Innovative Projects Realized

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

13270 Completed Projects

1072
AB
2795
BC
430
MB
106
NF
348
SK
4184
ON
2671
QC
43
PE
209
NB
474
NS

Projects by Category

10%
Computer science
9%
Engineering
1%
Engineering - biomedical
4%
Engineering - chemical / biological

Disturbance thresholds and factors influencing community dynamics of epiphytic cyanolichens in Nova Scotia, with an emphasis on rare and at-risk species

The coastal wet mixedwood forests of Nova Scotia are globally important for lichen biodiversity, but several lichen species are now declining or endangered. This is concerning for forest managers, because forest companies may be subject to penalties if they inadvertently destroy the habitat of an endangered species. The causes of lichen declines are not fully understood, but hypotheses include forest harvesting, acid deposition (from SO2 emissions), and grazing pressure from slugs. I will test these hypotheses, to enhance the ability of forest managers to mitigate negative impacts in the future.
First, I will use a comprehensive cyanolichen ecological dataset, from the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute?s ?at-risk? lichen database, to test whether any critical thresholds of lichen community health correlate with clearcutting, acid rain, or gastropod grazing. This will determine which activities have the most negative impacts. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Karen Harper

Student:

Sean Haughian

Partner:

Port Hawkesbury Paper LP

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

Program:

Elevate

Fabrication of a 3 dimensional graphene/metal oxide composites membrane for water filtration

There is a demand in the market for an economical and efficient handheld seawater desalinator. The goal of this project is to develop graphene based membrane technology which will first provide a handheld personal desalinator and then be scalable to a higher flow rate single family point of use desalinator. In this direction 2 and 3 dimensional graphene/metal oxide composites membrane will be synthesized by using a low cost chemical method (Hummer) with the possibility of scale up. The size of the pores along the graphene oxide membrane will be controlled to a nanometer scale to filter the small sized Na+ and Cl- ions which are the most contributor of seawater contamination. Combining graphene oxide with metal oxide nano particles enhances the water desalinator capabilities thanks to the antimicrobial properties of metal oxide nano particles. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Shuhui Sun

Student:

Amir Hassanpour

Partner:

New Plateau Technologies

Discipline:

Journalism / Media studies and communication

Sector:

Natural resources

University:

Program:

Elevate

ABHD6 as a novel drug target for obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NASH) and cardiovascular disease (CVD)

Obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and heart diseases have skyrocketed. Controlling glucose usage and insulin balance can substantially decrease the morbidity and improve the quality of life in affected individuals. Dysfunctional insulin action and energy balance in the body is associated with excessive non-adipose fat storage, particularly in the liver, and elevated circulating lipids, which contribute to heart disease. Obesity, a primary cause of T2D, is linked with white fat build-up and gradual loss of proper action of insulin. Unlike fat-storing white fat, brown fat is thermogenic, and its calorie-burning properties can reduce fat burden in the body. Increasing the brown fat function and promoting conversion of white fat to brown-like fat help lower the calorie burden and enhance insulin function and restore normal glucose usage. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Marc Prentki

Student:

Pegah Poursharifi

Partner:

Institut de Recherches Servier

Discipline:

Food science

Sector:

Pharmaceuticals

University:

Program:

Elevate

On a characterization of thin-film silicon

The conventional form of hydrogenated amorphous silicon, prepared through plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, has proven itself to be a useful material for a wide range of device applications. It has been shown that the hydrogen atoms that reside within hydrogenated amorphous silicon are responsible for its favorable electronic properties, these hydrogen atoms passivating the dangling bonds that are present within this material. Unfortunately, these hydrogen atoms are also believed to be responsible for a reversible instability, known as the Staebler-Wronski effect, which occurs within this material upon exposure to light. Given that the concentration of hydrogen atoms within device-quality hydrogenated amorphous silicon is about 50 times greater than the concentration of dangling bonds, one can conclude that there is a great excess of hydrogen atoms within hydrogenated amorphous silicon. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Stephen O'Leary

Student:

Saeed Moghaddam

Partner:

Bare Root Science

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Nanotechnologies

University:

Program:

Accelerate

SWAVE Ultrasound Elastography

Organ health is often tested today by biopsy, which involves placing a needle into the body and taking a small tissue sample for analysis in a lab. Researchers at the University of British Columbia invented a new technique to measure the health of tissue without a needle. This technique is called Shear Wave Absolute Vibro-Elastography (SWAVE) and it measures tissue elasticity by recording the small shear waves that result when tissue is vibrated with a loudspeaker-like device pressed against the skin. Fast moving shear waves are found in hard tissue, and slow moving shear waves are found in soft tissue. Many diseases, like cancer or fibrosis, also often cause soft healthy tissue to change into hard tissue. Therefore, SWAVE can measure tissue health by comparing the measured value of a particular patient?s tissue elasticity/stiffness to a known range of healthy to diseased values.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Purang Abolmaesumi

Student:

Mohammad Honarvar

Partner:

Sonic Incytes Medical Corp.

