Innovative Projects Realized

Development of Coxsackievirus B3 as an Oncolytic Virus for KRAS-Mutant Lung Cancer Treatment

In Canada, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both sexes. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes ~85% of lung cancer cases. Mutations in the KRAS and EGFR genes are two most common oncogenic drivers for NSCLC and responsible for ~30% and ~15% of NSCLCs, respectively. Unlike the EGFR-mutant type, KRAS-mutant NSCLC is currently undruggable and associated with poor prognosis. Our lab has recently demonstrated that Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a potent oncolytic virus against KRAS-mutant NSCLC. Nevertheless, it was observed that efficient tumor suppression is accompanied with damage to multiple organs, particularly the heart. Here we propose to develop an innovative CVB3-based oncolytic virus with enhanced tumor-specificity. If a therapeutic effect is achieved, the clinical significance may grant Virogin Biotech Ltd. one possibility to provide the first-ever effective and safe treatment for this deadly disease for Canadians.

Optimization of a hybrid membrane/enzyme CO2 capture process

The firm CO2 Solutions Inc (CSI) from Québec has developed an enzyme-accelerated CO2 capture technology which may be appended to a variety of gas scrubbing equipments. Simultaneously, our Université Laval research group has been working on membrane gas phase separations using polymeric hollow fibers and mixed matrix membranes. The objective of the present Engage proposal together with the Mitacs Accelerate program is to explore the possibility that a hybrid process allowing to concentrate CO2 to some intermediate concentration (for example 40-50% CO2) using a membrane module, before the gas is fed to the enzyme process would lead to some lower cost per ton of CO2.

Production de butanol à partir de la biomasse lignocellulosique

Ces dernières années, le biobutanol a attiré l’attention dans le domaine de la recherche car ses propriétés sont supérieures à celles l’éthanol telles que sa valeur énergétique et son indice d’octane, il peut donc être un substitut de l’éthanol dans l’essence sans toutefois impliquer les problématiques généralement associées à l’éthanol (tel que l’hygroscopicité). De plus, il apporte de meilleures propriétés au niveau de la valeur énergétique. La demande mondiale de butanol dépasse actuellement 1.2 milliard de gallons par an, ce qui représente plus de 6 milliards USD. Le marché du butanol se développe à un taux de 3% par an, qui devrait attendre 9.9 milliards USD d’ici 2020. Dans le cadre de ce projet, l’objectif est obtenir le butanol à partir de llignocellulose en passant par la production du lévulinate de méthyle qui est une molécule plateforme et potentiel substitut au biodiesel. Ce projet permettra d’ouvrir la voie vers de nouveaux produits (c-chemicals) et de nouveaux biocarburants (c-fuels) dans le cadre des recherches menées au sein de la Chaire de recherche industrielle d’éthanol cellulosique et biocommodités (CRIEC-B) de l’Université de Sherbrooke au Canada […]

Processing and Preservation of Moringa oleifera

Examine the effects of different drying methods on colour and flavour compounds in Moringa oleifera leaves and drumsticks. The proposed hypothesis is that flavouring and colouring compounds of Moringa leaves and drumsticks are unstable and/or highly volatile during drying process. This exchange between the University of Toronto and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University will explore and identify these compounds. By identifying the unique flavouring compounds, better processing and preservation methods and products may be developed using Moringa.

The mechanisms by which high fructose consumption leads to hypertension

The main goal of this research project is to understand how the consumption of fructose can lead to the developement of hypertension.
Hypertension is one of the most world spread health condition and a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, stroke and death. The high presence of fructose in the body, whether directly due to high consumption of fructose rich products or transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, is found to correlate with the increase in obesity, which represents one of the major risk factor for hypertension. Although most mechanisms of development of hypertension remain complex and elusive so far, many therapeutic approaches still rely on an rigorous control of classical risk factors such as the influence of diet in the case of obesity. A better understanding of what specific elements in our diet and these elements lead to the development of these conditions might provide the key to improve and adapt future therapeutical strategies.
Furthermore, since many health conditions are not exclusively driven by environmental factors such as diet, this research project will also put a big emphasis on the role of genetic and how it works in combination with environmental factors to influence the mechanisms of development of hypertension.

Canadian Bioscience Education Through DNA Barcoding

A Canadian scientific innovation known as DNA barcoding is advancing species identification

and discovery through the analysis of short, standard gene regions. This has led to the

widespread use of DNA barcoding as a tool for species identification in a diverse array of

practical applications, from ecological monitoring to food fraud. Graduate students from the

University of Guelph, the intellectual birthplace of barcoding, are engaged in internships with

two of Canada’s leading science education NGOs (Earth Rangers and Lets Talk Science) to

bring the bioscience behind DNA barcoding to primary and secondary school students across

Canada. The interns are being immersed in state-of-the-art approaches to learning and public

engagement while transferring technical knowledge on the practice and theory of barcoding

to the partners. Students will benefit through connecting key bioscience concepts with

exciting practical applications through state-of-the-art learning modules made accessible on

the web.

Internationalisation de l’éducation: étude multicas (cas Brésil)

Depuis une décennie, l’internationalisation des systèmes d’éducation s’intensifie et se caractérise par de nombreuses réformes. Celles-ci favorisent le développement de compétences du 21e siècle, l’intégration de l’éducation interculturelle dans les curriculums et une augmentation des programmes d’échanges et de stages internationaux. Certains milieux de formation initiale des enseignants, interpellés par ces nouveaux besoin de formation, offrent à leurs étudiants la possibilité de faire un stage pratique à l’étranger intégré à leur programme. Toutefois ces pratiques émergentes demeurent peu étudiées. Cette recherche apporte un regard nouveau sur l’internationalisation de la formation des enseignants. Elle caractérise trois dispositifs de formation initiale (Québec, France et Brésil) qui témoignent d’une institutionnalisation forte des stages pratiques à l’étranger. En s’appuyant sur l’observation de trois pratiques contrastées, l’objectif de cette étude est de proposer de nouvelles balises afin de favoriser l’intégration des stages internationaux dans la formation des futurs enseignants.

Closing the evidence-practice gap for non-pharmacologic and non-surgical osteoarthritis care with an e-health knowledge translation strategy

Osteoarthritis is an extremely common, extremely costly disease that will become more prevalent as the population ages. Treatment delivered in primary care settings does not always reflect ‘best practice’ care for the disease. In particular, non-surgical and non-drug interventions such as exercise, weight loss and education regarding self management are underutilized. One reason that clinicians do not always implement these important, effective interventions is that they are not sufficiently trained or knowledgeable in all aspects of evidence informed treatment of the disease. The present study is the first in a four stage international research project, ultimately aimed at developing a web-based training resource that will substantially increase the number of clinicians and students who are knowledgeable and skilled in optimal osteoarthritis treatment. The present project will use qualitative analysis to understand baseline practitioner and student perspective regarding their confidence, knowledge and learning needs in implementing recommended non-surgical and non-drug treatments for osteoarthritis in primary care settings.

Investigating Itineraries of a Himalayan Pilgrimage: Infrastructural impacts on socio-natural experience

As part of my Honours thesis, I will conduct literature review and field research on changing practices of pilgrimage in the Indian Himalayas. Pilgrimage has historically been an important aspect of Indian religions, and has exploded in popularity with increased accessibility due to a growing middle class and improved communication and transportation infrastructures. Because much of the sacred power of Himalayan pilgrimage sites is borne out of high mountain remoteness where major rivers are sourced, I ask how modern methods of travel affect pilgrims’ social and religious experiences of pilgrimage. This research entails travelling alongside pilgrims as they ride, drive, and trek to one of Uttarakhand state’s Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage sites, one of the most popular and auspicious of emerging ‘pilgrimage circuits’ in India. I will learn about how different methods of travel, as vectors for social interaction and experiences of the environment, affect religious experience and identity.

Optogenetic Modulation of Heart Rate

The heart beats 3-4 billion times in a person’s lifetime, making it the only part of the body that continues to work – without a break – for one’s entire existence! It is a specialized region within the heart (the sinoatrial node) that initiates each heartbeat. However, in some people the sinoatrial node malfunctions, requiring implantation of an artificial pacemaker that electrically stimulates the heart. Although they are commonly used, electrical pacemakers have a great disadvantage: they are only able to INCREASE (not decrease) heart rate. In this Mitacs project, my goal is to evaluate the potential of using light for pacing the heart to overcome this limitation. The research team at the Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine in Germany have a genetically-modified mouse that has a light-activated ion channel present in its heart tissue. Using focused light timed with the hearts own electrical activity, we aim to determine if we can selectively increase or decrease heart rate in these mice. This is a crucial first step for understanding the future therapeutic potential of using light to pace the heart in patients requiring artificial pacemakers.

An Innovative Green Technology for Treating Municipal and Industrial Wastewater entering Rivers and Streams

In many parts of the world, especially in developing countries, untreated or partially-treated municipal and industrial wastewater is directly discharged into natural water bodies and streams. The wastewater may contain many organic as well as inorganic contaminants which may be then introduced to rural communities downstream. The contaminated water may be used for washing, drinking and for farming. The contaminants can eventually enter humans and cause variety of health problems. Remediation techniques such as use of natural and constructed wetlands are cost-effective as well as efficient, but require large areas of land. Efforts have been made to mimic the workings of wetlands by employing water treatment systems within water bodies. In our current IC-Impacts project, we determined that biochar generated from agricultural waste, was effective in removing heavy metals and organic pollutants in wastewater, and not releasing it back into the water readily. The proposed demonstration project would involve implementation of a anchored biochar water treatment (ABWT) concept where a mixture of bagged biochar, anchored in a watercourse, would serve to remove both organic and inorganic pollutants. Sorption isotherms having been determined for various types of biochar, their respective sorption capacities for different pollutants have been determined […]

Action spectra characteristic for typical challenge organism used in polychromatic UV reactor validation

In the last decade, ultraviolet disinfection has emerged as a “green” technology with no harmful

chemicals used for treatment and no significant disinfection byproducts left in the effluent. Validation

of reactor performance based on bioassay process is often required for UV disinfection applications.

However, validation for medium pressure UV reactors is much more complex than traditional low

pressure UV reactors because the complexity of the relative action spectra of the surrogate

microorganism and target pathogen under the broader wavelengths. As a result, important issues

such as kinetics of organism inactivation under different wavelength and how does the action spectra

impact the bioassay results have not been addressed to date. This study will investigate the action

spectra characteristic of the surrogate microorganism MS2 and construct a proper method for the

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action spectra measurement as well as propose a model in order to assess the impact of action

spectra on disinfection efficiency and RED determination for both….