Innovative Projects Realized

Investigation and Development of a Sensor and Imagery System to Physically Validate Performance of Conformally Cooled Tooling

This project will create a first of its kind system to measure and validate the performance of conformally cooled tooling (CCT) for die casting and injection molding. CCT increases production efficiency and
quality helping Canadian manufacturing to stay competitive with foreign manufacturers. Yet, many manufacturers are reluctant to adopt CCTs due to uncertainty around its performance when installed in a
manufacturing line. This project will create a system that guarantees CCT performance removing any uncertainty and helping to make Canadian manufacturing more efficient.

Algorithmic and Software Innovation in Parametric System Solving, Polyhedral Geometry and Symbolic Analysis

Computer Algebra Systems (CAS), with their unique ability to analyze and solve mathematical problems, are gathering new communities of users, who challenge those software systems with more and more complex tasks. It is necessary, therefore, that the core engines of CAS to implement state-of-the-art algorithms. This proposal capitalizes on the research conducted by academic partners at the University of Western Ontario in order to strengthen and extend the technology of their industrial partner, MAPLESOFT, the developers of MAPLE, one of the leading CAS world-wide.

Role of Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Physician and Emotional Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal

With the number of opioid-related deaths continuing to rise, the demand for an effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is growing. While opioid antagonists are effective, compliance is an issue since they induce withdrawal. The botanical compound, TGIR-C is a promising non-opioid alternative that treats detoxification without inducing withdrawal. Further research on its neural mechanisms would assist in the clinical adoption of TGIR-C under development by Resilience Biosciences Inc. A hallmark of opioid withdrawal is hyperkatifeia, which is a heightened awareness of aversive events and a shift in positive events towards a negative valence. Addicts try to counteract hyperkatifeia by taking more drug, creating a vicious cycle of abuse. Hyperkatifeia depends on changes in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) that are likely driven by withdrawal-induced elevations in dopamine (DA). Preliminary in vivo neurochemical evidence suggests that TGIR-C acts as a DA “stabilizer”. Building on this, we propose that TGIR-C is therapeutically effective because it stabilizes DA levels in the ACC during withdrawal, thereby abolishing hyperkatifeia and effectively removing the motivation for continued drug use. We will test this possibility using electrophysiology and fiber photometry in order to gain a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of TGIR-C.

The Connected Workplace: Public Sector

The workplace remains a largely underdeveloped market for wireless service providers. This project will focus on the use of wireless technologies in the Canadian Public Sector workplace. The overall purpose is to better understand the obstacles to technology adoption in the workplace, and offer actionable recommendations on how to mitigate them. The work will be done in conjunction with a team from Rogers media. The student intern will be charged with conducting a literature review of this field, conducting interviews and surveys in public sector work environments, and drafting a report that will be delivered to Rogers. The partner organization will gain valuable insight to a workplace that employs over three million Canadians. l

Cryptocurrency Adoption in Canada

This research project aims to help the Bank of Canada understand how people in Canada are using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Cryptocurrencies are becoming more popular, but their prices often have large fluctuations, which can make them risky to use. By studying survey data, the project will explore how Canadians include cryptocurrencies in their investments and spending. The research will focus on organizing and analyzing survey data to get a clearer picture of cryptocurrency use in Canada. The expected benefit for the Bank of Canada is better information about the risks and opportunities that cryptocurrencies present, which will help them create better policies to keep the financial system stable and secure.

Numerical Simulations for Plowing Soil Process

The industrial drainage plow is a mechanized tool used for the installation of agricultural drainage and land reclamation. This research aims to optimize the plow’s shape for various soil conditions to increase the tile installation speed and the service life, and to reduce the drag force, which will reduce the fuel consumption. Numerical methods will be used in this study to predict the performance of the drainage plow in soil, such as force, pressure distribution, topsoil placement, etc. The benefits to the partner organizations are (1) the project will give the partner organization a scientific understanding and performance of their product and (2) the partners will be able to create designs that are more fuel efficient and that have lower costs to the end customer.

L2M – A Hybrid B-Mode + Ultrafast Doppler Imaging scheme for Miniaturized High Resolution Ultrasound-Guided Tumor Resection

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than 5%, primarily due to the tumor’s high recurrence rate. The critical challenge in GBM treatment is extending patient survival while maintaining quality of life.

