Innovative Projects Realized

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

29670 Completed Projects

2811
AB
4990
BC
801
MB
663
NL
825
SK
8841
ON
9197
QC
95
PE
568
NB
1088
NS

Projects by Category

Epigenetic Regulators of Anticancer Drug Response – Year two

The effectiveness of cancer drugs depends on several factors which are governed by the genetic and ‘epigenetic’ code of cancer cells. The epigenetic code comprises those heritable modifications that bookmark DNA and DNA-associated proteins to guide the expression of genetic attributes without changing the DNA sequence. This epigenetic code is written, read, and erased by a group of proteins known as epigenetic regulators. Our preliminary data suggest that one epigenetic regulator plays a role in controlling the effectiveness of a targeted cancer drug; however, the role of different epigenetic regulators in drug response is not fully understood. The Structural Genomics Consortium has developed a toolkit of chemical compounds that can be exploited to study these regulators in cell biology and drug discovery. In this project, we propose to leverage this toolkit to systematically study the roles of epigenetic regulators in cancer drug therapy. Specifically, we plan to identify these roles by a large-scale combination of cancer drugs with the toolkit compounds in relevant cancer cell lines and subsequent interrogation of significant changes in cancer drug responses. This approach will provide new insights into the functions of epigenetic regulators and help identify improved therapeutic options with immediate utility in cancer therapy.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy

Student:

Partner:

Structural Genomics Consortium

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Elevate

Epigenetic Regulators of Anticancer Drug Response

The effectiveness of cancer drugs depends on several factors which are governed by the genetic and ‘epigenetic’ code of cancer cells. The epigenetic code comprises those heritable modifications that bookmark DNA and DNA-associated proteins to guide the expression of genetic attributes without changing the DNA sequence. This epigenetic code is written, read, and erased by a group of proteins known as epigenetic regulators. Our preliminary data suggest that one epigenetic regulator plays a role in controlling the effectiveness of a targeted cancer drug; however, the role of different epigenetic regulators in drug response is not fully understood. The Structural Genomics Consortium has developed a toolkit of chemical compounds that can be exploited to study these regulators in cell biology and drug discovery. In this project, we propose to leverage this toolkit to systematically study the roles of epigenetic regulators in cancer drug therapy. Specifically, we plan to identify these roles by a large-scale combination of cancer drugs with the toolkit compounds in relevant cancer cell lines and subsequent interrogation of significant changes in cancer drug responses. This approach will provide new insights into the functions of epigenetic regulators and help identify improved therapeutic options with immediate utility in cancer therapy.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy

Student:

Partner:

Structural Genomics Consortium

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Elevate

Impact of microparticles in cancer progression – Year two

Blood platelets are the principal source of cells known to shed small extracellular vesicles which package biologically active molecules. We have recently identified a new type of these vesicles (called microparticles/MPs) that contain mitochondria, which represent the energy producing motors for living cells. We have also discovered that MPs preferentially bind and internalize into leukemia cells to transfer their contents. As a result, recipient cancer cells gain energy producing capacity, which leads to increased cancer processes. Our objective is to characterize the mechanisms of MP interaction and sourcing of modulators leading to cancer progression. The elucidation of these novel mechanisms are essential for the development of specific compounds to block MP-cancer cell interactions. We believe that the mechanistic blockage of MP internalization will deprive cancer cells of vital resources for disease progression.
The Atlantic Cancer Research Institute/ACRI has developed a proprietary technology to capture MPs. Through our fruitful collaborations and use of this technology, we will elucidate MP targeting and binding of cancer cells for the development of new anticancer strategies. This research could bring significant economic benefits to our health care systems and provide the ACRI with business opportunities with potential partners invested in the treatment of blood cancers.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Gilles Robichaud

Student:

Partner:

Atlantic Cancer Research Institute

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université de Moncton

Program:

Elevate

Signalling Bodies as Resistant: Coded Queerness in Visual Culture

Through historical research, I examine the role of queer history to demonstrate how, and in what ways, oppression evolves into resistance. Focusing on visual culture, such as photographs, home video’s and films, as well as ephemera, letters and personal papers, the goal is to shed light on the dark corners of queer history. By illuminating historical pain and trauma, the intention is to reveal the resilience of previous generations, and where negative affects inform locations of recuperation. The need for such research is to provide future generations strategies of survival; where legacies of inequity can be recouped and systemically changed. Visual culture and personal papers of everyday LGBTQ2+ communities disclose the complexity of simple lives and provide salient, real world knowledge of those who came before us.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Janine Marchessault

