��ݮ��Ƶ News - Health Futures

Clear waters, hidden toxins

Pamela Smyth — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:24:58 +0000

Study warns that viruses that kill toxic algae may actually increase risks for people and ecosystems

New laboratory research shows that when viruses attack a species that forms toxic algal blooms, those thick, blue-green slicks that choke waterways and that threaten ecosystems, drinking water, and public health, what results might be even worse than before the infection. The finding questions the long-held theory among scientists that the viruses help regulate the negative effects of these blooms.

A team of environmental microbiologists led by Dr. Jozef Nissimov, a professor at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, has shown for the first time experimentally that when viruses infect and kill Microcystis aeruginosa, a common species responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs), they cause the release of high levels of the toxin microcystin-LR into the water from the infected cells. 

The microcystin-LR toxin, a known liver toxin, remained in the water at levels roughly 40 times higher than the recommended concentration for recreational waters for several days after the infected cells died, even when the water itself appeared clear. This finding is significant because water clarity is often a prime visual cue to trigger additional testing, which can ultimately determine the safety of water for drinking and recreational use. 

“Our research shows us that the relationship between viruses and toxic algae is more complicated than we thought,” Nissimov said. “We need to better understand these interactions before we can consider viruses as something that acts as a natural HAB-control strategy.

Victoria Lee, undergraduate student and first author, sampling virus-infected and non-infected cyanobacterial cells during the experiments for assessing concentrations of the microcystin-LR toxin. (University of ��ݮ��Ƶ)

Habs are a global concern. Depending on the type of species responsible for a bloom, exposure may result in skin rashes, stomach upset, liver damage and neurological problems. Pets and livestock can also develop health issues from exposure to contaminated water. In Canada, microcystins are the only algal toxins with national guidelines for water used for drinking and recreational activities, making this discovery particularly urgent for regulators and decision-makers. 

HABs can result in so-called dead zones, where oxygen in the water is depleted, posing a survival risk to fish and other aquatic organisms. Beyond these immediate effects, HABs often force the closure of beaches, fisheries, and nearshore recreational areas. In the Great Lakes, HABs caused by M. aeruginosa occur annually, with the most frequent and severe ones occurring in western Lake Erie.

The work opens the door to further studies, including investigating how climate change might influence the dynamics between viruses, algae, and toxin release. Temperature and nutrient pollution are key factors in making HABs more frequent and widespread globally. Another area for future exploration is how microcystin-LR and other HAB toxins get metabolised and reduced by other organisms in the environment, and how the virus infection that triggers their excess release from the infected cells can be countered.  

The researchers say their findings could support better forecasting and mitigation strategies for HABs, ultimately helping governments, municipalities, and water agencies make more informed, evidence-based decisions. 

"Viruses likely still have a very important role to play in controlling harmful blooms, but we need to ask the right questions, starting with whether the benefits of viral infection in our bodies of water outweigh its potential detrimental effects,” Nissimov said.

The study, Virus Infection of a Freshwater Cyanobacterium Contributes Significantly to the Release of Toxins Through Cell Lysis, was recently published in Microorganisms.

Photo credit for banner image: Dr. Steven Wilhelm/University of Tennessee

Reimagining patient care through diversity and inclusivity

Sarah Fullerton — Thu, 08 May 2025 12:30:00 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ Pharmacy students' cultural and dietary interaction checker, Praxis, wins the 2025 Pharmasave Business Competition

An observation during a co-op work term has inspired a group of students from the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s School of Pharmacy to develop an innovative and inclusive tool that can help pharmacists source medications that meet specific dietary restrictions more effectively.

Many medications, including pill capsules, may contain gluten or ingredients derived from animal products or alcohol, which directly impacts individuals with diverse cultural, dietary or religious restrictions. While most software on the market integrates common allergies, it often lacks the capacity to address food intolerances and restrictions, leaving pharmacists to spend additional time sourcing suitable options for their patients.

The Pharmasave Business Competition awards a third-year ��ݮ��Ƶ School of Pharmacy student team a $5,000 prize for an innovative business model in the field of pharmacy. Students work in teams as part of their PHARM 350 Fundamental Principles of Business Administration and Management course, to develop a startup that solves a current health care issue aligned with Ontario health care regulations and pitch their ideas to a panel of pharmacists, entrepreneurs and financial advisors.

When Doctor of Pharmacy students Julia Regina Cervantes, Jessica Chionglo, Anoosh Hajira and Giya Joseph began brainstorming business ideas for their course, they were inspired by Hajira’s observation from a co-op work term. She noticed that the pharmacy team frequently wasted valuable time manually researching the patients’ questions and concerns about their medications and whether they meet their cultural, religious or dietary needs.

From left: Dean Pacey, School of Pharmacy sessional lecturer, Julia Regina Cervantes, Giya Joseph, Jessica Chionglo and Anoosh Hajira

"Together, we reflected on our co-op work terms and despite encountering different patient dynamics, we realized we had all faced the same challenge," Joseph says.

