Innovative Projects Realized

Endothelial-fibroblastic cell interactions in fibrosis

Organ fibrosis contributes to the top 10 causes of death in Canada, affects >6.5M North Americans, consumes >$25 billion in global healthcare expenses, and is a major burden for patients, families, and our society. One of the main signals driving fibrosis is persistent and excessive production of the growth factor TGF-beta. The Hinz lab identified vascular endothelial cells as a major and yet poorly characterized source of TGF-beta. We propose that, in response to injury and inflammation, endothelial cells ‘hand-over’ active TGF-beta to closely associated perivascular ‘fibroblasts’. Stimulated by TGF-beta, perivascular fibroblasts continuously secrete and contract collagen matrix into stiff fibrotic scar. This undergraduate project aims at deciphering the mechanisms of TGF-beta presentation by endothelial cells and reception by fibroblasts in the perivascular niche to reveal new potential targets for anti-fibrosis therapies.

Developing and validating an anonymization copilot

Training artificial intelligence and machine learning (AIML) models requires a large amount of data. However, access to data for AIML projects has been problematic in practice, largely due to privacy concerns. One approach to enable data sharing and data access is to anonymize the data. However, in the Canadian context, a national standard and a unified definition of concepts such as anonymization, de-identification, and non-personal information do not currently exist. This makes it difficult for privacy professionals to determine what is the appropriate anonymization process to follow and has resulted in a shortage of professionals across the country with the expertise to perform effective anonymization.
The purpose of this project is to use the GPT-4 large language model (LLM) to develop and validate a customized Canadian anonymization copilot to guide professionals through the anonymization process. The use of LLMs to support professionals is a research area that is showing a lot of promise. This copilot would enable privacy professionals to understand how to anonymize data and would generate ready-to-use anonymization plans for them.

Effets du développement sur le comportement de la grenouille Xenopus laevis: transposition du concept de biais posé par l’évo-dévo dans le domaine du comportement animal.

L’évo-dévo est un champ interdisciplinaire en biologie qui part de l’étude du développement embryonnaire pour retracer l’apparition de caractéristiques chez les espèces et leur évolution. Il pose l’idée qu’il existe des biais pendant le développement d’un organisme qui délimitent le champ des possibles (nous n’aurons jamais des roues à la place des jambes). Puisque la sélection naturelle agit sur ces traits, ces biais définissent la direction de l’évolution.
Mon projet cherche à transposer ce concept au comportement animal. En commençant par établir que des biais agissent sur celui-ci pendant le développement. Je chercherai à mesurer la variabilité du comportement chez des grenouilles (Xenopus laevis) juste après leur développement au stade têtard (après l’embryogenèse) et adulte (après la métamorphose).
Outre la transposition des concepts d’évo-devo dans le domaine du comportement, ce travail apporterait un regard sur le comportement des juvéniles, complétant les travaux en comportement qui portent davantage sur le stade adulte. Enfin, comprendre la variabilité comportementale des amphibiens est important dans un contexte où l’adaptabilité comportementale peut leur permettre de faire face aux changements climatiques. La collaboration entre l’UdeM et le Musée d’histoire naturelle m’apportera des expertises en comportement et évolution et servirait à établir des liens entre ces institutions.

Enhancing Data Security and Privacy in IoMT based Healthcare Services

Healthcare has been completely transformed by the spread of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices, which present before unheard-of possibilities for monitoring, diagnosis, and therapy. Since healthcare data is sensitive, these solutions must ensure authorized access to data while maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and the availability of resources. The underlying security vulnerabilities in IoMT systems can compromise the safety and privacy of patients, cause unauthorized data access and breaches, result in service disruptions, and violate regulatory requirements. Thus, implementing robust data security solutions in such systems is essential for their wide adoption. 

In this project, we will research and develop methods to automate repetitive data security tasks, automate the process to identify unauthorized access to data, and develop data-centric access control solutions. We aim to study, develop, and optimize encryption techniques to meet the computing requirements of the HealthSign smart wristband. All methods, protocols, and software developed during this project will benefit from the fact that they will be evaluated and validated on a real-world IoMT device by the partner organization and will also contribute to the knowledge base of cybersecurity pertinent to IoMT devices.

