January 9, 2007

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO RECEIVES $3.89 MILLION FOR RESEARCH

Under the Research Infrastructure component of the Ontario Research Fund (ORF), today the McGuinty government is announcing the investment of close to $11 million for 68 innovative projects in communities across the province. In southwestern Ontario, $3,897,430 will be invested in 27 projects.

GUELPH

University of Guelph

Dr. Loong-Tak Lim

Research setup for active food packaging systems, biodegradable material forming, and food-packaging interaction

Scientists at the University of Guelph, led by Loong-Tak Lim, are examining the way food and its packaging interact and are looking to devise innovative, environmentally-friendly packaging that will enhance both food quality and its shelf-life. Modern packaging can offer more than to simply passively protect food products. An emerging technology, known as active packaging, is designed to respond to the internal and/or package environment and actively carry out functions to extend shelf life. Another possibility lies in intelligent packaging, which possesses chemical and/or physical mechanisms that monitor the product and package condition and provide feedback (such as colour change) to reflect the state of the product. By combining the benefits of both approaches, an advanced packaging system can be achieved. The creation of food packages based on renewable materials, such as corn and soy proteins, in conjunction with active and intelligent systems, could offer both environmental and consumer benefits.

University of Guelph

Dr. Diane de Kerckhove

Canada's first state-of-the-art, one-micron nuclear microprobe

University of Guelph scientists aim to conduct research using Canada‘s first state-of-the-art high-resolution microprobe. The microprobe, which can "see" material as small as one micron (one one-millionth of a metre), complements information gathered by optical and electron microscopes. A microprobe can both analyze and modify materials.  One of the many materials that the research team led by Diane de Kerckhove plans to explore with the new facility is graded silicon-germanium. These crystals can bend and extract beams of protons (particles with positive electric charges) used for proton irradiation of cancer tumours and this technique could substantially reduce the costs involved in current treatment regimes.

University of Guelph

Dr. Paul E. Garrett

The Guelph high efficiency gamma-ray spectrometer for beta-decay experiments

Paul Garrett and his University of Guelph team are preparing a new high-efficiency gamma ray
detector for experiments at TRIUMF (Tri-University Meson Facility), Canada's Vancouver-based national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. They intend to study the limits of nuclear
existence, the origin of the elements and to obtain a deeper understanding of the fundamental forces of nature. This kind of leading-edge inquiry into basic questions about the nature of matter often leads to significant advances in scientific and technological development.

University of Guelph

Dr. Madhur Anand

From local observations to global models: Infrastructure for studying ecological change

The rapid pace and far-reaching potential of ecological change in the face of globalization and climate change is creating stress within ecosystems all over the world. There is an ever-increasing threat of extinctions of species, communities, and ecosystems along with the biodiversity services and functions that they support. Understanding the complex effects of ecological change at many scales (local to global, recent to historical) on biodiversity is thus of critical importance for predicting human-mediated changes to the environment, conserving biodiversity heritage and sustaining global economies. The CRC in Global Ecological Change recognizes the increasing international stature of ecological problems and their solutions. The research program will highlight similarities and differences between ecological events and practices on different continents with a view to fostering knowledge exchange. It will also provide tools for the application of emerging interdisciplinary theories, improved quantitative methods and predictive simulation models to the preservation, recovery and restoration of perturbed and vulnerable forest ecosystems worldwide.

University of Guelph

Dr. Milena Corredig

A set up for the study of protein-based nano-particles and their functionality

Canadian food processors could be in a position to manufacture a variety of new, healthy alternative foods as a result of research at the University of Guelph.  Milena Corredig's studies are aimed at providing an understanding of the formation of protein-based nanostructures in foods and the ability of these structures to incorporate molecules beneficial to health and maintain their functionality through processing and storage. Results could help manufacturers prepare processed food products that maintain high nutritional value and provide healthy dietary alternatives for Canadians. One potential benefit is the savings in health-care budgets, through improved public nutrition.

University of Guelph

Dr. Douglas S. Fudge

Tissue, Cell, and Protein Dynamics Laboratory

Proteins are essential parts of all living organisms and participate in every process within cells.
Many proteins are enzymes that are vital to metabolism. Others have structural or mechanical
functions. This research program, led by Douglas S. Fudge and Todd E. Gillis, will concentrate on proteins involved in such biomechanical functions as muscle contraction. A detailed understanding of how proteins work at the cellular and molecular level could lead to major advances in the treatment of neuromuscular and other diseases, and in the creation of strong new materials.