“With a more diverse population, alternative medications were increasingly requested,” Hajira adds. “I thought to myself, ‘There has to be a more efficient way to look up restrictions and offer options tailored to patients’ needs.’”

Through extensive market research, the team confirmed this is a significant and recurring challenge pharmacists face. This inspired the creation of their business idea, Praxis – a healthcare resource designed to help pharmacists navigate cultural and dietary restrictions to tailor patient-specific medications. From halal-friendly gel capsules to gluten-free options, Praxis addresses the dietary and cultural challenges that are present in community pharmacies.

“Integrating Praxis into their business will save pharmacies seven minutes per patient interaction,” Chionglo says.

“With just a quick search, our software provides pharmacists with inclusive medication options tailored to each patient – within seconds,” Joseph adds.

After surveying 53 pharmacists and pharmacy students, the team found a common theme: a significant gap in knowledge regarding cultural and religious restrictions in pharmaceuticals.

“This is a real issue that pharmacists face, that is negatively affecting community pharmacies,” says Cervantes. “Solving this issue will have real-world impact that will create positive ripples directly in our communities.”

Praxis, where pharmacy meets personalization, empowers pharmacists with the tools to confidently and accurately address patients’ dietary and cultural restrictions to support informed decision making and ensuring patients feel understood and respected in their care.

“Each patient deserves to have their religious, cultural and dietary allergies considered, with therapeutic care tailored to their needs to improve their quality of life,” Cervantes says.

Pharmasave Canada judges with Julia Regina Cervantes, Jessica Chionglo, Anoosh Hajira and Giya Joseph.

“Something that could be insignificant to you, may be essential to someone else,” Hajira says. “Just because a restriction isn’t life threatening to a person, doesn’t make it unimportant.”

Cervantes, Chionglo, Hajira and Joseph are thankful for the meaningful connections they’ve made through the ��ݮ��Ƶ community and are excited to use the $5,000 prize from the Pharmasave Business Competition to begin developing Praxis.

They plan to do more market research, network and pitch their business model to raise pre-seed capital. With funding acquired they are looking forward to working with a software developer to pilot, test and gain feedback to bring their meaningful idea to life.

“Beyond the counter, we hope that bringing Praxis to life will encourage pharmaceutical companies to be more transparent and to offer more inclusive options for patients at the manufacturing level,” Chionglo says.

Funded by Pharmasave, the competition is held annually and tied to a third-year ��ݮ��Ƶ Pharmacy course that has led to at least three real-world businesses. The competition pushes students to solve real-word challenges they encounter throughout co-op work terms and to become innovative health-care providers.

Science

Health Futures

Planting the seeds for innovation and curiosity

Sam Charles — Tue, 06 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

More than 100,000 children and youth from across the region are discovering the wonders of science and technology through the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ

Ask a 10-year-old in ��ݮ��Ƶ region about the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ and they may tell you about the time they played with Nao or Talos, the humanoid robots housed in ��ݮ��Ƶ Engineering’s RoboHub.

Every week, elementary school-aged students from across the region, visit campus as part of the Kids on Campus and "Mentor" lab programs to learn about a variety of topics including AI and technology literacy. Their visits can include stops at the RoboHub, Institute for Quantum Computing, Crash Labs (MME) and WatiMake Lab. Not only do these programs become a foundation for the students’ future success, but they play a role in maintaining the region’s strengths in developing talent and technology.

In the past five years, Engineering Outreach has offered more than 3,000 programs and reached nearly 100,000 youth.

“Our region benefits from having one of Canada’s most innovative universities here in our backyard,” says Sophie Nasato, senior manager Engineering Outreach. “There is nothing like seeing the spark that ignites in the eyes of so many of the young people who visit our campus when they program a robot or learn how technology impacts their world.”

The impact of the University goes far beyond the sharing of knowledge, innovative research or launching of start-ups. Through outreach programs led by each of its faculties, ��ݮ��Ƶ engages and motivates children and youth in its community to be curious and explore. From STEM programs to the arts and sports, the University seeks to inspire its broader community.

There are many factors that draw students and researchers to ��ݮ��Ƶ. Its reputation for being cutting-edge and its co-op program are two of the biggest, but its connection to community is another.

Fourth-year Mathematical Physics (co-op) and Astrophysics minor student, Lauren Brown first experienced ��ݮ��Ƶ outreach as an eight-year-old attending ESQ summer camp. “Outreach played a major role in my decision to ultimately attend ��ݮ��Ƶ,” she says. “While I enjoyed my schooling, I strongly benefited from learning about topics outside of the standard curriculum, surrounded by like-minded individuals.”

