Researchers making an impact.
Vikki Babic
SPECTRAL has established research partnerships with various organizations and institutions. – University of New Brunswick: SPECTRAL collaborates with other departments, faculties, and research centers within UNB. These are MAMCE, CIC, OCRC, IBME, Faculty of Nursing and Faculty of Engineering. These partnerships allow for interdisciplinary research collaborations and the sharing of expertise and resources. – Other Complementary Research Partners: SPECTRAL collaborates with other research institutions, both nationally and internationally, that have complementary expertise and research interests in spatial computing. Some of these where there are active collaborations include the Universite of Lille, National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology – France (INRIA), Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Science, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Saskatchewan, University of Waterloo, University of Victoria, HEC Montreal, and Singapore Management University. These partnerships foster knowledge exchange, joint research initiatives, rich learning opportunities for our trainees, and the expansion of the research network in the field.
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Vikki Babic
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
SPECTRAL, the Spatial Computing Research Centre at the University of New Brunswick is a newly established centre with the objective to position the Atlantic Canada Region as a leader in spatial computing. Spatial computing is defined as technology that integrates the physical and digital worlds, enabling the manipulation and interaction with digital content in real-world spaces. This also supports the need for expertise that exists in industries spanning aerospace, defence, and health. Through research, innovation, and industry partnerships, SPECTRAL aims to develop technological capabilities, create a skilled workforce, and foster economic growth. The NBIF funding of $198,000 will support salaries for the two core SPECTRAL team members for year 3. This will be a stop-gap year (left by ACOA funding), to ensure continuity for the research centre staff, while SPECTRAL is expected to become fully self-sustaining after four years of operation.
Funding Awarded:
SPECTRAL has established research partnerships with various organizations and institutions. – University of New Brunswick: SPECTRAL collaborates with other departments, faculties, and research centers within UNB. These are MAMCE, CIC, OCRC, IBME, Faculty of Nursing and Faculty of Engineering. These partnerships allow for interdisciplinary research collaborations and the sharing of expertise and resources. – Other Complementary Research Partners: SPECTRAL collaborates with other research institutions, both nationally and internationally, that have complementary expertise and research interests in spatial computing. Some of these where there are active collaborations include the Universite of Lille, National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology – France (INRIA), Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Science, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Saskatchewan, University of Waterloo, University of Victoria, HEC Montreal, and Singapore Management University. These partnerships foster knowledge exchange, joint research initiatives, rich learning opportunities for our trainees, and the expansion of the research network in the field.
Simon Potter
Project partners New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, Accessible NB, and the Fredericton Playhouse will consult on the project but there are no academic research partners outside of NBCC. We have also engaged subject matter expert Matthew Cole, Executive Director of Attendant Services at Carleton University and Algonquin College and subject matter expert Melissa Lunney, founder of the Indigenous-led company Appdigenous Development Inc, creator of the IoT app Doorable, and a member of the Wabanaki Council for Disabilities as consultants on this project.
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Simon Potter
NBCC Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
Many mobile applications are available to assist people who face barriers to accessibility, but they are mostly location-based applications that enable people to search for accommodations—e.g., restaurants, stores, and services—that meet their accessibility needs. While some of these applications solve significant problems, many accessibility advocates, including New Brunswick Community College’s research team and partners Ability New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, have identified fundamental feature and usability gaps in them. The apps we have surveyed also lack support for business and organizations to respond constructively to criticism they might receive. The proposed project will expand this survey via participant surveys and interviews and on-site inspections to further identify gaps in existing accessibility policies and opportunities for improving practices, e.g. with partner the Fredericton Playhouse, which is building a new Performing Arts Centre in downtown Fredericton. The project will identify possibilities for improving accessibility through information and communication technologies such as the use of mobile technologies to help people report accessibility barriers and complementary services to help those responsible for resolving the barriers to receive constructive information and information about resources that can help. Project outreach activities will help the public, businesses, government services, and other entities understand existing accessibility barriers, define the roles of accessibility best practices in removing barriers, and identify practical approaches removing accessibility barriers including use of the knowledge and services offered by our partner organizations.
