Innovative Projects Realized

An integrated and adaptive study examining central and peripheral mechanisms of chronic pain in knee osteoarthritis patients

It has been estimated that 300 million people worldwide have osteoarthritis (OA) and this has increased by 97% over the past 25 years. The pain and loss of mobility experienced by people with knee OA can seriously reduce quality of life, while pain management causes significant healthcare spending. Unfortunately, the pain associated with OA is complex and difficult to treat. One promising theory to explain the reason why many people with OA and chronic pain, called nociplastic pain, focuses on changes in the brain and spinal cord that lead to painful hypersensitivity to normally painful and non-painful sensations. Our research study plans to use advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques and novel analysis methods to determine if specific parts of the brain are responsible for nociplastic pain. We will include 99 knee OA patients, some without pain and others with chronic pain, to explore the group differences at baseline and after a cold sensation. It is expected that knee OA patients who experience chronic pain will exhibit dysfunction in parts of their brain that is not present in patients who do not experience chronic pain.

COSMIC – Software Functional Sizing – AI-NFR-DevOps

Theoretically sound and industry-robust software measures are necessary in industry and research. Functional sizing measures of software, such as COSMIC Function Points – ISO 19761 – are useful for the quantitative planning, monitoring, control, and objective assessment of software projects and organizations. Through this project, the COSMIC Group will adapt this international measurement method to Artificial Intelligence applications, the sizing of non-functional requirements (NFR), and integrates its usage into the measurement of DevOps products and porfolios. This project also includes the design of related measurement case studies to serve as reference material for training and for facilitating the accuracy and consistency of measurements in industry and research projects.

Address key problems in therapeutic interventions using nanomedicine

Ever-increasing complexity of high morbidity rate diseases including infections, cancer, atherosclerosis, has posed significant challenges in delivering active pharmaceutical agents at their intended targets. Polymeric soft nanoparticles based therapeutics have provided an advantageous platform, and have provoked the design of tailor-made nanoarchitectures that can load, target and deliver with high efficiency. Using synthetically articulated stimuli responsive macromolecules, we are designing smart nanocarriers that can both help overcome physicochemical obstacles; and deliver sufficient dosage of drug molecules in response to endogenous and exogenous triggers. The goal in this project will be to design and develop an optimized drug delivery platform that could sense multifold aberrations in the physiological environment of disease sites and respond synchronously, for sustained drug delivery, nanoparticle disassembly, and its safe clearance. The purpose will be to simplify the formulation design strategy and remove complexities of synthetic build-up of macromolecular precursors; impart sensitivities to nanoparticles through novel functional group(s); and help expedite clinical therapeutic interventions of lipophilic drugs.

Examining the Efficacy of Equine Assisted Learning for Public Safety Personnel with PTSD

Public safety personnel (PSP) (e.g., police, paramedics) ensure the safety of our communities and are at risk of experiencing traumatic events. In a recent study, 44% of surveyed PSPs screened positive for a mental health condition, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We must understand the impact of PTSD on PSP and how to treat it so we can promote PSP health to keep Canadian communities safe. Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is an intervention that involves unmounted interactions with a horse with the guidance of an equine specialist. Recent research conducted with military Veterans with PTSD shows that EAL might be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms but no one has tested EAL with PSP who have PTSD. We will investigate the effectiveness of EAL in reducing PTSD symptoms among PSP with PTSD by conducting a randomized clinical trial where PSP participants are assigned to one of two groups: one that receives EAL treatment and one that does not. We will compare these two groups to see whether they differ in PTSD symptom severity.

Workforce retention strategies for RPNs within the home and community health care sector

The current nursing shortage in the home and community care (HCC) sector is cause for concern. The demand for home care services is greater than what organizations can provide, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to high turnover rates. This study will explore the personal and professional resilience of RPNs working in the HCC sector and the role of stakeholders in creating an environment that supports their resilience.
Findings from this study will be used to provide evidence for stakeholders in developing and implementing strategies to increase recruitment-retention and resilience of RPNs in the HCC sector.

Distributed Extremum Seeking Control Using Observer-based Methods

In this project, we propose a new technique for controlling the formation of high-altitude balloons. Instead of using traditional high-pass filters, we suggest using high-gain observers to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of extremum-seeking control. Our research on this multi-agent approach aligns with the main objectives of Stratotegic Inc, which focus on the research and development of controlling aerospace systems.