Student:

Partner:

The ArQuives

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

York University

Program:

Accelerate

Impact of microparticles in cancer progression

Blood platelets are the principal source of cells known to shed small extracellular vesicles which package biologically active molecules. We have recently identified a new type of these vesicles (called microparticles/MPs) that contain mitochondria, which represent the energy producing motors for living cells. We have also discovered that MPs preferentially bind and internalize into leukemia cells to transfer their contents. As a result, recipient cancer cells gain energy producing capacity, which leads to increased cancer processes. Our objective is to characterize the mechanisms of MP interaction and sourcing of modulators leading to cancer progression. The elucidation of these novel mechanisms are essential for the development of specific compounds to block MP-cancer cell interactions. We believe that the mechanistic blockage of MP internalization will deprive cancer cells of vital resources for disease progression.
The Atlantic Cancer Research Institute/ACRI has developed a proprietary technology to capture MPs. Through our fruitful collaborations and use of this technology, we will elucidate MP targeting and binding of cancer cells for the development of new anticancer strategies. This research could bring significant economic benefits to our health care systems and provide the ACRI with business opportunities with potential partners invested in the treatment of blood cancers.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Gilles Robichaud

Student:

Partner:

Atlantic Cancer Research Institute

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université de Moncton

Program:

Elevate

Understanding the gaps in the adoption of animal care practices in Canada – Year two

Welfare issues such as lameness and body injuries (LBI) negatively impact health, productivity, and longevity of dairy cows. Despite research, regulatory and outreach efforts, the current prevalence of LBI is high in Canada and shows little evidence of improvement. The proposed study will use an integrated, structured approach to identify gaps influencing the adoption of on-farm practices for control of LBI from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Our methodology comprises 4 steps, each providing groundwork for the following: 1) Knowledge Synthesis will provide insights into Canada’s current situation of LBI and evidence of change throughout time; 2) Questionnaire administered to industry stakeholders (producers, advisors, milk processors, policy-makers, consumers) will investigate perceptions, needs and actions towards LBI; 3) Focus Groups will provide insights into stakeholders’ perceived role and barriers in adopting changes to improve LBI; and 4) knowledge gathered in steps 1-3 will create a platform to develop a plan for Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) to support future extension efforts. Our study will be the first to engage a wide variety of dairy industry stakeholders nationwide to explore factors impacting their perceptions towards LBI and towards change. The outcome will be used to tailor KTT tools applicable to dairy farmers throughout Canada.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Daniel Weary

Student:

Partner:

Lactanet (QC)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Understanding the gaps in the adoption of animal care practices in Canada

Welfare issues such as lameness and body injuries (LBI) negatively impact health, productivity, and longevity of dairy cows. Despite research, regulatory and outreach efforts, the current prevalence of LBI is high in Canada and shows little evidence of improvement. The proposed study will use an integrated, structured approach to identify gaps influencing the adoption of on-farm practices for control of LBI from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Our methodology comprises 4 steps, each providing groundwork for the following: 1) Knowledge Synthesis will provide insights into Canada’s current situation of LBI and evidence of change throughout time; 2) Questionnaire administered to industry stakeholders (producers, advisors, milk processors, policy-makers, consumers) will investigate perceptions, needs and actions towards LBI; 3) Focus Groups will provide insights into stakeholders’ perceived role and barriers in adopting changes to improve LBI; and 4) knowledge gathered in steps 1-3 will create a platform to develop a plan for Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) to support future extension efforts. Our study will be the first to engage a wide variety of dairy industry stakeholders nationwide to explore factors impacting their perceptions towards LBI and towards change. The outcome will be used to tailor KTT tools applicable to dairy farmers throughout Canada.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Daniel Weary

Student:

Partner:

Lactanet (QC)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Chemically upgradation and hybrid biocatalytic valorization of lignin into green aviation ligno-jet fuel and paraffinic hydrocarbons

‘Low-Carbon Fuels’ refer to fuels produced from biological and waste resources with lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels. This project, supported by Suncor and performed at Ryerson University, aims to explore the use of innovative biocatalytic and catalytic processes to produce drop-in ligno-biojet fuel from lignin. A single biochemical step will be utilized to convert degraded lignins into hydrocarbons, and after subsequent catalytic hydrodeoxygenation using novel catalysts, into aviation fuels. The use of second-generation feedstocks (e.g. forestry biomass and pulp mill waste) is the most attractive pathway to support the large-scale deployment of sustainable and economically attractive low-carbon biojet fuels in the near future. This project is well aligned with Suncor’s GHG performance goal of reducing the emissions intensity of their products by 30% by 2030, and is aligned with Canada’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Yaser Dahman