Current minimally invasive surgical techniques for GBM involve using endoscopic tools guided by optical microscopes and pre-operative MRI. However, these methods have significant limitations. The brain can “shift” up to 24mm during surgery, making pre-operative MRI images unreliable. Additionally, optical microscopes can only visualize the brain’s surface, limiting their usefulness during surgery. These challenges force surgeons into a difficult decision: either risk not removing enough of the tumor, reducing survivability, or remove too much healthy tissue, reducing the patient’s quality of life.

Ultrasound has emerged as a promising alternative. However, traditional ultrasound probes are often too large and low resolution for the precision required in minimally invasive brain surgeries. To address this, we have developed a high-resolution, miniaturized ultrasound imaging probe and advanced beamforming system. In our first clinical trials, this device successfully detected residual tumor missed during surgery, showcasing its potential to improve surgical outcomes.

Building on this success, we are now developing a hybrid B-mode + ultrafast Doppler imaging technique. This innovative approach aims to provide a clear view of the tumor and healthy brain tissue by highlighting their physical structures and vascular networks. By offering real-time, high-resolution images during surgery, this technology can help eliminate the guesswork in tumor resection, improving patient survival rates and quality of life.

Explainable AI Models to Predict Metabolic Cancer Biomarkers

Cancer’s persistent prevalence calls for innovative steps in early detection and therapeutic interventions. Metabolomics offers a comprehensive view of the metabolites that measure the function of cellular processes in this context. As explainable AI (XAI) emerges, it sheds light on these intricate systems’ decision-making processes and outcomes, making them accessible to human understanding.
The project aims to address the critical need for early cancer detection and treatment by advancing the field of metabolomics. Metabolic data will be analyzed to identify possible cancer diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers. The project will employ XAI techniques to enhance the interpretability of the prediction models used in medical diagnostics. This will ensure that healthcare professionals can understand and trust these complex systems’ decision-making processes. The interns will apply XAI models to metabolite features, validate their significance through pathway analysis, and strive to improve the transparency and applicability of these models in clinical settings. The ultimate goal is to contribute to personalized medicine by bridging the gap between data analytics and clinical practice.

Innovative Digital Storytelling Content on Mozaik.Global Platform for Immigrant Integration and Support

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Additive Manufacturing for Prototype Development in Prosthetic Treatment Delivery

Beacon Ortho hopes to identify and deliver additively manufactured devices to improve the patient experience, improved fit and comfort, and to reduce the extremely high amount of input waste in fabrication of prosthetic devices. This project aims to test additively manufactured trial devices against moulded thermoplastic trial devices, and composite definitive devices. Using ISO 10328 (current international standard for prosthetic device testing), we hope to validate our design workflow to ensure patient safety through destructively testing devices designed and fabricated in house over the last year.

A 3D-Printed Smart Insole for Plantar Pressure and Foot Orientation Monitoring

Imagine shoes with built-in sensors that can track how your feet move! This internship project is about developing insoles with special air pockets that sense pressure. These insoles would be 3D-printed for a perfect fit and could be worn during regular human movement. By comparing this data with existing methods like pressure plates, we’ll see if these insoles can accurately track an athlete’s movement. This could be a game-changer for sports teams and healthcare! They could use this information to design better training plans, prevent injuries before they happen, and track recovery progress. The partner organization will gain valuable data on their new technology and potentially revolutionize how athletes train and stay healthy.

Mitacs Accelerate Fellowship

The proposed research project focuses on understanding how to better prevent and respond to cholera outbreaks, particularly in impoverished areas lacking clean water and proper sanitation. Despite having the tools to prevent cholera, most efforts are reactive rather than proactive, meaning resources are often mobilized only after an outbreak occurs. The study will analyze the effectiveness of current cholera prevention and response strategies within the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements to identify best practices and areas needing improvement. The research will be conducted in three phases: reviewing existing documents and data, interviewing key stakeholders, and compiling the findings into advocacy case studies and a report. This work aims to help humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross prioritize future actions, ultimately leading to better preparedness and resource allocation to prevent cholera outbreaks before they happen.

The CRC, with its strong experience in public health and cholera response, will benefit from this project by enhancing its capacity to support other National Societies (NSs) affected by cholera. By combining in-country and remote support, CRC will provide expert WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and health advisory services, strengthening these NSs’ capacities to eliminate cholera.