Innovative Projects Realized

Accessible Communications of the Needs of Persons with Disabilities

Building codes are often written in complex legal language, making them difficult to understand. While diagrams can help, they often lack standardization and fail to convey the intent of the requirements. To help architects, engineers, contractors, and inspectors to understand the intent and specifics of requirements, we aim to develop a set of best practices for creating successful instructional diagrams. After completing a baseline study of existing diagrams of accessibility requirements, we will propose a set of accessible diagram principles for both the creation and automated compliance testing of diagrams. We will then apply those principles and create and test an open source library of validated visual learning components for building codes. This work will benefit the construction industry overall and Trax in particular to augment the licensed codes and standards in the Trax Codes product.

Magnetoelastic coupling in novel quantum spin liquids

A quantum spin liquid (QSL) is a type of magnetic material in which the spins of the electrons are highly quantum entangled. This phase of matter has particularly exotic quasi-particles – ways of increasing the energy of the system that resemble quantum particles, but also have novel properties as compared to those we are accustomed to observing in our universe. In some cases these quasi-particles have properties that make them potentially useful for encoding quantum information. Discovering and understanding new QSLs is one of the major challenges of the field of condensed matter physics and has the potential to reshape our approach to technologies such as quantum computing. In this project, the intern will travel from Université Paris-Saclay to the Université de Sherbrooke to carry out sound velocity measurements on potential QSL materials. The goal is to understand how their quasi-particles couple to the crystal lattice, to assess in what ranges of magnetic field and temperature spin entanglement is present and to complement his work at Paris-Saclay using magnetic resonance on related materials.

Assessing the exposure of Arctic terrestrial ecosystems to global changes via animal migration

Every year, millions of migratory birds travel to the Arctic to breed during the summer, then migrate to different parts of the world in autumn to spend the winter. These major seasonal flows of animals transport large quantities of energy, nutrients, contaminants and pathogens, across the globe. It is therefore essential to determine the migratory destinations and the environmental conditions that Arctic migratory species face outside of the Arctic to effectively assess the exposure of Arctic ecosystems to global changes. Our objective is to assess the exposure of an Arctic ecosystem to environmental changes occurring in remote, but connected environments through animal migration. Using a network approach, we identify the migratory connections between an Arctic breeding ground and hundreds of ecological regions of the globe used as non-breeding grounds. Subsequently, we assess the exposure of each species to environmental changes on their non-breeding grounds using global maps. The project is conducted in collaboration with the University of Québec at Rimouski (UQAR) and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). This project aligns with UQAR’s major research focus on northern studies and supports the mission of WSL by improving our understanding of global ecological dynamics.

Virtual Hazard Perception: Distinguishing Novice Drivers by Experience in a VR Training Environment

The proposed research explores how a virtual reality (VR) driving simulation can assess drivers’ ability to perceive hazards and how accurately it reflects their real-world driving experience. Participants from UBC will engage in a lab-based VR simulation where they will navigate various driving scenarios with the goal of identifying potential road hazards. Their performance will be scored, and the data will be analyzed, to determine if the VR simulation can accurately predict the amount of driving experience participants have. This project will help Project Whitecard, the partner organization, assess the potential of VR-based training tools for driving safety and education providing valuable insights for future driver training programs across Canada.

L2M – BackSCNR

BackSCNR offers an accessible solution for screening and monitoring AIS designed to provide sustainable care for patients. By simplifying and shortening medical appointments, BackSCNR reduces the burden on patients and the healthcare system while also offering patients an easy way to track changes in their spine curvature over time. The technology behind BackSCNR is supported by over a decade of research and has secured numerous competitive research grants. Researchers and clinicians from countries including Canada, Brazil, Spain, Chile, and Egypt have contributed invaluable insights to this project and tested the technology on over 1,000 participants.

Connecting to Wksitqamu: Land Based Learning in Unama’ki

Canada has committed to supporting and expanding Indigenous led conservation as a strategy to work towards nation-to-nation reconciliation and meet international biodiversity goals, including conserving thirty percent of Canada’s land and water by the year 2030. Indigenous led conservation upholds and respects Indigenous knowledge systems, laws, governance, rights, and responsibilities. This Mitacs project will support the work of the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) in advancing Mi’kmaw approaches to conservation and the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Specifically, this project will assist in the research and development of land-based programming for Mi’kmaw youth and adults in newly established Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Unama’ki.

Science4LawWP3

Le projet de recherche porte sur l’usage des arguments scientifiques pour consolider, orienter ou faire autorité dans le droit international de l’agro-biodiversité (principalement le Traité international sur les ressources phytogénétiques pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture
– TIRPAA) dans le contexte de la dématérialisation des ressources génétiques. Tandis que plusieurs instruments internationaux régissent l’Accès et le Partage des Avantages (APA) des ressources génétiques, ils sont de plus en plus dépassés par le séquençage de ces ressources génétiques (le fait qu’on puisse utiliser les données génétiques des plantes sans passer par les plantes physiques). Dans ce contexte, la science est stratégiquement utilisée dans les arguments juridiques pour imposer une définition réductionniste des ressources génétiques, excluant leurs éléments intangibles. Mes recherches explorent des approches plus holistiques des ressources génétiques, respectueuses et inspirées des savoirs traditionnels des Peuples Autochtones et des Communautés Agricoles Locales. Dans ce contexte, le stage de recherche à l’Université de Montréal a pour objectif d’intégrer dans mes recherches les perspectives des peuples autochtones et des communautés agricoles locales du Québec concernant la gouvernance des ressources (phyto)génétiques et la protection de leurs savoirs traditionnels.

