Innovative Projects Realized

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

13270 Completed Projects

1072
AB
2795
BC
430
MB
106
NF
348
SK
4184
ON
2671
QC
43
PE
209
NB
474
NS

Projects by Category

10%
Computer science
9%
Engineering
1%
Engineering - biomedical
4%
Engineering - chemical / biological

Beyond Covid-19: infusing interactive multi-sensory physical movements to a new model of children’s adaptation for the new normal

The Mental Health Commission of Canada indicates that approximately 1.2 million children and youth in Canada are suffering with mental illness; however, only 20% receive proper treatment. Studies have shown that the pandemic impacts children’s physical and mental health, and children are now experiencing increased mental health and physical challenges as a result of COVID-19. Do we — as parents and early childhood educators — have plans to protect, recast, and reinvigorate children’s physical and mental health in the new normal? Do we have any plans that might transform stressful problems and trauma into a source of emotional energy that can be met with meaningful and interesting innovation? This research is focused on expanding mental-health strategies using interactive multi-sensory physical movements (IMPM) to prevent mental illness in both mainstream and special education settings. Expected results are to design an IMPM model which accounts for the children’s mental and physical needs in order to integrate designed activities into scientific instruments (applications of holography) employing look/see, hear, touch, smell, taste, feel, think, speak, and full body motions. This model is feasible and accessible within a new innovative kindergarten curriculum/program.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Mary Bernard

Student:

Liton Furukawa

Partner:

Mencius Consulting Limited

Discipline:

Other

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Royal Roads University

Program:

Elevate

Holocene fire history as a predictor of watershed responses to future wildfires in southwestern British Columbia

Approximately 2.6 million people in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland depend on the Seymour, Capilano and Coquitlam watersheds for clean, fresh drinking water. A key component of maintaining watershed health and resilience is understanding the relationships between climate, fire and vegetation within the Water Supply Area. As the climate warms these relationships will likely change, presenting a challenge for watershed managers. Historical fire behavior, and the speed and magnitude of associated vegetational regime shifts, can act as gauges for the potential changes Vancouver’s watersheds may experience in the coming decades. By studying the pollen, charcoal and macrofossil content of a sediment core from a small, mid-elevation lake within the watershed, mangers can gain insight into Holocene climate-fire-vegetation relationships. The resulting paleoclimate history will provide information about regional fire and vegetation regime shifts during past warm periods to aid in adopting appropriate adaptive management strategies that minimize damage to watershed ecosystems.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Karen Kohfeld

Student:

Maggie Duncan

Partner:

Metro Vancouver

Discipline:

Environmental sciences

Sector:

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Validating Artificial Intelligence Algorithms for Breast Cancer Detection

While mammograms remain the best available technology for early detection of breast cancer, there are a high number of false positive mammograms and biopsies, leading to increased costs to the medical system on follow-up procedures and increased patient anxiety. This project evaluates the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) systems for breast cancer detection using about 100,000 digital mammograms from the BC Cancer Breast Screening Program. We plan to compare the predictions of the system to those made by breast screening radiologists in routine clinical practice and then compare and contrast the performance of the AI systems to that of individual radiologists. We believe this work will pave the way in using AI models to aid breast cancer detection in routine clinical care.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Rasika Rajapakshe

Student:

John Brandon Graham-Knight

Partner:

Lunit Inc

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Health care and social assistance

University:

Program:

A novel consumer’s behaviour analysis platform to enhance customer engagement

Business to Consumer (B2C) market is facing rising complexities in customer acquisition, retention, and engagement, particularly in dealing with younger generations. One of the primary causes of this problem is the significant changes in consumers’ behavior and their developing habits that differ from those of the older generations. This project develops an AI-driven behavior recognition platform that recognizes the decisions that are driven by the subconscious mind.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Carlos Bazan

Student:

Saeid Eskandari

Partner:

Hyke Technologies Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program:

A Sustainability Evaluation of Post-harvest Fisheries Opportunities for First Nations in Nova Scotia

Many First Nation communities are now exploring and developing post-harvest livelihood activities related to the purchase, transformation, and sale of catch from band harvesters. This research will assess post-harvest businesses currently operating within NS Mi’kmaq communities, and new livelihood opportunities currently being considered by Mi’kmaq Band Councils and entrepreneurs. This assessment will focus on the overall sustainability of the fishery operations, including social, economic, environmental, and cultural factors, among others. The aim of this work is to determine what post-harvest activities are currently being explored and help in weighing the potential positive and negative implications on the economy, environment, culture, and other aspects of NS Mi’kmaq communities. This work is significant as it will assist NS Mi’kmaq communities in further developing post-harvest livelihood activities to support new business developments and sustainable livelihoods.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jerry Bannister