Brown attended ESQ summer camps and Go Eng Girl programming for five years. She says she also benefited from Engineering Outreach classroom workshops. “It was a full-circle moment when I started attending schools in the region to teach students about the same topics I had been interested in back then. I decided to work with Outreach because I wanted to give back to the community that helped me grow into the learner I am today.”

��ݮ��Ƶ was established in the 1950s with the goal of helping tackle some of the world’s most daunting challenges. Today, ��ݮ��Ƶ continues to share with the world innovative solutions to global challenges while working in collaboration locally to ensure they are addressed in its own surrounding communities.

These challenges include preparing a workforce that is agile and ready for whatever tomorrow brings. That work doesn’t simply begin when first-year students step onto campus. For many youth in the ��ݮ��Ƶ region, it starts in elementary school with a trip to campus, a classroom workshop with ��ݮ��Ƶ students, or by attending a summer camp.

“I still remember seeing my fingerprint for the first time and participating in energy and water filtration activities in grades four or five when ��ݮ��Ƶ scientists visited my class,” says Tasbiha Saif Ansari, a third-year student in the Science and Business program at ��ݮ��Ƶ. Today, Ansari volunteers with the outreach team at the Faculty of Science.

Often in collaboration with community partners and schools, ��ݮ��Ƶ provides outreach programming that includes camps, the Earth Science Museum, clubs, workshops, conferences and community events. This programming is designed for all youth, with an emphasis on those historically under-represented in STEM and under-served populations.

Simone Sankhe is finishing up her first year as a Math and Business major — a joint program between ��ݮ��Ƶ and Wilfrid Laurier. “Attending ESQ at a young age made STEM feel exciting and accessible, and it definitely helped spark the passion that led me to where I am today.”

Not only did Sankhe participate in ESQ camps and Leader in Training programming at ��ݮ��Ƶ, but she was a high school leader in 2023/24, and part-time outreach instructor for the past two years. “It's honestly incredibly rewarding. I love working with Engineering Outreach because we're able to work with so many kids from different backgrounds and it's always so impressive to see how much they already know, and how their interest in STEM is growing."

Helping young Canadians discover STEM

“We’re trying to give every young person in our area, whether they are 7 or 17, the chance to immerse themselves in science and technology,” says Nasato. “The interest and demand from the community continues to grow, and we are grateful to our many donors and partners for supporting the expansion of these offerings.”

The programs are supported by ��ݮ��Ƶ and many generous individual donors and organizations. As lead sponsors, Actua and Let’s Talk Science play an important role in expanding many of the programs to ensure under-served populations have an opportunity to participate. Actua provides funding for many of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s engineering outreach programs while Let’s Talk Science supports science outreach.

While most engineering programs are funded by sponsors and donors, both Faculties largely rely on volunteers, co-op students and staff. Between the Let’s Talk Science program, campus lab days and the Earth Science Museum, the Faculty of Science annually connects with close to 10,000 students ranging from grades 1 to 12.

The campus lab workshops, that take place in April and May, draw grade 11 and 12 classes from across the region and as far as Toronto and Windsor.

“All of our programming is about removing barriers, and letting young people explore and discover,” says Heather Neufeld, manager Science Outreach. “Our overall goal is to help feed people’s curiosity and sense of wonder when it comes to science and learning.”

It is often a full-circle moment for outreach staff and volunteers when they work with young students. “I love when students ask ‘big’ questions because these often lead to fruitful discussions and provide an opportunity for students to ask scientific questions outside of the typical school structure, and without the added pressure of grades,” Brown says. “When students think critically and are interested enough in the material to ask scientific questions, it reminds me of my own experiences at that age, and it is amazing to be a part of that experience for them.”

Everyone involved from participants to instructors benefits from outreach according to Neufeld. “Not only are we inspiring young minds to explore and discover STEM topics, but outreach is also a great opportunity for our student volunteers to connect with the public, share their passion, and explain complicated topics in a way we can all understand.”

Inspired by its long-standing connections with the community, the University continues to foster these connections with the goal of having a positive impact locally and globally. Outreach plays a lasting role in encouraging young and old to be curious and explore what’s possible.

Here is a selection of University of ��ݮ��Ƶ outreach programming:

ESQ Summer Camps led by the Faculty of Engineering with support from the Faculty of Science includes a variety of hands-on activities that explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and feature STEM mentors and tours of exciting spaces on ��ݮ��Ƶ’s campus. Campers will experiment with new technology, develop valuable skills, and connect with friends. Camps are offered in four grade ranges: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 and 8-9. Find out more about other programs hosted by Engineering Outreach.

You can keep up with the variety of opportunities offered by Science Outreach by signing up for their mailing list. Public lectures, community events and opportunities for both students and schools are shared monthly.

The Student Art Innovation Lab is a mobile Faculty of Arts outreach program that hosts workshops and exhibitions.

Ecology Lab at the Faculty of Environment provides enrichment programs and workshops that include both field and lab activities designed for the students.