Student:

Partner:

Suncor Energy Inc (Calgary, AB)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Mining; Wholesale trade

University:

Toronto Metropolitan University

Program:

Accelerate

Role of cannabinoids on fast-inactivation of cardiac Nav channels – Year two

Cannabinoids are natural products derived from the Cannabis sativa plant (commonly known as marijuana). Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychotropic cannabinoid is reputed to have medicinal benefits and is approved for the treatment of two seizure disorders. Other non-psychotropic cannabinoids, like cannabinol and cannabigerol, are less studied. We previously found that CBD both directly and indirectly affects voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav) function. The direct effects of CBD on Nav involve sodium current reduction, which we suggest is caused by a physical block of the channel; the mechanism of this block remains unknown. We now seek to gain more detailed knowledge of how CBD and other cannabinoids directly affect the biophysical properties of the cardiac Nav channel (Nav1.5) by measuring Nav1.5 gating charge movements. Notably, CBD reduces seizure activity associated with Dravet Syndrome, an inherited seizure disorder caused by mutations in neuronal Nav channels. Therefore, we aim to further determine if cannabinoids could be used to reduce proarrhythmic activity associated with long-QT 3 (LQT3), an inherited heart disease caused by mutations in Nav1.5.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Peter Ruben

Student:

Partner:

Akseera Pharma Corp

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Elevate

Realistic and High-Performance Rendering

State-of-the-art computer graphics technology allows for the generation of images and animations that border on photo-realistic quality; however, this level of fidelity is often reserved for feature-film productions where the time budget is much more flexible. In the case of interactive graphics, such as approaches that are used in video games, similar demands are made on the quality of the computer graphics output, however much more restrictive computation budgets are imposed: for example, each frame of a computer graphics animation in a video game must be computed in a fraction of a second, as opposed to several hours (the typical budget allotted in feature-film animations). As such, developing interactive image synthesis (rendering) algorithms capable of delivering both high-fidelity results, as well as doing so using very little computation time, is a challenging problem in both applied and theoretical computer graphics. This MITACS Cluster will segment and address several important problems…

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Faculty Supervisor:

Derek Nowrouzezahrai

Student:

Partner:

Microsoft Canada

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Information and Communications Technology

University:

Université de Montréal

Program:

Accelerate

Role of cannabinoids on fast-inactivation of cardiac Nav channels

Cannabinoids are natural products derived from the Cannabis sativa plant (commonly known as marijuana). Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychotropic cannabinoid is reputed to have medicinal benefits and is approved for the treatment of two seizure disorders. Other non-psychotropic cannabinoids, like cannabinol and cannabigerol, are less studied. We previously found that CBD both directly and indirectly affects voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav) function. The direct effects of CBD on Nav involve sodium current reduction, which we suggest is caused by a physical block of the channel; the mechanism of this block remains unknown. We now seek to gain more detailed knowledge of how CBD and other cannabinoids directly affect the biophysical properties of the cardiac Nav channel (Nav1.5) by measuring Nav1.5 gating charge movements. Notably, CBD reduces seizure activity associated with Dravet Syndrome, an inherited seizure disorder caused by mutations in neuronal Nav channels. Therefore, we aim to further determine if cannabinoids could be used to reduce proarrhythmic activity associated with long-QT 3 (LQT3), an inherited heart disease caused by mutations in Nav1.5.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Peter Ruben

Student:

Partner:

Akseera Pharma Corp

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Elevate

Transforming Financial Planning Software

Canadians spend a lot of time worrying about personal finances, investing and planning for the future. Sound strategies for managing and building wealth have a real impact on financial outcomes, however, navigating financial, estate and tax planning is difficult and many key pieces are easily overlooked. Current solutions focus too narrowly on retirement or rely too heavily on costly professionals. To address these issues, this research project is an opportunity to bring together Planworth’s financial, tax and estate planning know-how with the Schulich MBAN program’s mathematical and analytical expertise to build a more accessible, transparent and understandable solution that will help individuals find the best way to earn, save, invest and spend their money based on their goals, applicable tax rules and broader economic conditions, now and over time. The research partnership between Planworth and the Schulich MBAN program has the potential to transform an industry.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Murat Kristal;Hjalmar Turesson

Student:

Partner:

Planworth Inc.

Discipline:

Business

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

York University

Program:

Accelerate

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