Innovative Projects Realized

Theorizing Indigenous Group Silencing; Canadian and South African Perspectives

The proposed research project is a theoretical study on the group silencing of Indigenous communities and advocacy groups in South Africa and Canada. The aim is to look into the historical and current systems, mechanisms, and some seemingly innocent acts that silence Indigenous groups and their advocacy groups and shed light on the significance of this. The research will primarily use standard research methods accepted in Philosophy and Political Theory, the intern will work under the supervision of an Indigenous Researcher (Professor Allard-Tremblay). This project aligns directly with the University of Johannesburg’s and McGill University’s commitment to protecting and promoting Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) research and increases the research profile of both institutions in the field of IKS research. Moreover, the project will foster interdisciplinary collaboration between the host supervisor, the home supervisor, and the intern for the duration of the project, and beyond helping future scholars working on indigenous research.

Les anaphores lexicales en discours politique : une étude comparative entre le Canada et la France

Ce projet de recherche vise à examiner l’usage des expressions référentielles en français du Canada et en français de France, en se concentrant sur le discours politique. On s’intéresse plus particulièrement à la questions de la référence vague (on, les gens…) et à la manière dont elles sont employées pour introduire des informations non factuelles ou orienter les représentations mentales associées. La méthodologie adoptée combine des approches qualitatives et quantitatives. À partir d’un corpus de discours politiques issus des deux zones géographiques, la stagiaire procédera à l’annotation et à l’analyse des données. Ce travail permettra d’identifier les schémas récurrents dans l’usage des anaphores et d’évaluer leur fonction dans la construction du sens et du positionnement idéologique. En outre, le projet envisage d’exploiter des outils de TAL pour une analyse systématique des corpus, facilitant ainsi une compréhension plus large des dynamiques sociolinguistiques entre les deux variétés de français. Les retombées escomptées de ce projet sont multiples. D’un point de vue théorique, il contribuera à enrichir les connaissances sur les interactions entre langue et discours. Ce projet offrira également à la stagiaire une formation approfondie en analyse de corpus et en méthodologie de la recherche.

Integrated multi-omics approach for glycosylation-based breast cancer subtyping

This project will utilise an integrated multi-omics approach for glycosylation-based breast cancer subtype discovery. Glycosylation is the process whereby carbohydrate structures are conjugated to cellular proteins and lipids, and in doing so, determines their functionality. Glycosylation is dysregulated in cancer and incorporating the glycome in cancer research has led to deeper mechanistic insight. Combining glycomic data with gene and protein expression, as well as metabolite concentrations, results in a panoramic view of cancer in which all aspects of tumour cell biology are included. Through the use of machine learning, these data types can be integrated and utilised for the discovery of breast cancer subtypes. This is a critical step towards personalized cancer treatment. The combination of computational knowledge at the Scientific Computing Research Unit, University of Cape Town, and the lectin microarray technology and integrated multi-omics approach of the Mahal lab, University of Alberta, will lead to deeper insight into tumorigenic mechanisms. This research is expected to identify breast cancer subtypes with similar functional aberrations. In addition, each subtype will be interrogated for diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.

L2M-Cell-fish Meats (cell-based Atlantic salmon, Atlantic cod, Atlantic wolfish, Sablefish, and Halibut burgers)

The Cell-fish Meats (cell-based Atlantic salmon, Atlantic cod, Atlantic wolfish, Sablefish, and Halibut burgers) project is aimed at starting a pilot project of lab-grown meat production from fish cells for human consumption. The targeted fish species are either expensive or difficult to access to the general public although they are some of the most popular fish products in Canada. Aquaculture and capture fisheries are lagging in the supply of these fish products and our project intends to supplement the shortage at an affordable cost. Moreover, the project intends to provide a sustainable food source for astronauts in space shuttle where cells can be cultured and provide fresh ready food. Production of cell-based fish meats is also is eco-friendly, sustainable, and offers food security. This internship will focus on obtaining industrial partnership for the funding of the development of fish cell-based meats prototypes and conducting consumer marketing research on product and pricing expectations, acceptability and suggestions.

