Innovative Projects Realized

The Predictive Relationship between fMRI and Polysomnography in Major Depressive Disorder

There has been extensive research on Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and MDD and polysomnography (PSG). However there has yet to be a link between these two experimental measures, leaving a gap in the literature. We hypothesize that by analyzing the results to the tests in conjunction detailed patient profiles can be created, therefore combating the issue of symptom variability. There will also be the addition of a probiotic supplement in order to increase the specificity of the study. Once this issue is fixed the movement towards clinical use can begin, which is the goal of the experiment. The hope is that the information provided by the study will create a concrete model to diagnose those with MDD and enhance treatment options.

Development of Technologies to Extract and Stabilize DNA from a Broad Spectrum of Microorganisms

We propose to develop, validate and optimize a novel approach to extract DNA from bacteria. This approach aims to efficiently release DNA from all bacteria using a simple method, to stabilize the released DNA at room temperature, and to prevent any further growth of bacteria. The efficiency of the proposed kit to extract and stabilize microbial DNA will be evaluated using in vitro grown bacteria and saliva samples. The bacteriostatic and bacteriocidal properties of this kit will also be determined. As part of this effort, the metagenomic DNA of the oral microbiota will be sequenced and analyzed. We anticipate that the use of this kit will be simple and efficient with no requirement for vigorous mechanical disruption. The final product will be valuable for basic researchers as well as for clinical samples. The combination of this kit and deep sequencing promises to reveal novel aspects of the human microbiota.

Investigating Existing and New Models of Distribution in Canadian Art Book Publishing

In early 2018, the UK-based publisher Black Dog declared bankruptcy. This headline wouldn’t have made a splash if not for numerous co-publishing partnerships held with Canadian art institutions. Black Dog’s liquidation left galleries and museums across the country with books stalled mid-production, resulting in delayed or cancelled exhibitions. Firstly, why were Canadian institutions partnering with a British publisher? Moving forward, what are opportunities and challenges for Canadian art book publishers? Partnering with Vancouver-based publisher Information Office, this research aims to investigate these questions and future feasibility of art book production by delving into one of the Canadian industry’s biggest hurdles: distribution. By looking at modes of production and distribution among Canadian art book publishers, we will aid building an effective distribution and marketing strategy. This strategy will be applied to the art publishing field, beyond Information Office’s existing business into a network that serves artists, institutions, publishers, and readers across Canada.

Incorporating Tumour Heterogeneity into Spatial Optimization of Radiation Therapy of Brain Tumours

Mathematics is frequently viewed as the natural language of science, and has already proven its vital importance through its myriad of applications in engineering and the physical sciences. However, the involvement of mathematics into the life sciences remains relatively unexplored. In particular, the application of mathematics in medicine is a fascinating subset of applied mathematics which begs further attention. Over recent years, it has become absolutely clear that mathematics has a vital role to play in the advancements in medicine that are waiting just around the corner.
This project focuses on the field mathematical oncology which, among other things, has shown that tumour growth and response to treatment can be predicted to a high degree of accuracy using mathematical models. In a previous collaboration, I and my proposed Mitacs supervisors did an analysis of optimal spatial distributions of radiation therapy. TO BE CONT’D

Recherche-action provinciale et interdiocésaine sur la formation à la vie chrétienne

Lors de la déconfessionnalisation du système scolaire québécois au tournant des années 2000, l’Église catholique s’est investie dans le développement de nouveaux parcours de formation chrétienne. Toutefois, les transformations de plus en plus radicales du rapport socioreligieux des Québécois à la religion catholique convoquent de nouveau l’Église à modifier en profondeur ses dispositifs de formation afin de prendre en compte l’originalité des itinéraires et des parcours de ses contemporains. En passant d’un contexte socioreligieux dit de « chrétienté » à un contexte dit « pluriel », c’est toute sa manière de se faire présente au monde et de lui faire la proposition de l’Évangile qu’elle doit réviser. Cette recherche vise à accompagner et à soutenir les transformations des pratiques formation à la vie chrétienne afin qu’elles soient en plus grande syntonie avec le monde et la culture contemporaine.

Evaluation measurements for an E-Learning Occupational Mental Health Program

This project will recruit an intern to develop appropriate methodologies in order to assess the effectiveness of an occupational mental health promotion program that uses a blended format of in-person sessions and online learning. The intern will work closely with the industry partner to review, develop, and pilot assessment tools, oversee the data collection, analyze data collected, and generate reports and publications for dissemination.

