Innovative Projects Realized

THE USE OF WEARABLE VITAL SIGNS SENSOR TECHNOLOGY FOR EARLY PHYSIOLOGICAL DETECTION AND TRACKING OF VIRAL RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS

BACKGROUND: Viral respiratory tract infection (VRTI) is the most common illness in humans, resulting in a total economic impact of $40 billion annually in the United States. Taking into consideration the current novel coronavirus pandemic – impacting billions of people around the world, compromising the global economy, and putting extreme pressure on healthcare systems – it is imperative to identify novel ways to both detect and prevent VRTIs such as COVID-19. GOALS: Determine the relationship between infection dynamics, physical activity type and intensity, and short-term effects on physiological and biomechanical performance, as monitored by novel wearable vital-signs sensors. METHODS: A controlled, longitudinal study involving 30 days of continuous monitoring in 60 healthy adults. The advanced, integrative approach will involve several scientific disciplines (kinesiology, virology, immunology, artificial intelligence) and state-of-the-art technologies. VRTI will be induced via controlled human infection (inoculation). Novel infection detection techniques will be based on host?response signatures enabling measurement of inflammatory status dynamics. Activity-monitoring biosensors will continuously and simultaneously monitor physiological and biomechanical parameters. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: This study will deepen our understanding of whether we can detect, or predict subtle changes in vital signs (prior to the onset of symptoms) that correlate with illness onset, progression, and recovery.

Security Mechanisms for Mobile Cloud Computing

Cloud computing, with its low cost and scalability, is becoming more and more popular today. By outsourcing computation requirements to cloud, consumers as well as business entities can reduce their IT costs significantly while enjoying more and better services. Mobile devices are among the earliest to adopt this new computing paradigm due to their limited computing capability and power supply. However, the multi-tendency nature of cloud computing also introduces new security challenges such as leak of information. This project is targeted at these security challenges. In specific, mechanisms for securing information stored in cloud will be developed. The mechanisms will be implemented in
software that leverages existing technologies developed by InBay Technologies Inc., an Ottawa-based company. It may lead to new products for InBay and provide unique training opportunities for graduate students in a hot industrial area.

IL-1-dependent ncRNA-based-therapy approach to enhance the bioactivity of endothelial progenitor cells in ischemic retinopathy: a new vasoprotective strategy – Year two

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of blindness in premature neonates. ROP is associated with inflammation largely mediated trough interleukin (IL-1), which triggers an initial critical phase of ocular vascular degeneration. ROP is also an excellent model of ischemic retinopathies in general. The formation of new blood vessels after tissue ischemia is not only restricted to local endothelial cell proliferation, but lately shown to involve endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) capable of forming a neovascular network on their own. It has been reported that pathological conditions associated with inflammation impair EPC bioactivity, and this in turn curtails post-ischemic revascularization. However the precise mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain unknown. We hypothesize that specific targeting of IL-1-dependent regulating microRNAs can reverse EPC dysfunction in ROP, and thus overcome vascular degeneration. This project aims to study: 1) the epigenetic mechanisms underlying IL-1-induced EPC dysfunction, and 2) evaluate novel therapeutic approaches to protect the bioactivity of EPCs during ROP using rytvela, a new antagonist of IL-1 receptor (in development by Rytvel Biotech), and specific IL-1-dependent ncRNA-based therapy. Hence, novel EPC reprogramming resulting in interference of inflammatory adversities could protect ocular vascular development; this concept can also apply to other ischemic vasculopathies.

IL-1-dependent ncRNA-based-therapy approach to enhance the bioactivity of endothelial progenitor cells in ischemic retinopathy: a new vasoprotective strategy

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of blindness in premature neonates. ROP is associated with inflammation largely mediated trough interleukin (IL-1), which triggers an initial critical phase of ocular vascular degeneration. ROP is also an excellent model of ischemic retinopathies in general. The formation of new blood vessels after tissue ischemia is not only restricted to local endothelial cell proliferation, but lately shown to involve endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) capable of forming a neovascular network on their own. It has been reported that pathological conditions associated with inflammation impair EPC bioactivity, and this in turn curtails post-ischemic revascularization. However the precise mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain unknown. We hypothesize that specific targeting of IL-1-dependent regulating microRNAs can reverse EPC dysfunction in ROP, and thus overcome vascular degeneration. This project aims to study: 1) the epigenetic mechanisms underlying IL-1-induced EPC dysfunction, and 2) evaluate novel therapeutic approaches to protect the bioactivity of EPCs during ROP using rytvela, a new antagonist of IL-1 receptor (in development by Rytvel Biotech), and specific IL-1-dependent ncRNA-based therapy. Hence, novel EPC reprogramming resulting in interference of inflammatory adversities could protect ocular vascular development; this concept can also apply to other ischemic vasculopathies.

Mitacs BSI Proposal: Anishinabek Employment & Training Services

AETS is part of a national wide agreement with the Indigenous Skills Employment and Training (ISET) Program Terms and Conditions, AETS aims to create jobs and lead a skilled Indigenous team by providing skills training, providing employment programs and cooperate with partnerships. The academic supervisor and intern from Lakehead University will provide AETS with professional business knowledge and skills, including strategic analysis and plans, human resources plan, marketing and communications skills to help AETS better fulfill its mission.