The Faculty of Mathematics offers a variety of outreach and enrichment programs to promote mathematics and computer science.

The Faculty of Health has been opening its doors for more than 50 years to host Kinesiology Lab Days. The program introduces high school students to kinesiology — the science of human movement.

��ݮ��Ƶ’s Athletics and Recreation department offers summer youth camps where campers can explore new skills, try out exciting activities and grow into confident Warriors.

Technological Futures

The power of inclusive storytelling

Sarah Fullerton — Fri, 02 May 2025 13:35:21 +0000

A Faculty of Science student is receiving recognition for making significant contributions to creating a more inclusive and accessible tomorrow for children with disabilities

Second-year Biomedical Sciences student Talina Papazian is an advocate, an author, and a passionate leader. When she was six years old, her brother was diagnosed with a severe anaphylactic peanut allergy. The diagnosis transformed her family’s life, as her brother navigated new challenges like social isolation. At sixteen years old, Papazian made it her mission to make a difference in healthcare, no matter her age. She began volunteering at a children’s rehabilitation facility, where she connected with other children facing similar experiences.

At 17, Papazian, an ally of the disability community, wrote and illustrated You Taught Me, a children’s book featuring inclusive characters and narrative to raise funds and awareness for children with disabilities and developmental differences. The book has sold over 800 copies and 100 per cent of the proceeds are donated to the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital where she continues to support their programs as an ongoing volunteer.

Papazian sees storytelling as a powerful medium, writing the book to champion inclusion and accessibility for children living with visible and hidden disabilities, like her brother.

“Capturing the importance of inclusion and accessibility in a children’s book is so critical because children who have challenging medical conditions are so much more than their medical diagnosis,”she says. “Sharing inclusive stories emphasizes the importance of considering an individual as a holistic person with important ideas to share. Every child deserves to be treated with equality.”

It is her hope that providing children with inclusive resources, like her children’s book, will help reshape how people think about disability and inclusion and inspire young readers to also become champions for inclusion.

Watch video on YouTube

Her advocacy work has granted her the honour of receiving several awards, including the Rick Hansen Foundation Difference Maker of the Year Award last year and the Empowered Kids Ontario (EKO) Rising Star Award this year. The EKO award is a prestigious recognition granted to an emerging leader who has made significant contributions to the lives of children with disabilities and developmental differences, and their families. Papazian has demonstrated this impact through partnerships with public libraries, children’s centres and hospitals, where she regularly hosts workshops and activities for young readers that foster inclusive perspectives and encourage conversations on disability and inclusion.

These awards have provided her with the opportunities to champion inclusion at a larger scale. She is currently a member of the Rick Hansen Foundation Youth Leadership Committee, is working on a second children’s book, and is launching a website for her advocacy work, all while balancing her studies as a second-year Biomedical Sciences student at ��ݮ��Ƶ and preparing for the MCAT exam. During her time at ��ݮ��Ƶ, she is exploring career options in pediatric medicine in hopes to continue supporting kids facing challenging medical conditions.

Her advice to young people wanting to make a difference is to start with your passion. “If you care about something, take that first step, even if it feels small. Believe in yourself, step out of your comfort zone, and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way,” she says. “And remember, it’s so important to include people who are part of the community you are advocating for as an ally. Their voices need to be heard to remain at the centre of your work.”

The mission of You Taught Me is to foster a love for championing inclusion amongst young readers by sharing stories that celebrate the value of every voice. 100 per cent of the proceeds from You Taught Me are donated to the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. To support this cause, you can purchase the book at Amazon, Indigo, or FriesenPress.

Science

Health Futures

Funding the future of optometry

Beth Bohnert — Thu, 01 May 2025 12:28:36 +0000

Through gifts to the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute, donors are helping to prepare the next generation of eye and vision care providers

“My wife hasn’t seen my eyes in five years,” the patient told University of ��ݮ��Ƶ student Nina Yan on her first day working in an optometry practice. After suffering a concussion, the man was forced to wear dark sunglasses constantly to alleviate the pain of extreme light sensitivity.

After a thorough assessment confirmed the need for prism correction, Yan recalls, “My supervisor and I put some prism and a blue tint in his glasses. Immediately, you could see the release in his shoulders. He started crying with relief. He was able to go about his day almost like before his concussion.

“That experience put into perspective just how important optometry can be.”

As Canada's population gets older and more people develop vision problems, the need for skilled eye care professionals is growing. ��ݮ��Ƶ donors are helping train students like Yan and her classmate Cassidy Roberts through their contributions to the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute (WEI) at the School of Optometry and Vision Science.

New tools mean new learning opportunities

The WEI, set to open in late 2026, aims to become Canada's leading centre of excellence in optometry, enhancing patient care and serving as a national resource for optometric education and research. It has been made possible, in part, thanks to more than 900 donors who have contributed to equipment and programs. This support helps ��ݮ��Ƶ optometrists advance eye and vision care and provides students with hands-on learning opportunities.