University of Guelph

Dr. Peter Sikkema

Sustainable pest management in field and horticultural crops

Greater agricultural productivity is the expected result of new, integrated, environmentally friendly systems to control insects, weeds, disease and other pests afflicting field and horticultural crops. These new precision systems are to be developed by Peter H. Sikkema and his team of researchers at the University of Guelph. Working with an eclectic array of new equipment (ranging from combines to computers), the researchers are developing approaches that combine genetics, agronomic practices, epidemic forecasting, timely applications of fungicide, and rapid harvesting. The requested new equipment will help develop and deliver high-quality experimental results in a variety of areas more efficiently.

University of Guelph

Dr. Amanda J. Wright

Facility for nutraceutical encapsulation and performance research

This research program will focus on health-promoting bioactive compounds in foods, which when isolated are called nutraceuticals. Delivered on their own or as part of a food these compounds can help combat a variety of diseases including cancer and promote overall health. However because many nutraceuticals are unstable and degrade quickly, they have limited utility. In addition, many are not effectively released from foods or supplements during digestion and this limits their nutritional or therapeutic benefit. The Guelph team, led by Amanda Wright, seeks to determine how food ingredients should be structured to optimally encapsulate, stabilize and deliver nutraceuticals. Improved public health and greater global competitiveness for Canada's $4-billion food industry are long-term advantages to such research.

University of Guelph

Dr. John R. Dutcher

State-of-the-art facility for the characterization of manipulation of soft matter at interfaces.

John Dutcher leads this University of Guelph research into soft matter which aims to clarify the
behaviour of complex biological molecules and cells at surfaces. The Guelph team is to conduct two experiments that shed light on the interaction of biopolymers and bacterial cells with a variety of surfaces. One potential application is the prevention of the colonization of bacteria on a variety of surfaces including ship hulls, medical implants and food processing surfaces. Other possible benefits include improved enzymes for the food industry, better bioadhesives, enhanced drug delivery to therapeutic targets and new coatings for use in fluid systems.

University of Guelph

Dr. Leah Bent

Microneurography facility for the investigation of spinal circuitry in the human related to movement and balance

Leah Bent and her team will study how the signals sent to the brain from the skin, muscles and joints have an influence on balance and posture. The researchers hope to isolate which skin receptors are involved in modulating muscles of the lower limbs. Activation of the appropriate skin receptors by customized ambulatory aids could help improve stability and mobility for those with problems maintaining correct balance and posture. Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury and death among older Canadians, accounting for more over 80 per cent of injury-related admissions to hospital among people 65 and older. Seventy per cent of fall-induced injuries suffered by seniors are bone fractures, of which hip fractures are the most common. Reducing such injuries would be reflected in reduced costs for the health-care system in treating these injuries.

University of Guelph

Dr. Ron Johnson

Integrated venous function in chronic heart failure

Biomedical researchers at the University of Guelph will study how vein function changes due to the effects of chronic heart failure. The requested equipment will help Ron Johnson and his research team better understand the development and progression of chronic heart failure, and to further our knowledge of how the healthy heart functions. It is hoped that this research will result in new approaches and treatments for heart disease.

LONDON

University of Western Ontario

Dr. Harry Prapavessis

Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory

Developing techniques for getting people involved in regular exercise and maintaining a healthy exercise regime over the long term are the focus of this research. Harry Prapavessis, Craig Hall and Albert Carron lead the project in which the researchers claim that only a sustained exercise program can impart substantial health benefits. Innovative methods that improve motivation and intention to exercise and to maintain a regular fitness program over time are the aim of this research. In addition to helping improve health broadly, such methods hold promise to be effective in helping people to quit smoking and in diminishing the incidence of childhood obesity.

University of Western Ontario

Dr. Lance J. Lochner

Computer-intensive modeling and estimation of lifecycle human capital investment behaviour

Led by Lance J. Lochner, the Western team is examining "human capital investment behaviour" both in children during school years, and in adults in the workplace. The objective is to understand the formation of individual work and life skills, to better understand earning patterns and improve government education and training policies.  With a better understanding of when resource constraints most inhibit individuals and families, public policy can be better targeted to alleviate deficiencies in investment throughout life. In addition, understanding why some workers experience little wage growth while others see their wages double over their careers is important to the design of income and employment assistance programs.

University of Western Ontario

Dr. Denis M. O'Carroll

Laboratory for the Development of Innovative Groundwater Remediation Strategies

Clean, safe groundwater is essential for Ontario's people and industries. In the last decade, the consequences of failing to protect the purity of groundwater supply have been demonstrated in such communities as Walkerton and Kashechewan. It has been estimated that 29 per cent of Canadians regularly consume groundwater, yet many groundwater sources are now contaminated beyond use. Clean-up is a significant challenge and new remediation technologies are urgently needed. In that context, a new Laboratory for the Development of Innovative Groundwater Remediation Strategies is to be established at the University of Western Ontario under the leadership of Dennis O'Carroll. One of the technologies Dr. O'Carroll and his colleagues will be researching involves pumping nanomaterials into the ground allowing them to flow with groundwater to a contaminated region and render the contaminants benign.

