Innovative Projects Realized

Développement d’outils technologiques pour la conception de patins à glace – Year Two

Il est généralement reconnu que le choix d’un patin à glace dépend principalement du confort et de la performance conféré par le patin. Ce processus de sélection amène l’entreprise Reebok-CCM Hockey à concevoir des patins plus confortables, et donc, mieux adaptés à la morphologie de l’athlète, ce qui représente un défi de taille. En effet, à l’heure actuelle, on ne connaît pas la relation entre les caractéristiques techniques du patin et son confort lors de l’essai. La connaissance de cette relation permettrait de mieux comprendre les facteurs conditionnant le choix d’un patin et par conséquent, de développer des outils de conception, de prédiction et de personnalisation de patins à glace basés sur des métriques mesurables et interprétables. Le développement de ces outils permettraient à l’entreprise d’offrir des patins mieux adaptés à la morphologie de l’athlète et ainsi, de mieux répondre aux besoins de sa clientèle, tant amateure que professionnelle.

Développement d’outils technologiques pour maximiser la performance de patins sur glace

Il est généralement reconnu que le choix d’un patin à glace dépend principalement du confort et de la performance conféré par le patin. Ce processus de sélection amène l’entreprise Reebok-CCM Hockey à concevoir des patins plus confortables, et donc, mieux adaptés à la morphologie de l’athlète, ce qui représente un défi de taille. En effet, à l’heure actuelle, on ne connaît pas la relation entre les caractéristiques techniques du patin et son confort lors de l’essai. La connaissance de cette relation permettrait de mieux comprendre les facteurs conditionnant le choix d’un patin et par conséquent, de développer des outils de conception, de prédiction et de personnalisation de patins à glace basés sur des métriques mesurables et interprétables. Le développement de ces outils permettraient à l’entreprise d’offrir des patins mieux adaptés à la morphologie de l’athlète et ainsi, de mieux répondre aux besoins de sa clientèle, tant amateure que professionnelle.

“Développement et validation expérimentale d’actionneurs magnétorhéologiques pour l’industrie de l’automobile et du conditionnement physique »?

Increased interest in active vehicle suspensions has been shown in recent years as active suspensions improve ride comfort and handling over passive suspensions. Active suspensions replace passive fluidic dampers with highly controllable actuators to minimize transmission of road induced disturbances and actively control vehicle’s roll and pitch. However, integration of active suspensions in vehicles is hindered by conventional actuators that do not meet requirements of cost, bandwidth, weight, power consumption and reliability. The main goal of this MITACS-Elevate fellowship project is to assess the feasibility of using magneto-rheological actuators as an effective solution for active vehicle suspensions. Such actuators have been demonstrated in past research to be a reliable, lightweight and cost-effective alternative to conventional actuators for applications involving high frequency force or vibration control. The project will lead to a design of an automobile front suspension using MR actuators and to its experimental characterization on a full-scale prototype.

Magneto-Rheological Actuator for Active Vehicle Suspensions

Increased interest in active vehicle suspensions has been shown in recent years as active suspensions improve ride comfort and handling over passive suspensions. Active suspensions replace passive fluidic dampers with highly controllable actuators to minimize transmission of road induced disturbances and actively control vehicle’s roll and pitch. However, integration of active suspensions in vehicles is hindered by conventional actuators that do not meet requirements of cost, bandwidth, weight, power consumption and reliability. The main goal of this MITACS-Elevate fellowship project is to assess the feasibility of using magneto-rheological actuators as an effective solution for active vehicle suspensions. Such actuators have been demonstrated in past research to be a reliable, lightweight and cost-effective alternative to conventional actuators for applications involving high frequency force or vibration control. The project will lead to a design of an automobile front suspension using MR actuators and to its experimental characterization on a full-scale prototype.

Statistical analysis of RNA electropherograms to understand the degree and nature of RNA disruption induced by anti-cancer drugs

Rna Diagnostics, Inc. is developing a diagnostic test, named RDA (RNA Disruption Assay) which measures an individual patient’s tumor response to chemotherapy and accurately predicts whether the drug regimen will lead to elimination of the disease. In order to commercialize the intellectual property related to RDA, Rna Diagnostics, Inc. requires mathematical and statistical expertise to develop and validate an algorithm derived from RNA electropherograms. The current method of determining RDA is based on RIN value and does not distinguish between autolytic degradation and drug effects. This project is critical to the success of producing an innovative RDA technology that is expected to exclude extraneous effects such as autolytic degradation and sample concentration and provide an in-depth analysis of the RNA electropherograms.

Prédictions en temps réel des performances de bioprocédés industriels basées sur un nouvel outil de modélisation assistée en temps réel

Les procédés biotechnologiques sont des procédés complexes, car ils sont reliés à de nombreux phénomènes biologiques et physico-chimiques. Alors que la compréhension complète de ces phénomènes est encore loin d’être acquise, la supervision, le contrôle et l’optimisation sont la clé de la réussite économique des industries biotechnologiques. Ce projet a pour objectif de concevoir une plateforme informatique qui aidera au suivi, au contrôle et à l’optimisation en temps réel des performances de procédés biotechnologiques. La plateforme comprendra un outil de modélisation du procédé qui génère un modèle mécanistique décrivant l’évolution de cultures cellulaires à partir de données expérimentales historiques. La plateforme comprendra aussi un outil d’ajustement qui modifiera le modèle mathématique généré précédemment, après l’acquisition et l’analyse de chaque nouvel échantillon. L’ajustement sera fait en développant et en adaptant des techniques de simplification de modèles, de réduction d’ordre, d’optimisation, d’analyse multivariée, etc. L’outil doit être fiable, robuste et simple d’utilisation.

