Innovative Projects Realized

A high throughput mass spectrometry-based screening test for early-stage colon cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer-related cause of death in Canada. This high mortality rate
is largely due to the lack of a cost-effective, patient-accepted and sensitive screening tool. Metabolomic Technologies
Inc. (MTI) has developed a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based urinary diagnostic test for detecting colonic
polyps (PolypDx™). Identification of adenomatous polyps can reduce colorectal cancer by 95%. PolypDx™ has a
sensitivity of 71% for detection of precancerous colonic polyps which is a significant improvement over the currently
available guaiac fecal-based tests with a sensitivity of 3-19%. With an NMR-based test, MTI’s market is limited to
facilities that have access to NMR. Developing a mass spectrometry (MS)-based test will expand the user market to
diagnostic laboratories. Through this application we propose to modify and adapt the NMR-based diagnostic tests to a
MS-based platform that will be high throughput, sensitive, and specific, and cost effective ($25-30/sample end-user
price).

Évolution des conditions hydrologiques de la plaine du Haouz (Maroc) en lien avec le climat, l’anthropisation et les séismes

La région du Haouz (Maroc), abrite l’un des aquifères les plus importants du pays et joue un rôle essentiel dans l’agriculture, le tourisme et l’industrie. Cependant, les sécheresses récurrentes, aggravées par les changements climatiques, entraînent une surexploitation des eaux souterraines. La pression croissante exercée par les activités humaines met en péril l’équilibre hydrique de l’aquifère, d’autant plus que des événements extrêmes, tels que le séisme survenu en septembre 2023, pourraient influencer la dynamique des eaux souterraines.
L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer l’impact des sécheresses et des séismes sur l’évolution des ressources en eau souterraine du Haouz, qui fait l’objet d’une exploitation croissante. Pour ce faire, une approche intégrée combinant des indices de sécheresse météorologique et hydrogéologique sera adoptée. L’Indice Standardisé de Précipitation (SPI) évaluera la variabilité des précipitations, tandis que les indices satellitaires, tels que l’Indice de Condition de Température (TCI) et l’Indice Différentiel Normalisé d’Eau (NDWI), permettront d’évaluer la disponibilité en eau.
Ces analyses, couplées aux Systèmes d’Information Géographique (SIG), à la télédétection et à la modélisation hydrodynamique de la nappe avant et après le séisme, permettront d’anticiper les changements futurs en vue de proposer des stratégies adaptées pour une gestion durable des ressources en eau.

Technical and business intern(s) working within cross-functional teams to commercialize AI-powered solutions (1)

AltaML builds artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solutions to business problems. We work with organisations, bringing together their data and domain expertise with our AI expertise, to develop AI solutions that are deployed in their operations. We also commercialize AI-enabled products business via industry-specific ventures, yielding scalability from our investment in the first solution. AltaML’s AI Lab for Government, also known as GovLab, is a talent accelerator for public service professionals, post-secondary students and recent graduates. GovLab.ai’s mission is to set a global example of how to transform the public sector through applied AI, and is designed to encourage the growth of technical and business AI skill sets that are in high demand across Alberta and around the world. AltaML’s Venture Studio is an incubator program that works with founders and co-founders in the emerging tech industry to scale ideas, build venture products, and launch AI/ML startups across numerous industries.

Decentralized Electric Microgrid Optimization by Reinforcement learning

The goal of this project is to improve the management of electric community microgrids. In contrast to traditional power grids with large centralized power plants that provide energy in a top down fashion to consumers, the introduction of renewable energy such as solar has given rise to bottom-up electric microgrids of prosumers (i.e., consumers that also produce energy) where energy flows in a bottom up fashion from the edge of the grid. Furthermore, the intermittent nature of solar generation and its lack of synchronization with energy consumption creates important challenges for energy management. We will develop a decentralized agentic framework for grid management. More precisely, distributed reinforcement learning agents will dynamically manage energy production, storage and purchase/sale based on load measurements, weather information, demand patterns and spot prices. This decentralized agentic framework will help reduce peak loads, reduce costs, improve energy self-sufficiency, increase resilience to grid outages and scale to increasingly large communities of prosumers.

Les défis de la quantification de l’ESG des grands projets d’infrastructure

Mesurer et divulguer sur la durabilité des activités est une tendance croissante chez les grandes entreprises, qui cherchent à obtenir le soutien des investisseurs en faisant preuve de transparence et d’engagement envers les sphères environnementale, sociale et de gouvernance (ESG). En fait, les risques associés à ces dimensions peuvent se matérialiser en pénalités financières. Les investisseurs soucieux des risques cherchent à s’informer sur ceux auxquels s’exposent les organisations afin d’aguiller leurs décisions. Le cadre ESG est prisé pour communiquer ces risques, et requiert d’évaluer et mesurer l’impact et les risques des activités par rapport à ces facteurs. Il est toutefois complexe de quantifier l’ESG, soit de fournir des données comparables, pertinentes et transparentes. Notre partenaire intègre les critères ESG, et œuvre dans l’investissement et la gestion d’infrastructures durables. Pour réaliser sa stratégie ESG et assurer l’appui de ses investisseurs, beaucoup d’efforts sont consacrés à la production de données ESG. Ce projet s’intéresse aux défis de la quantification de l’ESG des grands projets d’infrastructure, et cherche à mieux comprendre ces enjeux pour soutenir le déploiement de stratégies ESG et ouvrir les possibilités pour mieux faire face aux défis. Notre partenaire en bénéficiera directement, au gré des apprentissages issus de cette recherche.