Separation of Heterogeneous Biological Samples Using a Tangential Flow Filtration Microfluidic Device

This work suggests an innovative microfluidic approach for complex biological sample separation, emphasizing the need for methods that enhance efficiency while considering the delicate nature of such samples. This project aims to deploying a continuous, portable microfluidic sorter that can effectively process heterogeneous organoid samples, enhancing throughput and preserving sample integrity. The findings will contribute to more efficient biomedical research and applications, paving the way for advancements in personalized medicine and drug discovery. The completion of this project is dependent upon 2 main objectives: 1) Redesigning and assembling the tangential microfluidic sorter based on the specific characteristics of the provided sample (such as size, shape, and density), optimizing the flow rates and sample buffer solutions respectively. 2) Testing the microdevice performance with real biological samples and assessing their viability. Biological testing will be further carried out to determine key biological questions. Successful implementation of this device would validate the effectiveness of this approach and demonstrate its versatility and true tunability to adapt and separate a wide variety of size ranges .

Ethnobotanical survey of Indigenous vegetables consumed in some Limpopo communities in the form of “food as medicine” and bioavailability of their phytonutrients

Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) are the cheapest and easily accessible sources of important nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, especially the pro vitamin A and essential amino acids. Most of ILVs have long been known and reported to have many health properties through the presence of phytochemicals.

Phytochemicals are bioactive, non-nutrient plant compounds in fruits, vegetables, grains and other plant foods that have been linked to reducing the risk of major degenerative diseases. However there is little or no documented scientific validation of the presence of these compounds and their quantity in ILVs. As such this study employs chemometrics and metabolomics to scientifically validate the information.
Application of metabolomics and chemometric analysis has gained interest in research of agriculture. Furthermore, the assessment of bioactive and bioavailable compounds is crucial in ensuring human health from the use of indigenous vegetables . This study further adopts the water saving strategy by cultivating ILVs in a circular economy system where fish waste water is used to irrigate the ILVs in an Aquaponic setting. The effect of fish waste water will be evaluated on nutritional content, phytochemical levels and bioavailability of bioactive compounds.

Harnessing Next-Generation Sequencing for Large-Scale Fungal Surveillance and Diagnostics in Sorghum

Project overview: Identification of fungal communities within the sorghum phyllosphere from symptomatic samples via Next-Generation Sequencing

Sorghum is vital for food security in drought-prone areas of South Africa. However, fungal diseases such as leaf blight, anthracnose, and panicle blight significantly reduce yields and grain quality. With limited recent data, this project seeks to characterize fungal communities affecting sorghum across major production regions.

Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), fungal species will be identified and analyzed to determine their distribution and association with environmental factors like temperature and moisture. Symptomatic leaf samples will be collected from sorghum fields during key growth stages, with DNA extraction and bioinformatics tools used to profile fungal diversity.

This research will provide critical baseline data for monitoring fungal pathogens and detecting emerging threats. By understanding how environmental conditions influence fungal populations, the findings will inform disease management strategies that improve sorghum resilience and productivity.

The project aligns with South Africa’s goals of strengthening agricultural sustainability and enhancing food security. Its outcomes will benefit farmers by offering improved diagnostics and environmentally friendly solutions for disease control, ensuring the viability of sorghum as a staple crop in vulnerable regions.

