Innovative Projects Realized

Development of tissue phantoms

LifeLike BioTissue has developed a suite of products to assist in the training of medical professionals with highly realistic models that mimic the mechanical properties, feel and anatomy of human body organs and structures. These human tissue phantoms replicate a variety of complex human tissues, supporting surgeons and medical device companies for surgical training and testing needs. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a hydrogel with desirable physical properties to emulate the properties of human tissue as three-dimensional crosslinked polymer networks swollen with water. In this project we will develop new products by modifying the PVA material to control the viscosity and elastic properties. New material and processing techniques will allow the company to continue to closely match soft tissues and organs and to achieve a higher degree of realism that will increase the company’s market share in the simulation arena.

The art of working together: Community case studies supporting a model for collaborative arts informed research as social practice

The Art of Working Together: Developing a Sustainable Model for Arts Informed Research as Social Practice aims to strengthen the capacity of Centre[3] for Artistic and Social Practice (Centre[3]) to support community-based arts-informed research as social practice by developing a model for sustainable partnerships. Centre[3] has a long tradition of research collaborations with institutions (university/college/hospital), community-based organizations (e.g. Hamilton Public Library) and local, regional, provincial and national partners. The ad-hoc nature of these partnerships means parameters must be re-established with each new project; to address this challenge, Centre[3] has proposed a partnership with McMaster University to develop a model for sustainable collaboration. Developing a framework holds potential to enhance effectiveness of partnerships by establishing best practices for arts-informed research collaborations.

Transition towards an automated and centralized staff scheduling system

The project includes the integration of a new software for crew scheduling at ViaRail, which will make uniform the crew scheduling rules. Crew scheduling is currently distributed over 5 geographical centers at ViaRail, with each center producing schedules independently. Consequently, the project will include three phases: collecting the current practices for crew scheduling in the five centers, analyzing the collection of those rules and proposing a unified process for crew scheduling across the five centers in view of the crew scheduling software purchased by ViaRail. While going through those three steps, the intern will need to keep in mind the optimization of the crew scheduling in terms of staff scheduling work blocks and bidding process. The project will also include the automation of the payroll from the collection fo the data from the crew members, up to the generation of the pay checks.

Dynamic framework development for mineral processing circuits

The mining industry is integral to modern living standards and related technological advancements. However,
mining operations are complex and capital-intensive ventures that rely on the coordination of a number of moving
parts to remain viable. Moreover, external forces such as evolving global economic, socio-environmental and
geopolitical factors also present significant levels of risk to modern mining projects. The result is an increasing
number of failed or stalled projects, often due to limited community engagement and an ultimate lack of the social
license to operate. This research project aims to address some of these issues by contributing to Mineral
Impulse™, a new mining business model trademarked by Inspire Resources Ltd. and focused on the sustainable
development of smaller-scale projects with transparent and active participation of owners and/or community
stakeholders. By developing tools that can model and simulate mineral processing plant behaviour in response to
internal and external stressors, mining projects can benefit in terms of justifying or negating the next level of
required investment from design through to implementation and sustained operation stages.

Clonal growth dynamics of rhizomes after herbicide treatments in Reynoutria spp. epinastic and control ecotypes

Knotweed (Reynoutria spp.) is listed in the International Union of Conservation 100 worst invasive alien species worldwide and causes extensive environmental degradation and economic impacts in British Columbia and other parts of Canada. Knotweed’s extensive rhizome systems enable to form large patches very resistant to most control methods, and requires repeated herbicide treatments, potentially leading to herbicide resistance. Populations in British Columbia exhibit epinastic growth which may be linked to resistance. The intern will be engaged in researching this unusual growth form through field and laboratory studies, supported by Greener This Side, an invasive species control company engaged in both practical management and research to devise better management methods of invasive species like knotweed. This research represents an excellent opportunity for the intern to study a phenomenon never before studied, and simultaneously allow Greener This Side to address complex questions that require a comprehensive approach.

Medical Technician for SpotLight-19 Clinical Trial

ISBRG is conducting a clinical trial of SpotLight-19©, ISBRG’s diagnostic technology prototype, following receipt of Investigational Testing Authorization (ITA) from Health Canada.

Develop a test system for the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon of the Horse

The overall objective of the work is to understand how loading from the different muscle groups affects the strain that develops in the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDTF) of the Horse. We will be able to learn how the strength and power of each muscle group must be adapted to achieve different strain distributions in the SDFT. We will be able to determine what level of repeated loading causes degeneration and rupture of the tendon. Understanding the mechanics of the tendon in combination with biological changes, is essential to be able to develop successful treatments for problems with the tendon.
We will work with advisors and technical staff to determine how to hold the hoof on the load floor, how to apply loads independently to three muscle groups using different actuators, how to stabilize the foreleg during load application, how to expose the relevant tendon and maintain moisture content, how best to measure strain with digital image correlation.

