specifically, the project aims to determine of the long-term stability of the Kaslo Sourdough, and to evaluate the impact of sourdough fermentation on the quality of pasta.

Investigating the dose-response of prenatal-THC exposure in adolescent mice

Across the world, rules regarding the legalisation of recreational use of cannabis are changing. This is leading to a perception that cannabis is safe to use: people remain unaware of consequential health risks. The concentration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), often found in cannabis products, is rising – a concern as THC is known to have psychoactive effects. Furthermore, it has been shown that maternal and paternal cannabis use during pregnancy increases the risk of psychotic-like experiences in offspring. This alongside the substantial neurodevelopmental basis of such disorders, could, therefore, result in an emergent risk of psychotic disorders within the population. Since cannabis/cannabis products are additionally being used to counteract nausea in pregnancy, it is imperative that studies addressing this are carried out sooner rather than later. This project will investigate dose-dependent effects of prenatal-THC exposure on the neurodevelopment of offspring during adolescence in rodents. Scientific data collected may provide knowledge to guide policies aimed to prevent future public health challenges.