Effects of floodgates on growth and survival of out-migrating juvenile salmon

Flood control structures such as floodgates and dikes have created numerous small-scale barriers for Pacific salmon in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia restricting access to historical fish habitat. Floodplains
were historically used as overwintering habitats by juvenile coho and Chinook salmon, making them critical to the growth and survival of these species. Lack of connectivity to overwintering habitats may lead to early
outmigration of juvenile salmon to estuaries where they may be too small to compete for habitat and resources with other species and make them easy targets for predators. This study is comparing three different types of floodgate structures, which vary in their ability to allow water exchange between offchannel areas and the river, and their ability to pass juvenile salmon. We will assess over-winter survival and
and growth using PIT tag tracking and relate these features to environmental factors in each floodplain. Our results can be used to inform habitat managers about how best to design and implement flood control
structures that best protect juvenile salmon.

FUTURi Power Inc.

FUTURi is looking to launch its first product later this year, and is looking for business students with an interest in tech/sustainability to assist with the go-to-market strategy.

PetDrifts Market Launch 2

PetDifts is launching smart collars to the market. This project includes managing business operations like partner with retail pet shops and other pet communities in Canada, and testing the smart collars before and after launching to the market for accuracy and efficiency.

Système de Télésanté Intégré pour la Prévention et la Gestion Précoce des Maladies Cardiovasculaires

Selon l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS), les troubles cardiovasculaires représentent la première cause de décès dans le monde et la deuxième au Canada. En raison de la pandémie de COVID-19, le taux de mortalité lié à ces maladies a augmenté, ce qui a rendu la télésanté indispensable pour assurer la sécurité des patients et des professionnels de santé. Notre projet se concentre sur le développement et l’implémentation d’un système de télésanté intégré, axé sur la prévention et la gestion précoce des maladies cardiovasculaires à base de l’intelligence artificielle. Ce système permettra aux professionnels de santé de suivre les patients à distance et en temps réels et d’intervenir rapidement en cas d’alerte, assurant ainsi une prise en charge optimale et rapide. Vitalité à sélectionner et valider les technologies portables, en mettant l’accent sur la technologie BraveHeart Wireless Cela permettra une surveillance précise et continue des paramètres biométriques des patients, améliorant ainsi les résultats en santé et réduisant les coûts des soins.

Prompty Launch: Feature Improvement and Development

Prompty is a 100% indigenous owned technology start-up located in Calgary, Alberta. This corporation combines modern technologies, gamification, and decades of experience within the conference and events industry to provide connectivity solutions that are authentic, enjoyable, sustainable, and secure. The objective of this project is to assist Prompty in establishing a trusted brand identity by creating a functional and dependable digital platform during the company’s crucial initial launch phase.

Visual programming for public engagement in natural resource management

Sustainable fisheries typically require well-designed management systems that are developed collaboratively with communities, fishers, and stakeholders. Thus, developing such systems requires putting engagement and science communication on equal footing with the technical and quantitative aspects of science. This project will investigate novel integration of existing software platforms to produce user-friendly toolkits that democratize access to foundational fishery science by technical and non-technical audiences alike. The products of this project will lead to nimble integration of technical advice with substantive facilitation and audience engagement, along with opportunities for self-directed learning and access to curated aspects of fishery science that support natural resource management.

Changements climatiques et productivité forestière

Depuis 2005, la possibilité annuelle forestière au Québec est calculée par le Forestier en Chef à l’aide de logiciels perfectionnés qui utilisent des données empiriques pour prédire les volumes de bois futurs. WSP est souvent appelé à travailler sur ces calculs. Cette méthode supporte l’hypothèse que ces conditions vont se maintenir au court des rotations futures. Or d’importants changements climatiques et atmosphériques (CC et CA) sont prévus dans les prochaines années. Cette hypothèse apparait donc obsolète. Dans les pessières à mousse, la productivité ligneuse dépend principalement de la disponibilité en azote (N). Les sources de N pour la forêt boréale sont limitées à la pollution atmosphérique et à la fixation biologique du N2 (FBN). Cette dernière peut atteindre 50% des apports annuels en N. Bien que certaines études aient démontrées que les cyanobactéries des mousses étaient très sensibles aux CC et CA, ce processus a été peu étudié. Ce projet a pour objectif de combler ces lacunes.

Toronto Centre of Learning and Development Business Strategy Internship

This project, through the development of designs for the Toronto Centre of Learning and Development, aims to create products as well as educational tools. The specific product designs developed during this period can act as a launch point for social enterprise that could be taken direct to market, or used as a foundation to further develop products for the market. Additionally, these tools will be educational thus equipping the community of the CL&D with a design thinking process that enables them to create their own economic opportunities.