Yan and Roberts are in their final year of the Doctor of Optometry program, in which students rotate through the primary and specialty clinics in the School and private practices across the country. During these rotations, students examine and diagnose patients while supervised by an optometrist.

The two students are currently working at the interim location of the ��ݮ��Ƶ clinic, where the School continues its optometric education and patient care programs during the WEI’s construction.

The School’s clinics — there’s an additional location at the Kitchener Health Sciences campus — are renowned for their advanced care and receive hundreds of referrals each year from across Canada and abroad. One reason for this is the specialty services the clinics offer, made possible by cutting-edge technology funded by donors.

This equipment includes an expanded imaging suite, with tools that enable optometrists to look more deeply into the eye and better diagnose and treat eye diseases and conditions. A corneal topography machine maps layers of the retina and can provide measurements for special contact lenses to treat conditions like corneal scarring.

“Without the topography machine, we wouldn’t be able to fit patients with these lenses. These machines enable us to provide extra care and services that might not be possible elsewhere,” Yan says.

In the imaging suite, optometry student Cassidy Roberts operates a high-precision instrument that measures the length and curvature of the eye. Much of the suite's equipment has been provided through donor support of the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute.

A safe environment to practice skills

Long before Yan and Roberts stepped into the clinic, donors were helping them prepare to care for patients. The School is home to the donor-funded FYidoctors Simulation Lab. This virtual reality lab allows students to see conditions they will encounter in the clinic.

“The simulation lab provides a safe, structured environment where we can practice our skills and learn about different pathologies,” Roberts says. “Having the software go through exactly what we're seeing and explaining it makes for an easier transition to real-life patients.”

Now that they're preparing to graduate, Yan and Roberts still find the lab useful.

“I used it right before my board exam, just to make sure that my techniques were up to par,” Yan says.

The new technology helps students prepare not only for their future as optometrists, but for the future of their profession as well.

“We have an advanced procedures course where we get to use specialty tools, like the YAG laser. Optometrists are not allowed to do these procedures in Ontario yet. It’s good practice if the scope of practice expands in the next few years,” Yan explains.

Leading-edge technology helps the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute's clinics provide the highest standard of care — and gives students like Nina Yan unique learning opportunities that might not be available in private practice.

Funding the future

While Roberts and Yan will have left ��ݮ��Ƶ by the time the WEI opens, they are excited by what the expanded clinic and its equipment will mean for future optometry students and patients.

“Right now, we have modern equipment and modern ideas but a very old space. At a time when we have all these new innovations, the WEI will help students stay on top of them and foster our learning,” Roberts says.

“We’d like to send WEI donors a huge, heartfelt thank you,” she adds. “We wouldn't be able to learn the way that we're learning, and we wouldn't be where we are as clinicians right now without their help.

“They're funding not only the School but the future of optometry in Canada.”

On May 15, the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ will launch our first Giving Day. This event encourages you to support the ��ݮ��Ƶ initiatives you care most about — like optometric education and patient care at the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute— and connect with other donors to increase the impact of your gift. Join us on Giving Day and help ��ݮ��Ƶ build a better tomorrow.

Campus

Science

Co-op and Experiential Education

Community

Health Futures

Health Technology Innovation

Starting businesses from research for real-world impact

Charlotte Danby — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:11:49 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ Engineering professor leads an entrepreneurial research team committed to helping people live better, healthier lives

When University of ��ݮ��Ƶ professor Dr. Carolyn Ren was a child, her father came home one day with a tape cassette recorder. This was China in the early 1980s and such devices were hard to come by, particularly in their rural village. Everyone was curious to see it, no one more so than Ren who was transfixed by its ability to play music as if by magic. She had to understand how it worked so took the device apart. Unfortunately, she couldn’t put it back together again. Determined to never get stuck in such a situation again, the young Ren set her sights on becoming an engineer.

Ren joined the University's Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering in 2004 and launched the Microfluidics Laboratory shortly thereafter. With a team of postdoctoral fellows, graduate and co-op students, she leads innovative research in a range of life-improving applications from cancer diagnostics to wearable medical technologies.

“I’ve always been interested in figuring out how things work and then making them work better—there’s always room for improvement,” Ren says. “Whatever the system—mechanical, electrical or medical—it needs to help people live well. All our lab’s research has an end-user in mind because what’s important for us is seeing something we’ve developed being useful in the real world.”

��ݮ��Ƶ’s Microfluidics Lab (WML) focuses on improving the delivery of health care. The team’s expertise in the precise control of fluids at the microscale helps, for example, pharmaceutical companies develop more targeted drug delivery systems and doctors perform more accurate, real-time disease diagnoses. All to the benefit of patients whose recoveries improve thanks to better, faster treatments.