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Patient localization and identification using a Bluetooth-based sensor network

In general, hospital based medical personnel usually have little or no objective data describing an individual patient?s pre, intra and post-operative (perioperative) movement and activity. We are developing low cost and easily deployable technologies to monitor patient activity patterns and the associated intensities. We want to objectively identify medically important indicators of normal versus abnormal postoperative evolution. We want to use low-cost wearable accelerometers and other wearable sensors, along with sensors attached to walking aids, and environmental sensors to gain a better understanding of progression of patient mobility preoperatively and postoperatively. Using Bluetooth technology, we seek to determine a suitable system design and algorithms to locate and identify patient(s) in their hospital rooms, and eventually, on the hospital floor. We would also like to use Bluetooth technology to synchronize, communicate, and fuse with various other sensor data. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Shahram Payandeh

Student:

Nasreen Mohsin

Partner:

Xerus Medical Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program:

Accelerate

The Praxis of Agroecology: Sharing Knowledge and Engaging Policy

This research represents the evolution of an existing partnership between USC Canada and Food: Globally Embedded, Locally Engaged (FLEdGE), a SSHRC Partnership Grant project conducting community-based research on sustainable food systems. The intern will work with these partners to explore the theory and action of agroecology and food sovereignty at the global level and the implications this may have for the future of food systems in Canada. Through primary and secondary research, this project aims to explore the successes and limitations of agroecology in order to expand this work in Canada. The outcomes will benefit USC Canada by increasing their research capacity, assisting in data analysis and knowledge dissemination while also building connections to researcher and policy-maker partners through FLEdGE. Agroecology has the potential to transform Canada?s food system to be more healthy, equitable, and sustainable, qualities which are increasingly important for the longevity and success of Canadian agriculture.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Charles Levkoe

Student:

Julia Laforge

Partner:

USC Canada

Discipline:

Kinesiology

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Lakehead University

Program:

Accelerate

Novel applications of technology to Arctic wildlife research and management

The Arctic can be a challenging place to conduct wildlife research and thus a difficult place for scientists and wildlife managers operate. However, technological advances are constantly being made that could have applications in the north. These new technologies, improvements in existing technology, or novel applications have the potential to make Arctic research less expensive, safer for researchers, animals and the environment, and improve data quality or coverage. With any new process that involves wildlife there is a need for extensive validation. Our research will explore these novel applications to study Arctic species and provide managers of these resources valuable practical tools.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jane Waterman

Student:

Paige Bissonnette

Partner:

Assiniboine Park Zoo

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Large-scale production and photostabilization of microparticle and nanoparticle-based delivery vehicles for plant immune aids

New approaches are required to secure our food supply in response to the growing world population, rapid diversification of pests, and accelerating weather-related impacts of climate change. Suncor has recently developed a new category of plant immune aids that activate a plant?s native immune system to induce a range of beneficial responses, including greater resistance to both pest-based and weather-based environmental stresses, while avoiding some of the downstream challenges associated with existing pesticide and fertilizer use. Through this collaboration with Dr. Todd Hoare’s lab at McMaster, these immune response triggering chemicals will be formulated into nano/microparticle-based controlled release vehicles that can provide longer-term protection for the plant (minimizing the dose required and the frequency of required re-application for the farmer) while overcoming some of the current challenges with promoting immune aid transport into plants and stabilizing the immune triggering chemicals in sunlight. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Todd Hoare

Student:

Lisha Zhao

Partner:

Suncor Energy Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Enhancing Nurses’ Role in Opioid Stewardship – Implications for health policy, practice advocacy) and patient safety

Multiple national strategies have been developed address the opioid crisis, however, Canada still remains the second largest consumer of prescription opioids. These drugs can have negative effects on consumers because they have addictive properties so therefore consumers may become addicted to these drugs if there are not taken as prescribed. For other drug classes such as antimicrobials, there have been programs developed to improve prescribing and hence patient outcomes. These programs are collectively called antimicrobial stewardship programs and usually promote cooperation between health professionals. However, most programs do not specify how nurses can promote safe prescribing and they usually are under-utilized in these programs, although it has been shown that these programs lead to better patient outcomes e.g. reduced hospital-acquired infections. For opioids, the concept of stewardship is quite ill-defined so not surprisingly nursing roles in opioid stewardship are also under-utilized. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Lianne Jeffs

Student:

Chantelle Bailey

Partner:

Canadian Nurses Association

Discipline:

Nursing

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program:

Elevate

Investigating the Role of Cannabis Derived Phytocannabinoid Formulations for the Development of Novel Mental Health Pharmacotherapies

Cannabinoid phytochemicals derived from the marijuana plant are increasingly being recognized for their potential in treating a wide variety of mental health conditions. For example, specific compounds found in marijuana such as THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are showing promise as pharmacological treatments for disorders including schizophrenia, anxiety, depression and PTSD. However, very little is understood regarding the underlying neurobiological and molecular mechanisms by which these treatments may produce their clinical effects. Our collaborative project is examining how specific phytochemicals in marijuana, with a focus on THC and CBD, may serve to improve symptoms associated with these mental health problems, using a variety of pre-clinical, translational neuroscience research techniques. Together with our industrial partner, Algae Dynamics, the goal of our research is to identify and produce specific cannabinoid oil formulations with ratios of THC and CBD that selectively target specific symptoms associated with these complex diseases. TO BE CONT’D

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Steven Laviolette

Student:

Roger Hudson

Partner:

Algae Dynamics Corp

Discipline:

Visual arts

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program:

Accelerate

Core Values & Core Work: Recognizing the Person in the Employee

An organization’s greatest strength are employees who live their values, who feel valued, and whose ideas are valuable to the continued success of their workplace. On an individual level, the alignment of personal values with the work undertaken is essential to achieve personal and professional potential as well as job satisfaction and general well-being.
In the current study we assess engineering employee?s core values and how they are realized in their work environment by applying a multi-method approach. Furthermore, links will be drawn from the alignment of these values to the employee’s job satisfaction and also between employees? personality traits and values.
Envisioned outcomes include discovering how engineering employees’ values align with their roles/positions and what that means for the impact on society they can have. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Kristen Dunfield

Student:

Astrid Kleis

Partner:

Engineers Without Borders Canada

Discipline:

Psychology

Sector:

University:

Program:

Accelerate

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