Innovative Projects Realized

Cardiovascular function, inflammation, and exercise: potential role of anti inflammatory supplementation to optimize health and performance

Additional research is required to fully understand the effects of a powerful antioxidant Curcumin on the short and long term impact of exercise. Previous studies have demonstrated other antioxidants can potentially slow recovery and reduce benefits of exercise. However, there is lacking information regarding the effects of Curcumin on cardiovascular health and exercise performance. The intern will be responsible for collecting and interpreting various physiological measurements from participants, where half will be randomly chosen to consume the supplement, while the other half will be given a placebo. The participants will not be made aware of which product they will be receiving. This study will provide the partner organization with a greater understanding of the potential of this product. It will also permit them to develop a more strategic marketing plan that will allow consumers to make an informed decision based on newly acquired knowledge with regards to this supplement.

Caractérisation géotechnique des remblais en carrière près des centres urbains

Le projet de recherche cherche à établir un cadre de référence quantifiable des propriétés géotechniques des remblais entreposés en carrière, notamment près des centres urbains de Montréal. Cette pratique connaît une forte croissance en raison de la densification urbaine, de l’intensification de l’extraction d’agrégats pour la construction et de la réhabilitation des sites. Les remblais comprennent divers matériaux hétérogènes, tels que des débris de construction et des rejets industriels, ce qui les distingue des remblais miniers traditionnels. En collaboration avec le partenaire Géoclaste inc., spécialisé en ingénierie géotechnique, le projet vise à surmonter les défis techniques liés à l’hétérogénéité des matériaux, aux mélanges sur place et aux méthodes de déversement. L’objectif est de garantir une gestion optimale et sécuritaire des remblais, d’améliorer la stabilité des sites et la sécurité des travailleurs, tout en optimisant le potentiel de remblayage et en réduisant l’empreinte des opérations.

Rebuilding Native Bumble Bee Pollinators in Mi’kmaq Communities

This project will analyze five years of bumblebee data to determine the number of bee species is present in
Unama’ki, the environmental factors that exist in their natural habitat and their flower preference and the timing of
that preference. Through data analytics a data story can emerge that will form the necessary management
practices needed in rebuilding the bumblebee pollutions. Through these data stories, Netuklimk (traditional
Mi’kmaq management) with traditional and conventional ways of understanding, Etuaptmunk (Two Eyed Seeing)
can create the standards for best management practices in Unama’ki. Rebuilding the bumblebee pollinators can
also help with rebuilding agricultural (food production) in Unama’ki communities, reducing food security.

Enhancing Emergency Department Efficiency and Access to Care: Advancing SiMLQ’s Data-Driven Simulation Framework for Ontario Hospitals

challenges such as long wait times and overcrowding. These delays impact patient health and strain healthcare resources. This project aims to address these challenges by enhancing SiMLQ, a cutting-edge software tool that uses data to simulate and optimize ED operations.

Using real-world data from Erie Shores Healthcare Center as an example, the project will develop advanced features to improve how ED performance is analyzed and predicted. For instance, factors like how busy different areas of the hospital are or how resources like staff and beds are being used will be integrated into the software. These insights will help hospitals make better decisions about resource allocation, reducing bottlenecks and improving patient flow.

By creating a smarter simulation tool, this project not only helps Erie Shores but also lays the groundwork for broader adoption across other hospitals in Ontario and beyond. The ultimate goal is to ensure more patients receive timely care, healthcare providers can better manage their resources, and the system as a whole becomes more efficient. This work supports a healthier Canada by improving access to emergency care and reducing strain on our healthcare system.

Development of an AI-based solutions to predict absenteeism

Employee absenteeism presents significant challenges for organizations, affecting productivity, team morale, and operational efficiency. Accurately predicting absenteeism enables businesses to proactively address its underlying causes, optimize workforce planning, and minimize disruptions. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) provide robust methods for analyzing complex datasets to uncover patterns associated with absentee behavior.
This project aims to develop an AI-based solution to efficiently predict absenteeism in organizational contexts. Leveraging a large dataset collected by an industrial partner with expertise in workforce and performance analytics, the project will focus on designing and evaluating ML/DL models. The primary goal is to create models capable of delivering high accuracy while generalizing effectively across datasets with similar attributes, ensuring broad applicability.

A Novel Drug for Treating Opioid Withdrawal

BC is experiencing an opioid crisis beset with an alarming number of overdoses and related deaths. Symptoms of withdrawal are a significant factor in perpetuating opioid addiction and a common cause of relapse. Therefore, treatments for withdrawal are highly desirable and commonly used in the first steps of opioid reduction strategies. Enkephalins are natural compounds in the body that have been previously identified to limit symptoms of withdrawal, but their instability has hindered their clinical application. In this study, a modified enkephalin analogue (KK-103) with improved stability will be evaluated in its ability to reduce withdrawal behaviors in mice models. The intern is expected to gain experience in the chemical synthesis of peptides, and the standard procedures, safety measures, and quality assurance standards pertaining to mice models, along with statistical analysis of the generated data. If successful, KK-103 could serve as a novel therapeutic treatment for opioid withdrawal by clinicians at VGH and contribute towards efforts combatting opioid-related deaths in BC.