Research-driven entrepreneurship

Alongside her academic work, Ren has co-founded four startups in the ��ݮ��Ƶ region and holds nine active patents, capitalizing on the University’s unique intellectual property policy which ensures that any business idea developed on the ��ݮ��Ƶ campus belongs to its creators. This entrepreneurial ethos is supported by a local ecosystem that includes Velocity, the University’s startup incubator, the Faculty of Engineering’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, and the Accelerator Centre, all of which help entrepreneurs commercialize their ideas and build businesses.

Ren’s latest venture is called Air Microfluidics, co-founded in 2020 with her then student Run Ze Gao who completed his PhD in 2023 and is now a post-doctoral research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Working with the WML team of graduate research students, the company has developed technology that improves compression therapy for medical and athletic use.

Commercialization is already underway with industry partners CAIR, a Dutch startup working on a wearable, medically approved, compression device to treat lymphedema, a chronic and often painful condition that affects many breast cancer survivors, and Strivonix, a ��ݮ��Ƶ spinoff company co-founded by Ren and ��ݮ��Ƶ Engineering alumni Jordan Savage (BASc ’22, MASc ’24) and Caleb Horst (BASc ’02, MASc ’04) that’s developing activewear with built-in compression massage capabilities for sports recovery.

Thanks to Air Microfluidics’ technology which powers much lighter and smaller pneumatic pumps than those currently used to treat swollen tissue caused by fluid buildup, both CAIR and Strivonix’s products are wearable and enable mobility.

“Traditional compression therapy systems weigh about one kilogram and are bulky, like a backpack, which limits use,” Gao, says. “Our new tech weighs about 200 grams and is sleek and small, like a smartphone, making it more versatile without any loss of functionality. Given that people can now wear their compression treatment and carry on with their lives unimpeded, they're more inclined to do so which improves health outcomes.”

Like Gao, Strivonix co-founder Savage is Ren’s prior student. Both Ren and Gao have equity in Strivonix and Gao is listed as a co-inventor. The company aims to launch its product in the sports market this summer. Ren and Gao plan to use their profits to invest in the clinical trials needed to achieve medical approval for CAIR’s compression device in health-care settings.

Dr. Run Ze Gao, ��ݮ��Ƶ Engineering alum and co-founder of Air Microfluidics.

“Entrepreneurship is baked into the ��ݮ��Ƶ experience,” Gao says. “Researchers have the freedom to push innovation for commercialization and own their creations. I love publishing papers, but I love producing patents too — and I can’t wait to see our tech making a real difference in people’s lives.”

For Ren, there is great satisfaction in supporting her students’ research and entrepreneurial ventures as their supervisor and co-founder.

“Whether it’s a tape cassette recorder or lymphedema treatment tech, at its core, being an entrepreneur is taking something apart to understand how it works and then trying to make it work better” Ren says. “And doing it as a team learning together makes it incredibly rewarding."

Go to An award-winning wearable for women’s health and read about more health-tech research developed by the ��ݮ��Ƶ Microfluidics Lab.

If you’d like to find out about the ��ݮ��Ƶ Microfluidics Lab (WML) for graduate studies or industry partnership opportunities, please get in touch with Nick Levinski, a WML researcher and master’s student in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering supervised by Dr. Carolyn Ren.

Feature photo: Members of the ��ݮ��Ƶ Microfluidics Lab's soft robotics team, from left to right: Cameron Sjaarda, Nick Levinski, Yiqi Zhang, Vivian Mai, Dr. Carolyn Ren and Jordan Savage. Photo credit: Samuel Chen.

Technological Futures

High blood pressure? Eat more bananas

Ryon Jones — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 21:35:38 +0000

New mathematical model demonstrates ratio of potassium to sodium intake key to regulating blood pressure

New research from the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ suggests increasing the ratio of dietary potassium to sodium intake may be more effective for lowering blood pressure than simply reducing sodium intake.

High blood pressure affects over 30 per cent of adults globally. It's the leading cause of coronary heart disease and stroke and may also lead to other afflictions like chronic kidney disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and dementia.

"Usually, when we have high blood pressure, we are advised to eat less salt," said Dr. Anita Layton, professor of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Pharmacy and Biology at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ and the Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematical Biology and Medicine.

"Our research suggests that adding more potassium-rich foods to your diet, such as bananas or broccoli, might have a greater positive impact on your blood pressure than just cutting sodium."

Potassium and sodium are both electrolytes – substances that help the body send electrical signals to contract muscles, affect the amount of water in your body and perform other essential functions.

"Early humans ate lots of fruits and vegetables, and as a result, our body's regulatory systems may have evolved to work best with a high potassium, low sodium diet," said Melissa Stadt, a PhD candidate in ��ݮ��Ƶ's Department of Applied Mathematics and the lead author of the study.

