Innovative Projects Realized

Probiotics in endurance exercise performance

The gut microbiota comprises all bacteria inhabiting the intestines and has been shown to play a significant role in both health and disease. Although previously overlooked, new research shows that both the gut microbiota
and their metabolites may influence exercise performance. Probiotic supplementation has been shown to have a small but significant positive effect on endurance exercise performance, however, this research area is still in its
infancy and much about this relationship—including the underlying mechanisms responsible for the performance enhancing effects of probiotics—remains unknown. Therefore, this project aims to better understand how
probiotics affect endurance performance by employing a 4-wek probiotic intervention in trained cyclists. This research will contribute to the growing area of gut microbiota and exercise science research and may help lay
the groundwork for the future development of probiotic supplements targeting exercise performance.

Méthode d’analyse cinématique dans le domaine des sports aériens

Dans les sports aériens (parachutisme, parapente, bodyflight, gymnastique, etc.) l’obtention de données télémétriques fiables est nécessaire à l’amélioration du processus d’entraînement à tous les niveaux, des sportifs débutants aux champions du monde. La télémétrie peut être utilisée pour l’évaluation de figures acrobatique, la performance, ainsi que pour améliorer la sécurité des sports aériens. À ce jour, l’évaluation des données relatives aux sports aériens reste très qualitative, en raison des difficultés qui découlent des conditions dans lesquelles ces sports sont pratiqués. Des systèmes de mesure inertielle ont été développés ces dernières années, et semblent être une solution peu coûteuse et facile à utiliser pour l’analyse de mouvement. Cependant, ces systèmes ont certaines limitations liées au bruit des signaux, au phénomène de dérive pour l’estimation d’une position/orientation, et au désalignement entre les axes des capteurs et ceux des segments de corps. Ce projet vise à éliminer ces barrières technologiques afin de proposer une méthode de mesure et d’analyse du mouvement pendant les sports aériens qui peut être utilisée dans différents contextes liés à l’optimisation de la performance.

Regeneration of ABS material by compounding from recycled SAN produced via a solvent-base green recycling process

This project is associated to the creation of a circular economy around styrene-based plastics such as polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer (SAN) and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) terpolymer. Polystyvert has
developed a technology that transform ABS post-consumer materials that come from electronics, car parts, toys ect. in a recycled SAN (rSAN) of high purity. This solvent-based technology is green and non-destructive using
dissolution and subsequent precipitation technique. ABS has a complex architecture made of SAN as stiff matrix and dispersed polybutadiene rubber particles that provide impact properties. Herein, the present investigation will
tackle the challenge of making ABS from rSAN by means of hot blends with virgin and recycled rubber. In a last stage, the produced rABS formulations would be evaluated in term of cost and sustainability for further
commercialization.

A Novel Solvent-free Approach for Production of Bean Protein Fractions

The fast-growing market demand for food products with high nutritional qualities requires innovative and sustainable technologies. The proposed process employs an electrostatic technique to selectively charge proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, and other components in the bean flour and separate them based on the magnitude and type of their charge. The proposed methodology produces protein-rich flour from beans without using solvents or chemicals which significantly reduces the capital and operating costs. It preserves the bio-functionality of the protein, and averts the likelihood of toxic microbial contamination common in currently used wet processes. This proposal aims to build on the knowledge garnered in the previous proof-of-concept project, funded by Mitacs Accelerate. Motivated by the promising preliminary results, the industrial partner, Advanced CERT Canada, is willing to conduct process optimization, fine-tunning, and scale-up studies to move towards designing and evaluating a pilotscale (dry) protein extraction plant.

Nouveaux domaines thérapeutiques pour la commercialisation des médicaments : Une analyse comparative de l’ETS au Canada, au Royaume-Uni et en Amérique latine

Cette recherche vise à identifier les nouveaux domaines thérapeutiques d’intérêt pour le marché canadien, ainsi qu’à évaluer les principales différences entre les processus d’évaluation des technologies de la santé au Canada, au Royaume-Uni et en Amérique latine.

Les études et recommandations de remboursement publiées au cours des cinq dernières années par les organismes d’évaluation des technologies de la santé du Canada, du Royaume-Uni et de l’Amérique latine seront évaluées sous la forme d’une revue de la littérature. Les examens des remboursements seront évalués à l’aide d’un modèle d’extraction de données. Les domaines d’extraction de données incluront les besoins actuels et émergents non satisfaits, ainsi que les facteurs cliniques et économiques contribuant à une recommandation de remboursement. Après l’extraction des données, les informations seront analysées pour déterminer les nouveaux domaines thérapeutiques d’intérêt sur les marchés canadien, britannique et latino-américain, les principales justifications cliniques et économiques des recommandations de remboursement positives et négatives, ainsi que les similitudes et les différences entre les organismes d’évaluation des technologies de la santé.

Stratigraphic Architecture of a Carbon Sequestration Target: Aquistore Site, Saskatchewan

This project will train a Master’s geology student to use a variety of geological and geophysical datasets and concepts to define the stratigraphic architecture of deeply buried sandstones used for CO2 sequestration at the Aquistore site in Saskatchewan. The extent to which these sandstones form a single continuous body, or are compartmentalized, will affect their ability to transmit and store the injected gas. These characteristics were defined nearly 500 million years ago when these strata were deposited. Results will inform ongoing monitoring and modeling efforts at Aquistore whereas the methods will be transferable to other proposed CO2 sequestration sites in Canada and abroad.