Funding Awarded:
Project partners New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities, Accessible NB, and the Fredericton Playhouse will consult on the project but there are no academic research partners outside of NBCC. We have also engaged subject matter expert Matthew Cole, Executive Director of Attendant Services at Carleton University and Algonquin College and subject matter expert Melissa Lunney, founder of the Indigenous-led company Appdigenous Development Inc, creator of the IoT app Doorable, and a member of the Wabanaki Council for Disabilities as consultants on this project.
Thomas Pulinilkunnil
We have identified a dedicated end user pool comprised of individuals in the basic sciences and in the community-at-large from multiple institutions who will immensely benefit from either using the proposed infrastructure or using the data generated in both the provinces of NS and NB. These investigators are DalCREW members for the faculty of medicine and health at Universities of Dalhousie (UDAL), New Brunswick (UNB), Moncton (UdeM) and Mount Allison University. A systematic mapping exercise amongst the research team has identified end users which will include research and clinical faculty, health service providers, public, media, patients/consumers, decision- and policy makers. The generated data and refinement of diagnostic criteria will lead to practice changes, develop patentable innovations, augment methodological knowledge, and improve patient care across Canada.
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Thomas Pulinilkunnil
Dalhousie Medicine NB
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
Heart failure (HF) affects 3.6% of the Canadian population costing >$3 billion annually. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a heterogeneous, chronic and progressive clinical syndrome characterized by impaired heart function and accounts for 50% of all HF cases, with its incidence growing at a rate of 10% per decade. The prevalence of HFpEF in females is twice as high as in males. Ironically, there are significant barriers to treating HFpEF patients, making diagnosis and patient follow-up extremely difficult while further hindering the development of novel therapeutics and escalating the cost of drug discovery. This unmet medical need can be tackled by mapping the molecular landscape of defective hearts from HFpEF patients and preclinical HFpEF models to develop an atlas of HFpEF pathogenesis that would directly benefit the clinical and industry stakeholders. Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB) cardiovascular researchers (DalCREW) embarked on a collaborative interdisciplinary research program for heart failure prevention and treatment (RESOLVE) and successfully secured a CFI-IF grant in June 2023. To execute the RESOLVE program, success at CFI-IF funding was timely to acquire cutting-edge infrastructure for discovering novel solutions for HFpEF treatment. Over the long term, CFI-IF and NBIF partner-matched funding will allow us to: 1) elucidate novel drug targets for HFpEF treatment; 2) decrease healthcare costs; 3) expand technological repertoire, collaboration, and commercialization with industries, 4) enhance HQP training to create a skilled workforce in cardiovascular sciences in the Maritimes; and 5) improve the health and quality of life for Canadians.
Funding Awarded:
We have identified a dedicated end user pool comprised of individuals in the basic sciences and in the community-at-large from multiple institutions who will immensely benefit from either using the proposed infrastructure or using the data generated in both the provinces of NS and NB. These investigators are DalCREW members for the faculty of medicine and health at Universities of Dalhousie (UDAL), New Brunswick (UNB), Moncton (UdeM) and Mount Allison University. A systematic mapping exercise amongst the research team has identified end users which will include research and clinical faculty, health service providers, public, media, patients/consumers, decision- and policy makers. The generated data and refinement of diagnostic criteria will lead to practice changes, develop patentable innovations, augment methodological knowledge, and improve patient care across Canada.