Student:

Omar Sickander

Partner:

Nexus Coastal Resource Management

Discipline:

Other

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Dalhousie University

Program:

Accelerate

Revision of Socio-Spatial Conceptions for Designing Public Spaces and Built Environments in Post Pandemic Alberta

This design research project explores existing and ongoing perspectives on (post) pandemic conceptions in built environment settings in Alberta, from an architectural design perspective. The results will add to the scholarly research on sustainable design of “public spaces” to support (post) COVID-19 period health concerns and recommendations, thereby contributing to the development of healthier design and more equitable, sustainable communities in Alberta. The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a global public health crisis, which is coupled with the “new normal” of social distancing guidelines and health measures. The project suggests that this new normal, instituted to manage the spread of COVID-19, will generate new socio-spatial conceptions in post-pandemic design. This project invokes theory and practice, conducting design research that will be applicable to Manasc Isaac Architects’ recent and upcoming public space design projects, which include designs, renovations, and programming of congregate public space (spaces where people gather, e.g., institutional learning, cultural, and/or theatre space) in Alberta. In sum, this design research project will include a referential framework and develop in-depth case studies to create healthy built environments that represent the required synergy between sustainable design practice and post-pandemic public health needs, critical to re-visioning, re-designing, and re-programming congregate public spaces.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Paul Messinger

Student:

Kishwar Habib

Partner:

Manasc Isaac Architects

Discipline:

Economics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Elevate

Understanding the Role of Ex Situ Conservation to Enhance Public Understanding, Awareness, and Support for Biodiversity

The purpose of this research is to use an evidence-based approach to further the Toronto Zoo’s social science and education programs, in order to support in situ conservation and biodiversity in relation to Canadian goals and the Aichi Targets. Using a collaborative approach this research will result in the co-production of knowledge, where the researcher and the partner organization collaborate in all four stages of the research project. This project is mutually beneficial for the researcher and the partner organization. The researcher will gain additional skills and networking opportunities as presented through the research project and the Mitacs Elevate training. This training and expertise can then be shared with the Toronto Zoo. This will be achieved through the collaborative research process, and through the workshops, webinars and training that the researcher will provide as part of the outcomes for this project. This will help ensure that the Toronto Zoo will benefit in an ongoing way from the sharing of Dr. Bueddefeld’s expertise in social science research and project design. This funding will support the production of innovative research dissemination projects such as the proposed podcast and research video – in order to share these research findings beyond traditional academic contexts.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Chris Lemieux

Student:

Jill Bueddefeld

Partner:

Toronto Zoo

Discipline:

Environmental sciences

Sector:

Arts, entertainment and recreation

University:

Wilfrid Laurier University

Program:

Elevate

Development of advanced electrochemical techniques for the production of graphene-based nano-materials from graphite

Graphene is considered a strategic nanomaterial for the development of clean technologies due to its unique properties. According to Allied Market Research, the global graphene market was valued at US $91.3 million in 2019, and is projected to grow to US $1.4 billion by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.2% from 2020 to 2027. Currently, there are no clean and cost-effective technologies available for the mass production of graphene. ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (ZEN) is an emerging technology company with a focus on the development of its unique Albany Graphite as a precursor for graphene production and applications. The electrochemical exfoliation of graphite to produce graphene-based nanomaterials has garnered immense interest due to the simplicity of the process, improved controllability over product quality, and use of environmentally benign electrolytes. The aim of this project is to develop and scale up advanced electrochemical techniques for the efficient and economical production of graphene-based nanomaterials from ZEN’s Albany graphite, which has shown to be an excellent precursor for the production of graphene oxide via chemical exfoliation. This work would culminate in an effective solution toward increasing the generation of high-quality Canadian graphene along with associated scientific articles and patents.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Aicheng Chen

Student:

Deepak Sridhar

Partner:

ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd

Discipline:

Chemistry

Sector:

University:

University of Guelph

Program:

Elevate

Development of COVID-19 Rapid Diagnostic Test

The current workflow for COVID-19 testing is overwhelmed for many reasons including the need for time-consuming sample preparation, the limited availability of test reagent, and the length of time it takes to complete the test process (approximately 3 hours). As the test-and-trace approach is critical to containing the spread of this virus, rapid diagnostics are crucial. To improve the testing timeline, diagnostic labs need to process samples quickly, which requires the use of automated tests. The use of magnetic bead technology is highly amenable to automation. However, access to the reagents necessary for RNA extraction has thus far posed a challenge to diagnostic labs worldwide. This project has two aims 1) to develop an automated and rapid manual COVID-19 extraction method utilizing magnetic beads which will permit Canadian sourced reagents and 2) to begin development on a rapid point-of-care COVID-19 test that does not require a skilled laboratory technologist to use. The expected outcome is to have a reliable and rapid COVID-19 detection method that will utilize reagents manufactured in Canada, alleviating the burden on both diagnostic labs and foreign supply chains.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Stacey Hume

Student:

Matthea Rae Sanderson

Partner:

Applied Quantum Materials Inc

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Elevate

Role of cannabinoids on fast-inactivation of cardiac Nav channels

Cannabinoids are natural products derived from the Cannabis sativa plant (commonly known as marijuana). Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychotropic cannabinoid is reputed to have medicinal benefits and is approved for the treatment of two seizure disorders. Other non-psychotropic cannabinoids, like cannabinol and cannabigerol, are less studied. We previously found that CBD both directly and indirectly affects voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav) function. The direct effects of CBD on Nav involve sodium current reduction, which we suggest is caused by a physical block of the channel; the mechanism of this block remains unknown. We now seek to gain more detailed knowledge of how CBD and other cannabinoids directly affect the biophysical properties of the cardiac Nav channel (Nav1.5) by measuring Nav1.5 gating charge movements. Notably, CBD reduces seizure activity associated with Dravet Syndrome, an inherited seizure disorder caused by mutations in neuronal Nav channels. Therefore, we aim to further determine if cannabinoids could be used to reduce proarrhythmic activity associated with long-QT 3 (LQT3), an inherited heart disease caused by mutations in Nav1.5.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Peter Ruben

Student:

Dana Alannis Page

Partner:

Akseera Pharma Corp

Discipline:

Kinesiology

Sector:

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Elevate

Understanding the gaps in the adoption of animal care practices in Canada

Welfare issues such as lameness and body injuries (LBI) negatively impact health, productivity, and longevity of dairy cows. Despite research, regulatory and outreach efforts, the current prevalence of LBI is high in Canada and shows little evidence of improvement. The proposed study will use an integrated, structured approach to identify gaps influencing the adoption of on-farm practices for control of LBI from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Our methodology comprises 4 steps, each providing groundwork for the following: 1) Knowledge Synthesis will provide insights into Canada’s current situation of LBI and evidence of change throughout time; 2) Questionnaire administered to industry stakeholders (producers, advisors, milk processors, policy-makers, consumers) will investigate perceptions, needs and actions towards LBI; 3) Focus Groups will provide insights into stakeholders’ perceived role and barriers in adopting changes to improve LBI; and 4) knowledge gathered in steps 1-3 will create a platform to develop a plan for Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) to support future extension efforts. Our study will be the first to engage a wide variety of dairy industry stakeholders nationwide to explore factors impacting their perceptions towards LBI and towards change. The outcome will be used to tailor KTT tools applicable to dairy farmers throughout Canada.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Daniel Weary

Student:

Laura Marcela Solano Quesada

Partner:

Lactanet

Discipline:

Food science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Epigenetic Regulators of Anticancer Drug Response

The effectiveness of cancer drugs depends on several factors which are governed by the genetic and ‘epigenetic’ code of cancer cells. The epigenetic code comprises those heritable modifications that bookmark DNA and DNA-associated proteins to guide the expression of genetic attributes without changing the DNA sequence. This epigenetic code is written, read, and erased by a group of proteins known as epigenetic regulators. Our preliminary data suggest that one epigenetic regulator plays a role in controlling the effectiveness of a targeted cancer drug; however, the role of different epigenetic regulators in drug response is not fully understood. The Structural Genomics Consortium has developed a toolkit of chemical compounds that can be exploited to study these regulators in cell biology and drug discovery. In this project, we propose to leverage this toolkit to systematically study the roles of epigenetic regulators in cancer drug therapy. Specifically, we plan to identify these roles by a large-scale combination of cancer drugs with the toolkit compounds in relevant cancer cell lines and subsequent interrogation of significant changes in cancer drug responses. This approach will provide new insights into the functions of epigenetic regulators and help identify improved therapeutic options with immediate utility in cancer therapy.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy

Student:

Samir H Barghout

Partner:

Structural Genomics Consortium

Discipline:

Pharmacy / Pharmacology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto

Program:

Elevate

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