Innovative Projects Realized

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

30156 Completed Projects

2861
AB
5059
BC
812
MB
673
NL
842
SK
8957
ON
9368
QC
96
PE
579
NB
1120
NS

Projects by Category

Assessing the Efficiency of Extracellular Vesicles for the Therapeutic Delivery of Modified mRNA

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny, membrane-based particles that cells release into various bodily fluids. They serve as messengers, facilitating communication between different cells in the body and, therefore, playing pivotal roles in modulating various biological processes. They achieve this by transporting a diversity of bioactive cargos, including RNA molecules. Over the past decade, our understanding of EVs has rapidly expanded, encompassing their different classes and unique attributes, as well as their roles in both normal physiological functions and pathological conditions. In the context of mRNA-based pharmaceuticals, driven by the success of Covid-19 vaccines, there is a growing need for innovative mRNA therapies across numerous diseases. While lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations are commonly used for drug delivery and have demonstrated effectiveness, our project will explore alternative RNA delivery methods that can complement and enhance current approaches. To address this, we are harnessing EVs as natural mRNA carriers, capitalizing on their established safety and specificity. The primary objective is to develop an efficient method for loading mRNA into EVs, transforming them into precision delivery vehicles to enhance therapy efficacy. Project milestones include demonstrating efficient mRNA loading, developing methods to produce, characterize, and compare EVs to LNPs, and assessing safety and efficacy in pre-clinical models. Upon completion, this project will produce essential data to back future development efforts, offering patients alternative and more effective mRNA therapies. Simultaneously, it will grant industry partners access to cutting-edge delivery technology, solidifying Québec’s status as a leading hub in biopharmaceutical innovation.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Eric Lécuyer;Jean-François Côté

Student:

Partner:

RNA Technologies & Therapeutics Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université de Montréal

Program:

Elevate

Agile digital twin solutions for enhanced utility-scale photovoltaic fleet energy performance

This research project enables internship personnel, guided by their industry sponsors, to develop advanced software features for designing and operating vast solar power farms. Creating a digital twin of the system, these computational models apply the latest solar technologies to efficiently harvest light from the whole environment (sun, sky, and ground) under the complex shading environment caused by terrain with panels moving on mechanical structures. In the design phase, this digital twin allows accurate moment-by-moment prediction of electrical generation for any illumination condition to quantify and de-risk solar power deployments. In the operation phase, it connects the digital twin to real time monitoring, ensuring proper operation, optimizing operation, and forecasting operation. The software runs in the cloud and balances computational cost, accuracy, and speed.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Henry Schriemer

Student:

Partner:

Enurgen Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Ottawa

Program:

Accelerate

Enhancing equine tendon repair: evaluating the synergistic effects of mesenchymal stromal cells and hyaluronic acid in a collagenase-induced injury model

This research project aims to enhance the treatment of common tendon injuries in horses, a prevalent issue causing economic losses in equine sports. Despite various treatments, there’s a crucial need for more effective solutions. The study focuses on comparing the impact of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) alone to a combination of MSCs and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) in a superficial digital flexor tendon injury model. By understanding the cellular and molecular responses, the research intends to provide insights into improving tendon healing. The experiment involves creating injuries in horses, assigning them to different treatment groups, and analyzing tissue responses over time. The anticipated outcome includes valuable advancements in equine tendon care, potentially extending the athletic careers of horses and reducing economic challenges on the equine industry. The partner organization involved stands to benefit from increased knowledge and potential innovations, contributing to enhanced horse health and performance.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Judith Koenig

Student:

Partner:

eQcell

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Guelph

Program:

Accelerate

Use of sourdough to improve the color of durum wheat pasta

Wheat carotenoids give durum wheat pasta a light yellow color. Wheat lipoxygenase oxidizes flour carotenoids and further loss of carotenoids is caused by extrusion of pasta. Because bright yellow pasta is preferred by consumers, oxidation of carotenoids during extrusion impairs pasta quality. To maintain the yellow color that is mediated by flour carotenoids, pasta extruders operate under vacuum to limit oxidation of carotenoids. Sourdough fermentation improves the color of pasta but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This project therefore aims to employ sourdough to improve the color of pasta by determination of the impact of sourdough on oxidation of carotenoids, and by determination of the impact of yellow pigmented sourdough lactobacilli on the color of pasta.
The project will train one MSc student in an industry-oriented project. The project will also provide critical research support for Kaslo Sourdough, a small but rapidly growing family enterprise which is Canada’s only producer of sourdough pasta, and one of very few globally. The research will support scaling of the production, and potentially licensing of the technology to third parties to increase economic activity and tax revenue.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Gänzle

Student:

Partner:

Kaslo Sourdough

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Optimized sourdough fermentation for improved quality of specialty baked goods.

Crust Craft is a specialty bakery producing pizza doughs, flatbreads and pie crusts. In 2023, Crust Craft started to use an in-house sourdough fermentation as a tool to reduce the use of additives, and to achieve premium quality products. Current applications of sourdough fermentations in baking were not optimized to improve the quality of flatbread and existing knowledge therefore does not readily translate to the intended application. In addition, the fermentation protocols to maintain a stable sourdough with desirable technological properties remain largely unknown. It is therefore the overall aim of this project to develop an optimized sourdough fermentation protocol, and to evaluate the stability of the sourdough during continuous propagation in the bakery.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Gänzle

Student:

Partner:

Crust Craft

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Bridging Healthcare Gaps: Implementing Wearable Virtual Care for Wound Management in Remote Northern Saskatchewan

The proposed project involves utilizing the TeleVu system- a cutting-edge virtual care technology-to enhance medical services for wound care in remote communities. This system allows health professionals to monitor and treat patients from a distance, which is crucial for areas where medical resources are scarce. The research undertaken will assess the effectiveness of this technology, its integration into current healthcare practices, and the training required for optimal use. For TeleVu, the Partner Organization, the project offers invaluable insights into user experience and system performance, potentially driving improvements in their technology. The success of this project could lead to wider adoption of TeleVu’s systems, cementing their role as a key provider of telehealth solutions and contributing to improved healthcare outcomes in underserved regions.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ivar Mendez

Student:

Partner:

Televu Innovation Ltd.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program:

Accelerate

Assessing biological fungicide benefits to wild blueberry health

This project’s goal is to provide an assessment of the efficacy and the physiological and molecular effects of a biological fungicide, Serenade® (a.i. Bacillus amy/o/iquefaciens QST713, previously subtilis}, in rotation with other conventional foliar fungicides when treating Botrytis cinerea infection in wild lowbush blueberry crops. During the reproductive year of blueberry growth, the pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea can cause regular and devastating losses by infecting blossoms which directly reduces berry yields. With increasing global temperatures, more frequent rainfall, and an increase in infection events in the Atlantic region, the climate that supports the sporulation and growth of this disease will continue to expand. The results of this study will be relevant to individual growers, industry and inform for Canadian exports because there is an increasing requirement to limit chemical residues on exports to key countries such as the European Union. The benefits of incorporating biological fungicides in rotation with current products have yet to be fully understood. The efficacy and additional benefits of Serenade® will be assessed through evaluating plant health and performance over two field seasons. The upregulation of pathogenesis-related and defense genes caused by fungicide-plant interactions will be defined through bioassays.

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Faculty Supervisor:

David Percival

Student:

Partner:

Bragg Lumber Company Limited

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Dalhousie University

Program:

Accelerate

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) reduces juvenile Pacific salmon prey abundance in a large Pacific Northwest estuary

The Fraser River Estuary, British Columbia, provides important habitat for juvenile Pacific salmon as they migrate
downstream. The tidal marshes that support these juvenile salmon are under pressure from urban development,
pollution, sea-level rise, and invasive species. One invasive plant that thrives in these habitats is purple loosestrife.
It outcompetes native vegetation and can become the dominant plant in tidal wetlands. However, the impact that
purple loosestrife has on the prey resources that juvenile salmon need is poorly understood. Furthermore, efforts
to control purple loosestrife spread in the region lack the follow up monitoring necessary to determine their efficacy.
This research aims to address these knowledge gaps by (1) measuring the differences in juvenile Pacific salmon
prey abundance in invaded and reference marshes and (2) determining the cost-effectiveness of current control
methods for purple loosestrife in the region