Targeting CD73 for the immunotherapy of glioblastoma – Year 2

With an average median survival of 14 months, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor occurring in adults, represents an unmet medical need and new therapeutic options with a significant impact on patients survival are eagerly awaited. Our laboratory recently identified the enzyme CD73 as a new target for cancer immunotherapy. While the therapeutic potential of CD73 has been clearly established across several tumor types including breast, prostate and ovarian carcinomas, the possibility to target CD73 for GBM therapy remains unexplored. In this context, and on the basis of preliminary results and previous work, we propose to investigate the therapeutic potential of CD73 in the context of GBM. Discovering a new effective treatment for this deadly cancer would represent a significant breakthrough for patients and would position the Cancer Institute of Montreal at the forefront of the research dealing with GBM therapy and cancer immunotherapy.

Targeting CD73 for the immunotherapy of glioblastoma

With an average median survival of 14 months, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor occurring in adults, represents an unmet medical need and new therapeutic options with a significant impact on patients survival are eagerly awaited. Our laboratory recently identified the enzyme CD73 as a new target for cancer immunotherapy. While the therapeutic potential of CD73 has been clearly established across several tumor types including breast, prostate and ovarian carcinomas, the possibility to target CD73 for GBM therapy remains unexplored. In this context, and on the basis of preliminary results and previous work, we propose to investigate the therapeutic potential of CD73 in the context of GBM. Discovering a new effective treatment for this deadly cancer would represent a significant breakthrough for patients and would position the Cancer Institute of Montreal at the forefront of the research dealing with GBM therapy and cancer immunotherapy.

Selective Laser Melting Process Simulation of a Nickel-Based Superalloy Gas Turbine Component – Year Two

Selective laser meting (SLM) is a promising additive manufacturing process that can be effectively utilized to manufacture structural components with complex geometries. Instead of removing the material, SLM adds the material selectively layer after layer using high power laser beam to form near net shape parts. Due to high cost associated with experimental development of the technology, the need for an accurate model to simulate the process is inevitable. Considering this, the main objective of this research project is to develop a high fidelity finite element model to simulate the SLM process on a gas turbine component such as fuel burner or high pressure nuzzle guide vane in order to highlight the influence of each processing parameter on the quality of the part. The finite element model will be validated by the experimental analysis that has been envisaged to be conducted at Siemens facilities.

Selective Laser Melting Process Simulation of a Nickel-Based Superalloy Gas Turbine Component

Selective laser meting (SLM) is a promising additive manufacturing process that can be effectively utilized to manufacture structural components with complex geometries. Instead of removing the material, SLM adds the material selectively layer after layer using high power laser beam to form near net shape parts. Due to high cost associated with experimental development of the technology, the need for an accurate model to simulate the process is inevitable. Considering this, the main objective of this research project is to develop a high fidelity finite element model to simulate the SLM process on a gas turbine component such as fuel burner or high pressure nuzzle guide vane in order to highlight the influence of each processing parameter on the quality of the part. The finite element model will be validated by the experimental analysis that has been envisaged to be conducted at Siemens facilities.

Approche stratégique du développement et du lancement de l’oclacitinib au Canada, un médicament d’une nouvelle classe thérapeutique contre le prurit associé à la dermatite atopique canine

La dermatite atopique provoque des démangeaisons excessives chez 15% des chiens, ce qui en fait une des atteintes les plus fréquentes en médecine vétérinaire des animaux de compagnie. L’évolution peut atteindre des niveaux très problématiques. Les médicaments disponibles sur le marché présentent des inconvénients difficilement gérables.

L’oclacitinib est un nouveau médicament qui agit sur un intervenant des démangeaisons excessives. Ce projet de stage post doctoral en partenariat entre Zoetis Canada et le GREPAQ de l’Université de Montréal a pour objectif de fournir des données scientifiques probantes qui seront utiles au lancement de ce médicament au Canada. Grâce à ses travaux, le stagiaire élaborera des bulletins techniques sur le mode d’action et la sécurité du médicament en collaboration avec des meneurs d’opinions en soins de la peau, il participera à l’approche marketing ainsi qu’à la mise sur pied d’une procédure de pharmacovigilance afin d’enregistrer et évaluer les effets secondaires indésirables potentiels.

Improvement in paper tissue production: Wet strength and stock preparation

Irving Tissue is a leading manufacturer of household tissue products and provides the premium tissue products for its customers throughout North America. The objective of this project is to improve the process b y1) optimizing the wet- strength additive chemistry, and the associated curing process, 2) optimize the stock preparation, in particular, in light of the new capital investment of Irving Pulp and Paper and its impact on the pulp properties. This project is to identify alternative wet strength chemicals, such as GPAM, or GPAM/PAE to address the issue of wet strength curing for tissue products. The project would also involve characterization and modeling of the stocks of softwood and hardwood in each current operation unit, such as pulper, refiner, so that quick responses in the prediction of the impact on the operations and final tissue
quality and optimization of equipment and process settings can be achieved when the new pulps are introduced. The further development of the tissue production process with respect to these two aspects will enhance Irving Tissue as a producer of premium consumer oriented paper tissue products.