Innovative Projects Realized

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

31620 Completed Projects

2978
AB
5221
BC
856
MB
696
NL
899
SK
9419
ON
9858
QC
98
PE
619
NB
1192
NS

Projects by Category

Effects of a novel probiotic supplement on bone health in postmenopausal women

Menopause is the natural cessation of a woman’s menstrual cycle. During this transition, low levels of estrogen and associated pro-inflammatory state stimulates a rapid decline in bone tissue which may ultimately increase the risk of fragility fractures. Prevention strategies are warranted to maintain bone mineral density and a strong skeleton after menopause and use of probiotics may serve as a promising approach. Probiotics may modulate bone via regulation of the gut microbiome and subsequent anti-inflammatory pathways in a bacterial strain-specific manner. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of a novel probiotic supplement on attenuating a loss of BMD, modulating fracture risk, and improving markers of bone cell activity and inflammation compared to no intervention in postmenopausal women.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Wendy E Ward

Student:

Partner:

Lallemand Bio Ingredients

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Brock University

Program:

Accelerate

Sediment Budget of the Lower Fraser River

Sediment processes are regularly disrupted in large sand-bedded rivers and deltas as a result of human development. Development of the Fraser River delta and estuary, associated with sediment dredging, dykes, and flow diversions has been linked to reduced volumes of sediment delivered to the delta front and systematic channel degradation. As a result, the delta may be sediment starved and transitioning from a growing to an erosional state, increasing its vulnerability to oceanic forces (e.g., waves, tidal forces). However, the impacts of a reduced sediment load to the delta front and the extent of riverbed degradation of the lower Fraser remains unknown. The proposed project will examine existing bathymetry surveys, dredging records, and sediment inputs at Mission to determine the modern sediment budget of the lower Fraser River. The results will allow Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (NHC) to make recommendations related to sediment management of the lower Fraser River.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jeremy Venditti;Ryan Bradley

Student:

Partner:

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Accelerate

Synthesis and characterization of various nanocarriers and ministring DNA product for ocular gene delivery

Gene therapy has the potential to effectively treat a wide range of ocular disorders. However, the introduction of foreign therapeutic genes to cells is incredibly challenging. Compared to viral vectors, non-viral vectors (NVV) are far less immunogenic and less toxic. However, NVV are less efficient than viral vectors at delivering therapeutic genes because they must overcome numerous cellular barriers. An appropriate design of the components of the NVV will enhance the properties of the vector to improve delivery into the cell. Our group is working to optimize various nanocarriers and develop a DNA NVV that exploits Mediphage’s proprietary miniaturized DNA construct, called ministring DNA (msDNA). msDNA vectors confer higher transfection efficiency than traditional plasmid DNA strategies, and their smaller size allows for the delivery of higher copy numbers of therapeutic genes. We are confident that our strategy will lead to the development of an effective NVV for ocular gene delivery.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Shawn Wettig

Student:

Partner:

Mediphage Bioceuticals Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Waterloo

Program:

Accelerate

Evaluation of smart microcarriers for high-density culture and enzyme-free harvesting of primary dermal sheath cells and fibroblasts

RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company that develops autologous cell therapies to treat chronic tendinosis, UV-damaged or aged skin, and pattern baldness. The cells in this technology are isolated from skin biopsies obtained from patients. However, because of limited available tissue samples, RepliCel seeks novel technologies to improve their cell culture process, which is currently time-consuming, labor-intensive, and low throughput. The overarching goal of this partnership is to develop a high-density cell culture system using smart microcarriers that enables 1) producing millions of cells from small tissue samples taken from the back to the patient’s scalp and 2) harvesting the cells without using enzymes. This proposal will build on the encouraging results we obtained from previous collaboration and optimize the microcarrier formulation and culture protocols for primary cells isolated from patients. The proposed research is anticipated to result in significant economic gains for BC and Canada since the targeted technology applies to an emerging and strategic market. Innovations in this area can reduce the costs associated with current cell-based treatment and transform the health and life sciences sectors.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Mohsen Akbari

