Dr. Alex Buchel

A deeper and more profound understanding of the properties of the novel state of matter that existed in the universe directly following the cosmic Big Bang, has led to critically important discoveries in the modern era. One example is the Theory of Superconductivity developed in the early 1970s which led to the creation of materials that have no resistance to the flow of electricity and are used in wireless voice and data applications. Dr. Alex Buchel, an associate professor of applied mathematics at The University of Western Ontario, is building on this knowledge with research that will expand the fundamental understanding of the properties of this matter. His research will keep Ontario at the leading edge in the field of theoretical physics and may lead to the development of new and novel materials.

Dr. Bertram Gawronski

Automatic evaluative responses, our immediate, unreflected reactions to situations and images, are natural and often beneficial, keeping us safe - like when driving a car for example. But when these responses are too rigid or extreme, they can lead to dysfunctional behaviour. Dr. Bertram Gawronski, a Canada Research Chair in Social Psychology at the University of Western Ontario, is investigating the psychological mechanisms underlying these automatic and deliberate responses, providing valuable insight into a number of serious disorders such as phobias, addictions, eating disorders and other compulsive behaviours.

Dr. Sung Ouk Kim

Infectious and inflammatory diseases affect millions of Canadians. Dr. Sung Ouk Kim, an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Western Ontario, is focusing on understanding the cell death mechanisms of key immune cells. His research will lead to new therapeutic tools and strategies for treating inflammatory and infectious diseases and improve patient care.

Dr. Charles McKenzie

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is used to diagnose a wide range of diseases, including heart disease and cancer, two of the leading causes of death in Ontario. Standard MRI scans are slow and therefore collect a limited amount of diagnostic information. Dr. Charles McKenzie, an associate professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Western Ontario, is developing the emerging technique of parallel MRI, which makes MRI scans up to 20 times faster. This will result in shorter MRI waiting lists and enable earlier diagnosis of many diseases.

Dr. Kibret Mequanint

Every year many Canadians undergo coronary bypass surgery and with an aging population this is expected to increase dramatically over the next few decades. Prosthetic vascular grafts are replacement parts that are used during heart surgery. Because the grafts are foreign to the recipient’s body and can cause an immune reaction, doctors must suppress the recipient’s immune system with medication. The prosthetic vascular grafts currently in use often do not fit or function well and require lifelong treatment with anticoagulant drugs to fight rejection. Dr. Kibret Mequanint, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Western Ontario, believes patient-specific biologically engineered tissues, the focus of his research, offer a better solution for patients and the health care system.

Dr. Denis O’Carroll

Protection of groundwater, water located beneath the ground surface, is essential. For groundwater sources that are contaminated beyond use, existing clean-up technologies are expensive and often unable to meet today’s standards.  Dr. Denis O’Carroll, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Western Ontario, is developing two innovative technologies to clean up contaminated groundwater, one using nanotechnology and the other using hot water. If successful, these technologies will enable engineers and scientists to effectively clean up contaminated sites at significantly less cost.

Dr. Susan Scollie

The hearing health of infants and toddlers is an important area of research. Dr. Susan Scollie, an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders at the University of Western Ontario, is investigating how babies hear through their hearing aids to evaluate how well hearing aids work. This will result in new ways to evaluate hearing aids for babies and development of new technology in hearing health care research, development and manufacturing.

Dr. Sean R. Shieh

High-pressure high-temperature mineral physics is the exploration of how materials such as gases, molecule solids, silicates, oxides and metals found deep within the earth and on other planets react when subjected to extreme conditions of heat and pressure. The research serves as a platform for the discovery of novel materials and the development of their applications. Dr. Sean Shieh, an associate professor of earth sciences at the University of Western Ontario, is focusing on how these materials transform into new forms of molecular solids when subjected to high pressure and high temperatures. These new materials have a wide range of industrial applications, including being used in cutting tools, abrasive mechanical parts, wear-resistant coatings and mining parts.

Dr. Yang Song

As new frontiers continue to open up in materials and advanced manufacturing, particularly in the automobile and energy industries, new systems, products and applications are of crucial importance. Dr. Yang Song, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Western Ontario, is conducting research into applying extreme conditions and high pressure to create new materials. Two promising areas Dr. Song is focusing on are in the development of super-hard materials and hydrogen storage materials. The first will provide direct benefit in the manufacture of abrasives with applications in machining and drilling industries and in the development of materials suitable for various artificial implants in human bodies. The second relates to the storage of hydrogen fuels that will reduce our dependence on petroleum.

Dr. Hao Wang

Though lifelong immunosuppressive drug use has increased the successful transplantation of vital organs, the adverse effects created by these powerful drugs often include cancer and infection in transplant recipients. With the goal of developing donor specific tolerance to grafted kidneys, Dr. Hao Wang, an assistant professor/scientist at The University of Western Ontario, is developing a process that will “teach” the recipient’s immune system to recognize the donor’s graft as part of the recipient’s own body. In addition to reducing the need for lifelong drug treatment, the newly developed therapeutic strategies will advance transplant research in Ontario and help maintain our reputation as an international leader in this field.

Dr. James Wisner

Significant reductions in the environmental impact of pre- and post-user plastic manufacturing and recycling can be achieved by producing materials that require less energy and are simpler to process into useable forms. University of Western Ontario assistant professor Dr. James Wisner is investigating the development of an artificial system of molecules to create new environmentally friendly polymers. Other benefits of Dr. Wisner’s research include promoting Ontario’s reputation for scientific research and solidifying our leadership in the plastics industry.

Dr. Guangyong Zou

Evidence-based healthcare, which combines “best evidence” research with clinical experience to provide patients with the best possible care, is only as good as the evidence it draws on. Large amounts of data must be summarized in order for researchers to draw conclusions and develop practices that are in the best interests of the patient. Dr. Guangyong Zou, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Western Ontario and a scientist at the Robarts Research Institute, is creating a new, highly rigorous statistical methodology for summarizing health research data. This methodology will provide researchers from a wide range of disciplines with improved tools for analysis and interpretation, improving the overall quality of information for evidence-based health care.