Bien vieillir chez soi

L’accès à du répit pour les personnes proches aidantes (PPA) est difficile puisqu’elles font face à diverses problématiques (liste d’attente, horaire peu flexible, distance géographique, etc.). L’organisation Entraidant veut offrir un service de répit atypique (qui n’a pas lieu sur une base régulière, en semaine) aux PPA à l’aide d’une plateforme informatique qui facilitera le pairage.

Le projet a pour objectif d’en connaitre davantage sur les besoins des PPA et leur satisfaction quant à l’utilisation de la plateforme. Il vise également à dresser un portrait psychologique des PPA qui reçoivent du répit typique et/ou atypique. Le niveau de stress, la qualité de vie, le fardeau et la détresse psychologique seront les variables sondées. Globalement, les résultats de ce projet permettront de mettre en place des services répondant mieux aux besoins des PPA afin de diminuer les conséquences de ce rôle sur leur santé physique et psychologique. Pour Entraidant, les résultats de ce projet leur permettront d’améliorer la plateforme pour la rendre plus facile d’utilisation et en augmenter l’accessibilité.

BSBP Honours Internship at Alethia Biotherapeutics – Vincent Méthot

Alethia Biotherapeutics is developing sotevtamab, a recombinant antibody targeting clusterin, a protein often elevated in advanced solid tumors. Sotevtamab works by inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which contributes to cancer spread, chemotherapy resistance, and immune evasion. The drug is being tested for various cancers, including lung and colorectal cancer, with the aim of enhancing chemotherapy efficacy and improving immune responses against tumors. Early animal studies demonstrated sotevtamab’s ability to reduce tumor spread, enhance chemotherapy effectiveness, and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. These promising results led to human trials in patients with advanced, treatment-resistant cancers. A recent Phase II study combining sotevtamab with docetaxel in advanced lung cancer patients showed improved responses and survival. Another ongoing Phase II trial is evaluating sotevtamab with FOLFOX in colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases. An intriguing finding associated with sotevtamab treatment is the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in both animal models and patient samples. These immune structures, rarely observed with current treatments, are linked to better patient outcomes. The project aims to investigate how sotevtamab induces TLS development in tumors, as these structures play a key role in enhancing immune responses against cancer.

Innovation Intermediary: Design Strategies for Business Incubator Modeling

TechBA Vancouver is evolving from exclusively operating as an organization delivering programs run by the US-Mexico Foundation for Science (FUMEC) and supported by Mexico’s Secretary of Economy, to an innovation-focused solution generator. This encompasses accelerating and incubating services for businesses. Along with TechBA`s other eight locations in highly technologically competitive environments, its objective is to position Mexico as a world—class innovation-led technology provider. Through this project, TechBA Vancouver will co-design and experiment with strategic design methodologies to prototype a new innovation-led incubator business model. The proposed methodology over two sequential Mitacs Accelerate Internships (8 months total), will directly benefit TechBA and their client firms in their efforts of building sustainable, innovation-led companies positioned for national and international markets.

Simulation of cerium dissolution and interaction with the catalyst-ionomer interface in fuel cells

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells are a key technology in the race against climate challenges, and while commercial applications are increasingly common, challenges remain in cost, performance, and durability. Most of the issues that prevent full commercialization affect the catalyst layer, the region where the power-generating electrochemical reactions take place, like the oxygen reduction reaction. This layer consists of platinum nanoparticles supported on a carbon material and covered by an ion conducting polymer. Resistance to the transport of oxygen molecules to this layer causes loss of efficiency, especially at a lower platinum surface area.
Driving the cost of fuel cells lower by reducing platinum loading and achieving high durability for heavy duty automotive markets both result in lower catalyst surface over the product lifetime and require increased robustness to oxygen transport losses. The small scale of the components in the catalyst layer make it a challenge to study experimentally and computational efforts are crucial at understanding the underlying interactions. To this end, we propose developing a computational model based on molecular dynamics of the platinum/carbon/polymer region to rationalize the factors affecting oxygen transport resistance and to propose design improvements that can reduce power losses and costs in next-generation fuel cells.

Online monitoring and optimization of a reactive crystallization process

This project aims to experimentally investigate the optimal operating conditions for the reactive crystallization of compounds. A stirred-tank reactor will be set-up and the effects of mixing conditions on the resulting crystal particle size distribution will be investigated. Techniques for the online monitoring the reaction process will be explored, which will be used for model predictive control. This is an important process in pharmaceutical manufacturing as many drug products must be produced as a crystal with well-defined size distribution.