Student:

Partner:

RepliCel Life Sciences

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Biotechnology; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

University of Victoria

Program:

Accelerate

Evaluating water temperature forecasting models used to predict Fraser River sockeye salmon migration mortality

I will be working as an intern with Vynx Design Inc. generating temperature forecasts that will aid decision making for salmon fisheries managers. My research will focus on improving the accuracy and effectiveness of short-term temperature forecasts as well as enhancing the understanding of the relationship between river conditions and mortality. I will use both deterministic and statistical models to generate 10-day river temperature forecasts that will be used by Fraser River sockeye salmon in-season management for predicting in-river loss. I will then evaluate the performance of these models post-season by comparing river temperature estimates to actual observed conditions and the costs associated with each. In addition, I will generate historic river temperature forecasts for multiple sites along major tributaries in the Fraser River to better our understanding of trends in escapement discrepancies and river temperature.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Sean Cox

Student:

Partner:

Vynx Design Inc

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Aquaculture and Fishing; Ocean Tech; Natural Resources; Sustainability & the Environment

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Accelerate

Testing of a MEMS gravimeter on a drone over the Mt Meager volcanic complex

Gravimetry is an important geophysical method for remote sensing of sub-surface geological structures and systems via detection of mass and/or density changes. Applications are both academic and industrial. Currently, gravimetry surveys are carried out using sensors that are very sensitive, but also heavy and expensive. Both specifications make gravimetric studies expensive and practically very difficult, especially for airborne surveys. A new miniature gravity sensor called Wee-g has been developed in Glasgow which is small enough to enable a wider range of survey techniques such as on drones. The two primary objectives of the research project will be to carry out a spatial gravimetry survey around the Mount Meager Volcanic Complex and continuous monitoring of the nearby landslides at Mount Currie. Both surveys will provide us with new insight into the structures and activity around each site, and also test the use case of Wee-g in such extreme environments.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Glyn Williams-Jones

Student:

Partner:

University of Glasgow

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Improvement of the adhesion and release mechanism of antiviral coatings via using hydrogels and adhesion promoters

The pandemic has shown us the importance of controlling different routes of transmission of infectious diseases. In order to slow down or stop infectious diseases, cleaning and disinfection of ‘high-touch’ surfaces need to be performed regularly. However, the development of an effective antiviral surface coating provides an additional protection layer against disease transmission. In this work, we aim improve the formulation that we have recently developed for our antiviral coating. The improvements will make the coating safer and more suitable to be used on different surfaces such as metal, glass, and different polymeric materials. The application of the antiviral coating inactivates the viruses on the surfaces of public spaces such as schools, hospitals, and grocery stores. The release mechanism used in our formulation increases the antiviral efficiency of the coating with more consistency in long-term protection. The active agents have already been tested and shown the highest efficiency against the HCoV-229E in the first phase of our work.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Drew Higgins

Student:

Partner:

Trimis Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Accelerate

Projet d’innovation en technologie médicale basé sur l’Avatar patient-embryon de poulet en tant qu’aide au traitement des gliomes malins

Le traitement des gliomes malins, dont le glioblastome, est un besoin médical non satisfait dont l’issue est normalement fatale, ce qui pose des défis majeurs pour la prise en charge clinique. Ce projet vise à démontrer que le modèle CAMAvatar, basé sur la membrane chorioallantoïdienne (CAM) d’embryons de poulet, est une technologie prometteuse dans l’identification du meilleur traitement, incluant les traitements de livraison in situ novateurs, pour les patients atteints de glioblastome. Tout comme l’antibiogramme permet d’anticiper la sensibilité des bactéries aux antibiotiques, la technologie Avatar, utilisant des xénogreffes de patients, permet de prédire en temps réel la meilleure efficacité thérapeutique des traitements actuels, voire même des traitements expérimentaux, pour chacun des patients. Nos recherches démontrent que contrairement à l’Avatar de référence utilisant la souris, la technologie CAMAvatar a le potentiel de réaliser une lecture rapide (en quelques jours) des médicaments déjà utilisés ou novateurs en vue d’un traitement personnalisé de la tumeur du patient, et ce, sans souffrance animale et à coût abordable. Le développement de cette technologie CAMAvatar sera une avancée tangible dans le traitementdes gliomes malins, permettant un rayonnement national et internatinal issue d’une collaboration entre université, entreprises québécoises/canadiennes et du gouvernement.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Claire Dubois;David Fortin

