Innovative Projects Realized

The effect of shot peening and anodizing on the fatigue life of high strength aluminum alloys

Osteoinductive, osteogenic and angioinductive potential of intramuscular injected genetically modified human umbilical cord perivascular cells

The loss of bone is a massive burden on the health care system and severely impacts the quality of life of several hundred million people. The need for alternative strategies to replace or regenerate bone tissue is overwhelming. We are proposing a completely new approach to the engineering of bone using a “cocktail” of genetically modified human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVCs) that can be produced in vast numbers, stored in liquid nitrogen so that they could be ready for therapeutic purposes. The HUCPVC technology represents the core IP of our industrial partner, Tissue Regeneration Therapeutics Inc. The intern will conduct in vivo experiments to determine the capacity of genetically modified HUCPVCs to form bone, induce the formation of new vasculature and induce bone formation by the host cells when implanted in an area in where bone doesn’t normally grow. This cell-based application has potential impact on enhancing bone and wound healing.

Production of bio-phenolic chemicals, green diesel fuels, and renewable hydrogen/methane gases from Kraft lignin and “Black Liquor”

The use of fossil fuels for energy and chemical production is not sustainable, and it leads to increased emissions of air pollutants (SO₂ and NO_x) and greenhouse gases. It is thus of strategic significance to explore alternatives to fossil resources for both energy and chemicals production. Among all the potential alternatives to fossil resources, biomass is promising because it is renewable and immense. Canada is blessed with 401.9 million hectares of forest, approximately 10% of the world’s total forest cover. Forestry residues and wastes (such as harvesting residues, sawdust, wood waste and bark) and pulp/paper by-products (such as “black liquor” and lignin) can be a promising renewable source for energy utilities and chemical feedstocks if novel economically viable processes are developed. Lignin is the second most abundant natural renewable polymer after cellulose and accounts for between 15 and 40% of wood stem. It is produced as a by-product of paper pulping, where it is considered a waste product and currently utilized mainly by direct combustion in the recovery boilers for heat generation. Conversion of lignin/black liquor into high value chemicals and fuels that are conventionally derived from fossil fuel resources will yield both economical and environmental dividends. The proposed Mitacs-Accelerate project aims to (1) develop a cost effective process to produce bio-crude oils directly by hydrolytic degradation of black liquor or crude lignin under hot-compressed water conditions, (2) upgrade bio-crude oils derived from lignin or pyrolysis oils from forestry residues into liquid transportation fuels or alternative feedstocks for a conventional petroleum refinery by hydro-de-oxygenation (HDO), and (3) convert aqueous biomass (carbohydrates, acetic acids, etc.) and aqueous waste products derived from forestry biomass (wood and forestry residues) to hydrogen and methane (as substitute natural gas, SNG) via catalytic supercritical water gasification (SCWG).

Effectiveness of dual-microphone model-based speech discrimination for increasing speech intelligibility in in-situ babble noise

Spread and impact of an eruptive herbivore in a novel habitat: consequences of climate change-induced range expansion

Assessing the environmental impact of solid-wall containment salmon aquaculture project

Gallium nitride processes for efficient low loss power transistors

The project’s aim is to develop a comprehensive technological platform for the fabrication of GaN-based electronics devices for applications in telecommunications and power generating and management systems. As of this date, the progress relative to this technology has been excellent and sustained. Our team has now established the most advanced fabrication expertise for GaN-based devices among Canadian universities, and state-of-the-art high electron mobility transistors are now routinely fabricated. Technologies around the epitaxial growth of GaN-based materials are also to be developed. Our previous work yielded promising results with significantly improved gas injector designs for highly efficient gas usage in an epitaxial tool. Other designs also include a new concept for the gas management system with a diffusely heated evacuated cabinet that allows for easy maintenance and cheaper operation. Materials grown within the frame of this project will be valuated in terms performance with regards to HEMT microfabrication standards.

Interface systems for large-area multitouch displays

Data storage & State synchronization support in frameworks for smartphones & tablets

Application of metabolic flux analysis and in vitro genotoxicity tests for evaluating nickel carcinogenicity

Optimization of Heat Treatment of 2219 and 2139 DC Cast Ingot Plates

Development of new enzymatic products for optimization of paper properties

Extractives and various polymers found in wood pulp have deleterious impacts on a number of industrial processes, as well as on papermaking productivity. Such impacts have to be considered too in the emerging field of biorefining (production or extraction of high value products from forest biomass). The main partner to this project (Buckman Canada) has successfully introduced enzymes to the paper industry, but would like to expand its offering to the forest industry as a whole. Our goal is to develop a new method that will allow for specific monitoring of synergies among various enzymes, using fluorescence spectroscopy. We intend to develop new formulations and demonstrate their effectiveness on industrial substrates. Our success will help Buckman Canada and Kruger reinforce their leadership position in application of green chemistry in the forest biomass products sector.