Backgrounder

July 25, 2011

Projects Funded In Toronto

University of Toronto

Developing smart robots
Project title: Visual navigation of mobile robots in extreme environments
Lead researcher: Dr. Timothy Barfoot
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

Robots play an important role in scouting harsh and challenging environments, from the ocean floor to the surface of Mars. University of Toronto researcher Dr. Timothy Barfoot is developing smart robots that can explore environments and conduct experiments without constant human instruction. His work will help many sectors, including Ontario’s space and resources industries.

Exploring the health benefits of omega-3 fats from plants
Project title: Can plant derived omega-3 fatty acids support brain health?
Lead researcher: Dr. Richard Bazinet
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

To keep the brain healthy, nutritionists recommend that people eat more fish, an excellent source of omega-3 fat. But could omega-3 from plants such as canola and flaxseed be as effective? This question is important given that fish stocks are in decline – and one that University of Toronto nutritional scientist Dr. Richard Bazinet is investigating.

Developing new energy-efficient materials
Project title: Creation, tuning and study of nanocrystals to address scientific and technical challenges
Lead researcher: Dr. Kenneth Burch
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

University of Toronto physicist Dr. Kenneth Burch is developing energy-efficient nanomaterials using a new technique known as mechanical exfoliation. This is an area of great interest to Ontario and Ontario-based energy companies.

Developing and implementing programs to help family caregivers
Project title: Enabling the health care system to support family caregivers
Lead researcher: Dr. Jill Cameron
Number of researchers benefiting: 4

Family caregivers play an essential role in patient care, but there is no standard clinical practice to prepare or support them. The University of Toronto’s Dr. Jill Cameron is developing, evaluating, and putting into practice programs to support family caregivers.

Exploring why fungal infections have become drug resistant
Project title: Evolution of fungal drug resistance in the human host
Lead researcher: Dr. Leah E. Cowen
Number of researchers benefiting: 11

Many fungal infections have become resistant to drugs and the University of Toronto’s Dr. Leah Cowen wants to know why. This is important research given that fungal infections are a leading cause of death for people with compromised immune systems, including those with AIDS and those undergoing treatment for cancer or organ transplantation. Her work could lead to effective antifungal medications.

Designing better treatments for young adults with addictions
Project title: Substance abuse in emerging adulthood: a focus on risk and resilience
Lead researcher: Dr. Abby L. Goldstein
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

Dr. Abby Goldstein’s research looks at substance use and abuse among adolescents and young adults. The University of Toronto scientist’s goal is to better understand why young people use substances and to use this information to develop better prevention and treatment programs for this age group.

Protecting our forests in the face of climate change
Project title: Adaptation of conifers to climatic change – screening tools for assessing adaptation of conifers to future climate
Lead researcher: Dr. Ingo Ensminger
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

Dr. Ingo Ensminger at the University of Toronto is studying the genetic and physiologic mechanisms underlying adaptation and acclimation of conifers such as pine, fir and spruce trees to climate change – and how innovative forest management strategies can help. The plant physiologist’s research is of great interest to Ontario’s forestry sector.

Developing next generation Internet technologies
Project title: Network management for next generation Internet
Lead researcher: Dr. Yashar Ganjali
Number of researchers benefiting:    3

With the amount of data continuing to grow, the Internet is reaching the point where its limitations are becoming clear. At the University of Toronto Dr. Yashar Ganjali is developing technologies necessary for the next generation Internet – work that will help Ontario’s information technology companies play a key role in the future of the industry.

Developing new treatments for sleep problems
Project title: Sleep problems for women: effects on maternal and infant health during pregnancy and after birth
Lead researcher: Dr. Robyn Stremler
Number of researchers benefiting: 6

Dr. Robyn Stremler at the University of Toronto is studying what causes sleep problems during and after pregnancy and how they develop. Her findings could lead to new ways to treat sleep problems, improving the health of mothers and their babies.

Accelerating the development of vaccines, antivirals and anticancer therapies
Project title: Boron catalysts for the streamlined synthesis of carbohydrate derivatives
Lead researcher: Dr. Mark Taylor
Number of researchers benefiting: 2

University of Toronto chemist Dr. Mark Taylor is developing new, sustainable catalysts for modifying carbohydrates. By decreasing the number of steps and the amount of waste required to prepare carbohydrate ‘targets’, Dr. Taylor’s catalysts will help  accelerate the development of vaccines, antivirals and anticancer therapies.

Understanding how water circulates and flushes pollutants
Project title: Characterization of the water circulation in the coastal wetlands and bays of Ontario
Lead researcher: Dr. Mathew Wells
Number of researchers benefiting: 5

Coastal wetlands, lagoons and harbours are of critical environmental and economic importance. They are primary breeding grounds for fish and birds, yet they are also a key entry point for pollutants into the Great Lakes. At the University of Toronto, Dr. Mathew Wells’ research team is studying how circulation in confined bodies of water is driven by short-term changes in water levels and temperature. This knowledge will help prevent the loss of commercial and recreational fishing industries valued at $535 million per year.