Cycling Equity and Older Buildings

Bicycling has risen in popularity in many cities in recent decades, including Vancouver. However, some potential cyclists face barriers to taking up cycling, including the fact that many older buildings have insufficient bike storage facilities and other issues relating to bike security, building policies, etc. The ‘Cycling Equity and Older Buildings’ project will use interviews, focus groups, and surveys to better understand the issues impacting the improvement of cycling facilities and experiences in older buildings zoned for office, industrial, residential, and mixed-use in Vancouver. The research will use an equity lens that seeks to explore why different groups may face different challenges related to bicycle use. The project will make recommendations promote and support improvements in older buildings regarding cycling amenities, connections, and policies.

Improving knee osteoarthritis care for individuals with a BMI >35kg/m2

The best way to treat advanced knee arthritis in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m2 is unknown. These patients are less likely to be referred for surgical arthritis treatment due to a higher risk of infection after surgery related to their higher BMI. They are advised to lose weight even though it is uncertain if weight-loss is beneficial for advanced arthritis. Further, unsupervised weight-loss could increase their risk for muscle loss and development of sarcopenic obesity (an important health condition of low muscle and low strength that negatively impacts mobility, surgical risk, and mortality). There may be better approaches to assess surgical risk in this patient group. However we first need to understand how and why BMI assessments for surgery access are used in orthopedics. This novel project will support education strategies around surgical risk assessment and improving equity and access to effective OA treatments for all patients, regardless of their body size. This work will contribute to the future development of more effective assessment strategies and personalized OA treatment approaches for this underserved patient group.

Control of point source low volume methane emission using methanobiofilteration technology

The research project identified here falls under the category of “clean energy technology”. Methanobiofiltration (MBF) is a new technology for the treatment of waste methane gas using a biological process, thus contributing to the reduction of the environmental impacts of current energy technologies. The lack of a complete technology package needed for various industry sectors has hindered its large-scale application in Alberta. With the fundamental knowledge and extensive research experience generated by Dr Hettiaratchi’s research group in recent years (Hettiaratchi et al., 2011; Chandrakanthi and Hettiaratchi, 2005; Stein and Hettiaratchi, 2001), the team is now ready to develop a full MBF technology package and initiate several full-scale field demonstration projects. The key objectives of the proposed project are:

1. Assessment of the commercial feasibility (CF) of MBF technology by undertaking a market analysis to identify the opportunities for the application of this technology in various industrial sectors. Economic feasibility and carbon offset analyses will be conducted using a life cycle approach.

2. Evaluation of the technical feasibility (TF) of the MBF technology under various field conditions, including the implementation of several full-scale methanobiofilters associated with landfills and the oil and gas sector.

Identification et caractérisation de nouvelles associations stellaires

Il est possible de définir les associations de jeunes étoiles, ou associations stellaires, comme étant un groupe d’étoiles qui naissent dans un nuage de gaz et qui émergent de ce nuage simultanément. Ces étoiles partagent donc des caractéristiques similaires telles que leur âge et leur déplacement dans l’espace. Alors, en étudiant le mouvement des étoiles dans notre entourage ainsi que leur position dans l’espace, nous allons appliquer un algorithme d’intelligence artificielle de regroupement afin de trouver de nouvelles associations de jeunes étoiles. Trouver ces regroupements d’étoiles nous permettra notamment de définir précisément l’âge des étoiles membres de l’association, ce qui est impossible à déterminer précisément par d’autres méthodes. La connaissance de l’âge des étoiles est fondamentale pour mieux comprendre leurs propriétés et comment elles évoluent dans le temps.

Circular Food Innovation Lab (CFIL)

The City of Vancouver has an aspirational goal to become a zero waste community by 2040, a goal that includes the development of a circular economy of food (CEF). A circular economy is where every material, including food, is used to its full extent and nothing is wasted or treated as garbage. Funding from Mitacs and the Carbon Neutral Cites Alliance is helping Vancouver move the dial on the circular economy of food. The City of Vancouver in collaboration with Vancouver Economic Commission’s Economic Transformation Lab will bring systems design interns from Emily Carr University of Art + Design together with Vancouver’s supply chain actors to find practical, innovative solutions to food waste. Tested on-the-floor by staff and managers these solutions will potentially inform new practices for a diverse range of sectors. This is ground breaking work that will be shared with Vancouver’s supply chain actor community and other cities regionally, nationally and internationally.