Phylogeographic analysis of susceptible and resistant Aspergillus fumigatus isolates from Manitoba

Aspergillus fumigatus is a widely distributed filamentous fungus found in soil and decaying organic material. It is also capable of causing serious respiratory infections in those with underlying health conditions, and it was named as a top-priority fungal pathogen by the World Health Organization. Recent global evidence demonstrated that agricultural antifungals contribute to clinical antifungal cross-resistance in A. fumigatus isolates. Given Manitoba’s cold climate and frequent antifungal use in agriculture, it presents an ideal setting to study A. fumigatus populations and their environmental adaptation. We conducted the first sampling for Manitoba isolates in 2024. We will use whole-genome sequencing to examine the relationship of ~ 200 Manitoba A. fumigatus to global isolates, which greatly extends the number of Canadian isolates in the global sequenced dataset. We will examine the genetic basis of resistant isolates and explore the potential impact of temperature on adaptation to northern latitudes. This internship will facilitate training with global A. fumigatus genomics experts at the Imperial College of London and establish a computational pipeline to analyze A. fumigatus genomic data at the University of Manitoba. Importantly, the project will provide a baseline and framework for future surveillance studies across Canada.

The Commonwealth of Nations and Decolonization in the Global British Empire

This project re-examines the Commonwealth of Nations to consider the role of Commonwealth membership in the constitutional development of former colonies of the British Empire. Looking at Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth Caribbean, this project situates these countries within the larger history of decolonization and national independence in the twentieth century. The methodology of global history supports an analysis that challenges the use of the narrow and limiting container of the nation to analyse the achievement of political autonomy, and instead prioritizes these changes within global processes. Using a variety of archival sources from archives in Scotland and England, I ask how and why former colonies sought membership in the Commonwealth and what the value of membership was to their national development and entrance to the international system of states. As legacies of colonialism continue to shape our world, this project considers how decolonization and the creation of the Commonwealth contribute to our modern international state system. Re-examining the significance of the Commonwealth, despite its real and perceived insignificance in today’s world, illuminates the past and present of Canada’s international relationships, and those of the rest of the Commonwealth.

Coopérative et Intelligence Artificielle : étude de cas d’une communauté de pratique innovante

Le projet consiste à l’organisation d’une communauté de pratique innovante rassemblant des membres de
coopératives canadiennes et internationales dans le but de répondre aux besoins des membres de ces dernières
quant à l’utilisation de l’intelligence artificielle.
Le but est de faire avancer la recherche scientifique dans le domaine des coopératives, de l’intelligence artificielle
responsable, et des communautés de pratique innovante à travers la rédaction de cas et de délivrables récurrents
pour les membres de la communauté, pour le laboratoire de recherche et le Réseau d’innovation coopérative
international

Understanding care utilisation for people with atypical anorexia nervosa and anorexia nervosa

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions posing significant physical and mental health harm to those affected. While anorexia nervosa (AN) – a condition characterized by food restriction resulting in low body weight is likely the best-known eating disorder, there are several other types of eating disorders, including atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN). However, eating disorder diagnosis and treatment are often delayed for those with AAN in comparison to AN due to factors such as weight stigma. The study’s objective is to understand care utilisation by individuals with AAN in comparison to AN. This project supports a novel research collaboration between the University of British Columbia (UBC) and King’s College London (KCL), including advancing the research portfolio of Dr. Law’s (UBC) quantitative public health research agenda and Dr. Schmidt’s (KCL) long-standing commitment to understanding the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. As we work towards improving eating disorders treatment and care in Canadian communities, it will be especially useful to learn the approaches Dr. Schmidt’s team have taken to ensure that eating disorder screening and referrals in primary care settings are not implemented in a vacuum; but rather, with broader equity-based principles in mind.

L2M-Advance DC-DC converter for improving performance of underwater electric drone.

This project focuses on developing an advanced DC power converter to improve the efficiency and operational time of underwater drones, which are essential tools for monitoring and managing marine environments. By addressing the limitations of conventional converters—such as energy losses, component stress, and bulkiness—this project aims to enhance battery performance and support longer missions in harsh underwater conditions.
The expected outcome is a reliable, efficient power solution that supports marine research, climate monitoring, and offshore platform inspections, ultimately benefiting the maritime observation network.