Innovative Projects Realized

Explore thousands of successful projects resulting from collaboration between organizations and post-secondary talent.

30508 Completed Projects

2882
AB
5105
BC
825
MB
681
NL
860
SK
9051
ON
9491
QC
97
PE
586
NB
1141
NS

Projects by Category

Examining neural substrates of freezing of gait with structural MRI in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common brain disorder affecting movement, with one of its challenging symptoms being freezing of gait (FOG), where a person temporarily feels as though their feet are glued to the ground. Current treatments often fail to help with FOG, highlighting the need for more research. This study uses advanced MRI techniques to examine specific brain regions involved in this gait problem. By studying the responsible brain regions with the novel MRI technique, we hope to uncover the mechanisms behind the freezing of gait to identify new treatment options for this disabling symptom.
The Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario (PSSO) supports those affected by PD through various programs focused on support, education, advocacy, and research. They offer support groups, and educational resources for families and healthcare providers, and publish a bi-annual magazine. The results from our research will be shared with the PSSO community, helping to attract new donors and support ongoing efforts. With the increasing prevalence of PD in Canada, this research will provide essential educational resources and enhance support systems for patients and caregivers.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Penny MacDonald

Student:

Partner:

Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program:

Accelerate

A multiplex biosensor platform for the detection of breast cancer biomarkers

Our technology utilizes synthetic DNA designed to exclusively bind and sense specific target biomolecules. Our multiplex platform, a unique feature, consists of eight biosensors specifically targeting one breast cancer marker type. These markers, which are stage-dependent, along with diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers, represent a significant advancement in breast cancer diagnostics and subsequent care for cancer patients.
AinaTest Diagnostics is a startup created around university-based research assets. Our team is on a mission to develop a minimally invasive diagnostic device that detects several breast cancer markers in blood.
Since its establishment in 2024, AinaTest Diagnostics has been driven by a singular, powerful vision: to create a world with zero preventable deaths due to a lack of affordable and reliable breast cancer diagnostics. This vision is not just a goal, but a commitment that our team is dedicated to fulfilling.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Yang Qu

Student:

Partner:

AinaTest Diagnostics Inc.

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of New Brunswick

Program:

Accelerate

L2M – ARMIS: Autonomous Real-time Mapping and Imaging System

The ARMIS (Autonomous Real-time Mapping and Imaging System) project aims to develop an advanced indoor mapping solution utilizing cutting-edge robotics, AI, and image processing technologies to create detailed, real-time indoor maps. This system will autonomously navigate complex environments such as universities, hospitals, corporate campuses, and transportation hubs, capturing 360-degree images and processing them to blur sensitive information before uploading them to Google Street View. This innovative approach enhances navigation and operational efficiency, significantly reducing the time and resources required for manual mapping. Partner organizations will benefit from improved facility management, enhanced user experiences, and increased operational efficiency, ultimately leading to higher productivity and better service delivery.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Oscar De Silva

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Artificial Intelligence; Transportation (excluding aerospace)

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program:

Business Strategy Internship

A numerical model for circulation in the Halifax Harbour estuary system

Estuaries are coastal regions where a freshwater source meets the ocean. The influence of tides, wind, and the shape of the estuary can lead to complicated flows of water that are difficult to predict. The purpose of this project is to develop a computer simulation of the Halifax Harbour estuary. We will use the General Estuarine Transport Model (GETM), which will simulate physical phenomena at smaller scales than have previously been modelled. To confirm that the model adequately represents real physical processes, the simulations will be compared with field observations of temperature, salinity, and currents. This project is partly motivated by the ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) experiments are currently being conducted in Halifax Harbour. OAE is a climate change mitigation method where water containing dissolved alkaline minerals is added to the ocean, initiating an air-to-sea transport of carbon dioxide. A deep understanding of the circulation will be established using GETM, so that the transport of the dissolved alkaline minerals can be predicted. This project is a collaboration between Dalhousie University and IOW in Germany; Dalhousie researchers will receive training on a state-of-the-art estuary model, while IOW researchers will benefit by further testing and refining GETM for a new estuary.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ruth Musgrave