Uday Kundap
The Principal Investigator’s team consists of research staff within the Department of Oncology, Horizon Health Network. In addition to this team, research partners collaborating on this project include: i) Clinical Research Scientist (Research Services HHN), ii) Health Data Strategy (Roche); iii) Investigational Drug Services (Horizon Pharmacy Services) iv) Regional Director of Research Services (HHN)
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Uday Kundap
Horizon Health Network
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
Tecentriq is administered through Intravenous (IV) infusion, however a new formulation of the drug has recently been developed that can be administered subcutaneously (SC). As opposed to IV infusions, which can require 60-90 minutes of patient time, SC injections can be administered typically less than 10 minutes, thereby reducing the amount of time patients need to spend in medical care facilities. Given the increasing cancer patient statistics rising annually and financial burden facing the Canadian healthcare ecosystem, we planned to investigate operational changes, system impact, Quality of service, economic advancement to its delivery of cancer immunotherapy by shifting its preference from IV formulation to SC formulation. Because of their ease of preparation and administration, Tecentriq SC formulations can be administered to patients at their homes. Providing subcutaneous formulations to patients through EMP nurses at patient homes may allow Horizon Health to optimize healthcare resource use, improve patient access to treatment, and shorten waiting lists. Rural patients, who represent a significant proportion of lung cancer patients in New Brunswick, often face additional barriers regarding time, money and resource associated with travel. The availability of subcutaneous therapies could potentially lead to improvements in Quality of Life for patients and Health Care workers.
Funding Awarded:
The Principal Investigator’s team consists of research staff within the Department of Oncology, Horizon Health Network. In addition to this team, research partners collaborating on this project include: i) Clinical Research Scientist (Research Services HHN), ii) Health Data Strategy (Roche); iii) Investigational Drug Services (Horizon Pharmacy Services) iv) Regional Director of Research Services (HHN)
Gobinda Saha
Outside of the PI investigator team, the project team comprises two Canada Research Chairs, one industrial research chair, one university research chair, 6 professors, 3 associate professors, and 1 assistant professor. For details, refer to ‘Team Expertise’ section of “Saha_Waterloo_CFI-IF2023_Application”, page 19).
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Gobinda Saha
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
The Canadian Alliance in Cold Spray Technology (CACST) is a Canadian-wide research and innovation partnership to bridge the gap between fundamental research and application through equitable participation of experts, and well-defined path to commercialization. A holistic approach toward the innovation in cold spray (CS) technology is the mechanism through which its partners would be benefitted by joining the forces and acquiring much needed advanced infrastructures. In the context of global competitive landscape, mainly the European counterpart, the current proposal will position Canada as a global leader in CS technology. To accomplish this, a holistic approach toward the innovation in CS technology is key, whereby research partnership and collaboration engaging grassroot fundamental research by universities, leveraging discoveries to reach medium technology readiness level (TRL) and propelling the mid-TRL prototypes to commercial arena by industries is the differentiating characteristic of this ambitious proposal. The proposed infrastructure is a unifying multi-institutional initiative from world-renowned researchers from the Universities of New Brunswick/Waterloo/Western/Ottawa/Toronto/Sherbrook/Windsor. This unprecedented alliance has the goal of unleashing the endless possibilities of CS advanced manufacturing in creating novel materials to build disruptive processes leading to innovative products ready to be deployed in current and next generation engineering applications in transportation, energy, health, defence/security, sustainable manufacturing, forestry, and many others to meet the technology’s market readiness for Industry 4.0. The CACST project will position New Brunswick at the center of the current infrastructure proposal by focusing on building a core nanostructured powder manufacturing facility essential for any advanced manufacturing.
Funding Awarded:
Outside of the PI investigator team, the project team comprises two Canada Research Chairs, one industrial research chair, one university research chair, 6 professors, 3 associate professors, and 1 assistant professor. For details, refer to ‘Team Expertise’ section of “Saha_Waterloo_CFI-IF2023_Application”, page 19).
Gaetan Pelletier
The following research partners are actively involved in the project: Lacina Coulibali and Michel Soucy of Université de Moncton, Eric Labelle and Caroline Bennemann of Université Laval, Richard Fournier and Bastien Vandendeale of Université de Sherbrooke, Jean-Martin Lussier and Adam Dick of Canadian Wood Fibre Centre. Other researchers from University of New Brunswick, Université de Gembloux (Belgium), Munich Technical University (Germany) CERFO are also involved.