University of Western Ontario

Dr. Michael Poulter

From DNA repair to neural circuits: Mechanisms of cellular and neurological dysfunction

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario will conduct brain studies with the aim of providing better care for people suffering from intractable epilepsy. Michael Poulter and Caroline Schild-Poulter, will lead the studies which concentrate on genetic and other biological repair mechanisms that prevent the death of nerve cells. Insight into this function could have application towards treating diseases that degrade the nervous system such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and a number of psychiatric disorders. Dr. Michael Poulter is particularly interested in determining the factors that lead to intractable epilepsy. More than 300,000 Canadians have epilepsy, 30 per cent of them living without viable treatments.

University of Western Ontario

Dr. Tamie L. Poepping

Ultrasound Systems Development Laboratory

Blood circulation studies led by Tammie Poepping will use highly specialized ultrasound equipment and are expected to produce new techniques that will provide a better understanding of blood flow and the development of blood vessel disease. The neck arteries of people at risk of stroke, for example, are often narrowed by the buildup of plaque. The new techniques promise to help doctors determine whether such plaque is stable or unstable and therefore whether surgery is warranted. The technology could also help identify others who are at significant risk of stroke and may need potentially life-saving surgery.

University of Western Ontario

Dr. Sean P. Cregan

Cell signalling in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases

Stroke and diseases such as Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's, cause the death of brain cells, a damaging and debilitating outcome for victims. Sean Cregan leads this research study with the goal of developing therapeutic strategies for the treatment of such neurological conditions. The aim is to understand the process of how brain cells die through disease, and how they might be regenerated. It is hoped that the identification of critical molecules and signaling pathways may provide key targets for therapeutic intervention and treatment.  A new experimental surgery infrastructure will allow the validation of potential therapeutic targets delivering pharmacologic agents, viral vectors, and neural stem cells in animal models of stroke and neurodegenerative disease.

University of Western Ontario

Dr. Ajay K Ray

Novel Photocatalysis and SMB Technology Laboratory

Ajay Ray leads a team of scientists at the University of Western Ontario who intend to explore a variety of light-based chemical processes that promise wide-ranging benefits. By harnessing solar energy, light-based chemical-reaction technologies can provide pure drinking water with minimal energy and capital costs and eliminate the use of harmful chemicals. One goal is the creation of inexpensive and safe tablets to produce potable water. For remote communities and developing countries where the availability of pure drinking water is limited, this would represent a great benefit. The potential exists for these new technologies to be harnessed to provide cleaner air in public buildings and prevent the spread of infectious disease in hospitals.

ST. CATHARINES

Brock University

Dr. Angus R. Smith

Excavation of a Mycenaean cemetery at Ayia Sotira, Koutsomadi, deme of Nemea, Korinthia

This archaeological excavation is led by Robert Smith, and involves the examination of an endangered Mycenaean cemetery in the township of Nemea, Greece. Researchers intend to recover and analyze the human skeletal remains in order to make an assessment of the social make-up, diet, health and occupational activities of the occupants. This assessment will be achieved through genetic and chemical testing of the remains, and by examining the artifacts found in the tombs. The students involved in this fieldwork will be able to apply the analytical and interpretive techniques they learn to areas of future study, such as historic aboriginal sites in Ontario.

WATERLOO

University of Waterloo

Dr. Lora Giangregorio

Optimizing osteoporosis diagnosis and management: a multi-faceted osteoporosis research centre

New research led by Lora Giangregorio at the University of Waterloo offers the promise of safer living with osteoporosis for the 1.4 million Canadians who suffer from the disease. Using equipment that will include a peripheral computed tomography scanner, a tool for evaluating gait and a body weight support treadmill Dr. Giangregorio and her colleagues will investigate changes in bone that occur with aging, disease, immobility. They will also examine how physical activity and other interventions can help prevent fractures, reduce disability and increase quality of life in vulnerable populations.

University of Waterloo

Dr. David  Spafford

State-of-the-art facility for the development of new biopharmaceuticals and biomarkers for stress detection

Neuroscience researchers at the University of Waterloo will be working with new molecular biology, cell culture and electrophysiology equipment to develop fresh treatments for heart, blood circulation and nervous system disorders. David Spafford, who has a particular interest and expertise in calcium channel functions, will be leading the work. Calcium channels play a key role in the transmission of "messages" throughout the nervous system. Dr. Spafford's research has wide applicability in the development of calcium channel biopharmaceuticals for treatment of heart and neurological diseases, and the re-establishment and regeneration of damaged nerves.  Drugs called calcium channel blockers have had a significant impact on the control of high blood pressure and potential treatments for chronic pain, migraine headaches and epilepsy.