Analyse de la cinématique des chutes en escalade de bloc et des conditions d’impact sur les matelas de protection

Ce projet de recherche vise à analyser les chutes en escalade de bloc et les conditions d’impact sur les matelas de protection. Après une première étude menée en France auprès d’un public généraliste, cette nouvelle phase se concentrera sur un panel de grimpeur.euses canadien.ne.s, comprenant des expert.es et jeunes expert.es. L’objectif est d’intégrer les spécificités des profils de haut niveau pour mieux comprendre les dynamiques des chutes et améliorer la sécurité.

Le protocole expérimental développé en France sera adapté à cette nouvelle population. Dans ce cadre, la bibliothèque Python open-source Pose2Sim sera utilisée pour obtenir la cinématique 3D des personnes filmées sans marqueurs. Le projet inclut des évolutions visant à automatiser davantage le traitement des vidéos et à affiner l’analyse des données obtenues, en s’appuyant sur les enseignements tirés de l’étude précédente.

Les résultats attendus permettront d’identifier des scénarios de chutes propres aux grimpeur.euses expert.es et de les comparer à ceux observés dans le public généraliste. Ces scénarios serviront ensuite à alimenter une simulation numérique pour modéliser les mécanismes de blessure lors d’accidents en escalade de bloc. Cette approche contribuera à mieux comprendre les facteurs de blessures et à développer des matelas de protection plus performants.

A New Method of Designing a Clock Multiplier

This project aims to develop a new method to design clock frequency multipliers. This game-changing technology can overcome the limitations of conventional clock frequency multipliers and can potentially introduce a new paradigm in high-speed circuit design. Such novel technology will position ESS Technology as the leading semiconductor company specializing in the design of future-generation high-speed electronic devices. ESS Technology is currently expanding its R&D activities, and plans to build a strong design team based in Kelowna. The company is keen to recruit multiple talented UBC graduate students as interns to participate the proposed research. These graduate students will potentially be employed full-time by ESS Technology. The creation of these hi-tech jobs will make positive economic impact on the high-tech, particularly the integrated circuit industry, in Western Canada and Okanagan Valley.

Comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis of Shellac: From Production to Environmental Impact

This project focuses on creating eco-friendly, recyclable transportation cards using shellac, a biodegradable and sustainable material. Traditional plastic cards contribute significantly to waste and CO2 emissions, while shellac offers a greener alternative that can be combined with recyclable paper substrates. By conducting a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of shellac materials, this research will evaluate their environmental benefits and potential for large-scale adoption in urban transit systems. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of public infrastructure and promote sustainable practices in cities worldwide.

Canagliflozin to improve enzalutamide response and suppress resistance in hormone-sensitive and castrate resistant prostate cancer (PrCa).

In this study, researchers aim to investigate whether canagliflozin, an anti-diabetic agent, can enhance the effectiveness of enzalutamide in preclinical models of prostate cancer (PrCa). Prostate cancer often becomes resistant to current therapies, such as enzalutamide, due to various molecular pathways. Canagliflozin has shown promise in suppressing these pathways in prostate cancer cells and tumors, potentially inhibiting their growth and survival. Preliminary experiments suggest that canagliflozin could improve enzalutamide’s ability to suppress cancer cell proliferation and survival in both early and advanced stages of prostate cancer.
The study will test canagliflozin and enzalutamide combinations in vitro and in vivo using prostate cancer models. Researchers will assess if this combination therapy can effectively control prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and androgen receptor (AR) expression, crucial biomarkers in prostate cancer progression. Additionally, they aim to determine whether canagliflozin can prevent the development of resistance to enzalutamide.
Methods will include cell culture experiments, tumor growth studies, and molecular analyses to understand the mechanisms behind the drugs’ effects. Successful outcomes from this research could prompt clinical trials to explore this combination therapy further, potentially offering new treatment options for prostate cancer patients.

Nouveaux fluorophores organiques inspirés de la rhodamine pour le marquage cellulaire

Ce projet vise à optimiser de nouveaux marqueurs fluorescents non toxiques pour le marquage et l’imagerie de cellules vivantes par microscopie de fluorescence. Cette optimisation se fera sur la base des propriétés spectrales des molécules fluorescentes, mais aussi leurs propriétés biologiques. L’organisation partenaire, Saguaro Biosciences, commercialise ChromaLive et est pionnière dans le développement de marqueurs fluorescents non toxiques pour le suivi et l’imagerie dans le temps de cellules vivantes. Cette technologie est particulièrement pertinente dans le cadre de criblages phénotypiques, pour la découverte de nouvelles molécules thérapeutiques ainsi que le développement de traitements en médecine personnalisée.

Communication and control techniques to manage spraying under precision agriculture schemes

Spot application of pesticides is one aspect of precision agriculture technology that may have promising economic, environmental and social benefits. However, the practical application of this technology is faced by several challenges including accurate detection of pests, simultaneous control of multiple nozzles, and formulation of suitable droplets under continuous opening and closure of nozzles. This internship program, which is a part of an ongoing project on real-time spot application, aims to create an opportunity for highly qualified personnel (HQP) to exchange ideas on how to tackle these challenges. As such, the first focus point of this internship will be on nozzle control technology for sprayers of different numbers of nozzles. The goal in studying nozzle control is to understand the requirements associated with scaling up and down the size of the sprayer to fit different cropping systems in India and Canada. The second focus point will be on the efficacy of spraying at on-the-go conditions when deploying the technology at potato fields in Canada. For this, the internship will include actual deployment of a spot spraying system during which the HQPs will evaluate different performance parameters including timing of spraying, the ability to hit targets on-the-go, spray distribution, etc.