DevBrawl – Investigation of game design withcognitive analysis in multi-player games

The objectives of this research project are to deepen understanding of the cognitive underpinnings of engagement in games, especially in the context of multiplayer games. The research will be leveraged by our organization in future research projects and commercial productions.

Human-in-the-loop artificial intelligence for identification of fish behavior with high-frequency periodic acoustic fish tags

Innovasea produces fish tags and receivers to track the presence and motion of fish and marine mammals while underwater. Fish tracking (acoustic telemetry) is used by researchers worldwide to determine the abundance and habits of marine life, make decisions about fishing seasons and allowed catches, and help protect marine mammals. Innovasea has developed a novel high-frequency tag technology that is suitable for very small fish and generates more precise trajectories. However, the new smaller fish tags send no explicit identification information so signals from a specific fish tag are isolated from background noise and other fish tags based on the period and/or pattern of the signals. To obtain useful fish tracking trajectories, Innovasea currently applies machine learning models that work in many environments but need to be retrained for other environments.

In this project we will apply advanced deep learning techniques to large manually processed training sets provided by Innovasea to eliminate the manual preprocessing steps.

Social Innovation Researcher in Residence – Zero Emissions Innovation Centre of Metro Vancouver

Metro Vancouver’s new Zero Emissions Innovation Centre’s (ZEIC) mandate is to catalyse, accelerate, and scale climate action innovation across Metro Vancouver through program delivery, impact investing, granting, partnerships, capacity building, and research. With the urgency and importance of city-led climate action rapidly increasing, and the impacts of a changing climate being directly experienced by communities across BC with growing frequency and significance, ZEIC’s success in achieving their mandate is critically important at this time. This project will harness the power of social innovation and systemic design methodologies to support ZEIC in de-risking innovations, and in un-locking climate action co-benefits (e.g. health and economic development) for communities. It will also draw upon equity-centered and decolonizing methodologies to build and nurture diverse collaborations and contribute to climate justice and reconciliation. Finally, this project will build the capacities of the ZEIC team in working skillfully with these methodologies long after this project is over.

Training in bioinformatics, more specifically omics sciences

L’étudiant participera à un entraînement structuré en bioinformatique visant à parfaire ses connaissances de Python et R. Le focus sera placé sur les sciences omiques et ultimement sont projet vise à la détection et l’identification de façon précoce des maladies des plantes, bien que le focus sera initialement placé sur la tomates, une culture importante pour le Cameroun et le Canada et qui souffre des mêmes maladies sur les deux continents.

Investigating spatial and temporal nutrient trends in the St. Lawrence River

Increasing our knowledge of Canada’s lakes and rivers is essential to maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems and to ensure human enjoyment of these waterbodies. This project will work with the local Indigenous community, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, to better understand trends in nutrient levels along the Upper St. Lawrence River. Human activities, including agriculture, industry, and urbanization often contribute excess nutrients to lakes and rivers, degrading the aquatic ecosystem by triggering excessive growth of undesirable algae, which can reduce human enjoyment of these waterbodies. By analyzing nutrient levels in the Upper St. Lawrence River, this project will provide Indigenous communities, researchers, policymakers, industry, and local community members with vital information about the health of the St. Lawrence River. Additionally, by sharing this information in an open and accessible manner this project will contribute to future restoration, protection, and management of the Upper St. Lawrence River and other waterbodies in Canada.

Artificial Intelligence for Prostate Cancer Detection using Ultrasound

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian men, and early and accurate diagnosis is critical for successful treatment. The proposed research aims to develop AI-powered tools to improve the accuracy of prostate cancer detection using ultrasound technology. In collaboration with Exact Imaging, we will develop AI tools that can analyze images from the ExactVu ultrasound system and help doctors more accurately identify cancerous lesions during prostate biopsy procedures. This could potentially increase the accuracy and reduce the risks associated with biopsy. This collaboration has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on the healthcare system. It will also help Exact stay at the forefront of AI-assisted medical imaging and provide their customers with a more effective tool for identifying prostate cancer.