University of Waterloo

Dr. Clark Dickerson

Enabling advanced digital ergonomics and shoulder biomechanics research

Workers face a significant risk of serious shoulder injuries in many industries everyday. Applying ergonomic principles to workplace design to ensure that worker capabilities and limitations are taken into account can dramatically reduce that risk. Researchers at the University of Waterloo, led by Clark Dickerson, will use six new equipment systems to simulate and evaluate human shoulder function in work operations, and explore the impacts that different virtual workplace design techniques can make in improving shoulder health. These exercises in digital ergonomics promise to have an important impact on Ontario industry and worker safety.

Wilfrid Laurier University

Dr. Sukhvinder S. Obhi

Infrastructure for Cognition in Action Laboratory

Sukhvinder Obhi leads research studies on how the brain codes spatial information and how this coding helps in the production of purposeful, goal directed actions. The brain uses a number of reference points to code the position of an object, and this spatial information is necessary for the brain to program a successful action. For example, picking up a cup of coffee and taking a sip seems like the simplest of tasks. However, the complex neurological process of how the brain represents the position of the cup and then directs the hand correctly is still not fully understood. A better understanding of how the process works will have implications for rehabilitation of brain injury victims and the optimal design of machine interfaces. In other research, Dr. Obhi studies the neural control of multi-limb actions and attempts to identify strategies that make the planning and performance of different simultaneous movements easier. Overall, this research could lead to the design of more optimal training strategies for those for whom accuracy of motion and good bimanual coordination is critical, like pilots, dentists, surgeons, athletes and musicians.

WINDSOR

University of Windsor

Dr. Shaohong Cheng

Infrastructure for a medium-scale green technology wind tunnel research program

Engineering research at the University of Windsor promises safer lightweight cars and more
electricity from wind turbines. Working with a new medium-scale wind tunnel Shaohong Cheng and Rupp Carriveau will try to achieve greater efficiencies in aerodynamic designs. Wind-driven turbines offer "greener" electricity-generating opportunities, but there are a number of challenges to improve this technology. The Windsor research is designed to help resolve such issues as blade icing and turbine array interference. Lightweight cars would offer lower gasoline consumption and air pollution but also greater instability in high winds. One goal of the Windsor wind studies is to optimize the contour of lightweight vehicles so that their aerodynamic stability and resulting safety will improve.

University of Windsor

Dr. Tricia Carmichael

Self-assembled monolayers on ultrasmooth surfaces

Led by Tricia Carmichael, this research project will focus on organic films that are a nanometer (one-billionth of a metre) thick that form on surfaces and serve as barriers to isolate electronic
components from each other. These microscopically thin layers are called "Self-Assembled Monolayers" (SAMs) and function to improve the performance of future electronics assemblies. For SAMs to function properly it is necessary to reduce defects (regions of molecular disorder) caused by roughness of the underlying surface. The Carmichael team is aiming to develop low-defect molecular films for use as barrier layers in the nanoscale devices that comprise next-generation integrated circuits. Electronics with better functionality and improved efficiency are desired outcomes of this study.

University of Windsor

Dr. Fuschia M. Sirois

Virtual and in-person research facilities for the Health and Well-being Lab

Early detection and treatment of disease is an important factor not only in protecting public health, but also in the savings that it represents for the health care system. Many people tend to
procrastinate in seeking treatment of serious illness, or fail to act on medically recommended
behaviors in areas such as diet and exercise. The study led by Fuschia Sirois seeks to understand
how such procrastination affects individuals with and without health issues. Why people delay in
seeking treatment, or postpone acting on medical advice, are questions this research will attempt to answer. The cost of chronic illness in Canada estimated at $80 billion dollars and better
understanding this issue could help save the health care system valuable resources, and offer a better quality of life to many Ontarians.

University of Windsor

Dr. Lisa Porter

Viral preparation/cell culture facility for investigating mediators involved in the development and progression of breast cancer

Researchers at the University of Windsor aim at creating novel therapies and predictive markers for breast cancer. The research, led by Lisa A. Porter, aims to reveal novel mechanisms regulating cell growth and focuses on mediators involved in the development and progression of breast cancer. The researchers are working with cell cultures that mimic the natural situation found in the human breast. A sterile, stable environment for these cultures is necessary to the integrity and validity of the research, and outfitting a new laboratory will provide this required setting.

For a complete list of awards and a detailed breakdown of the funding under this round of the ORF, please visit www.ontario.ca/innovation.