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Gaetan Pelletier
Northern Hardwoods Research Institute
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
The NHRI has launched a multi-year initiative to develop solutions in the digital transformation of the forest products value chain for the forest sector. It focuses on the up-stream portion of the value chain and was prepared from priorities of the stakeholders in the forest sector. The current funding from multiple sources is scheduled to end in March 2023. The NHRI is requesting funds from NBIF so that the project can be extended one extra year to March of 2024 The project started in fall of 2020 and consists of six activities conducted in parallel that completely align with the NRCan Canadian Wood Fibre Centre’s priorities and 3-year plan . The deliverables are instrumental inputs into several of the CWFC’s projects scheduled for three years. The funds requested to NBIF are $125,000 (18% of the total). Work is centered around the establishment of 100 one-hectare experimental units in the forest where detailed measurements will be taken on sample trees that will be followed all the way through harvesting and bucking into products. The data will be complemented with high-density point clouds, enhanced forest inventories, remote sensing , harvester on-board-computer data etc. Key deliverables will include publications, workshops, proofs-of-concepts, data, methods, simulators, BMP’s, processes and algorithms to correct bias and errors in data and recommendations for optimized bucking. The project will also provide for many demonstrations of new emerging technology in the sector. NHRI will become a critical hub in the digital value chain, a networking facilitator and enabler of innovation.
Funding Awarded:
The following research partners are actively involved in the project: Lacina Coulibali and Michel Soucy of Université de Moncton, Eric Labelle and Caroline Bennemann of Université Laval, Richard Fournier and Bastien Vandendeale of Université de Sherbrooke, Jean-Martin Lussier and Adam Dick of Canadian Wood Fibre Centre. Other researchers from University of New Brunswick, Université de Gembloux (Belgium), Munich Technical University (Germany) CERFO are also involved.
Loic D’Orangeville
Industrial partners: J.D. Irving Limited Provincial agencies: New Brunswick Natural Resources and Energy Development, Quebec’s ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts, Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables Federal agencies: Canadian Wood Fiber Centre (NRCan), National Tree Seed Centre (NRCan) Academic partners: Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management (University of New Brunswick), École de Foresterie (Université de Moncton), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt (Laval University), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, School of Forest Resources (University of Maine USA), Department of Environmental Conservation (University of Massachusetts, USA), Department of Biology (Indiana University), Nicholas School of the Environment (Duke University).
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Loic D’Orangeville
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
Most trees in New Brunswick are at risk from climate warming, which requires the development of strategies to increase the adaptive capacity of forests. Planting trees that are adapted to the warming climate could dramatically increase the resilience of our forest to global changes, to the benefit of all New Brunswickers. In partnership with J.D. Irving, two federal agencies, four provincial forest agencies, and seven academic institutions from Canada and the United States, we propose to leverage a novel network of legacy trials established under the Silva21 research initiative called TransX to develop new operational knowledge that can inform forest-assisted migration and tree improvement, two key components of climate-smart forest interventions. This project, coordinated by Associate Professor Loïc D’Orangeville at the University of New Brunswick, leverages three secured and one potential funding source from four different federal programs. Requested funds will help support 1) the training of one PhD student and six undergraduate students, 2) research activities in the field including monitoring equipment and travel, and 3) the organization of workshops and meetings with all project partners and collaborators to ensure successful knowledge transfer and provision of meaningful results to answer partner needs. Forest managers (governments, industry and woodlot owners) will be able to use our results to better select species and genetics that can tolerate their displacement north of their current growing area, and increase the resilience of the forest to climate warming.
Funding Awarded:
Industrial partners: J.D. Irving Limited Provincial agencies: New Brunswick Natural Resources and Energy Development, Quebec’s ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts, Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables Federal agencies: Canadian Wood Fiber Centre (NRCan), National Tree Seed Centre (NRCan) Academic partners: Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management (University of New Brunswick), École de Foresterie (Université de Moncton), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt (Laval University), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, School of Forest Resources (University of Maine USA), Department of Environmental Conservation (University of Massachusetts, USA), Department of Biology (Indiana University), Nicholas School of the Environment (Duke University).
