Innovative Projects Realized

Development of a Solvent-Free Technology for Production of High Functional Protein Powders from Oilseeds and Grains

Oilseeds and grains are considered to be excellent sources of non-animal proteins containing the appropriate essential
amino acids required for optimal human health. Conventional protein production methods involve the use of solvents,
concentrated acids and alkali that result in protein denaturation, thereby reducing the quality and functionality of the
protein ingredients. The proposed project will explore the potential of a dry or solvent free electrostatic-based
separation technique for the production of high-quality protein powders from soy and navy beans. This methodology
employs an electrostatic technique to selectively charge proteins, carbohydrates, and fibers in the bean flour and
separate them based on the magnitude and type of their charge. It preserves the bio-functionality of the protein and
averts the likelihood of toxic microbial contamination common in currently used wet processes. Advanced CERT
Canada is willing to conduct process optimization, fine-tuning and scale-up studies to move towards designing a pilotscale
plant.

Mechanochemical Chan-Lam couplings

This research collaboration explores the application of Chan-Lam coupling (expertise of the Schaper group) in mechanochemistry (expertise of the Jurca group) to explore new and more efficient preparation methods in drug development and production.

Metabolomic Characterization of Wild Canadian Haskap (Lonicera caerulea var. villosa) Germplasm

Haskap is an emerging berry crop in North America known for its unique flavour and high nutritional value. Commercial haskap cultivars have received considerable attention from researchers, however, Canada’s native wild haskap populations remain largely unstudied. This project aims to comprehensively analyze the metabolomic profiles of 150 wild Canadian haskap accessions maintained by the Fruit Breeding Program at the University of Saskatchewan. Leaf samples collected from the Canadian germplasm, as well as some advanced selections and commercial cultivars, will be analyzed at the University of Ljubljana using their established haskap metabolomic methods to identify and quantify metabolites. The resulting metabolomic profiles will be used in conjunction with existing phenotypic data to identify accessions with high potential to improve the nutritional profiles of future haskap cultivars as well as to identify biomarkers that can be used to accelerate haskap breeding at the University of Saskatchewan. This collaboration will benefit both institutions by combining the unique genetic resources of the University of Saskatchewan with the specialized metabolomics expertise of the University of Ljubljana, accelerating breeding efforts, fostering future joint research initiatives, and enhancing the training and scientific capacity at both universities.

Web-based Goal Management Training™ in older adults with cognitive impairment: a randomized-controlled trial examining feasibility and efficacy – Year two

As the Canadian population is aging, more and more Canadians will show cognitive decline. Aging and certain types of
neurological disorders is often associated with deficits in executive functions: goal maintenance, planning, task
switching and attention. These functions are critical for the maintenance of functional independence. Few validated
rehabilitation approaches for these types of deficits exist. One rehabilitation approach, Goal Management Training™
(GMT), has shown promise. In its standard implementation, GMT is led in small groups. Although this approach is
effective, it has significant practical limitations (limited accessibility and high cost). The goal of the proposed research
is to design an automated, web-based GMT training program that can be delivered remotely, to assess its feasibility in
older adults and patients with deficits in executive functions and to compare its efficacy to an active control group
that would participate in an online activity that we do not expect to improve cognition.

Health and Illness in the works of Friedrich Nietzsche and Georges Canguilhem

My master’s thesis researches the fundamental and original concepts of health and illness in the works of Friedrich Nietzsche and Georges Canguilhem, as well as the reading of Nietzsche by Canguilhem which informed his writings. I plan to study for one year (Oct. 2025 – Aug. 2026) at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany, under the supervision of Professor Henning Schmidgen. He will guide my research on both thinkers, for whom Weimar and Paris are essential research locations. The presence of the Nietzsche Archives in Weimar is a major asset. This immersion will be my first university experience abroad, conducted entirely in German. I aim for a C1 language level and the acquisition of specific philosophical vocabulary, while also broadening my worldview and network. This stay could also establish a lasting bilateral intellectual relationship between Université Laval and Weimar. My plan includes validating my thesis topic, targeted archive consultation, and an intensive German course in Berlin, followed by my move to Weimar for courses and research. I’ve scheduled trips to the Canguilhem Archives in Paris and regular visits to the Nietzsche Archives. The university’s multidisciplinary approach will broaden my horizons. My goal is to finalize my thesis by August 2026.

ML-Enhanced SOAR Framework for Proactive Threat Response in Managed Security Operations

Security Operations Centers today grapple with overwhelming alert volumes, fragmented toolchains, and manual response processes that impede timely threat containment. Analysts must pivot between multiple SIEM and EDR consoles, manually enrich indicators, and open tickets one by one, introducing delays that adversaries exploit to dwell undetected. Moreover, static severity tags lack the nuance to prioritize truly critical events, while developing and maintaining effective response playbooks is laborious and error-prone.
This project, in collaboration with GlassHouse Systems and the University of Guelph, will deliver:
• A unified SOAR integration layer that normalizes alerts and actions across all client SIEM, EDR, threat-intelligence, and ticketing systems;
• An ML-powered risk-scoring service trained on historical incident outcomes and enriched threat data to assign every alert a dynamic priority score;
• Automated response workflows that invoke the ML scores to escalate high-risk threats, retire low-risk noise, and guide analysts through ambiguous cases with complete context.
By embedding machine learning at the core of playbook orchestration, this research will accelerate mean-time-to-detect and mean-time-to-respond, reduce false-positive workloads, and establish a reproducible, metrics

