Innovative Projects Realized

Advanced differential mobility mass spectrometry with electron capture dissociation for the characterization of therapeutic proteins – Year two

Many new pharmaceuticals are based on large biomolecules like proteins. Even small differences in the protein structure can cause significant changes in the efficacy and safety of these drugs. Furthermore, these large molecules are difficult to characterize without advanced instrumentation and methods. Current technologies still struggle with robustness and reproducibility. This study aims to introduce new technology to improve the reliability of protein pharmaceutical characterization. It will leverage a separation technique called differential mobility spectrometry and utilize a gas-phase chemical modification called hydrogen deuterium exchange to characterize and verify the structure and shape of various proteins. These technologies will increase our ability to identify novel modifications and structures much more quickly while simultaneously reducing our reliance on less robust liquid-based separation methods. Developing this application will provide the additional push needed to further commercialize and market differential mobility spectrometry equipment.

Advanced differential mobility mass spectrometry with electron capture dissociation for the characterization of therapeutic proteins

Many new pharmaceuticals are based on large biomolecules like proteins. Even small differences in the protein structure can cause significant changes in the efficacy and safety of these drugs. Furthermore, these large molecules are difficult to characterize without advanced instrumentation and methods. Current technologies still struggle with robustness and reproducibility. This study aims to introduce new technology to improve the reliability of protein pharmaceutical characterization. It will leverage a separation technique called differential mobility spectrometry with an advanced mass spectrometry technique called electron capture dissociation to identify, characterize and verify the structure and shape of these therapeutics along with the presence of dangerous contaminants. These technologies will increase our ability to identify novel modifications much more quickly while simultaneously reducing our reliance on less robust liquid-based separation methods. Developing this application will provide the additional push needed to further commercialize and market both differential mobility spectrometry and electron capture dissociation.

Developing Single Use Performance Enhanced Raman (SUPER) spectroscopy probes for bioprocessing reactions

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful analysis technique in which a chemical sample is illuminated by a laser and the molecular identity of the sample is revealed by measuring the precise wavelength shifts of the reflected laser photons. Raman methods are being adopted in many different business sectors, but they are particularly well-suited to the requirements of the bioprocessing/biopharma industry, where many different chemical constituents, namely peptides and sugars, must be precisely quantified in real time to optimize the growth and yield of the cell cultures. However, commercially-available Raman analyzer equipment is not compatible with the new generation of “single-use” bioprocessing reactors. We propose a project to develop and commercialise Single-Use Performance Enhanced Raman (SUPER) probes which creates an optimized optical interface between single-use bioreactors and Tornado Spectral Systems’ best-in-class Raman analyzer. TO BE CONT’D

An analysis of the potential for Nova Scotia?s COMFIT program?s to improvethe province?s energy security

To meet the targets set out in Nova Scotia’s Renewable Electricity Plan (REP) on April 2010, the

province is establishing a Community Feed-In-Tariffs (COMFIT) program, which sets out to

encourage communities to develop renewable energy projects. The REP stipulates that 100

megawatts of renewable electricity projects are to be supplied through COMFIT.

The proposed research project will document the challenges and opportunities that Wind

Prospect Inc. and other respective stakeholders face in developing renewable energy projects for

the Nova Scotia COMFIT program. The final research paper produced will inform Wind Prospect

and other interested individuals for identifying and addressing policy barriers posed by COMFIT

and relevant legislation. It is my hope that the research can be useful tool for Wind Prospect Inc

in developing successful COMFIT projects and applications.

Identification des critères de sélection des gestionnaires de portefeuille externes et développement d’une procédure systématique de sélection

Le choix ou la sélection d’un gestionnaire de portefeuille est déterminant sur la constitution et gestion d’un portefeuille notamment sur la performance du portefeuille, son erreur de suivi par rapport aux indices de référence, son risque de sous-performance et la bonne utilisation des frais de gestion versés aux gestionnaires. Une firme qui a une meilleure capacité de sélection peut offrir à ses clients des portefeuilles de qualité dont la perf entraînera une création de valeur au-delà d’un portefeuille passif. L’objectif du projet de recherche est d’identifier le potentiel de sélection des gestionnaires de portefeuille en utilisant différents signaux émanant de la performance antérieure du fonds et de ses caractéristiques.