Generating Synthetic Bank Transaction Sequences with GAN-based Models

Financial institutions gather vast amounts of data from our transactions. However, using this data directly can risk our privacy. A potential solution is generating “synthetic data”, which contains real data information without copying the original data. Generating this data, especially for bank transaction sequences, is challenging. During our research internship, we will use recent developments in deep generative models to design a generative model that can create high-quality bank transaction sequences. This research project opens doors for Verafin to team up with outside experts and lets them show potential clients how their product works using realistic, risk-free examples.

A proposed hybrid machine learning model for fault-type classification and detection in a 10 MW wind farm based on synchrophasor and weather data

Incorporating renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar farms, have posed a challenge to electrical engineers due to their intermittent nature as the time and amount of energy generated depends on the weather. For this reason, grid stability and predicting the behaviour of renewables has been increasingly more important. In this study, we propose to train a machine learning algorithm on weather data, synchrophasor readings (voltage, current, and phase), and turbine monitoring data from a 10 MW wind farm located in PEI to detect and classify faults in their wind turbines. We will use the algorithm to develop a protection plan for their wind turbines based on these results.

Targeting TRAF1 in psoriatic arthritis

There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and current treatments aim at reducing inflammation, slowing the progression of the disease, and avoiding severe damage to the skin and joints. Immune cells contribute to inflammatory cascades in the joints and the skin that produce inflammatory cytokines and lead to severe tissue damage. Current therapies are geared towards modulating the patient’s immune response or blocking the action of specific cytokines; unfortunately, many patients do not respond to treatment or suffer from significant side effects. This necessitates the development of new therapies that would specifically target the immune components that are involved in PsA pathogenesis and “pump the brakes” on their ability to produce the damaging cytokines.

TRAF1 is a protein linked with increased risk for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. Dr. Abdul-Sater’s lab has recently discovered that this protein is important for cytokine production in immune cells. Dr. Abdul-Sater’s team created a modified version of this protein that improved its ability to limit inflammation and block cytokine production. In this proposal, and in collaboration with the Krembil Foundation, Dr. Abdul-Sater will test whether modifying this protein the same way in PsA patient cells will reduce their ability to produce damaging cytokines…

Market and Technology Roadmap Validation Framework for Software Services

Founding a technology startup company is never an easy endeavor. There are major challenges on both the technology side and the business/commercialization side. For Tutela Technologies Ltd. it appears that the commercial validation of the technologies invented is proving to be the largest challenge. The initial internship and research will focus directly on Tutela Technologies Ltd. Tutela’s case will be used to create a framework and roadmap for establishing commercializing success and focusing R&D activities. In the second internship, using the newly created framework, these validations will vary among the companies in terms of markets, specific products and technologies that in progress or already developed. The main problem that will be addressed in this internship is identifying market opportunities and strategies for commercially validating the technologies that the Tutela Technologies and some of the other Wesley Clover portfolio companies have developed. The benefit to Tutela and Wesley Clover will be the commercial success of the products and services created. There is a need to create a framework that can identify roadmaps to commercialization in order to have a financially sustainable future and successfully grow.

Fanny Lo Internship

Project 1
Circle Cardiovascular Imaging is a software medical device Manufacturer based in Calgary Alberta, Canada. Circle Cardiovascular
imaging creates multiple products for the analysis of patient images for assisting the diagnosis of cardiac and neurological
diseases. cvi42 Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance/Computed Tomography Imaging Software Application (referred to as
cvi42) is a software as a medical device (SaMD) that is intended for evaluating CT and MR images of the cardiovascular system.
Combining digital image processing, visualization, quantification, and reporting tools, cvi42 is designed to support the physician
in the evaluation and analysis of cardiovascular imaging studies.
Project 2
The TruPlan Computed Tomography (CT) Imaging Software application (referred to as “TruPlan”) is a software as a medical device
(SAMD) that helps qualified users with image-based pre-procedural planning and post-procedural follow-up of the Left Atrial
Appendage Closure (LAAC) procedure using Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images from CT
scanners.
All those project that keeps evolving and getting new functionalities that need to be continually tested by the QA team member and
the funding through this BSI internship will enable us to have a Quality Assurance (QA) team member to work with both the
platform development team as well as the R&D team. The idea of switching the intern through those project is to expose them
to different technologies and test strategies so they can learn as much as possible in the period they will be collaborating with
us.

Patient’s knowledge, attitudes and practices related to Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines: A systematic literature review.

The development of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine led to a reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer in women. But in low- and middle-income countries, the adoption of HPV vaccine is low. Hence why women are more likely to develop cervical cancer in those areas. There is a lack of understanding of the patient’s point of view regarding prevention by vaccination. This may have an impact on the implementation of HPV vaccination programs. By performing a systematic literature review with the patient’s perspective, we will be able to identify the limits regarding the optimal adoption of the HPV vaccine. Through this internship, the partner organization can participate in knowledge dissemination.