Developing new treatments for type 2 diabetes
Project title: Structural and dynamic studies of the nucleotide binding domains from an ATP-binding cassette transporter
Lead researcher: Dr. Voula Kanelis
Number of researchers benefiting: 2

At the University of Toronto, Dr. Voula Kanelis is studying a type of protein called the sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1), which is altered in type 2 diabetes and hyperinsulinism, a disorder that results in abnormally high blood insulin levels. By understanding more about SUR proteins and how they function, Dr. Kanelis’s research may lead to new treatments for diabetes, hyperinsulinism, and other diseases.

Developing new treatments to prevent mental illness
Project title: Investigating the neurobiology of psychiatric vulnerability
Number of researchers benefiting: 7
Lead researcher: Dr. Evelyn Lambe

Research being done at the University of Toronto could offer new hope to the one in five Ontarians who develop a mental illness during their lifetimes. Dr. Evelyn Lambe is investigating the link between early life stress and the future development of mental illness. Her work could lead to new treatments to prevent mental illness.

Developing more effective treatments for breast cancer
Project title: Regulation of gene transcription by aryl hydrocarbon receptor and estrogen receptor
Lead researcher: Dr. Jason Matthews
Number of researchers benefiting: 2

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Canadian women. Two proteins involved in breast cancer – the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and the estrogen receptor – are the focus of Dr. Jason Matthews’s research at the University of Toronto. A better understanding of their role in this disease could lead to more effective treatments for it.

Developing software to accelerate research into protein regulation
Project title: Using evolutionary conservation to identify short linear motifs in disordered domains
Lead researcher: Dr. Alan Michael Moses
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

Understanding how proteins are regulated is critical to knowing how diseases develop. At the University of Toronto Dr. Alan Moses is developing software to predict protein regulation. This will be of tremendous interest to Ontario’s medical research community.

Ensuring the growth of our forests
Project title: Surface-atmosphere exchange of aerosol in forests
Lead researcher: Dr. Jennifer Murphy
Number of researchers benefiting: 5

At the University of Toronto Dr. Jennifer Murphy is investigating how nitrogen in the atmosphere affects the growth of our forests. Her work will contribute to policies for addressing climate change, pollution and forestry resource management.

Developing a new class of drugs to treat schizophrenia
Project title: Identification of pharmacological chaperones for the dopamine transporter
Lead researcher: Dr. Ali Salahpour
Number of researchers benefiting: 4

Anti-psychotic drugs, used in the treatment of schizophrenia, block dopamine action in the brain. These drugs have limited success and often cause serious side effects. The University of Toronto’s Dr. Ali Salahpour is working on a new class of drugs that work by reducing the level of dopamine, which could mean new hope for people suffering from this debilitating mental illness.

Bringing new efficiency to solar cells
Project title: Nanomaterials for solar energy
Lead researcher: Dr. Dwight Seferos
Number of researchers benefiting: 4

The University of Toronto’s Dr. Dwight Seferos is developing nanomaterials that convert sunlight into electricity more cost-effectively than current solar cells do. His work could lead to a significant boost in energy generation and strengthen Ontario’s position as a leader in solar energy. His work can also be applied to lightweight electronics, displays and lighting systems.

Hospital for Sick Children

Using the Internet to help young people manage pain
Project title:  The use of e-health technologies to promote pediatric disease self-management
Lead researcher: Dr. Jennifer Nan Stinson
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

Children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses such as arthritis and cancer suffer from pain, but it is often under-appreciated and under-treated by doctors. The Hospital for Sick Children’s Dr. Jennifer Stinson is developing web-based technologies to help young people manage their own pain and improve their quality of life.

Developing new treatments for kidney disease
Project title: Determining the underlying cause of polycystic kidney disease
Lead researcher: Dr. Brian Ciruna
Number of researchers benefiting: 4

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) affects one in 500 people. Current treatment involves dialysis or transplants, both of them costly. At the Hospital for Sick Children Dr. Brian Ciruna is studying what causes PKD, which, in turn, could lead to new more effective treatments.

Mount Sinai

Developing better ways to detect and prevent type 2 diabetes
Project title: Understanding early factors in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in women
Lead researcher: Dr. Ravi Retnakaran
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

Type 2 diabetes is on the rise among young women. This is alarming because diabetes often leads to cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death for Canadian women. Mount Sinai endocrinologist Dr. Ravi Retnakaran is studying blood glucose response in pregnancy to identify early factors that contribute to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. His work could lead to better detection and prevention programs.

Developing better ways to detect and treat Wilms tumors
Project title: Understanding genes, epigenetic changes and their interaction with environment in children with Wilms tumors
Lead researcher: Dr. Rayjean J. Hung
Number of researchers benefiting:4

Wilms tumor is a rare type of kidney cancer that occurs in young children. Why and how it develops is the focus of research being conducted by Dr. Rayjean Hung at Mount Sinai Hospital. Her study of genetic and environmental factors could lead to effective prevention and treatment of the disease.