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Faculty Supervisor:

Tara Martin

Student:

Partner:

Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Other services (except public administration); Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Research & Development of 3 novel Lateral Flow Assays

Chromacare aims to revolutionize precision health through Mobile-based At-home Lab Tests. To the end, over the next 12 months, commencing in early 2024, Chromacare will develop up to three novel quantitative Lateral Flow Assays (LFA) that will be measured with our proprietary Chromacare App.
We will employ two Chemistry PhD graduates on a full-time basis to perform the necessary research and validation work required for the development of the LFAs. The two PhD graduates we have identified are uniquely suited to excel in this role.
On the diagnostic front, Chromacare’s goal is a prime example of predictive biosensing. With the ability to monitor
critical biomarkers, such as the hormone Vitamin D or Iron, we will inform users of potential health issues before symptoms manifest. Furthermore, our tests and paired App offers a new dimension in digital therapeutics, providing personalized health advice and management guidance more efficient ways than currently possible.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Serpe

Student:

Partner:

ChromaCare Labs Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Retail trade

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Biological clustering of pulmonary exacerbations in CF (BIOPEX-CF)

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that leads to acute episodes of worsening respiratory symptoms termed pulmonary exacerbations (PEx). The current PEx treatment paradigm involves using oral or intravenous antibiotics under the assumption that all of these episodes are caused by worsening bacterial infection, but PEx can also be attributed to viral infections, air pollution, allergens, and treatment non-adherence. In collaboration with the PRevention Of Organ Failure Centre of Excellence (PROOF), we aim to group PEx based on circulating molecular data (proteins, RNA) that more accurately reflects the biology of the PEx. This important knowledge imparted from this project will pave the way for more specific and effective PEx treatment strategies. This project will benefit the PROOF Centre as the molecular data can be used to develop blood-based biomarkers to advance their mandate of providing biomarker solutions for health care.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Bradley Quon

Student:

Partner:

PROOF Centre of Excellence

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Toward low-carbon cementitious mixtures with the application of carbon-based nanomaterials

Carbon-based nanomaterials have gained substantial interest for application in cementitious mixtures. These nanomaterials can modify the microstructure of cementitious mixtures and improve their engineering properties such as their strength and durability. The strength enhancement has significant implications for the concrete industry as it can compensate for the strength reductions caused by high replacement levels of Portland cements with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) or by incorporation of low-grade SCMs, allowing reduction of the carbon footprint of cementitious mixtures. This project aims to study the effects of three carbon-based nanomaterials namely, CNFs produced by our industry partner, Carbonova corporation, and commercially available CNTs and GO to produce low-carbon cementitious mixtures. It benefits Carbonova by advancing their sustainable market development in cement and concrete industry. The results will be of use to modify their CNFs for higher compatibility with cementitious mixtures. Additionally, the comparison among carbon-based nanomaterials provides insights for their product development.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Rahil Khoshnazar

Student:

Partner:

Carbonova

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Calgary

Program:

Accelerate

Development of oleophobic textile finishes incorporating a single perfluorinated carbon atom

Textiles resistant to hazardous chemicals always have utilized perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) due to the unique repellent properties of perfluorinated (-CF3) chemical groups. However, due to their toxicity in the environment and on human health, many countries worldwide are planning to bad PFAS from production. PRE Labs Inc., a safety products manufacturer headquartered in Kelowna, BC, produces uniforms for law enforcement and the Canadian Armed Forces, and would like to understand the maximum possible liquid repellency that can be achieved for a fabric that is PFAS-free. In the proposed project, fabric finishes utilizing a single CF3 group will be studied. The objective of the project is to determine how liquid repellent a fabric can be designed, when finished with a coating containing this sole CF3 group. Students will investigate molecular morphology, fabric properties, and fundamental theory to design textiles that maximally repel hazardous liquids.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Kevin Golovin

Student:

Partner:

Pacific Research and Engineering Labs Canada Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Accelerate

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