Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are promising biotherapeutics that selectively infect and kill cancer cells. The efficacy of oncolytic viral therapy depends on the virus’s efficient replication and dissemination within tumors. However, tumors often develop a dense extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding their cells that provides resistance against many forms of cancer therapies including OVs. To overcome this […]

Through engineering and selection strategies, we have created novel cancer-killing oncolytic viruses (OVs) that are selective for tumours but are unable to grow in normal tissues. A critical component of the therapeutic activity of this class of therapeutics is the induction of an anti-tumour immune response, which can be suppressed in many tumours. One strategy […]

Refrigerants have a wide range of applications in Canada, from their support for the food industry (storage and transport) to their key role in recreational sports like hockey, curling and ice-skating. Although current hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants have solved previous problems associated with depletion of the earth’s ozone layer, they still suffer from high global warming potentials. […]

This proposal aims to develop the next generation of smart materials to remove hazardous substances Canadians breathe in different environments from enclosed public buildings to industrial facilities. These hazards put the Canadians at risk, especially when in chronic contact even at low concentrations in the air. The Canadian company HFI Pyrotechnics Inc. and the University […]

Croplands are labeled as “climate change mitigators” given their ability to trap carbon dioxide (CO2) as soil organic matter (SOM). SOM is a complex mixture of compounds, primarily carbon (C), derived from plant litter’s decomposition. Healthy soils are now part of “verified C markets”, which are corporate programs in which enrolled farmers receive money for […]

Currently, the gold standard pharmacological treatment for depression typically take several weeks before becoming effective. This delayed treatment onset can be devastating because of increased rates of suicide during this wait-period. Thus, there is a need for rapid acting antidepressant drug treatments. Strikingly, a single infusion of ketamine can result in alleviation of depressive symptoms […]

The current COVID-19 pandemic has burdened the healthcare system and disrupted economies worldwide. One method of combating this pandemic is through serological testing, which can determine who has been exposed to the virus and developed an immune response. This is particularly important for front-line healthcare workers as the test would identify individuals who are potentially […]

Zanidatamab is an antibody being evaluated in clinical trials to treat breast cancer, biliary tract cancer and gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas linked to the overabundance of a protein known as HER2. Zanidatamab was developed to bind to two copies of HER2 in tandem instead of one, increasing its binding affinity and improving its inhibition of HER2 tumor-promoting […]

The miniaturization of microelectronic, optical devices and sensors have pushed the development of smart and precise ways to fabricate these devices. Aerosol Jet microprinting is a great technology allowing to print very small features on these devices. In addition, it opens the possibilities to use functional inks that are optically activated and can act as […]

Materials that can store and release significant amounts of energy are a high priority in the modern world due to the reliance of today’s society on propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, aerospace and mining. Although there has been a thrust in the development of high energy materials, this has only been at the academic level. Industry continues […]

A radioluminescent material converts ionizing radiation, such as X-rays, into lower energy photons. The use of radioluminescent nanoparticles has been proposed to enhance the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cancer treatments. During a typical treatment, a molecular specie, called photosensitizer, absorbs visible energy to produce reactive oxygen species, which determine cellular death due to […]

Mental illnesses, particularly depression, is one of the leading causes of global disease burden. In addition to reducing the quality of life of patients and their relatives, it costs billions of dollars annually to the Canadian economy. Unfortunately, current antidepressant drugs are barely satisfactory and have numerous side-effects. The goal of this project is to […]