Rémy Rochette
This project is a partnership between my lab and seven DFO scientists (six listed in SFSF proposal + Dr. Helen Gurney-Smith at SABS) and lobster harvesters in two Administrative Regions of the DFO, being the Maritimes-Scotia Fundy region and the Gulf of St. Lawrence region. It may be worth noting that the DFO scientists are not officially considered partners in DFO’s eyes, given the nature of the funding (i.e., Contribution Agreement), but this takes nothing away from the engagement and critical contribution these scientists make to the project. We have two main industry partners, the Fundy North Fishermen’s Association (FNFA, 250+ members) in the Bay of Fundy, and Homarus in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; Homarus is the research arm of the Maritime’s Fishermen’s Union (MFU, 1,200+ members). Both FNFA and Homarus/MFU have provided a letter of support for this application.
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Rémy Rochette
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
The value of Canadian lobster fisheries has increased markedly since the publication of a benchmark study in 2006, which already found the lobster fishing industry to be Atlantic Canada’s largest private sector employer, supporting at the time approximately 40,000 jobs in small, fishery-dependent rural communities. In NB, where there are approximately 1460 independent license owners, the annual value of lobster landings has increased markedly over the last 30 years, and particularly since 2010, when it averaged $189M and accounted for a staggering 61% of the value of all marine fisheries (Fig. 1). To this must be added other significant benefits, such as those related to transformation and exports etc.; in 2018, NB exported $734M worth of lobster to the US , and $16M to the growing market of China . Canadian lobster fisheries are mostly assessed based on landings and catch-per-unit-effort data. An important limitation of these data is that they are “fishery-dependent”, and therefore do not only reflect stock conditions, but also environmental conditions, harvester behavior and markets. This project aims to provide a stock production indicator and modeling tool that (a) are independent of the fishery and (b) provide insights into stock conditions 5-9 years in the future. The research will also increase our understanding of impacts of climate change on lobster larvae and early benthic recruits, which are particularly sensitive to these changes and hence likely useful indicators of future fisheries changes
Funding Awarded:
This project is a partnership between my lab and seven DFO scientists (six listed in SFSF proposal + Dr. Helen Gurney-Smith at SABS) and lobster harvesters in two Administrative Regions of the DFO, being the Maritimes-Scotia Fundy region and the Gulf of St. Lawrence region. It may be worth noting that the DFO scientists are not officially considered partners in DFO’s eyes, given the nature of the funding (i.e., Contribution Agreement), but this takes nothing away from the engagement and critical contribution these scientists make to the project. We have two main industry partners, the Fundy North Fishermen’s Association (FNFA, 250+ members) in the Bay of Fundy, and Homarus in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; Homarus is the research arm of the Maritime’s Fishermen’s Union (MFU, 1,200+ members). Both FNFA and Homarus/MFU have provided a letter of support for this application.
Barry Blight
N/A – covered in the CFI –
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Barry Blight
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
NMR spectroscopy is the quintessential backbone of chemical analysis. It is used to identify organic and inorganic chemicals and enables complete structural elucidation of pharmaceuticals. This technique is vital to the operation of any chemistry department. As part of the CaNeBIC CFI submission, NMR equipment requested was essential for New Plants, New Analyses, New Medicine initiatives that will focus on high-impact cannabis research and will equip UNB with the most state-of-the-art NMR equipment east of Montreal. Beyond CaNaBIC, there are currently 8 research active faculty members whose research teams make heavy use of this facility. UNB also has a number of research teams in Chemical Engineering, Physics (MRI centre), and Earth Science who make use of this equipment. We also perform service analysis for more than 8 private companies in Fredericton (>$25K per year in services charges), including the NRC Potato Research Center in Lincoln, NB. Furthermore, NMR is heavily used in the delivery of our chemistry program, with 8 courses requiring access to NMR. The Dept of Chemistry at UNB Fredericton has a 17-year-old Varian-Inova300 and a 27-year-old Oxford Instruments UNITY400 in service. Both instruments are obsolete, with little availability of parts from second-hand suppliers such as MR Resources, eBay, and other universities who have used spare components. These two spectrometers are the only NMR instruments supporting all research programs in Science and Engineering at UNB-Fredericton and the Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering at UNBSJ, and have well exceeded their useful life (typically 14-years).