Student:

Partner:

Innospera Pharmaceutical Inc;ChitogenX Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Technology; Other

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program:

Accelerate

Economic model of Ulipristal Acetate in the long term, intermittent treatment of uterine fibroids — a Canadian setting

Health economic evaluation compares the associated costs and the clinical outcomes of multiple treatment alternatives and is presently used by payers as one of the many types of evidence to inform which drugs to fund. Given existing health-care budgetary constraints, payers are increasingly interested in knowing whether a new health technology will provide value (i.e. are the incremental costs justifiable with improved outcomes). Economic evidence can therefore impact whether a health technology will be successful in gaining market access. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly conducting early economic modeling exercises to help inform business strategy (i.e. how likely will the technology be successful?) and to plan ahead by identifying potential reimbursement hurdles (i.e. what information is likely needed to gain reimbursement?). Ulipristal acetate is currently approved in Europe for the pre-operative management of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ron Goeree

Student:

Partner:

Watson Pharma;Actavis Specialty Pharmaceuticals Co

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Accelerate

Digital Aviation Records System (DARS) Project

This proposal is to conduct applied research to support the development and implementation of the Digital Aviation Records System (DARS). The goal of DARS is to digitally transform aviation operational support systems. Despite the advanced technology on the flight deck and the innovative engineering that is used in modern aircraft, the operational support systems (the highest value being maintenance) are based on outdated, largely paper-based systems that are inefficient, open to fraud and inhibit the use of data. To realize the vision of DARS, the journey needs to start with making it easy to capture data with digital workflow applications (DWAs) that replace paper processes. Having captured the data DARS must interface with legacy, siloed ERP maintenance systems avoiding the need to replace these systems. Last, DARS needs to achieve critical mass of acceptance from multiple stakeholders in order to act as a source of immutable data on aviation assets and ev

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Faculty Supervisor:

Harish Krishnan

Student:

Partner:

TrustFlight

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Automated plastic recycling for Institutional Commercial and Industrial (IC&I) ecosystems

This research project will investigate how an automated plastic recycling system will function in three academic institutions. The goal is to re-imagine and rework the traditional recycling supply chain by decentralizing and vertically integrating plastic recycling. This will be accomplished through an extensive literature review and experiments that will allow the three academic institutions to adopt the solution and test it for an extended period of time.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Adel Merabet

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Clean Technology; Sustainability & the Environment; Manufacturing and Construction

University:

Saint Mary's University

Program:

Accelerate

Technology therapy with MakerKids®: Supporting children’s socioemotional development with innovative STEM-based programming

Technological advancements have profoundly altered the lives of children and youth in the 21st century. While there are undeniable harms associated with excessive screen use, digital media has positively transformed how children learn, make friends, and interact with society. Research has firmly established the benefits of technology-based learning for young people’s reasoning and thinking abilities, and preliminary evidence also suggests that some digital media activities may improve children’s mental health. These findings support the potential for an innovative form of “technology therapy”, though this has received little research attention. Thus, this project will evaluate whether long-term enrollment in MakerKids® coding, robotics, and Minecraft courses improve children’s well-being and social skills. Data from surveys completed by parents of children enrolled MakerKids® classes will be analyzed using advanced statistical modelling. Results will help parents, clinicians, and educators understand ways to harness the power of technology to improve children’s mental health and promote positive attitudes toward digital media use.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Dillon Browne

Student:

Partner:

MakerKids Group Ltd

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Waterloo

Program:

Accelerate

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Mitacs — Return on Innovation

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.