StudioRx- Business Strategy Internship

Like most sectors of the economy, the retail industry is vigorously stirred by COVID-19, particularly retailers focused on non-essential goods and services with the lengthy closure of nearly all physical stores, notable layoffs, and a dramatic fall in demand, even for those with an online presence. Even after reopening, retailers face significant challenges such as restoring customer confidence, finding a balance between Omni-channels, and continuous cash flows to pay their expenses. With this research project at StudioRx, we will be researching how to solve these business problems retail and commercial real estate industry faces and come up with recommendations on reinventing business models and strategies. Doing so will help small and medium Canadian retailers to recover and use this research to re-model their business model and adapt new strategies to stay competitive and running. This project will also help StudioRx gain public visibility and reach more clients and grow its consulting business.

Genus Capital Management – Business Analyst

The intern will be involved in a broad range of strategic planning and implementation of strategy including procuring and working with outside consultants and internal resources. Client expectations in financial services (and more broadly) have evolved rapidly. At the same time, price competition is acute, led by passive ETFs and entrants such as Wealthsimple. Compliance expectations are always higher. Our conviction is that incumbents like Genus will survive and prosper, but we must lean into the challenges. The intern will provide key insights into their generation as well as directly contribute to defending of our advantage by helping us stay focused on clients and client outcomes. Specifically we seek a candidate that is equally comfortable with the underlying finance/investment topics that underpin our core function as well as appetite and comfort with analytics and delivering modern engagement and user experience.

Enterprise4Good – Research Business Strategy Intern

As explained in 3.9, specifically the intern will have to do careful research of the regulatory regimes of all the provinces and territories. Clinicians such as Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, etc. are regulated by provincial regulatory Colleges. This information will tell us how clinicians have to apply to the various regulatory Colleges to be able to practice legally in any province. The research will also factually define the various fee schedules for clinical services in every province. This “source” information will then be molded into a Business Plan that hopefully will allow our organization to not only pivot from a “face to face” clinical model, but to an organization that can provide clinical services to vulnerable children with special needs anywhere!!!

Criterium Group – Analyst Intern 1

Criterium Group has an agile work structure and believe there is value in getting exposure to different projects, clients, and problems. Therefore, to introduce students to this agile structure and breadth of experience, they will support Criterium Group’s private sector clients (non pro-bono), as well as UWCA (pro-bono). These private sector clients range from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. The internship will provide Criterium Group with the resources needed to continue to provide value to our private and public sector clients. Criterium Group requires keen student minds and eager hands to support our clients’ strategy development, especially during such trying times. One project and client we’re very passionate about and need capacity to pursue is in delivering UWCA’s mission to transform local lives, bring people together, solve unignorable issues, and create a lasting impact.

Techna Guided Therapeutics Cluster

The Guided Therapeutics (GTx) Core of the Techna Institute is developing innovative imaging technology and therapeutic approaches, and translating those advances to commercial and clinical applications. Working with our industrial partners Precision X-Ray and Elekta, the Mitacs-supported interns will develop new capabilities and tools for preclinical image-guided radiation therapy devices and radiosurgical techniques. With Precision X-Ray, the interns will work on developing the ability to use optical imaging to undertake unique preclinical studies in radiation therapy. The interns will also refine the radiation delivery methods of the preclinical irradiator to allow for dose painting. With Elekta, the interns will use a novel magnetic resonance imaging technique to better visualize the fine structures of nerve bundles near a tumour, and use that information to guide a Gamma Knife system in radiosurgery. Novel quality assurance and dosimetry tools will be developed to meet the needs of both industrial partners.

The application and validation of predictive models to establish indices of protein quality in companion animal feed ingredients

This project will result in the generation of mathematical models that will predict the quality and sustainability of protein-based ingredients that are commonly used in dog diets. With the projected growth of human and pet populations, and increases in food production necessary to meet growing demands, providing Canadian pet food companies (such as our industry partner, Champion Petfoods) with the ability to rapidly identify ideal protein-based ingredients to select for dog diets based on environmental, financial, and biological sustainability is a top priority.
The primary objective is to develop a functional model of protein quality and sustainability to be used for the evaluation of common protein-containing ingredients found in dog diets. This model will be based on the equivalent model recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization for use in the human food industry. The secondary objective is to validate this model for use in the pet food industry by way of a minimally invasive animal study using sophisticated techniques that allow for very few animals to be used.

Development of Pharmacological Probes for Road-Mapping WD40 Domain Proteins

Since the dawn of the human genome sequencing in 2003, great hopes have been put into the development of new therapeutics and personalized medicine tailored on individual DNA profiles. Nonetheless, progress in these fields has been slow, mainly due to the focus of the research community on only a small number of genes and proteins involved in diseases. As a result, there remains a plethora of unexplored proteins and genes responsible for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, or rare/orphan diseases, that have yet to be understood. To further the knowledge in the field of disease therapeutics, a more in-depth understanding of these unexplored proteins is necessary.

This project will focus on developing chemical probes for WD40 Repeat (WDR) proteins, a protein family that is largely unexplored, despite its abundance in the human body and its involvement in diseases such as cancer. WDRs are ubiquitous in eukaryotes, and are involved in processes like signal transduction to apoptosis. While it has recently been shown that WDRs are in fact druggable targets, they are virtually entirely uncharted in drug discovery. Our goal is to develop chemical probes that can shed light on WDR function in cancer.