Using genomics in clinical care has the potential to treat patients more efficiently. There have been a number of recent discoveries of genomic assays that can guide treatment. However, most genomic data is generated in a research setting and useful health data only in a clinical setting. Translating potential genomic research into a clinical setting […]

Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) (Halyomorpha halys (Stål)) is an invasive pest with a large host range that includes many economically important fruits, vegetables, and row crops. Native to Asia, BMSB was first detected in North America in 1998 and since has become established in British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario; and 44 American states. In […]

Legionnaires is a disease caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophilia present mostly in aquatic environments. The first outbreak of this disease was recognized in 1976 in Philadelphia and the most recent one in July 2019 in Atlanta. Diagnosis of the disease isn’t early and thus need to be prevented by regular treatment. Treatment of water […]

Over the past few decades, mental disorders (e.g., depressive and anxiety) have become a significant medical burden for people of all ages. According to the survey performed by the World Health Organization (WHO), at least one out of ten people in the world suffers from mental health diseases (i.e., mental disorders, neurological disorders and addition). […]

Women are disproportionately affected by neuro-degenerative disorders compared to men. For years, research has attempted to identify why this phenomenon occurs. The answer may be found in the gut. The intestinal tract contains millions of bacteria that are colonized from birth; These bacteria are essential for keeping the brain and immune system healthy. Changes in […]

Heart failure is a prevalent disease effecting 250,000 people in North America alone. This disease can be treated by the transplant of a donor organ, but insufficient donor organs have led to the development of mechanical circulatory supports which now provide a reliable alternate treatment option for patients. Unfortunately, many patients that could be helped […]

Natural extracts have potential as anti-cancer therapeutics. These botanical materials are well tolerated and are safe to be given as supplements over long periods of time. This project aims to provide scientific and clinical validation of these extracts for their anticancer effects and sensitization of cancer cells to standard chemo regiments. Synthite Industries Inc., a […]

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. A promising new way to treat cancer is through the administration of immune cells that target the cancer – an approach called cancer immunotherapy. The goal of this project is to engineer better culture vessels to produce dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are the “gatekeepers” of our […]

Inflammatory diseases such as pulmonary inflammation, lung cancer, asthma, and fibrosis exert a great economic impact across the globe. They have a tremendous impact on health and quality of life. Proinflammatory cytokines are released by the immune system which can be activated by Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), an endotoxin which mimics infection by Gram-negative bacteria. The literature […]

Infectious diseases from a variety of pathogens can lead to serious health conditions such as sepsis. To improve the prognosis and decrease the mortality rate of infectious diseases, point-of-care testing (POCT) of blood biomarkers is a critical approach. Testing of biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, IL-6 and procalcitonin could help identify the type of pathogen […]

Contemporary machine learning has been very successfully applied to processing static images and words in consumer applications, resulting in billions of dollars in recent acquisitions of machine learning companies by Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, and Google. However, applications to dynamic information (e.g. movies, controlling robotics) has been less well-developed. In this project, will develop and apply […]

Probiotics are suggested to greatly reduce the risk of mortality and risk of infection in the gut of preterm infants. However, probiotics are rarely given to babies in hospitals in North America. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of probiotics supplementation in improving intestinal heath and preventing gut complications in premature […]