Funding Awarded:
N/A – covered in the CFI –
Dana El-Mughayyar
Dr. Ian Maxwell (Plastic Surgeon at HHN) and Dr. Jacob Matz (Orthopaedic Surgeon at HHN and Assistant Professor at DMNB) will be responsible for screening and recruiting eligible breast construction and charcot foot patients to undergo pre-operative surgical planning using 3-D technology. The Canada East Spine Centre team will be involved in coordinating and running the proposed. See below for more info.
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Dana El-Mughayyar
Dalhousie Medicine NB
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
The Diagnostic Imaging Department at the Saint John Regional Hospital has received funding to build a 3-D Artificial Intelligence Lab. This lab has the potential to impact our New Brunswick patients through providing 3-D printed patient-specific anatomic representations of the patients’ pathology. The current study aims to investigate two complex reconstructive surgeries that have limited or no research conducted to-date in regards to the impact of 3D printing for pre-surgical planning. The first is for charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (Charcot foot), a serious lower-extremity complication found in patients with diabetes involving severe deformities that can ultimately lead to amputation of the affected limb. The second is for mapping of abdominal vasculature pre-operatively to harvest abdomen tissue with a blood supply for breast reconstruction after mastectomies for cancer. The objectives of the current study are: 1) To determine the practicability of using the of the new 3-D AI lab in point of care settings. 2) Determine the impact of using 3-D printing for surgical planning on intra-operative and patient outcomes. For objective 1 the measures of interest will be the requirements for requesting the print, timing from request to acquiring the print, cost and utility of the print received. For objective 2 we will conduct an ambispective cohort study in which the primary measures of interest operative time, blood loss, length of stay and intra-operative adverse events. Exploratory measures of interest are in regards to patient recovery and will include measures of disability, time to mobility, return to work and patient satisfaction.
Funding Awarded:
Dr. Ian Maxwell (Plastic Surgeon at HHN) and Dr. Jacob Matz (Orthopaedic Surgeon at HHN and Assistant Professor at DMNB) will be responsible for screening and recruiting eligible breast construction and charcot foot patients to undergo pre-operative surgical planning using 3-D technology. The Canada East Spine Centre team will be involved in coordinating and running the proposed. See below for more info.
Mohsen Mohammadi
Dr. Mohammadi has no outside research partner for this project. In fact, there are only two initiatives in the world working on underwater additive manufacturing. Both of these universities are located in China and Dr. Mohammadi has been advised not to collaborate with such universities for national security matters. The literature on underwater additive manufactyuring is limited. The limited recent studies initiated exploration in this domain and have made some progress by developing a technique for stable underwater AM, which is currently undergoing laboratory testing. We do not have access to those benchmarks and the validity of them is under questions. There is no similar project in Canada or US or the five-eyes countries that has been discussed in the public domain.
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Mohsen Mohammadi
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
In 2015, Canada’s international marine trade with countries outside North America reached a substantial $205B, comprising 80% of the total trade. The repair sector within the marine industry is vital, representing about 72% of the expenses associated with maintaining marine vessels. In addition, Canada will spend $111B over the next 30 years to manufacture ~25 new ships for the Canadian Coast Guards and the Navy, where more than $75B of this investment will be on repair, maintenance, and overhaul. In the maritime sector, repairing damaged equipment can be expensive and challenging because transporting such equipment to dry docks is often impractical and costly. Acquiring replacement parts can also be expensive and requires significant storage space. In this project an innovative solution to these growing opportunities is presented involving the implementation of a underwater metal additive manufacturing (AM) machine using the direct metal deposition (DMD) concept and machine learning platforms for repair and spare part support. This innovative approach has the potential to significantly reduce the dependence on off-route docking for resupply needs, leading to improved response times and accessibility. By having a DMD machine onboard, vessels can efficiently address maintenance requirements, enhance operational efficiency, and minimize downtime. Nonetheless, underwater 3D printing presents various challenges compared to onshore sites such as limitation with large parts, dealing with harsh environments, and controlling stability. Successfully implementing underwater additive manufacturing allows for the convenient repair of crucial metallic parts such as propellers and offers continuous monitoring without the limitations imposed by human intervention.