Student:

Partner:

Universität Rostock

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Education

University:

Dalhousie University

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Modélisation et caractérisation de modules photovoltaïques bifaciaux – performances en milieu enneigé

Les performances des modules PV ont considérablement évolué ces dernières années, atteignant des valeurs supérieures à 20%. Cette amélioration est due à des progrès dans l’architecture des cellules solaires, notamment pour les cellules bifaciales. L’utilisation des modules dans des conditions d’enneigement peut considérablement modifier leurs performances. Cela est dû à l’ombrage lié à la neige en surface des modules, mais également au microclimat autour du module (température, rayonnement diffus environnant, rayonnement réfléchi par le sol) et à l’orientation et à l’inclinaison des composants.
En s’appuyant sur la modélisation et les données expérimentales, ce projet de thèse vise à expliciter l’impact de la neige sur la production électrique des modules PV mono et bifaciaux, et à proposer des modes d’installation maximisant la production d’électricité annuelle.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Gwenaëlle Hamon

Student:

Partner:

INSA Lyon

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Green/Alternative Energy

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Stage Peptomyc/VHIO

C-Myc, N-Myc and L-Myc were shown to have a partially redundant function in cells. Since their
identification, extensive efforts were made to characterize their respective function at homeostasis and
their role in various infamous diseases. Still, very little is known about those proteins at a biophysical level,
except for c-MYC. Interestingly, despite being critical for their function, the three proteins present
significant difference in their Leucine Zipper (bHLHLZ).
With this short study, we propose to leverage our experience in bHLHLZ purification and biophysics to study
and compare the bHLHLZ of MYC, MYCL and MYCN with a special focus on the characterization of their
oligomeric state and their capacity to bind DNA and Max, MYC obligate partner. Through biochemical and
biophysical techniques, we aim to understand how the differences of charge and sequence can affect their
behavior and function.
During the first part of the project, the student will acquire competences in protein recombinant expression
and purification by IEC and / or affinity chromatography. He/she will then have the opportunity to develop
skills in biochemical and biophysical assays (ELISA, circular dichroism, Differential Scanning Fluorimetry,
Electro-Mobility Shift Assay, among others). Finally, the student will have the opportunity to test his/her
findings in biologically-relevant experimental models.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Pierre Lavigne

Student:

Partner:

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Pharmaceuticals

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Design and evaluation of passive chlorination for rural settings

The overall goal of the proposed project is to provide effective water treatment in the rural, mountainous area of rural Nepal, building on research that has been in progress since 2017. The technology of interest is passive chlorination, which is a low-cost system that automatically doses chlorine without requiring frequent maintenance. This proposed project specifically seeks to develop design recommendations for this unique geography and determine the best place along the water distribution system to optimize treatment. This will improve water safety in the area and provide much-needed guidance for other areas with similar geographies. This internship will take place at Eawag: Swiss Federal Institution for Aquatic Research, and be in collaboration with Helvetas-Nepal, and now, with the University of Victoria. The internship will bring a multitude of new skills and knowledge to Canada, including learning to effectively collaborate with local partners, through a social justice lens, to create the most relevant and effective engineering solution to deliver safe drinking water. Further, the applicant will bring new knowledge to Eawag, by leveraging skills learned at the University of Victoria to advance the ongoing project. This internship will also strengthen the collaborative ties between the University of Victoria and Eawag.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Caetano Dorea

Student:

Partner:

Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Water

University:

University of Victoria

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Automatic Mixed Reality Guidance for Obstetric Ulrasound in Remote and Resource Limited Settings – Globalink Research Internship at the University of Oxford, UK

