Grants and Contributions

This project aims to find emerging sites of COVID19 clusters as early as possible to prevent further spread of these infections to uninfected persons. CYTOGNOMIX INC proposes a proactive approach to identify these locations using geostatistics to hone in on the most likely future hot-spots. Pinpointing these locations after community transmission would help with contact tracing of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected persons. Early identification of hot-spots will allow self-isolation and more timely treatment of severe cases. CytoGnomix Inc. propose to apply geostatistical dosimetry methods that it has recently pioneered to assist governments to identify potential resurgence of infected individuals in the community in the current pandemic. These methods have been established as providing statistically valid analyses of spatiotemporal data for a wide spectrum of dynamic measurements for environmental, natural resource extraction, and health trends.

CytoGnomix Inc have previously shown that these approaches can produce accurate maps of radiation exposed individuals after limited, strategic sampling of potentially exposed populations in the United States (Rogan PK et al. PLoS ONE 15(4): e0232008, 2020). This project will assess the utility of geostatistical techniques to identify geographic locations with asymmetric distributions and clusters of COVID-19 cases. It will implement a novel method to pinpoint emerging hot spots of new community transmission through changes in interpolated case counts over time.

CytoGnomix Inc is partnering with the Ontario Institute of Evaluative and Clinical Sciences (IC/ES) to obtain access to the geographic COVID-19 daily incidence data and geostatistics software licenses. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) has agreed to be a knowledge user for this project. Using publicly available, county-level US count data, CytoGnomix Inc have already demonstrated to IC/ES and MOHLTC the feasibility of applying custom program scripts to automate these tasks.

Integran proposes to develop a unique, hybrid coating with durable-hydrophobic, antiviral and antimicrobial properties. The proposed coating will possess easy-to-clean properties while rapidly and continuously deactivating viruses and killing harmful bacteria and fungi on contact. The proposed coating has the ability to reduce fomite transmission (indirect contact transmission) of viruses (including COVID-19), bacteria and fungi, which can result in significant social, health, and economic benefits.

The proposed coating will continuously kill 99.9% of bacteria and deactivate viruses. The coating will possess the ideal properties to ensure that surfaces remain cleaner and less contaminated between cleanings, while also reducing the time and effort needed to clean, sanitize, and decontaminate surfaces. The proposed coating will be compatible with most surfaces, including metals, plastics, composites, glass, ceramic and wood. It can be applied in-situ onto existing surfaces, without the need for expensive renovations or replacements.

The proposed coating seeks to combine two of Integran's proven technologies: (i) durable-hydrophobic polymer coatings, and (ii) nanostructured antiviral and antimicrobial metals.

EnvisionSQ has developed an innovative disinfectant for application on virtually any surface, either in-situ or off-site, to help prevent spread of bacteria and viruses. This product is currently being submitted to Health Canada for approval. GermStopSQ is designed as a high-performing antimicrobial and antiviral disinfectant that works around the clock. The liquid formulation kills on contact and when dry, creates a clear, selfsanitizing coating material that ruptures the target organism’s protective outer covering. Independent tests show the GermStopSQ coating is more than 99.9999% effective at killing a broad range of microbes and 99.993% effective at killing coronavirus 229E, a recognized proxy for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Thanks to its nanoengineered properties and unique polymer structure, GermStopSQ bonds to both hard and soft surfaces. It can be applied using a variety of delivery modes — spraying, rolling or wiping — depending on the type of surface. Once applied, it creates an invisible and durable film network structure. Its active ingredient is designed to keep surfaces disinfected for days, while a special photocatalytic ingredient provides additional disinfection every time it’s exposed to light. With this project, Envision SQ aims to optimize the GermStopSQ formulation for use in enclosed spaces and around sensitive equipment.

Ground Effects has rapidly developed a chemical free decontamination process using its patented electrokinetic platform in conjunction with ozone emitted into enclosed, unoccupied spaces to deactivate SARS-CoV-2. The Sanozone deactivates pathogens on every surface in the decontamination zone, while providing peace of mind to staff, customers and business owners that their space is sanitized to the highest possible level.

The Sanozone system emits high concentration ozone into an enclosed, unoccupied space for a short residence time. As ozone fills the air it envelops and decontaminates all surfaces, including complex objects such as stretchers, office supplies and medical equipment. Sanozone’s rapid ozone destruction components quickly and effectively remove ozone following the treatment cycle, making the space safe for reentry. The Sanozone system requires no chemicals and leaves no residue. The entire process takes approximately one hour, depending on square footage.

The Sanozone works as both a daily decontamination unit and for emergency response. Businesses with a COVID-19 positive case can quickly resume operations following the deployment of the Sanozone system to rid the space of coronavirus. Current manual cleaning methods use harsh and costly chemicals and expose staff to pathogens. These methods can take several days to thoroughly and completely decontaminate a space, disrupting business during that time. Public transportation systems, ambulances, warehouses and schools can employ the Sanozone system for daily decontamination to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, as well as reducing the spread of other transmissible disease.

The proposes using the Hydroxyl Radical Sterilization Method to clean sensitive equipment and workspaces. The process includes two steps. First, the cold vapour of hydrogen peroxide generated and allowed to penetrate porous surfaces, cavities, vents in equipment and other complicated and hard to reach surfaces in rooms, vessels, aircraft and vehicles. Due to a relatively high boiling point (150.2 °C), hydrogen peroxide tends to concentrate on solid surfaces. When the required concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the air is achieved, it is mixed with a limited and controllable amount of ozone added to the air in the treated space, and this is the second step. Ozone reacts with hydrogen peroxide by a reaction known as the peroxone oxidation that generates shortliving hydroxy radicals (OH·). Hydroxy radicals have very high disinfecting activity, much more effective than ozone or hydrogen peroxide alone. The final products of ozone and hydrogen peroxide reaction are harmless water vapour and oxygen. This means that as soon as ozone is sufficiently well mixed with the hydrogen peroxide in the treated room, no hydrogen peroxide nor ozone will remain in the air or on surfaces. The disinfected space and equipment would be safe to use immediately without ventilation.

Funding will support a virtual international symposium on best practices and lessons learned in addressing cases of sexual misconduct among military members and veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A five-month Fellowship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Defense College based in Rome, Italy to provide research support on defence and security issues related to NATO and Canada.

Funding will support a project focused on exploring the means by which DND/CAF spending can be redirected to facilitate Canada’s economic recovery from COVID-19. Drawing on the expertise of experts from government, academia, and the industry, a virtual workshop will provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the question.

Funding will support research on the experiences of CAF members who have accessed distance counselling via four sexual assault centres in Ontario prior to and during COVID-19. Qualitative data will be collected through surveys and interviews with CAF survivors of sexual assault. Conclusions will be shared with DND/CAF and organisations who service the CAF.

Funding will support research on the potential impacts of COVID-19 disinformation campaigns from violent non-state actors on Canadian Armed Forces operations. Interviews with subject matter experts and practitioners will be conducted, and the concluding report will be presented through a virtual conference.