Innovative Projects Realized

Establishing best practices for generating synthetic pediatric health data

As the COVID-19 pandemic has made painfully clear, it is both important and difficult to analyze the large volumes of patient data collected by hospitals and other healthcare providers. Ideally, data would be widely-shared between institutions, and experts and teams with diverse backgrounds would be able to contribute to the analysis. Unfortunately, this is not possible: sharing of healthcare data would severely compromise patient privacy, with many negative consequences. The goal of this project is to develop methods for the generation of realistic synthetic datasets that closely mimic real longitudinal healthcare records, without containing sensitive patient information. This synthetic data could then be shared widely and used as the basis for first-stage analysis.

A Preliminary Overview of the Impacts of COVID-19 in the Republic of Malawi

Future Ancestors Services seeks to build a database that explores the teachings of various peoples around the world and what ancestry and ancestral accountability means to them in the context of current socio-political and environmental issues. This research project explores the ways in which the lived experiences of black people in Sub-Saharan Africa impact their experience and understanding of COVID-19, and how the disease has been harmful at not just a physical level, but also a spiritual and emotional level. Future Ancestors Services will be using the results of this research project to advocate for better pandemic response policies in Canada at a government level that takes into account the lived experiences of marginalised communities; and, providing effective low-cost pandemic response plans to racialized communities and community out-reach groups.

Characterizing the sensory properties of whole wheat pasta for use in macaroni and cheese

There are growing trends of companies producing foods that are made from whole wheat

because of their abundance in B vitamins, dietary fibre, and essential fatty acids. They also

possess polyphenols that reportedly have effect against cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

A drawback to using whole wheat in breads and pastas is a change in appearance, flavour,

and texture, which may decrease consumer acceptability. This research is crucial for food

companies wishing to reformulate their products as they must ensure that the use of whole

wheat in their formulations does not significantly alter the sensory properties of their product.

The ensuing research will look at the sensory properties of macaroni in Kraft Dinner that is

made from a variety of wheats. A trained panel will establish the sensory attributes of the

whole wheat pasta, which will then be followed by the testing of products with a consumer

panel.

Amélioration de la performance commerciale (génération de revenus) de Parasports Québec – Mise en place d’un modèle d’affaires innovant

Comme bon nombre de fédérations sportives, le financement de Parasports Québec demeure précaire et soumis aux aléas de la conjoncture. Les revenus annuels de cette fédération sont en effet grandement dépendants de trois sources principales, à savoir les subventions gouvernementales, la philanthropie et les cotisations annuelles de ses membres.

Le présent projet de recherche visera (1) à identifier des pratiques innovantes au chapitre de la génération de revenus, et notamment en matière de philanthropie, et (2) élaborer une méthodologie d’implantation des pratiques retenues dans le contexte des fédérations sportives. Les pratiques identifiées pourront être intégrées au modèle d’affaires de l’organisation, préparant de fait cette dernière à une relance plus fructueuse de ses activités une fois la crise sanitaire liée à la COVID-19 passée.

Developing a hybrid optimization model for matching and pricing strategies in an intelligent freight transportation platform under uncertainties

The freight industry market is complex and dynamic and has many challenges such as inefficient operations, coordination issues, lack of shipment visibility, market volatility, cargo thefts, road incidents, and quality assurance of sensitive products. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic situation has brought new difficulties to the freight industry in Canada and worldwide. An intelligent platform for proactive operations with predictive intelligence capability is needed to manage the dynamics and complexity of freight transportation and provide mitigation strategies for the different risks and disruptions factors. In this research, a hybrid model will be developed to improve the delivery time and the quality of services in the logistics platform under uncertainty. This model integrates the real-time data to jointly optimize matching and pricing strategies considering the risks and uncertainties in the dynamic freight marketplace.

