Innovative Projects Realized

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) asanAlternative Decision Making Framework forHealth Technology Ass.essment in Canada

Decision-making frameworks for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) have become a major topic in
developed nations in recent years. Indeed, the quest for more rational and transparent HTA decisions
led many jurisdictions to investigate the use of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) as an
alternative decision-making framework. In Canada, the development of a MCDA framework for HTA
decision-making is in its infancy. Indeed, to our knowledge, ‘Only one MCDA framework has been
proposed and tested in the country. This framework is based on a specific model of the broad families
of MCDA methods while other methods that might be well suited for different decision-making
contexts remain largely unexplored. This study will show the extent to which MCDA can help make
rational and transparent decisions in Canada, by means of practical examples and case studies. A
pilot test using the most appropriate MCDA model for the Common Drug Review (CDR) process in
Canada will be carried out.

Quantification de solvants traces dans un procédé vert de recyclage du polystyrène par spectroscopie vibrationnelle

Ce projet de recherche est intimement lie à l’optimisation et au contrôle qualité d’une technologie verte associée au recyclage du polystyrène (PS). Durant ce procédé, le PS contaminé provenant du consommateur ou simplement de rejets industriels est mis au contact d’un solvant qui a pour but de le solubiliser, puis d’un autre pour le précipiter. La connaissance de la concentration en mélange de solvants et PS à chaque étape de transformation est essentielle pour l’optimisation du procédé. Ce projet consiste donc en l’élaboration d’une méthode de dosage par spectroscopie vibrationnelle qui pourra être quantitative, robuste et potentiellement implémentable sur l’usine pour contrôler en temps réel la concentration des produits d’intérêts.

SUNSET Renewable Asset Management Inc.

The scope of the project is to develop unique processes, technologies, and secondary uses to manage End of Life renewable energy asset liabilities and bridge the gap between renewable energy stakeholders and industrial recycling facility operators. This will be done while considering the new norms and challenges on businesses due to COVID-19.

The benefits of having the applicant Desirée Squires on the project team will be to:

Review/refine business plan/structure
Market research
Process & technology development oversight
Develop business relationships with industry stakeholders
Research and apply for applicable government funding
Identify potential growth opportunities

This opportunity will allow for her education and work experience to help develop an emerging business while using Sustainable Development Goals as the guiding principles & core values. If this placement is successful it will likely lead to permanent employment in a senior management position.

Assessing the immune response to stem cell-derived beta cells and associated bioprinted devices for diabetes cell therapy

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where pancreatic beta cells are destroyed and no longer produce insulin, a hormone that maintains healthy blood sugar levels. People with T1D must replace insulin with injections or a pump. Although insulin is lifesaving, maintaining normal blood sugar levels is often a struggle for people with diabetes. Extreme low or high blood sugar can have deadly consequences. Replacing beta cells through islet transplantation is a promising therapy that allows the restoration of normal blood glucose levels. However, there are many challenges with this including limited donor supply, and patients must take powerful immunosuppressant drugs to prevent the immune system from rejecting the islets. Although beta cells derived from stem cells provide a potentially unlimited source of insulin-producing cells, immune-mediated rejection is still an issue once transplanted. This project aims to protect these cells with an innovative 3D bioprinted device that is designed to help them survive. However, in order to do this, key immune responses must be identified to both cells and device material. If successful, this will provide a new treatment option for people with T1D.

Small Crafts Harbour and Marina Strategy and Planning

Rural and outport communities are struggling to diversify their economies in general and specifically in lieu of COVID19 impacts that are negatively impacting tourism. As a result of COVID19 and the resulting limits in travel and in person consultations, Small Business Doctor is looking for a business student to assist it and its’ clients on the research and writing up the content for for-profit business plans. These plans reflect strategies to move forward in light of COVID19. By having a student do most of the research and writing, we will be able to get this plan done on time for our client to submit their financing applications in time for potential ground-breaking in Spring 2021.

Assessment of two novel chemical entities in theamelioration of tau-related neuropathology andbehavioral impairment in the P301S mouse.

The onset of symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease, Picks disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and
cortical basal degeneration are connected to the formation of insoluble deposits of the tau protein in
the brain, also known as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). The Treventis Corporation has developed new
chemicals that are designed to prevent the formation of NFT, which may be useful for treating
Alzheimer’s disease. Genetically modified mice which develop NFTs in their brains have been
developed as animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, and are therefore useful to test the effects novel
treatments. This experiment will determine whether two novel chemicals can reduce the amount of
brain pathology and behavioural impairments in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. This research
will benefit the Treventis Corporation, by determining whether these novel chemicals are effective and
thus potentially useful for humans with Alzheimer’s disease.