Assessing the Impact of B.C.’s PST on Industrial Investment: A Policy Analysis

This project aims to examine the role of British Columbia’s Provincial Sales Tax (PST) in shaping capital investment decisions within the industrial and advanced manufacturing sectors. Specifically, it will explore how the taxation of machinery and equipment under the PST has evolved over the past 20 years (2004–2024), and how the current tax structure may serve as a barrier to productivity by enhancing investments.
Through a combination of policy review, data analysis, and interprovincial comparison, the project will assess the extent to which B.C.’s PST framework may be discouraging industrial reinvestment. The findings will inform the development of targeted, evidence-based policy recommendations, particularly around potential PST exemptions or reforms, that could incentivize capital investment and improve economic competitiveness.
The final deliverable will be a policy-oriented report for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT), supporting its Agenda for Growth by offering actionable insights to guide provincial advocacy efforts on tax reform and industrial policy.

Codesigning a stepped care model of mental health supports for Canadian Veterans and their families

This project will engage Veterans, Families and service organisations across Canada to co-design a continuum of care that supports the mental health and substance use health of Veterans and Families. A series of 3-4 engagement sessions will be held with approximately 50 Veterans and families, as well as a 2-3 workshops series with approximately 30 service providers, system leaders and advocates. The process is designed to identify key mental health and substance use services currently available to Veterans and families, as well as opportunities and service needs/gaps. The process will engage key interest holders to co-design recommendations to increase access, flexibility, collaboration and ease of navigation across programs and services. Key findings will shared wtih participating organizations and with the Veteran and family communities.

Bridging the Gaps: Identifying Practical and Emotional Needs in Cancer Care

Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) is a national charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people facing cancer. We do this by educating and empowering individuals to manage the appearance-related and psychosocial impacts of cancer and its treatment. Our workshops and resources are designed to help people feel more like themselves again by offering practical, compassionate support for dealing with visible and often distressing side effects—such as hair loss, changes to the skin, and other physical impacts. LGFB programs are offered free of charge, both online and in person, at over 80 hospitals and cancer centres across Canada.

Our programming is grounded in research that shows how psychosocial interventions, like LGFB’s workshops, can reduce depression, improve self-esteem, and enhance quality of life for people with cancer. While our work has focused primarily on the visible side effects of treatment, LGFB also aims to fill broader gaps in supportive care that are not always addressed within the healthcare system.

Despite growing evidence of the benefits of psychosocial support, access remains inequitable and fragmented across Canada. People facing cancer often lack access to low-intensity, universal supports that can prevent more serious mental health issues from emerging. Many report receiving information about physical side effects of treatment, but fewer feel they have adequate support for emotional or practical concerns. This unmet need extends well beyond the active treatment phase into survivorship.

LGFB is seeking to understand which types of supportive care are most needed and valued, and where the biggest gaps lie across the cancer journey. This research represents an innovative shift for LGFB: from solely delivering supportive programs to also contributing to national knowledge about how to best design and deliver psychosocial care for people affected by cancer.

Web-based Goal Management Training™ in older adults with cognitive impairment: a randomized-controlled trial examining feasibility and efficacy

As the Canadian population is aging, more and more Canadians will show cognitive decline. Aging and certain types of
neurological disorders is often associated with deficits in executive functions: goal maintenance, planning, task
switching and attention. These functions are critical for the maintenance of functional independence. Few validated
rehabilitation approaches for these types of deficits exist. One rehabilitation approach, Goal Management Training™
(GMT), has shown promise. In its standard implementation, GMT is led in small groups. Although this approach is
effective, it has significant practical limitations (limited accessibility and high cost). The goal of the proposed research
is to design an automated, web-based GMT training program that can be delivered remotely, to assess its feasibility in
older adults and patients with deficits in executive functions and to compare its efficacy to an active control group
that would participate in an online activity that we do not expect to improve cognition.

Real-Time Machine Learning Integration with MES for Waste Reduction, Quality Control, and Production Optimization in Flexible Packaging at Transcontinental

This project focuses on the real-time integration of machine learning (ML) models with the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) at Transcontinental (TC) to enhance quality control, reduce production waste, and optimize operations in flexible packaging manufacturing. TC’s current MES infrastructure ensures traceability and workflow coordination but lacks predictive analytics capabilities, leading to a reactive approach where quality issues and process inefficiencies are often addressed only after causing significant material loss, downtime, and customer dissatisfaction.

To address this gap, the project introduces a strategic initiative aimed at transforming live production data into actionable insights through ML-driven predictive modeling. The solution will enable early detection of process anomalies, suggest real-time corrective actions, and evolve continuously with new data patterns. Historical and live data from critical processes such as extrusion, printing, and lamination will be leveraged to train, validate, and deploy ML models directly into the MES environment, enhancing decision-making at the operational level. By embedding intelligence into MES workflows, the project aims to minimize scrap rates, improve first-pass yield, reduce energy usage, and increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Expected outcomes include significant reductions in waste and energy consumption, enhanced process stability, and improved responsiveness on the shop floor. This initiative positions TC at the forefront of Industry 4.0 by integrating AI into core manufacturing operations, supporting long-term innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation in the flexible packaging sector.

Medventions Atlantic Fall 2025 – General Surgery

The Medventions Atlantic program based on the proven model from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre enables high-performing students and recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds to engage directly with frontline clinical and innovation challenges. The interns are embedded within clinical environments to identify unmet needs, apply early-stage innovation thinking, and co-develop solutions with clinicians, patients, and administrators.