Innovative Projects Realized

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.

Predictive dosimetry in radiopharmaceutical therapy using advanced artificial intelligence, physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling, and imaging data

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. One of the main ways to remove cancer cell is targeting them using beta and alpha particle radiation. These kinds of radiations can be reached to the cancer sites by attaching them to special drugs that have specific binding sites on their cells. However, there is no accurate method to find how much radiation dose is required to remove these cells. As such measuring accurate dose received by cancer cells is not a straightforward method. In this era, we need to personalize therapy in terms of prediction of the dose. In this study, we try to predict dose using AI and imaging data, as well as models that describe the behavior’s of drugs in the body.

Generation and characterization of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from genetically engineered mouse model and differentiation potential

Tissue-resident fibroblasts and their attendant activities are central drivers of a diverse range of diseases. The overarching theme of this proposal is to develop novel fibroblast reporter lines that will enable us to identify
tractable therapeutic targets to modify fibroblast activity. To identify such targets, we are proposing to carry out high throughput screens (i.e., small molecules, gRNAs, siRNAs, etc.) in fibroblasts engineered to express a
reporter reflective of the desired phenotype. For the purposes of this proposal, we plan to generate induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from fibroblasts isolated from a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM).
Fibroblasts from these mice contain two reporter genes that will enable us to follow various aspects of the fibroblast phenotype. The project contains two aims: 1) generation and validation of iPSCs from mouse embryonic
fibroblasts of a GEMM; 2) generation of fibroblasts with the desired phenotypic properties from the aforementioned iPSC lines. Once validated, these iPSC lines will serve as “a well-validated, off-the-shelf” supply of fibroblasts for screening purposes. In short, this project will generate new iPSC cell lines to support a unique platform directed towards developing fibroblast-targeted therapeutics to treat disease.

Vers une amélioration continue de la gestion des systèmes de qualité en industrie pharmaceutique: l’informatisation des processus la bonne alternative de la documentation

Dans l’industrie pharmaceutique, la qualité des médicaments est de plus haute importance car elle touche des enjeux plus larges en termes de santé publique. Alors une démarche qualité est indispensable car elle est considérée comme un pilier de l’entreprise.
Les organismes pharmaceutiques ont tendance de mettre en place un système de management de qualité qui est l’ensemble des activités par lesquelles ils définissent, mettent en oeuvre et revoient leur politique et leurs objectifs qualité conformément à leur stratégie, et celui-ci est nécessaire à la maitrise et l’amélioration des divers processus.
Alors, dans le but d’avoir l’excellence opérationnelle dans la gestion quotidienne des systèmes qualité, on vise dans ce projet à optimiser les systèmes qualité en mettant en place des outils plus fiables qui rendent les processus plus performants. L’informatisation est l’une des principaux moyens qui permettrait des systèmes beaucoup plus flexibles et réactifs, d’autres approches d’optimisation de la gestion de la qualité vont être discutés dans ce projet tels que la cartographie des processus et l’établissement des KPIs.

Zero-to-Hero: Data Augmentation with LLMs and Human Feedback

Intent classification is a highly popular task within research communities and industries. Having a system that can classify intents of emails or messages from users can lead to a wide range of applications such as ticket routing and issue resolution. However, training such models require a large set of labeled data that might not be readily available. In this project work, we aim to present a system where only a few examples are required to be given for each intent. At each cycle we train an intent classifier and use a large language model (LLM) to generate extra examples using the examples in the dataset. Those generated examples are carefully selected as humans are involved to verify them. Concretely, the LLM generates a set of examples that are ranked based on scores given by the models involved in the system. To have more diversity and variations in the generated examples, we allow the LLM to generate new examples using previously generated examples. This system has the potential to train a powerful intent classification method with extremely low human effort that could significantly speed up the process of addressing customer requests.

Omy Laboratoires : Segmentation clientèle

Omy Laboratoires vise à offrir des soins topiques responsables, sains et personnalisés à ses client.e.s et
futurs client.e.s, à chaque étape de leur vie. Dans cette perspective de soins personnels et personnalisés,
Omy cherche à améliorer la compréhension de sa clientèle courante et à venir, en étudiant les différents jeux
de données collectés sur sa plateforme d’analyse d’images cutanées. Plus particulièrement, Omy cherche à
déterminer les caractéristiques déterminantes de la pérennité de sa clientèle et les segments les plus propices
pour sa croissance.
Dans ce contexte, OMY vise :
1. à expliquer ses performances de rétention de sa clientèle en déterminant les caractéristiques des client.e.s
qui persistent et les actions à entreprendre qui maximise cette rétention;
2. à déterminer les caractéristiques des différentes clientèles potentielles à développer en priorité.
Pour ce faire, OMY vise à étudier les données collectées lors des premiers contacts clients et leur première
évaluation dermique automatisée. Une attention particulière a été portée à ce que l’étudiant n’accède pas aux
images des utilisateurs mais bien aux caractéristiques extraites de ces images par des algorithmes
développés par un autre partenaire.

Machine learning augmented simulation of urban wind flows

Engineers that design and enhance buildings widely rely on computer simulations to understand wind flows. Wind flows around buildings can affect human safety, comfort, structural safety, and the surrounding environment.
Therefore, accurate and fast simulation of urban wind flows is critical to ensure safe, comfortable, and sustainable designs. If architectural engineers have access to a fast and accurate tool for simulating urban window flows, they can rapidly iterate and design the most energy efficient and sustainable buildings. Though robust, the current methodology for fast urban wind flow simulations often is inaccurate, meaning that slow and expensive simulations are required, slowing down the design process. The goal of this project is to use machine learning to improve current fast methodologies, thereby giving architectural engineers enhanced capabilities to design the safer and more sustainable buildings of the future.

Design and Analysis of a Platform to Connect Patients, Providers, and their Social Networks

The healthcare system in Canada and world-wide is suffering increased pressure due to an aging population and increased rates of chronic disease. Research shows that self-management and social networks are key indicators for reducing utilization and cost and improving outcomes of healthcare systems. Lifeguard Health Solutions Inc. has developed a mobile health application that uses technology to connect patients with their providers, their trusted support network, and their peers to improve self-management and social network strength. Through a before and after pilot study in a select disease patient group, we will analyze the effects of the application on patient education,
patient satisfaction, and levels of adherence and compliance to prescribed care plans.

Extrapolating Lessons Learned from Mitigating Emerging One Health Disease Threats: Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease

Many lessons from previous pandemics help to guide future outbreaks. This project reviews the avian influenza outbreak in Canada and applies some of the lessons learned to help mitigate the potential outbreaks of African swine fever and foot and mouth disease using a One Health approach.