Benchmarking the Health Leadership Gap in Canada 2025

This research project aims to understand and improve leadership in Canadian healthcare organizations. Over the next five years, many healthcare leaders are expected to retire, creating a need for new leaders who are well-prepared to handle the challenges of a rapidly changing healthcare system. The project will use surveys and focus groups to gather insights from healthcare workers at all levels, from senior executives to frontline staff, to identify gaps in leadership skills, diversity, and succession planning. The goal is to find out what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to be done to develop strong, inclusive, and innovative leaders for the future.

The findings will help the Canadian Health Leadership Network (CHLNet) and its partners create better leadership training programs, improve staff engagement, and ensure healthcare organizations are ready for future challenges. By addressing these leadership gaps, the project will help healthcare organizations provide better care, retain talented staff, and adapt to new technologies and practices. This will ultimately lead to a stronger, more effective healthcare system for all Canadians.

Ecological models to manage and understand the effects of floating photovoltaics on aquatic ecosystems

Floating photovoltaics (FPVs), an emerging technology used to harvest solar energy from the surface of waterbodies, has grown rapidly in recent years with the increase in initiatives to decarbonize energy production. However, much of the literature on environmental impacts of FPVs focuses on water quality rather than on impacts on biotic processes such as primary production, which is the foundation of the aquatic food web in many lakes and reservoirs. This project will assess effects of various management scenarios for FPVs on two key groups of primary producers, macrophytes and phytoplankton. To this end, we will modify an extant mathematical model, GPLake-M, to allow for varying levels of shading and surface coverage by FPVs. The model will then be used to simulate the influence of FPVs on phytoplankton-macrophyte dynamics both in vertically mixed and vertically layered communities. Management insights resulting from this project will benefit both Brazil and Canada, both of which have vast extensions of inland waters and thus great potential for energy production through FPVs.

CO2/NH3 Bi-Direction Shipping between Canada and Asia

“Green shipping corridors” are being established globally, including interest in new cargos of hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The former is challenging to transport in neat form, making liquid organic carriers (LOCs) and ammonia (NH3) attractive forms for transport. Carbon sequestration sites are also being established for CO2 disposal, however many are located far from near term point-sources of CO2 capture and later sites for renewably powered direct air capture (DAC). Shipping costs for both applications are challenging due the overall economics; as a possible solution, NH3 transport in one direction and CO2 transport in opposite direction can help drive down transport costs for both cargo types.
Transporting NH3 in one voyage direction, and CO2 transport in the opposite direction will avoid empty tank cruises. Both chemical species can be transported in a commonly designed tank given temperatures and pressure behavior. This project will carry out techno-economic assessment (TEA) of NH3 transport from BC to Asia, and return of CO2 for sequestration in BC. The work will explore key unknown aspects such as tank cleaning and design for transport conditions.

Immersive Sound Spaces

The principal objective of the MITACS internship project is to develop immersive audio environments to be utilized, evaluated, and studied by the community involved in the “Sensing Differently” SSHRC project, including participants and co-researchers. It will involve designing custom tools for incorporating immersive audio recordings into ethnographic research contexts. These tools will enable “Sensing Differently” researchers to explore how immersive environments can be effectively employed in research with neurodivergent communities, assess community comfort with these technologies, and evaluate their potential to enhance accessibility in the physical world. The MITACS project’s focus on immersive audio environments will enrich the ELEKTRA Festival’s Virtual Museum initiative by enhancing visitor experiences with spatial soundscapes for existing artworks and inspiring the creation of new, sound-focused artworks using these techniques.

Utilisation de caoutchouc recyclé dans les enrobés et formulation d’enrobés à granulométrie ouverte modifiés au caoutchouc recyclé

Ce projet de recherche consiste en l’étude de l’utilisation de poudrette de caoutchouc recyclés traités pour amélioration du comportant des enrobés bitumineux. L’utilisation de la poudrette de caoutchouc devrait permettre une amélioration du comportement à chaud et à froid des enrobés tout en diminuant la quantité de bitume d’apport, ce qui est très intéressant sur le plan environnemental. Des essais de résistance à la fissuration thermique, des essais de modules et des essais de fatigues seront réalisés. L’étudiant aura l’opportunité d’accroitre ses connaissances sur les matériaux bitumineux avec ce projet, et l’entreprise bénéficiera de l’expertise de l’ÉTS sur ce type de matériaux afin de bien évalué la faisabilité de l’utilisation de leur poudrette de caoutchouc recyclé traité.

Fostering consensus decision-making in collaborative fisheries management

Under the Fisheries Resource Reconciliation Agreement, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and eight First Nations are working to build consensus in joint-recommendations and decisions regarding fisheries resources in areas of the BC coast. This project contributes to best practices from other Nation-Crown decision-making processes to help us build an informed process to reach consensus leading to robust joint recommendations to leadership.

Analyse des sentiments vocaux bilingues : Améliorer l’intelligence émotionnelle de l’IA

Paperminds est une entreprise en intelligence conversationnelle qui repense la façon dont les marques se connectent avec leurs parties prenantes par l’art de la conversation et la science de la compréhension. Nous combinons la science comportementale avec des technologies d’apprentissage profond avancées pour créer des conversations hyper personnalisées à grande échelle, transformant les transactions traditionnelles en relations authentiques et durables. Le projet consiste à développer des modèles d’apprentissage profond pour la détection des sentiments.