Ultrasound (US) is an important diagnostic tool in healthcare, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where it is often the only available imaging modality. However, in remote and resource-limited settings, multiple barriers limit access to ultrasound including a shortage of professional sonographers and long travel distances. Teleultrasound, where non-experts perform US procedures under the guidance of a remote expert, helps overcome these barriers, yet this still relies on hiring a sonographer which is expensive and limits its applicability in LMICs. My internship with Dr. Alison Noble at the University of Oxford will focus on developing a novel machine learning model that can automatically estimate US probe pose and guide non-experts to standard US fetal imaging planes. This model will be trained on a comprehensive dataset I will collect during the internship which will be the first in the field to contain ultrasound video as well as probe orientation, position, and interaction forces. Through this research project I will gain an increasingly interdisciplinary perspective and learn from leaders in the robotics, medical imaging, and healthcare fields. This project will establish a collaboration between UBC’s Robotics and Control Laboratory and the Noble lab at Oxford, enhancing research programs in both groups.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Septimiu (Tim) Salcudean

Student:

Partner:

University of Oxford

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Artificial Intelligence; Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Globalink Research Award

Design and assessment of high-performance reusable modular wood panel structures

The current net-zero emissions by 2050 target requires carbon-neutral, long-lasting and resilient construction amidst the rapid population growth. Wood is known to be one of the most affordable and sustainable construction materials with low embodied carbon, which has been widely used across Canada. On the other hand, as British Columbia is situated in a high seismic zone, assessing the seismic performance of timber structures is of critical interest. This research aims to develop high-performance panelized modular wood-based structures. This research will address the knowledge gap related to the disassembly of light-wood-frame structures. The project team will assess the behavior of wood structures in earthquake events. Upon successful completion of the research, the research team will disseminate the research outcomes such as reports, guidelines, and other events to ensure that the design community integrates the research results into their practice.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Tony Yang

Student:

Partner:

Imperial College London

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Globalink Research Award

The Effect of Paraspinal Muscles Morphological Changes on Their Mechanical Properties

Spinal disorders constitute a significant global health concern, impacting a substantial portion of the population. Clinical studies have consistently highlighted a significant relationship between muscle dysfunction and spinal disorders, emphasizing the crucial role of paraspinal muscles in the biomechanical functioning of the spine. Previous research from our group delving into the microstructural properties of paraspinal muscles in patients with spinal deformities revealed noteworthy mechanical and morphological anomalies. To expand on these findings, this project aims to develop a 3D finite element model of paraspinal muscles, exploring how morphological changes influence mechanical properties at the whole-muscle level. Integrating this muscle model into a comprehensive spine model is anticipated to yield invaluable insights into the biomechanical functioning of the spine in individuals with spinal deformities. These insights are anticipated to play a crucial role in advancing diagnostic and treatment approaches for spinal deformities, ultimately resulting in better patient outcomes and an improved quality of life.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Thomas Oxland

Student:

Partner:

Universität Ulm

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Globalink Research Award

L2M – Generating electric power from vibrational kinetic energy in ocean industry using piezoelectric VEHs

Hybrid Piezoelectric-Electromagnetic (Piezo-EM) Vibration Energy Harvesters (VEHs) utilizing magnets and nonlinearity present an innovative solution for generating increased energy from mechanical vibrations, offering a sustainable and renewable power source for diverse applications. Our focus lies in creating innovative and highly efficient designs that enable precise tuning of the working frequency based on the specific application, as well as expanding the bandwidth to capture energy across a broader spectrum of frequencies. In this way, we concentrate on creating novel and systematic energy harvesting solutions to meet the growing demand for clean energy sources.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Lihong Zhang;Mohammad Al Janaideh

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Energy and Utilities; Ocean Tech; Technology

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program:

Business Strategy Internship

Synthèse de fluorophores à base de pigments de cuve pour l’imagerie cellulaire

Ce projet vise à investiguer la possibilité de développer de nouveaux marqueurs fluorescents, et en particulier d’adapter des marqueurs fluorescents de type anthanthrene, pour le marquage et l’imagerie de cellules vivantes par microscopie de fluorescence. 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.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jean-François Morin

Student:

Partner:

Saguaro

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université Laval

Program:

Accelerate