Building on my recent archival research, my Mitacs project explores the ways early 20th century discourses of betterment and progress, such as eugenics, in southern Ontario were unevenly entwined within rural domestic science educational institutions and connected to cultural histories and legacies of colonialism that diminished and disappeared young women who did not fit the […]

A typical individual will encounter countless instances in their life where various stressors, such as the consumption of alcohol, ingestion of pain relieving medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or experiencing stress itself, may damage ones intestines in a way they never knew was possible. All of these stressors have been associated with increased […]

There is a simple way to have great skin, be more attractive, and improve one’s health, but most of the global population refuses to do it. Worldwide fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is below recommendations reducing the intake of yellow-red plant pigments that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity properties. These plant pigments are called […]

Hemp seed is a super fruit because its bioactive compounds have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial capabilities. Hemp seeds have the potential as a food therapy to reduce inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In this project, we will collect hemp seeds from 20 hemp cultivars grown in different provinces in Canada. Antioxidant capacities of hemp seeds will […]

Bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is one of the most profitable greenhouse vegetable crops in Canada. Over 12 million square feet of greenhouse has been established to cultivate bell peppers in British Columbia alone. In this project, Randhawa Farms Ltd. and University of British Columbia aim to collectively determine and characterization of fungal species in […]

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels are gaining popularity thanks to the high-throughput capability of sequencing technology and low cost per sample. In this study, we aim to validate the performance of a NGS panel for detection of a rare genetic sterol disorder, and to assess the utility of a prediction model to identify a combination of […]

Blueberry is a soft fruit species for which consumption has increased drastically in the last two decades. The rapid increase in consumption is mainly driven by the health benefits and pleasant flavour of the fruit. However, consumers assess fruit quality in terms of flavour, texture and aroma and use these features as the main criteria […]

In early 2020, cannabis edibles will be introduced into the Canadian markets. Although these products will offer a safer alternative to smoking or vaping cannabis, they can still pose certain health risks to consumers and must be controlled for dosage and stability over the product’s entire shelf life. This research project centers on developing a […]

Contamination of beef by Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) is a major problem affecting the North American Beef Industry. Environmental cross-contamination, among other contamination sources, has been shown to play an essential role in meat adulteration. Therefore, this proposal is aiming: a) to determine the capacity of the top-seven STEC to survive and transfer from […]

In this Mitacs proposal, the Carbohydrate Chemistry and Utilization Program at the University of Saskatchewan (Usask) aims to collaborate with a leading producer of compostable molded fiber bowls ? SustainaPulp Canada Inc. ? to develop replacements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in their products. The alternatives will be prepared from maltodextrins, a common food […]

This project will create novel goat milk-based products and test their health effects in healthy adults. Interest in goat milk is increasing, mainly due to two market trends: consumers’ new taste trends for niche/ethnic products, and the perception of goat milk having added health properties. Goat milk is perceived as having intestinal anti-inflammatory effects and […]

Celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergies and dietary gluten avoidance for other reasons appear to be on the rise in Canada. However, prior to the recently released Canadian Community Health Survey, there has never been an opportunity to investigate dietary gluten avoidance using recent, representative survey data collected throughout Canada. It is important to […]