Innovative Projects Realized

Tracking the microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease with optical imaging

L2M QC Spring 2025 | Concusono: Portable AI-Powered Ultrasound for Concussion Detection

Concussions pose a critical health risk in sports and other high-impact environments, yet timely and accurate diagnosis remains a challenge. Existing tools are expensive, non-portable, and impractical for field use, leading to delayed or missed diagnoses and increased long-term health risks. Concusono is revolutionizing concussion detection with a novel AI-driven portable ultrasound device that provides direct, rapid, and on-the-spot assessment, overcoming the limitations of existing solutions.

Performing Drug Screenings followed by Sequencing on the Droplet Microarray for Precision Oncology

Define the impact of shift work on autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases

Networked Bio-hybrid Systems for Environmental Monitoring

Neutron Detector Development

CoVE SEED (Centres of Vocational Excellence for Sustainable Energy Education)

L2M – Approaches to Novel Anticancer Therapeutics via MRCK Inhibition

MRCK is an enzyme that has shown promise as a target for the development of new drugs to treat several aggressive cancers, including glioblastoma (GBM) and high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). BDP9066 is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of MRCK reported first in 2018. Despite excellent activity profile, BDP9066 is not a realistic clinical candidate due to it’s rapid metabolism and complicated synthesis, which would limit scale-up capacity from a practical standpoint. In this project, we aim to discover molecules similar to BDP9066 that do not possess the aforementioned detrimental attributes; this will be done through knowledge-based designs of new small molecules, their synthesis, and biochemical/biological evaluation for MRCK inhibition.

L2M – Probes to Enable Imaging Small Molecules in Cells

Cellular imaging enables the study of diseases in myriad ways, consequently impacting human health. Through visualizing individual cells, clinicians are able to diagnose diseases and scientists are able to develop drugs to treat them. There are many powerful tools to visualize cells, including fluorescence and electron microscopy. However current common imaging techniques fall short for tracking specific small molecules in cells. In this project, we will be developing synthetic methods to make probes for enabling the selective imaging of small molecules in cells. We will work with the partner organization to build commercial value in both the processes utilized and the products derived from this work.

L2M – SenseOn-Pro

SenseOn-Pro is a small wearable fingertip device that uses photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor data combined with advanced algorithms to measure many different health markers and events simultaneously. It enables non-invasive, continuous monitoring of multiple chronic health conditions. The device allows the assessment of blood glucose without the need for blood pricking, which is an important component of diabetes management. It is able to monitor cardiovascular disease (CVD) without the use of electrodes, as well as detecting Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) events that would otherwise go undetected. The ability for the device to perform these functions in combination with the general health markers it can identify, such as blood oxygen, and blood pressure grants users a crucial holistic insight into their well-being.
The need for this device in the current landscape stems from the severity of these chronic conditions in Canada. CVD is among the top causes of death in Canada with over 2.5 million Canadians suffering from a diagnosed heart disease. It claims about 14 lives every single hour. Diabetes affects nearly 1 in 10 Canadians over the age of 20 and yet only half of Canadians diagnosed with diabetes meet optimal blood glucose targets, which can result in various serious complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, stroke or even amputation. OSA is very prevalent condition with estimated 28% of Canadians suffering from moderate to severe OSA, and approximately 93% of people at high risk of OSA were undiagnosed. Having effective means of monitoring and diagnosing these conditions is critical in mitigating their harms.

Eye tracking in VR environments – analysis of gaze data

Synthesis of Hemilabile Cyclopentadiene Phosphine Ligands and their Uranium Complexes