Honey bee colony health and productivity is intrinsically linked to the quality of the queen. Unfortunately, queen quality is compromised by stressors such as extreme temperatures and pesticide exposure. When queens are heat- and cold-shocked, the viability of their stored sperm drastically decreases, causing colonies to dwindle, produce less honey, and ultimately fail. Pesticide exposure […]

Testing for SARS-CoV2, the virus that caused the condition known as COVID-19, is done using a RT (reverse transcriptase) PCR-based test to detect the target viral RNA. These probes are prepared by conventional solid phase synthesis on controlled pore glass using O-DMT-(2-N-FMOC-4’-aminobutyl)-1,3-propanediol (OFP) as the linker. Approximately 1 kilogram of OFP has been manufactured per […]

It is essential to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the global COVID-19 pandemic. The most efficient vaccines are built on attenuated live viruses, which can be engineered to display specific antigens and, once administered in humans, can safely induce an immune response and immunity to the disease of interest. Fast, reliable, and […]

Developing a drug for new diseases cannot only be challenging but also time consuming. From the identification of a druggable target to a compound which can improve a condition it usually takes more than 12 years. Since there is basically an infinite number of possible compounds which can be turned into a drug it is […]

Activation of the immune system is necessary for defense against pathogens and injury, but just as important are the processes to turn this inflammatory response once the infection or injury has been resolved. Inappropriate prolongation of immune cell activation results in inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and arthritis. The University of British […]

This project will demonstrate that one or more unique DNA ID sequences (“DUID”) can be inserted into the genomes of select strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae ale yeast and S. cerevisiae var diastaticus yeast strains without affecting the heritable traits of the host and then the DUID can be recalled upstream in the brewing process. By […]

Recent global events have shed light on the vulnerabilities within our health care systems. Undoubtedly, unpreparedness in the face of a global crisis will lead to disastrous repercussions. The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance is hailed as a pandemic in the making. As the antibiotics drug development pipeline dwindles, effective solutions to combat antimicrobial resistant […]

We intend to develop standardized protocols for oxygen stability and shelf life testing of cannabidiol oil formulations. Overall, we will study the effect of time, O2 pressure, temperature, and sample quantity on the oxidation of different formulations, and how this accelerated oxidation profile can be extrapolated/modelled to predict long term shelf life under ambient conditions. […]

The objective of this research is to reduce the loss phosphate (P) used as fertilizer into waterways. Accumulation of phosphate in rivers and lakes leads to premature lake aging and high P-content allows growth and proliferation of algae, which degrade quality of drinking water, aquatic habitat, and recreational utilization of waterways. The environmentally friendly compound […]

Viruses are susceptible to antioxidants. COVID-19, to which the grant is directed, is also affected by surface active species, like soap. These two vulnerabilities of the virus will be combined to create silicone coatings that will render relevant surfaces anti-viral (e.g., doorknobs, facemasks and shields). Antioxidants will be modified with entities that allow them to […]

Mandatory reporting limits established by Health Canada for pesticide testing in cannabis are typically lower than those published in various U.S. states. Because dried cannabis leaves and flowers generate many co-extractives that can negatively impact testing results, a simple and cost-effective sample preparation and analytical method needs to be developed to meet the demanding testing […]

The most common sea cucumber found in the North Atlantic Ocean is orange footed Cucumaria frondosa. Sea cucumber is packed with numerous high-value nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. During sea cucumber processing, visceral by-products are discarded as waste, representing around 50% of the sea cucumber biomass. These by-products are rich sources of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and biologically […]