Innovative Projects Realized

Cost-effectiveness of a synchronized care clinic for cardiometabolic therapies

Patients with type 2 diabetes are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, including stroke or heart failure. Newer medications can improve cardiometabolic health for patients with diabetes. But many clinicians are not yet comfortable prescribing these guideline-directed medications, and other clinicians are only comfortable after patients see several specialists. As a result, many patients do not receive guideline-directed medications, while others face long delays in beginning therapies. At the McGill University Health Centre, an innovative quickly and safely initiate guideline-directed therapies. In this new model, patients see three specialists at each appointment to efficiently adjust other medications and ensure safe initiation. In this project, we will use a simulation model to estimates outcomes for diabetes patients with and without guidelinedirected therapies. Using the model, we will estimate the clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness of this synchronized care model for patients with type 2 diabetes.

3D organoid model: a new window in research of neurodegenerative disorders

Selective Compression of Live Digital Video Frames for Power-friendly Wireless Transmission and Efficient Reconstruction

The project is aimed at implementing real-time processing techniques for video acquisition, compression and transmission. The project focuses on defining solutions in order to solve constraints within the system related to bandwidth and the battery energy of the sensor. Depending on the application, the acquisition and compression procedures could be based on extracting significant features and compressing them in a lossless fashion followed by data transmission over a wireless channel. The real-time transmission of data within the available bandwidth would be implemented so as to maximize the battery life while transmitting enough bits over the channel for an accurate image reconstruction. Specially tailored schemes for image recovery would be investigated such that the reconstructed image at the server and those streamed to the authorized end users would meet a certain high level quality. Furthermore, the algorithm would be automated to make it more adaptable under various conditions. These processes are relevant to the development of real-time machine vision sensor devices which have goals of energy conservation and ease of technological use.

Révolutionner la gestion de la douleur totale en soins palliatifs oncologiques : Une approche intégrative pharmacogénomique-spirituelle.

La «douleur totale» en soins palliatifs oncologiques, englobant la douleur physique, psychologique, sociale et spirituelle, représente un défi majeur. Sa gestion souvent sous-optimale conduit à une détérioration de la qualité de vie des patients. Ce projet vise à proposer une approche novatrice combinant deux disciplines très différentes : la pharmacogénomique et la théologie spirituelle. Les objectifs sont de: 1) Explorer, par une étude qualitative, les besoins non satisfaits en matière de gestion de la souffrance globale chez les personnes atteintes de cancer métastatique afin d’optimiser le soulagement de la souffrance; 2) Cerner, auprès des professionnels.lles de la santé travaillant dans les soins palliatifs, les enjeux actuels liés à la prise en charge de la souffrance globale des patients.es.
Ce projet vise à révolutionner les pratiques actuelles de prise en charge des symptômes douloureux, souvent limitées à des approches médicamenteuses ou spirituelles isolées et insuffisantes pour améliorer la qualité de vie des patients. Une équipe pluridisciplinaire internationale a été formée afin de développer une approche innovante et holistique visant le traitement de la personne malade dans sa globalité en oncologie, améliorant ainsi la qualité des soins et la qualité de vie des patients avec une intervention précoce, personnalisée et ciblée.

Water quality and community attitudes at three sites of inaccessible water

Recreational waters offer many benefits to society and public health. However, they can become risky when contaminated by disease-causing microbes. To ensure public safety, water quality is monitored at developed recreational water locations in compliance with the Canadian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines. In the interests of improving quality of life and local water quality, municipal and community groups including partner organization Swim Drink Fish work to identify new locations for recreational water on Burrard Inlet. This project comprises two sub-projects. One monitors microbial levels at potential sites for development, helping build a database for future use. The other surveys nearby residents to understand their connection to water, barriers they face in access, and their desires for better access to water in their neighborhood. The two subprojects are connected by the site-specific data on water quality and the relationship that locals have with water.

Wind-enhanced interfacial evaporation for volume reduction of highly concentrated slurries

The volumetric reduction of tailings is required to exert volumetric control on these ponds and shorten the timeline required for the reclamation of the lands occupied by the ponds. In this project we propose to harvest wind energy for fast interfacial evaporation to speed up drying process and volume reduction of highly concentrated waste slurries.