"Today, western diets tend to be much higher in sodium and lower in potassium. That may explain why high blood pressure is found mainly in industrialized societies, not in isolated societies."

While previous research found that increasing potassium intake can help control blood pressure, the researchers developed a mathematical model that successfully identifies how the ratio of potassium to sodium impacts the body.

The model also identifies how sex differences affect the relationship between potassium and blood pressure. The study found that men develop high blood pressure more easily than pre-menopausal women, but men are also more likely to respond positively to an increased ratio of potassium to sodium.

The researchers emphasize that mathematical models like the one used in this study allow these kinds of experiments to identify how different factors impact the body quickly, cheaply, and ethically.

The study, Modulation of blood pressure by dietary potassium and sodium: sex differences and modeling analysis, was recently published in the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology.

(Banner image credit: wmaster890/Getty Images)

Math

Research

Health Futures

Transforming vaccine production for faster outbreak control

Charlotte Danby — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:01:59 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ researcher helps develop technology to boost on-site vaccine production for better health care delivery

A University of ��ݮ��Ƶ professor is part of an international coalition revolutionizing vaccine production with new health-care technology. The tech aims to support local vaccine production, cutting  the vaccine production time from nine days to just one day, and save millions of lives and dollars as a result.  

Dr. Valerie Ward, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, is working with researchers and industry partners in Brazil, the UK and Canada to make small transportable units that can manufacture vaccines on-site, giving healthcare professionals and authorities the means to respond to local outbreaks as quickly as possible.  

Many countries lack the infrastructure to produce vaccines locally and do not have access to the necessary equipment, such as ultra-low temperature freezers to store some kinds of vaccines. Only 50 per cent of people in low-income countries are adequately vaccinated, underscoring the need for swift and equitable responses to future epidemics and pandemics.  

The research coalition is led by the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and received $2.8 million from the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI).  The grant focuses on developing technology to meet two specific goals. The first is the rapid production of vaccines. The second is to decentralize manufacturing so it can be produced at different sites in smaller batches. The CEPI-CPI partnership backs the 100 Days Mission, a G7 and G20 initiative aimed at cutting vaccine development timelines in response to pandemics. 

 Game-changing tech 

At the heart of this initiative is MANGO (Manufacturing on the Go), a device developed by Dr. Keith Pardee at the University of Toronto, that promises to automate the process of Viral-Like Particle (VLP) manufacturing for vaccine production.  

VLPs are proteins that are so similar to viruses that the immune system responds to them as if they are a virus — making them an important component in many vaccines. The problem is that the current process to manufacture VLPs is slow as it requires living cells. The MANGO device speeds up VLP manufacturing by using a technique called cell-free expression which does not rely on living cells, reducing the process from days to hours.

Dr. Valerie Ward, a professor of chemical engineering and Canada Research Chair in Microalgae Biomanufacturing.

“VLPs are one of the new technologies for vaccines," Ward says. "They have all the virus proteins and structures, so the body sees it as a real virus, but it doesn't contain genetic parts of the virus, so it’s very safe for infants, children and adults."

Cell-free or not, there are compounds that need to be removed during the VLP manufacturing process to ensure purity. Ward, a Canada Research Chair in Microalgae Biomanufacturing, will play a critical role in ensuring the purity of vaccines created by the MANGO device. Her research focuses on programming the device to autonomously purify vaccines, reducing production costs significantly.

Flip the script, change the outcome 

The coalition’s on-site vaccine manufacturing solution means that authorized users can load the required materials, such as DNA, for a specific vaccine into the MANGO device and it will create and purify a VLP-based vaccine on the spot. When people are ill, time is of the essence — this is a faster, more affordable and more effective approach to requesting and waiting for a vaccine delivery.

“We’re developing a technology that works better as a small-scale device for purification. We’re flipping the script —usually, with vaccines, you scale production up, not down. Here, we are doing the opposite to make life-saving vaccines more accessible,” Ward says.  

The non-profit coalition for academic innovation includes partners from Imperial College London, the University of Leeds, University of Toronto, Liberum Biotech, University of ��ݮ��Ƶ and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.  

Feature photo credit: Shutterstock

Technological Futures

Shaping the future of health through innovation and entrepreneurship

Stephanie Longeway — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:49:45 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ hosts more than 200 global leaders at the Times Higher Education Digital Health 2025 summit

The rapid evolution of digital health holds immense potential to transform patient care and improve global health outcomes. Building disruptive technologies is at the core of what we do, and since our inception, the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ has been harnessing our expertise in health, technology and entrepreneurship and collaborating with partners to commercialize health-care solutions for real-world impact.

This week, ��ݮ��Ƶ expands its partner network to host the Times Higher Education (THE) Digital Health 2025 summit. Welcoming more than 200 leaders from health care, academia, government and startups, the summit brings together a global community to help shape a healthier future through innovation, entrepreneurship and partnerships.