Assessment of factors that can contribute to earth dam cracking and slumping in northeast BC

In northeast British Columbia, earth dams have been constructed to hold water for the oil and gas industry using locally available soils having high clay and silt content. These soils tend to have low shear strength and are susceptible to volume changes from wetting-drying and freeze-thaw cycles, which can lead to increased risk for cracking, slumping, and piping issues in dam embankments. The student intern will collect soil samples, measure the embankment geometry, perform laboratory testing to determine specific material properties, and use finite element software to perform stability analyses of selected dams. The objective is to propose remediation and stabilization techniques for existing dams with potential stability issues, and to develop best practices for construction of dams in this region to minimize risk of failure.

Selective breeding of honey bees

Over the past eight years we have a diagnostic test for disease resistance in honey bees and then attempted to use this test to selectively breed disease-resistant bees. The bees selected in this way appear to not lose other economically important traits (e.g., honey production) but are far better equipped to deal with disease than ‘average’ bees. This then opens up many doors, some of which we would like to pursue here. First and foremost though is to get the tools we have developed into the hands of the bee industry. For this project, we are proposing to work with a handful of early-adopter bee breeders from across the province of BC to start applying these tests in their own operations. The funds here will support the translation of research results into standard operating procedures for the diagnoses and then the actual application of the tests on several hundred colonies from across BC. We will carry this out over these tests over the following three years and work with the bee breeders to simultaneously measure disease resistance in their colonies to monitor progress. [TBC]

Wormhole Structure Characterization through Modeling and Analyzing Testing Data during Solvent Injection Post CHOPS Process

High viscous oil is trapped underground and cold-heavy-oil-production-with-sand (CHOPS) is one of the acceptable methods to produce the heavy oil out by forming wormholes around the wellbore. Saskatchewan and Alberta have thousands CHOPS wells and left 90% original oil in place underground. However, the primary oil recovery is low and solvent like CO2 or propane could be injected into the CHOPS well and reduces the viscosity of the oil, which could bring economic production back. How to evaluate the performance of the solvent injection performance and the data analysis for field testing and production data becomes crucial for the success of post-CHOPS well process. This proposed project could provide theoretical and applicable model to help the industry optimize the optimize production wells for better enhance oil recovery outcomes.

Data Centric Protein Extraction Process Optimization

Proteins are used in many products of our day-to-day life. The extraction and isolation of proteins from the raw source is a complex process in which every stage has multiple controlling parameters that need to be monitored and optimized to achieve predicted quality, functionality, and yield. The performance of the extraction process depends on the physical and chemical nature of the raw material and the equipment used. Currently, the trial and error method is used to optimize this process which results in wasted resources and time. The objective of this research is to develop machine learning models to predict the optimal operating conditions. The historical protein extraction process data will be used to develop the predictive models. Few of the challenges associated with this project are feature engineering, data structuring and organization, feature selection, and targeted data collection.

Organoid modeling as a therapeutic prediction tool in androgen-independent castrate resistant prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common form of cancer in men from developed countries, and ranks second in cancer-related deaths. The rapid recurrence of drug-resistant tumors in patients with incurable androgen-independent castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC-AI) underscores the need for more effective therapies. Our recent findings suggest that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) enriches for a subpopulation of stem cells that are responsible for the relapse of CRPC-AI and treatment resistance.

3D organoid culture has emerged as a novel pre-clinical model that allows tumors to propagate ex vivo. Organoids constructed from patient biopsies can not only predict individual response, but also parallel real-time response over the course of treatment. Knowing this information will provide insight into future courses of therapy personalized to patients. It would be advantageous to model the patients’ tumor ex vivo to rapidly identify rate of response to standard of care, and identify alternate therapies for the patient (ie: clinical trial enrollment). Another advantage of testing the patients’ response to therapy like this, is that the patient could forgo the exposure to a drug that will only potentiate the aggressiveness of their disease. [TBC]

Evaluating the imPROVE LEAN Program at Provincial Health Services Authority

This research project will examine the imPROVE program at Provincial Health Services Authority. The imPROVE program is a large scale initiative designed to ensure or improve the quality and efficiency of health service delivery using LEAN methodology. This research will investigate several components of interest as identified by key stakeholders, which will provide decision makers with sound research evidence pertaining to the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the imPROVE program, which in turn, can be used to plan future directions of the initiative.

The purpose of this study, then, is to embark upon a research program of sufficient rigor to produce scientific reports that will reveal information about several aspects of the imPROVE program—information that will withstand the scrutiny of peer-reviewed critiques such that results can be relied upon as a sound foundation for decision making. The resulting evaluation framework may also be transferable to other health authorities.