Mieux gérer l’occupation du sol pour atténuer les impacts du changement climatique à l’aide d’imagerie satellitaire

Le changement climatique augmente la fréquence et l’intensité des évènements climatiques extrêmes : inondations, ilots de chaleur urbain, sécheresses, etc. Dans l’analyse et la gestion de ces phénomènes, l’évolution de l’occupation du sol est souvent négligée tant l’attention est concentrée sur l’impact du climat. Cependant, la croissance démographique et l’étalement urbain engendrent une croissance urbaine et péri-urbaine sans précédent, dont les conséquences aggravent les effets du changement climatique.
L’objectif de ce projet est de développer de nouvelles méthodes de quantification des surfaces imperméabilisées dans les zones urbaines et péri-urbaines et de développer des scénarios de stratégie de gestion de l’occupation du sol afin d’estimer les impacts de croissance urbaine et péri-urbaine sur les inondations et les ilots de chaleur urbain.

L2M – Product Design and Market Outreach to help Auto Repair Shops Automate Customer Engagement

Mxpert is working on a project to create a new system that makes it easier for auto repair shops to connect with their customers. This system will help shops schedule appointments, send reminders, and keep customers updated in a really simple and automatic way. For the repair shops that work with us, this means less time spent on the phone and more time fixing cars and expanding business. Overall, this project is all about making things smoother and more efficient for both the auto repair shops and their customers, which should help the shops attract more business and keep their customers happy.

L2M – Innovating Concussion Management with Head First Network

Head First Network is on a mission to enhance concussion awareness and safety within the student-athlete community. By prioritizing education, we aim to empower athletes with the knowledge and resources necessary to effectively manage concussions, guiding them toward the appropriate professional support. Our comprehensive approach extends to coaches and teams, equipping them with the tools to recognize concussions and understand their significant impact. Through targeted interviews with athletes, influencers, and healthcare professionals, we’ve shaped our services to meet the nuanced needs of our community. Head First Network is dedicated to building a culture of safety and awareness, ensuring athletes, coaches, and teams are prepared to address the challenges of concussions with confidence and care.

Optimization of test protocols to investigate material influences on the fuel cell performance caused by material handling

In Early 2013, an NSERC Engage grant and a Coop term project enabled collaboration between Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. Fuel Cell Division (MBFC) and Dr. Merida’s group at the University of British Columbia (UBC). A test-bench apparatus for the evaluation of fuel cell material properties during manufacturing processes was designed. The present proposal builds on the previous activities and aims to make the test-bench apparatus available for material pre-qualification. MBFC will benefit from participating in this collaboration by obtaining a functional and validate test-bench for the assessment of the current and future materials, and a developed test procedure to generate material specifications and to assure material quality during a large scale production. Furthermore, this procedure will be a base-line-test-procedure with high functional relevance for material suppliers. The outcome of these tests will speed up the material development process and the comparability of the development stages. The activities described in this proposal are of critical important and represent the first step towards the preparation of a Patent and a Standard test method for Fuel Cell Industry

L2M-Pucktive

Pucktive is a protective hockey apparel company. We make and sell cut-resistant hockey apparel that players wear underneath their equipment to protect themselves from being cut by skates. Hockey is a fast-paced contact sport played with skates on your feet with sharp metal blades. These blades can cause serious injuries and in some cases death. Pucktive aims to create innovative gear for hockey players to wear to provide better performance and cut protection than the current market offerings. With the growth of our brand, we hope to prevent all future skate-related hockey injuries.

L2M – Electroless nickel-phosphorus composite coating for molding application

The proposed project aims to develop an electroless nickel-phosphorus composite coating for tire molds to address common issues such as product sticking and damage during demolding. By applying this coating, we aim to provide semi-permanent protection and anti-sticking properties to the molds, reducing the need for frequent application of releasing agents. This innovation is expected to streamline production processes, reduce material costs, and minimize workforce waste. Additionally, the coating’s superior properties, including anti-friction, roughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance, promise enhanced tire mold performance and longevity. Overall, the project’s success will benefit the partner organization by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing product quality.