Business Process and Finance Intern

The company ShapeMeasure is a startup that is attempting to disrupt and revolutionize the hardwood and laminate flooring market, in particular stairs. By using custom precise measuring and cutting tools they are able to offer a unique solution to an existing problem in the market. My role is to create new standardized processes for their manufacturing and their overall business and to apply the knowledge I’ve learned in the MBA to assist with their financials and planning.

Scaling up algaculture by the use of a novelcirculation technology while optimizingproductivity by testing for the effects of lightintensity and C02 supply rate.

This project will address the scalability problem that currently exists in algaculture. Scaling up algae
production to the industrial level has been challenging. The reason’ being that productivity of
photosynthetic algae is highly dependent on light and CO2 availability, which become less available as
photobioreactor (algae tank) size increases. The solution is to use circulation technology to increase
algae access to the light and help maintain CO2 in solution and avoid losing it to the atmosphere
before it can be used by the algae. The paliner organization on this project has developed a new type
of fluid mixing technoiogy iilai maximizes light availability and increases CO2 utilization efficiency to
more than 99%. Tile project will involve testing this new technology for indoor large-scale algaculture
by optimizing light and CO2 supply for maximum productivity ill industrial-scales photobioreactors.

Marketing Coordinator

Virtus Groups integrates with high-growth organizations and startups to fill the gaps in people or functional capabilities that are naturally created by a period of high-growth; through customized solutions to various problems. Since the middle of March, Virtus Groups has been working hard to completely update and modify its sales outreach methods, marketing methods channels, and sales and marketing collateral. The intern will be a key in the marketing and business development efforts from overseeing content marketing plan and execution to working closely with sales personnel on campaigns, follow-ups, and reporting. All these activities will help Virtus Groups work at full capacity and grow the demand pipeline that they have worked so hard to augment during the pandemic.

Bookkeeper

G.SYNERGY BOOKKEEPING IS THE BOOKKEEPING, AND ACCOUNTING FIRM STARTED 4 YEARS AGO. WE ARE IN A PROCESS OF IMPROVING FINANCIAL LITERATURACY OF OUR CLIENTS, POTENTIAL CLIENTS AND OVERALL SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. OUR PAPERLESS APPROACH AND DIGITAL PLATFORM ENABLE US TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS SAVING TIME FOR THEM TO TRAVEL, PARK IN ORDER TO RECEIVE EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTING ADVICE. JUST BEFORE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE WERE IN A PROCESS OF CREATING SYSTEMS, PROCEDURES AND PLATFORMS TO BRING OUR STRATEGIC SUSTAINABLE CLIENT SUPPORT ALIVE. AS COVID-19 PUT A PAUSE ON THIS AND CHALLENGED US IN MANY WAYS, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING NEEDED SUPPORT TO OUR CLIENTS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THE IMPROVEMENT AND POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS IS WAY BIGGER THAT CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED. THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT WILL BE WORKING ON THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM AND WILL BRING IMMEDIATE BENEFITS (ACCOUNTING FEES SAVINGS, TIME SAVINGS AND HUGE FINANCIAL EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT). THIS PROGRAM IS BROKEN DOWN INTO 3 AREAS:
1.THE INTERN WILL BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN DAY TO DAY BOOKKEEPING ON TEST, BUT REAL 2 BOOKKEEPING CLIENTS, WHERE OUR FIRM-BASED BOOKKEEPING FOCUSES ON THE 3Rs: RECORDING, RECONCILIATION AND REPORTING.

HR Intern – Culture Improvement

The John Howard Society is a social services organization that supports over 25 different programs in Community Living Services, Community Services and Justice Services throughout the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Prince George and the Yukon Territory. As a result of COVID-19 the organization has taken multiple hits from reduced number of employees due to COVID-19 related issues and reduced support to their clients which has had a massive emotional impact on their employees. As part of the organizations strategic plan, improving employee retention and conditions of employment in innovative ways is more vital to their industry more than ever and Interns can help contributing to this in many ways.

I have three major deliverables:
1. Conduct a gap analysis on the organization based on Morneau Shepalls Total Health Assessment
2. Provide a road map on improving our overall score based on the four factors in the total health assessment
3. Achieve majority of deliverables outlined in roadmap created (decided in consultation with the other intern)

Business Strategy Intern

The proposed project will have the intern research existing and potential policies and procedures related to recycling end-of-life electric vehicle batteries. Currently, Canada is looking to electrify their fleet in a move towards greener energy, however there is no standard for handling the batteries and there are no clear procedures or policies that ensure accountability and safe disposal. At the end of the project, the organization is expected to benefit from receiving a strategy recommendation as to how to tackle this issue and approach creating a solution for recycling electric vehicle batteries.