Oil reservoir souring is the production of toxic hydrogen sulfide by sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) through naerobic respiration supported by organic electron donors present in oil fields. In recent years, nitrate injection has merged as a promising green biotechnology that has been proven effective in controlling sulfide production in oil fields. This strategy relies on inducing […]

This project aims toward development of a polymeric delivery system for controlled release of cannabinoids, with application in treatment of patients suffering from glaucoma. InMed Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing cannabis based therapies with innovative drug delivery systems. So far, two candidates were introduced: CTI-085 is a topical formulation […]

One of the goals of modern bioanalytical chemistry is the simultaneous (multiplexed) detection of multiple biomarkers in individual cells. Biomarkers are defined as characteristic proteins, genes, or small molecules that can be measured and evaluated as indicators of normal biological or pathological state of a cell. Mass cytometry is a recently developed technique developed by […]

Microfluidic systems, also known as “lab-on-a-chip devices”, take advantage of physical forces at the microscale to offer precise control and manipulation of fluids in micron-sized geometries. While these systems promise to revolutionize the life sciences industry, rapid fabrication of these devices during technology development remains a challenge, particularly the critical bonding step between thermoplastic parts. […]

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is caused by an immune attack on the nerve and muscles junctions and manifests as severe and sometimes life threatening muscle weakness. A number of effective immune modifying medications are available for MG. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) – a fraction of blood harvested from thousands of donors and containing high concentration of immunoglobulins, […]

This research project will investigate retirement planning among academic physicians within the Department of Medicine (DOM) at the University of Toronto. The overall objective of this project is to investigate the range of perspectives held by members of the DOM about retirement and to develop a later career transition assessment tool that will facilitate institutional […]

In this project, the intern will develop a website for medical clinics. This website provides patients with an online price estimation service which automatically caculates the price for conducting a set of lab analysises precribed by a doctor. The website will intuitively guide patients through the price estimation process and intelligently help patients match non-standardized […]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) treatment in model systems for wound healing, spinal cord injury and heart disease have demonstrated a greater versus the ‘vehicle’ treated group due to the cells ability to engraft and contribute to new tissue as well as decrease apoptosis and inflammation. All of these properties are associated with superior tissue healing. […]

Caffeine is among the most widely consumed performance enhancing substance used by athletes at all levels. However, studies that have investigated the effects of caffeine on athletic performance report inconsistent findings and the role of an individual’s genetic make-up in influencing how a person processes caffeine is becoming increasingly important. As a result, there is […]

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Canadians and expected to claim nearly 65 000 lives in 2015. Approximately 75% of these deaths are preventable by having a healthier lifestyle, including a better diet. Another risk factor is having a family history of heart disease, mainly because of inherited genetic risk factors. A […]

Recent studies have shown that interactions between beings and the environment, including social practices and human behavior, have an impact on the susceptibility to develop chronic diseases such as cancer, through epigenetic modifications or telomere shortening. The term epigenetic applies to the modifications that regulate gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence. Furthermore, telomere is […]

Mesenchymal stromal / “stem” cells (MSCs) are found in adult tissues such as bone marrow and fat and also in neonatal tissues such as the placenta and umbilical cord. Among these sources, Human Umbilical Cord PeriVascular Cells (HUCPVCs) are the richest source of MSCs described. Importantly, they possess immunomodulatory and immuneprivileged properties which enable them […]