Innovative Projects Realized

Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter – Ultrafast Electron Diffraction Experiments and Software for Experimental Control

Ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) is an established tool to record atomic motion on very short timescales well below one picosecond. The sample, typically less than 100 nanometers thick, is first excited with an optical pump-pulse leading to the rearrangement of its atomic or molecular constituents. Subsequently, the structural changes are probed by a short electron pulse which scatters off the sample to form an interpretable diffraction pattern on a distant detector. By setting a time delay between the pump-pulse and the probe-pulse, different time points of the dynamical rearrangements of the excited sample can be recorded allowing the creation of animated molecular movements. This project utilizes UED to investigate fast dynamics in organic crystals, semiconductors, and high-temperature superconductors. However, these experiments require precise and accurate control of its hardware components. Inspired by existing software systems employed at leading accelerators and synchrotron facilities, a smaller-scale communication protocol needs to be developed to remotely control the hardware components to perform the experiment and analyze the data. This project strives to create a robust and intuitive UED system to tackle challenges in understanding fast dynamics and their implications for the functioning of future engineering materials.

Understanding crystallization mechanisms of Covalent Organic Frameworks

Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Remote Sensing

Mermaid: A PET Prototype for Adult Zebrafish – Practical Applications and Optimization

Development of scaled-up patient-specific aneurysm models for accurate in vitro MRI

Designing a sensor fusion adaptive system for task load estimation in an Interactive Virtual Reality

Développement d’un dérivé aminostéroïde comme anticancéreux sélectif

Durant ce projet de recherche, nous proposons différentes expériences (in vitro et in vivo) qui aideront à mettre en évidence le potentiel d’une molécule de type aminostéroïde pour traiter le cancer de façon sélective. Une preuve de concept in vivo sur une molécule candidate sélectionnée, montrant une sélectivité d’action suite à des essais in vitro, viendra valider le potentiel de cette famille d’anticancéreux sélectifs et permettra de progresser vers les études cliniques en compagnie du partenaire pharmaceutique (Amplia Pharma Tek et NÉOMED).

Low cost air quality sensor measurements in indoor environments

Time spent in homes and in transport micro-environments contribute significantly the exposure to air pollutants. Air quality is significantly impacted by the increased green house gas emissions and effects of climate change. However, concentrations in many of these are poorly quantified and challenging to monitor due to limited space, power and Wifi accessibility. This project will help to adapt, develop and test battery operated sensors from commercially available manufacturers to optimize their use in different environments. Work will also include the development of machine learning models to predict concentrations to establish the influence of different sources. The expected benefits is being able to support public health and environment of large residential cities by developing sensors that enable concentration prediction to better analyze air quality.

Diagnostic du cycle de l’eau et sources de contamination en contexte de forçage anthropique extrême : cas du ruisseau Rousse, Québec

Les ressources en eau subissent des pressions croissantes mondialement en raison du changement climatique, de l’agriculture intensive et de la croissance démographique. D’ici 2050, la majorité des bassins versants pourraient être en situation critique et il devient crucial de développer des outils pour en faire le diagnostic. Dans les Basses-Laurentides, le bassin du Ruisseau Rousse est un exemple illustrant cette problématique. La dégradation de la Grande Baie, un marais dans le parc national d’Oka, témoigne des pressions en amont. Le ruisseau est influencé par des activités agricoles et agroalimentaires, réduisant le soutien des eaux souterraines et causant la pollution. Ce projet vise à diagnostiquer le cycle de l’eau et la pollution sur le bassin du ruisseau Rousse, en vue de proposer des solutions adaptées à l’échelle du bassin versant pour préserver la Grande Baie.

Evaluation of pharmacist’s prescription of topical skin medications.

A new minor ailment prescribing service was recently launched in Ontario community pharmacies to relieve healthcare system strain. Five of the nineteen minor ailments are skin-related. Importantly, prescriptions for topical skin disease treatment vary widely and constitute a major reason for visits to primary care. Quality prescribing in this area improves outcomes and reduces healthcare system burden. The latter was the goal of the expanded service’s scope. This project will provide early real-world data on pharmacist topical treatment prescribing, compare it to physician practices, and uncover any variation or gaps in prescribing using provincial health data. This collaboration between physicians, pharmacists, patients, and methodologists at the University of Toronto and Women’s College Hospital will leverage expertise to develop a strong evaluation framework for pharmacist-led prescribing for skin-related minor ailments, aiming at developing educational tools for pharmacists to improve prescribing practices and contribute to better patient care.

Innovation Studies To Enhance Testing Services

The project between Plato Testing Inc. and NBCC has been built to support
indigenous students of the software testing program to gain industry experience and utilize the skills they have
developed in class. The software testing industry is ever growing, and requires talented students with an
understanding of programming and software development to make software market ready. Interns will work with
companies software to further develop it and make it ready for application. As well, these interns are expected
to gain opportunity for future careers with these companies.

Enhancing EEG Data Analysis and Brain Health monitoring through Self-Supervised Learning and Corticothalamic Modeling

Sleep is a central function of many species, and is studied widely in neurophysiology and computational neuroscience, yet its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The common method for recording brain activity during sleep is polysomnography (PSG) which is expensive to operate and can prove to be heavy and bothersome for the recording subjects. In recent years, low-cost and lightweight mobile EEG (mEEG) headsets have revolutionized sleep assessments by democratizing the access to sleep EEG. Another considerable development in the field has been the development of mathematical models of brain physiology that can, crucially, simulate EEG activity. In this project, we will combine the use of a semi-supervised learning method and a neurophysiological model of the corticothalamic circuitry to extract explainable representations of the sleep data and identify significant biomarkers of healthy and disordered states of the brain.