Equity and Justice in a Decarbonizing Canadian Economy: Effort Sharing, Just Transition, and Fossil Fuel Phase-Out

To avoid climate change, economies all over the world, including in Canada, must phase out the use and extraction of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas and transition to cleaner sources of energy, for example from sun, wind, and water. This transition will require substantial effort and this effort should be shared according to principles of justice. This research project will calculate the fair share of the overall effort for Canadians at different levels of income and will then compare these results with the actual contributions they make under the pan-Canadian carbon price when it begins in 2018. Further, this transition can also potentially generate winners and losers – either finding new opportunities building the energy systems of tomorrow, or losing opportunities because they are dependent on oil, coal, or natural gas. TO BE CONT’D

Evidence-informed Planning and Evaluation of Community Transitions: Impact on Health and Quality of Life

St.Amant is an organization that offers services to support individuals with developmental disabilities. Many of St.Amant’s services are shifting to provide the most inclusive, supportive, community-based services with the intention of enhancing health, access to healthcare, and quality of life of persons served and that of their families and caregivers. One of the current service changes is transitioning 75 individuals from River Road Place (RRP) to a variety of community-based residences.
In this study, we aim to track and share the progress made, so that this information can inform current social and health policy for all Manitobans living with an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD).
We will support the St.Amant’s service transitions by reviewing what evidence and best practices currently exist and ensuring this information is then shared with St.Amant staff, who are planning the changes. A process for evaluating community transitions will be established so that we can track ongoing progress.

Hydrological Simulation of the Churchill River Watershed using BiasCorrected Climate Model Data

The goal of the proposed research project is to use bias corrected climate model output to drive a

hydrological model of the Churchill River Basin in Labrador. This represents a major milestone in an

existing research collaboration between Memorial University and Nalcor Energy, the primary objective

of which is to determine the effects of climate change on the Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Project, to

be located on the Churchill River. Objectives of the current proposal include: learning how to use

Environment Canada’s GEM model; processing climate model output from the North American

Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP); collecting observed data from sites in

Labrador to help with the bias correction, and; using processed NARCCAP data to drive the

hydrological model within GEM. This internship will provide proof of concept using data from one

climate model that will allow expansion to all NARCCAP ensemble members in the future.

Ontario Primary and Mental Health Policy Decision Tool

The Ontario government provides healthcare funding to fourteen Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) across Ontario. LHINs in turn are responsible for structuring health care delivery and allocating funds to best meet the needs of the population in the region. However, there are limited tools available to help LHINs evaluate the system-wide implications of proposed policy changes. This research collaboration between KPMG and the University of Toronto will build on an existing system dynamics model of the Ontario Health Care System that evaluates the implications of policy changes across sectors. The current model includes the emergency department, acute care, home and community care, rehabilitation, complex continuing care, and long-term care sectors. TO BE CONT’D

A novel urban planning strategy to increase resilience of Canadian urban forests to global change – Year two

City trees and forests provide numerous ecosystem services (e.g. cleaner air, cooler environment, recreation) to human society but they are increasingly threatened by the changing climate, urban sprawl, invasive pests and diseases. This is particularly the case for Eastern Canadian cities that see the need to replace a large proportion of their trees killed by the Emerald ash borer (an invasive exotic insect). Current species choice is mostly based on aesthetics, economics and tradition. If we want to ensure a more resilient tree cover and a sustainable provision of ecosystem services in the future, we urgently need to revise our species selection strategy. TO BE CONT’D

A novel urban planning strategy to increase resilience of Canadian urban forests to global change

City trees and forests provide numerous ecosystem services (e.g. cleaner air, cooler environment, recreation) to human society but they are increasingly threatened by the changing climate, urban sprawl, invasive pests and diseases. This is particularly the case for Eastern Canadian cities that see the need to replace a large proportion of their trees killed by the Emerald ash borer (an invasive exotic insect). Current species choice is mostly based on aesthetics, economics and tradition. If we want to ensure a more resilient tree cover and a sustainable provision of ecosystem services in the future, we urgently need to revise our species selection strategy. TO BE CONT’D

Développement d’une procédure non intrusive basée sur la propagation des ondes élastiques pour l’évaluation de l’état des structures en béton enfouies du réseau de distribution d’Hydro-Québec – Year two

L’inspection de structures souterraines à l’aide de méthodes d’inspection ‘traditionnelles’ telles que des inspections visuelles, forages et excavations peut s’avérer coûteuse, inefficace ou impraticable due à des contraintes économiques, d’efficacités et de sécurités.
Le développement d’une méthode d’inspection basée sur l’étude de la propagation des ondes élastiques permettant d’évaluer l’intégrité structurelle de la dalle formant le toit des puits d’accès (PA) du réseau d’Hydro-Québec Distribution (HQD) serait donc bénéfique. Cette méthode d’inspection aura comme avantages d’être non intrusive, réalisable depuis la surface du sol/pavé en plus de permettre une évaluation globale de l’état de dégradation d’une structure souterraine. Les performances de la méthode d’inspection développée seront évaluées en réalisant l’inspection de nombreux PA qui seront par la suite excavés afin de déterminer la condition exacte de la surface du toit du PA. Ce projet de recherche devra donc mener à l’élaboration d’une nouvelle procédure d’inspection ainsi qu’à l’amélioration de la compréhension du phénomène de propagation des ondes élastiques.