Disease diagnosis and prosthetic limbs to benefit from muscle research

Soccer-playing Brazilian intern uses past experiences and new technology in Fredericton

Gabriel and Dr Kuruganti are using high-density electromyography (EMG) sensors to understand how the muscles in the upper and lower limbs behave under different conditions including exercise and rehabilitation. The information obtained from these sensors can help to understand human movement. Traditionally, EMG systems use up to 16 channels of data. Gabriel is helping to “tune” the high-density EMG signals in a 64-node sensor to give the highest quality information for other researchers to use. This project will provide a depth of information from the muscle as a whole that was not previously accessible. They hope the research will act as a foundation for understanding disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, as well as inform the development of robotic prosthetic limbs.

For Gabriel, the research is an interest sparked by his own experience with a muscle injury. “A few years ago, I had to get surgery to on my knee after I injured it playing soccer. So I was stuck at home recovering when I saw a TV show where researchers were studying the mechanics of the arm muscles using EMGs. I thought to myself, ‘That is something that I could do in my program, even as an electrical engineer,’ so I decided to pursue it.”

His newfound passion led him to a summer research project in Leeds, England, and then to the one in Fredericton, New Brunswick. This project has been important for Gabriel to grow his expertise in using EMG signals to understand muscle function.

“This summer is the first time that I’ve been in the lab working on full-time research. It’s been a good experience to work as an undergraduate researcher, and I’m learning a lot from my professor,” he says. “And Fredericton is a good city to come to. The people here are very nice, and I am close to nature. So the Mitacs internship has been really good not only for my career but also for me personally.

“I am glad I came to Canada.”

Mitacs thanks the Government of Canada for its support of the Globalink research internship in this story. Across Canada, the Globalink research internship program also receives support from Alberta Innovates, the Government of British Columbia, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan and Research Manitoba.

In addition, Mitacs is pleased to work with the following international partners to support the Globalink program: Universities Australia; the China Scholarship Council; Campus France; the German Academic Exchange Service; Mexico’s Secretariat of Public Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico; and Tunisia’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Mission Universitaire de Tunisie en Amerique du Nord.

Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: BD@mitacs.ca

Mitacs Team

Mitacs’s website content is created by people throughout our organization, united in their passion for innovation and eager to share their perspectives with others in the innovation ecosystem. 

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