An efficient and secure data science platform for COVID-19 cases and other related health data

The COVID-19 crisis has developed, and not unjustifiably, a strong data aspect, requiring to handle, store and exchange large amounts of data in an efficient and secure way, not only among hospitals and clinics, but also between government services globally. In this project, we propose the development of an extendible prototype of a big data platform for COVID-19 data. We focus on the scalability and the security of this platform, by employing novel technologies, such as NoSQL databases, MapReduce analytics and Blockchain. We will present this platform in the context of COVID-19 cases with underlying conditions (focusing on addiction and communicable diseases). CMUQL, the project partner, will benefit from the platform to perform current and future epidemiological research at scale in a secure and efficient manner.

Marine based antiviral coatings with biomask applications towards SARS-CoV-2 virus

The research project we have undertaken alongside Clean Valley Biofiltration CIC is a novel solution to the highly inflated cost of face masks and other hospital PPE gear in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our objective is to create a biomask and other PPE using an antiviral compound derived from a Canadian sourced marine algae. Clean Valley has been developing a version of the biomask fabric and is looking to systematically assess and improve the antiviral efficacy of the biomask. This research will benefit Clean Valley by allowing them to patent this solution and license it to PPE manufacturers in Canada. In turn, our project will offer first responders and healthcare professionals in Canada supplies that Canada can make, design, and create.

Extraction, chemical analysis, and formulation development of potential anti-viral plant isolates against SARS-CoV-2

The COVID-19 pandemic has had broad global ramifications and preventative strategies and treatments for the virus are crucial. PBG BioPharma has developed two plant-based isolates, PBG-005 & PBG-007, that have shown innate immunological properties, potentially usable in the treatment or prevention of multi-viral infections. This research proposes leveraging PBG-005 & PGB-007, as well as PBG’s newly-completed GMP-compliant manufacturing facility and laboratories, to develop, formulate, and product anti-viral products which may be effective in treating SARS-CoV-2. This project will not only assist PBG BioPharma in creating anti-viral formulation and products, which will in turn bring great economic benefits, but will also provide a potential method and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 directly or as an adjunct therapy under the current rapidly evolving epidemiological situatio

Novel service delivery models for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 has changed the way we access services in the community. Many services are now being offered online or over the phone instead of in a building. While this works for some families, families who are new to Canada, do not speak English, and don’t have access to technology may not be able to receive services during the pandemic. Children with brain-based disabilities may have difficulty with their behaviour, paying attention, and socializing with other children. This can add extra stress to parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this research project, we will speak with and ask questions of families, government representatives, and people who provide services to young children with brain-based disabilities. Results will be used to make recommendations as to how we can provide better service to families with young children with brain-based disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ville connectée et résiliente – Part 1

Contribuer à optimiser le marché de l’assurance via des outils numériques novateurs et l’intelligence artificielle pour la détection proactive de risques potentiels.

Overcoming the Challenge of COVID-19: How entrepreneurs in Rural NL can understand and face the pandemic

The response to COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders have led to skyrocketing unemployment and various economic impacts. Entrepreneurs are coping up with challenges and conflicts that require solutions to sustain rural communities. With researchers based in Grenfell Campus, Memorial University (MUN) of Newfoundland in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), this study will focus on how enterprise hubs could help entrepreneurship development in rural communities. With the support of personnel at the partner institution, the researchers will identify the assets contributing to entrepreneurship initiatives in rural communities, establish an enterprise hub in a pilot community to build capacity, and evaluate and analyze the impact of the enterprise hub. The research results will bring out the feedback, thoughts, and experiences of the entrepreneurs within the community to ensure that their feedback is mapped out in decision making on new policies, procedures and reforms post pandemic COVID-19.

Filling the learning gaps caused by the pandemic: Supporting teachers and their diverse students with digital technology

The closure of schools across Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed significant gaps in educational provision. In addition, K-12 teachers have had difficulty finding learning resources related to the programs they are responsible for teaching. When students fall behind in school, they develop a learning gap with their peers. Learning gaps are relatively common and invariably require, at some point, a strategy to help the student catch up. In this project, we will examine the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing an innovative online tool that addresses the common challenge of the learning gap in education. We will explore how this innovative online platform can support the accelerated catch-up phase of students with a learning gap and strengthen the digital skills of teachers.