Watch video on YouTube

“Digital health innovations often fail because they don’t meet the needs of patients and front-line health providers,” said Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ in his welcoming remarks. “We need to design technologies to meet society’s needs ... [and] look to work with partners across the sector to create solutions that advance population health and support the development of more sustainable communities.”

The two-day summit includes an impressive line-up of health experts including speakers from global organizations such as Pfizer, Samsung Health and the World Health Organization, and from local and Canadian organizations such as the Trillium Health Partners and the Care Next Coalition that is leading the partnership for the new hospital that will be located at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ.

What makes this summit truly collaborative and action-focused is the inclusion of health-tech founders and researchers who are building the digital technologies alongside policymakers and health-care providers to implement the digital solutions needed for the future of health care.

The summit spotlights some of the remarkable tech companies that have spun out of ��ݮ��Ƶ research including Fluid AI, a Velocity venture developing an AI-driven system to monitor post-operative complications, and Foqus Technologies, a quantum software company that reduces the scan time of MRIs to just five minutes.

The first day of the summit also includes a Velocity Pitch Showcase to share some of the exciting startups looking to transform health care delivery and improve patient outcomes. The summit will run from April 10 to 11, with a focus on networking to strengthen partnerships and learn about the innovations happening here in ��ݮ��Ƶ. When the tech community works closely with hospitals, researchers, and health-care providers — listening and adapting to their needs — health innovation leads the way. 

THE Digital Health 2025 would like to thank the sponsors of the summit

Keynote sponsor | McKesson

Content sponsors | EY and Accenture

Ecosystem sponsors | MIX, City of ��ݮ��Ƶ, City of Kitchener, ��ݮ��Ƶ EDC, Grand River Hospital Foundation, Kitchener ��ݮ��Ƶ Chamber of Commerce and Communitech

Collaborate with the University and ��ݮ��Ƶ Regional Health Network

In an effort to improve emergency department flow and transform patient care, the ��ݮ��Ƶ Regional Health Network is partnering with the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ to launch the Innovation Challenge: Reducing emergency room wait times.

Creating tiny biomedical factories from common bacteria

David George-Cosh — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Engineered bacteria secrete powerful nanoparticles to aid in drug delivery, vaccines and treating medical conditions, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Researchers led by the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ have discovered how to turn common bacteria into high-efficiency factories capable of producing tiny, powerful particles for drug delivery, cancer therapy, vaccine development and other biomedical uses.

Led by Dr. Yilan Liu, a ��ݮ��Ƶ chemical engineering professor, the international research team altered bacteria found in the human gut, or gastrointestinal tract, to dramatically increase the number of bubble-shaped nanoparticles they secrete.

Those particles, known as bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs), are widely recognized for their potential impact in biomedicine, but their use has been slowed by challenges, including a low rate of natural secretion.

Liu and her team tackled that problem by making two key changes to the bacteria, including the insertion of a shell protein into their membranes. The changes resulted in a 140-fold increase in the yield of BMVs, which are about a thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Engineered bacteria with added nutrients in Dr. Liu's lab that is part of her research into secreted nanoparticles. (University of ��ݮ��Ƶ)

“This strategy enables us to produce BMVs with unprecedented efficiency without using chemicals,” Liu said. “Current methods rely on chemical processes to increase secretion. We've engineered bacteria to optimize their vesicle production naturally, resulting in a cleaner, more sustainable approach."

Initial testing revealed that the engineered bacteria activated the immune system in the gut, paving the way for the treatment of medical conditions, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), in which patients often have underactive immune systems.

Researchers used fluorescence imaging to track the engineered bacteria moving from the stomach to the intestines, proving that they could be used to deliver nutrients or drugs directly to the gut.

"This advancement in bacterial engineering has the potential to be a transformative platform for next-generation vaccines, therapeutics and nutrient delivery," said Liu. "This new process could profoundly impact global health by making biomedical treatments more efficient, accessible and affordable."

The next step for researchers is applying their new technique to pathogenic bacteria, like those used in the meningitis vaccine, for potential productivity increases and cost savings.

They are also investigating the use of BMVs as probiotic supplements to improve nutrient absorption, especially for fat-soluble nutrients such as beta-carotene. Collaborators for that project are now being sought.

Liu and her team at ��ݮ��Ƶ, which includes Dr. Jinjin Chen, worked with several scientists at the Southern University of Science and Technology in China on the study.

Their study, Engineered Therapeutic Bacteria with High-Yield Membrane Vesicle Production Inspired by Eukaryotic Membrane Curvature for Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease, recently appeared in ACS Nano.

Top image: Dr. Jinjin Chen (left), a researcher in the Synthetic Biology for Sustainable Development Laboratory and first author of the paper, and University of ��ݮ��Ƶ chemical engineering professor Dr. Yilan Liu. (University of ��ݮ��Ƶ)

Engineering

Research

Health Futures