St. Michael’s Hopsital

Preventing deaths from the flu
Project title: Leaking blood vessels – new insights into how influenza causes death
Lead researcher: Dr. Warren Lee
Number of researchers benefiting: 5

Flu is the leading cause of infectious death in Ontario, but just how it kills people is poorly understood. At St. Michael’s Hospital, Dr. Warren Lee is investigating the possibility that flu causes blood vessels in the lung and throughout the body to leak, causing respiratory failure and shock. His work may lead to new therapies for a common illness that places a large burden on our health care system.

Investigating the potential for stem and/or gene therapies to treat or repair lung damage
Project title: Mechanisms of protection and informed target discovery for gene and stem cell therapy in acute lung injury
Lead researcher:Dr. Claudia Chimisso Dos Santos
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

By 2026 an estimated 35,000 Ontarians will be on life support at any given time, many of them as the result of lung injuries for which we currently have no treatments. Dr. Claudia Chimisso Dos Santos at St. Michael’s Hospital is investigating the potential for stem and/or gene therapies to treat or repair lung damage. These could prevent or reverse the need for life support, benefiting both patients and the health care system.

Developing future guidelines for life support
Project title: Mechanical ventilation utilization and survivorship
Lead researcher: Dr. Karen E.A. Burns
Number of researchers benefiting: 5

Dr. Karen Burns, a clinical researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, is conducting two large patient studies on the use of breathing machines and their impact on patients’ health. Her findings will help direct future life support research.

Enhancing outcome and recovery for stroke victims
Project title: Improving assessment and outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Lead researcher: Dr. Tom Schweizer
Number of researchers benefiting:    4

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a type of stroke that causes permanent brain damage in about half its victims. St. Michael’s Hospital researcher Dr. Tom Schweizer is investigating just how SAH causes impaired thinking. His work could lead to effective new treatments, improving the quality of life for SAH patients and their families.

Sunnybrook Health Science Centre

Stopping bleeding in the brain: developing an innovative image-guided emergency treatment protocol for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage
Project title: Revolutionizing stroke treatment
Lead researcher: Dr. David Jay Gladstone
Number of researchers benefiting: 10

Every 10 minutes in Canada someone dies or is disabled by a stroke. The most serious kind is caused by a brain hemorrhage. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s Dr. David Gladstone and colleagues are developing an innovative image-guided treatment protocol for this type of stroke and testing it in hospital emergency rooms. This work aims to improve survival rates and recovery for stroke victims and help Ontario become an international leader in this field of medicine.

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

Reading body language to improve care for patients with dementia
Project title:  Qualitative and arts-based health research: keys to improving person-centred care
Lead researcher: Dr. Pia Christine Kontos
Number of researchers benefiting: 3

Dr. Pia Kontos has shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can communicate through body language, providing important clues about their needs and preferences. The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute scientist has developed an interprofessional educational program that uses drama to help health practitioners learn the importance of interpreting non-verbal cues for person-centred care.

University Health Network

Failure to slow down when you should: self-regulation and judgment in surgical practice
Project title: Helping surgeons avoid mistakes
Lead researcher: Dr. Carol-anne Evelyn Moulton
Number of researchers benefiting: 4

Helping surgeons avoid making mistakes is the focus of research being conducted at the University Health Network. Dr. Carol-anne Moulton is studying how surgeons make critical judgments while working under extreme pressure. Her goal is to improve the way surgical judgment is taught in medical school.

Ryerson University

Helping deaf and hard of hearing people “hear” music
Project title: Enhancing perception of music in deaf and hard of hearing populations
Lead researcher: Dr. Frank Russo
Number of researchers benefiting: 6

Dr. Frank Russo helps make music for the deaf and hard of hearing. The Ryerson University researcher has been developing methods that allow people with severe hearing problems to feel music through vibrations. He is now working on ways to enhance their musical experiences further using vision as well as touch. His work could also lead to new ways to restore hearing.

Developing long-lasting joint replacements
Project title:  A new generation of bone-like ‘green’ composite materials for orthopaedic applications
Lead researcher: Dr. Habiba Bougherara
Number of researchers benefiting: 6

Current medical implants, including hip and knee replacements, last between 10 and 15 years. After that, patients face a repeat of the original surgery. At Ryerson University Dr. Habiba Bougherara is designing new biomaterials for medical implants. These implants will last substantially longer, reducing the number of surgeries a patient requires, and cutting health care costs.

York University

Finding new ways to treat neurodegenerative disease
Project title: Understanding the molecular basis of protein misfolding diseases
Lead researcher: Dr. Derek Wilson
Number of researchers benefiting: 4

What causes neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s? The answer may lie in ‘amyloid plaques’ in the brain. At York University, Dr. Derek Wilson is exploring why and how these sticky plaques form and disrupt normal brain activity. Ultimately, he may help us find new ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases.