Grants and Contributions

Novel optimization techniques like nanophotonic inverse design are promising tools to significantly reduce the size of passive Silicon photonic components while maintaining their functionality and performance. Although published results demonstrate various proof of concept miniaturized devices with pre-determined size and aspect ratio, their performances as of now are inferior to the state of the art and the designs are highly non-interpretable. In this respect, AI tools can help identify patterns in the high-dimensional design space through the analysis of a dataset of simulated designs that guide the search for better performing designs and shed light on the behavior of the design space, revealing its specificities and limitations. Ultimately, the use of AI tools will bring the miniaturization of Silicon integrated photonic components to the next level, without compromising on their performance and manufacturability.

Pilechi at NRC. Using deep-learning and automation, this Project strives to further improve two technologies to perform in-situ and real-time measurement of both high-density and low-density microplastics at trace levels in water.

This project will address gaps in our knowledge regarding Canadian seniors’ public transport needs and experiences by combining tested quantitative data, such as accessibility measurements at fine geographic and temporal scales, and qualitative methods, including surveys and in-depth guided interviews among different senior populations on public-transport experiences and perceptions. Researchers from the Transportation Research at McGill (TRAM) research lab will study senior transport needs and outcomes in a minimum of six cities and towns of varying sizes across Canada, including within rural Prairie regions where intercity bus service has disappeared. First, the project team will calculate measures of public transport accessibility—the ease of reaching desired destinations—to a range of senior-relevant opportunities or activities, such as health and wellness care facilities, safe spaces for outdoor recreation, religious institutions, community centres, and affordable wholesome food. As part of a second stage, the team will interview seniors in areas of high and low accessibility and from different socioeconomic backgrounds to refine our understanding of the relationship between public transport and key health and well-being outcomes among different populations of seniors.

The project aims to characterize the functionality of engineered immune cells (e.g. CAR T-cells) by activating them with tumor-specific antigens (e.g. CD-19) and through their interaction with isolated circulating tumor cells (CTCs). To achieve this goal, the CAR T-cells and the isolated cells will be brought together and encapsulated in droplets to promote cellular interactions. The cells will then be incubated for CAR T-cell activation, and the activated CAR T-cells will be interrogated by analyzing the cytokines output using a microbead-in-droplet multiplex sandwich immunoassay developed in this project. The novel technology proposed herein is currently unavailable on the market and has the potential to significantly affect the
way that cell therapy products are assessed and how quality control is performed.

Scientists and public health authorities worldwide are making an unprecedented collaborative effort to understand and develop effective interventions for the control and prevention of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination remains the most efficient medical intervention to counteract the pandemic. Viral vaccines have been the most effective in protecting against viral infections. Vectored-vaccine candidates are among the most advanced SARS-CoV-2 in the 38 clinical evaluations (WHO, Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines, Sept. 24, 2020). One such platform is using the recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV), which is replication competent and is known to induce both cellular and humoral host immune response against foreign antigens. VSV-based vaccine vectors, which, as enveloped viruses, are designed to incorporate glycoprotein antigens into their viral lipid membrane and thus display the antigen on the virus surface, in addition to expressing it upon entry into the target cell. Another important viral vector platform that has been extensively evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials as an onco-therapeutic agent is the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian virus that has several well-suited properties for development of a safe vector vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Both vectored-vaccine platforms demonstrated good safety profiles and in the case of VSV it has been successfully used for vaccination in emergency situations such as Ebola outbreaks. This Project focus on accelerating vaccine manufacture processes by using a producing cell line compatible with cGMP operations and industrialization to address the challenges posed by large scale manufacturing. The accelerated development the proposed robust technology platform will enable higher and faster accessibility to these class of vectored vaccines in situations of pandemic and contribute to building long lasting capacities in Canada.

This Project aims to address the development and application of microelectrochemical techniques as contributors to the in-service corrosion behavior of specimens that are sensitive to filiform corrosion. The Project consists of the following 4 research areas: • Micro-electrochemical investigation of aluminum alloy samples; • Post-mortem investigation of samples following in-service exposure; • Numerical simulation of micro-electrochemical corrosion processes; and • Corrosion metrics correlation across testing scales. The Project will study a selection of 10 aluminum alloys / surface finish / conversion coating combinations to be chosen from the bank of materials available and already tested in-service at NRC. The smart selection of materials will be based on their behavior in service, the mismatches observed and the relevance of these for members of the METALTec industrial research group whose individual activities cover the entire supply chain of the automotive and surface transportation industry.

Chitosan nanocrystals, a new family of biomaterials sourced from seafood shell waste, have outstanding properties that favor their use in the fabrication of tissue adhesive for the biomedical industry. The project aims to achieve the two goals of creating a scalable, sustainable process for the production of ChsNC from seafood waste, and consolidating research on these highly functional biomaterials for consumer applications in the biomedical sector. This project has the potential to unlock key barriers in the valorisation of an under-utilized biowaste produced in large scale in Quebec and Canada towards high value added products improving the health of
Canadians.

SBQuantum (SBQ) is introducing ‘Magnetic Intelligence’ (MI), combining multiple innovations in magnetometry to enhance operational teams’ ability to ‘see’ underground, underwater or in other obscured environments. The Project will involve collaboration between SBQuantum, McGill University, Institut Quantique at Université de Sherbrooke and the National Research Council to explore the use of a novel quantum sensor, a magnetometer based on quantum impurities in diamonds, to enhance the understanding of the magnetic environment compared to conventional magnetometers. It will improve users understanding of magnetic data and open novel market opportunities, beyond the traditional defense and geophysical applications. SBQ intends to create a new system which will leverage the strengths of the quantum sensor to enhance MI, to be known as the ‘Sherloq’ product. Centrally it will remove the limits to current alternatives and unlock new deployment methods, such as on autonomous submarines and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Pilechi at NRC. Using deep-learning and automation, this Project strives to further improve two technologies to perform in-situ and real-time measurement of both high-density and low-density microplastics at trace levels in water.

The project aims to characterize the functionality of engineered immune cells (e.g. CAR T-cells) by activating them with tumor-specific antigens (e.g. CD-19) and through their interaction with isolated circulating tumor cells (CTCs). To achieve this goal, the CAR T-cells and the isolated cells will be brought together and encapsulated in droplets to promote cellular interactions. The cells will then be incubated for CAR T-cell activation, and the activated CAR T-cells will be interrogated by analyzing the cytokines output using a microbead-in-droplet multiplex sandwich immunoassay developed in this project. The novel technology proposed herein is currently unavailable on the market and has the potential to significantly affect the
way that cell therapy products are assessed and how quality control is performed.