Funding Awarded:
Dr. Mohammadi has no outside research partner for this project. In fact, there are only two initiatives in the world working on underwater additive manufacturing. Both of these universities are located in China and Dr. Mohammadi has been advised not to collaborate with such universities for national security matters. The literature on underwater additive manufactyuring is limited. The limited recent studies initiated exploration in this domain and have made some progress by developing a technique for stable underwater AM, which is currently undergoing laboratory testing. We do not have access to those benchmarks and the validity of them is under questions. There is no similar project in Canada or US or the five-eyes countries that has been discussed in the public domain.
Gaetan Pelletier
Richard Fournier, U de Sherbrooke Mathiew Varin, CERFO (a formal development partner with 12 remote sensing and AI professionals) Michael Premmer, University of Maine Paul Arp, UNB Rafaella Mayrink, UNB
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Gaetan Pelletier
Northern Hardwoods Research Institute
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
This large initiative is based on the needs of the entire forest sector as identified during the 2023 Northern Hardwood Conference (NHC) held in August 2023. The conference was an opportunity for the NHRI team to confirm the usefulness of its current work, and more importantly, to adjust knowledge production and mobilization activities going forward. The focus is on developing geospatial tools that rely less on LiDAR technology as it is expensive and gets aged and obsolete very rapidly. The target spatial resolution for the tools is 20m X 20m. The goal of the project is to develop, improve, and implement a suite of technological tools that will empower and enable forest managers and practitioners to conduct the best climate-smart silviculture to sustain northern mixed and hardwood stands in eastern Canada and elsewhere. The specific objectives of this initiative are to: 1. Develop and implement tools to characterize tree health and product content. 2. Improve on the NHRI’s existing SPS so that it is climate smart and operational. 3. Automate decision making to reduce field work to diagnose stands. 4. Effectively mobilize this content through the development of training packages and delivery of workshops. The project aims to address the challenges facing the forest sector by leveraging technology to improve silviculture and the digitalization of the value chain and address the expanding challenges facing this forest type, including serious threats such as invasive species, inadequate tree regeneration and shifts in composition, degraded timber quality, herbivory, climate change, nitrogen deposition, and forest fragmentation.
Funding Awarded:
Richard Fournier, U de Sherbrooke Mathiew Varin, CERFO (a formal development partner with 12 remote sensing and AI professionals) Michael Premmer, University of Maine Paul Arp, UNB Rafaella Mayrink, UNB
Sid Ahmed Selouani
Un solide partenariat inter-campus est établi avec le laboratoire R.E. I. 4.0 de la faculté d’ingénierie de l’Université de Moncton. Ce partenariat voit la participation des professeurs Mohsen Ghribi et Azeddine Kaddouri dans les activités liées à ce projet. Des contacts préliminaires ont été effectués avec le collège communautaire (CCNB) afin d’établir une grappe stratégique dans les domaines de l’IA et de la robotique. De plus, le chercheur principal compte capitaliser sur son partenariat avec l’Institut National de Recherche Scientifique du Québec (INRS-Énergie-Matériaux et Télécommunications) car il y détient le statut de professeur associé. Prof. Selouani est également chercheur associé au département d’informatique de l’UQAM (Montréal), ce qui lui donne accès à la supervision des personnes étudiantes graduées. À l’international, un partenariat avec l’Université Paris Est-Créteil (France) dans le domaine de l’intelligence artificielle et la robotique sera mis à profit à travers de la mobilité étudiante et professorale.
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Sid Ahmed Selouani
Université de Moncton, Shippagan
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
Ce projet vise le renforcement des capacités de formation et d’innovation dans le domaine de la robotique industrielle et de l’intelligence artificielle (IA) du hub technologique constitué par le Carrefour de Formation en Robotique et Intelligence Artificielle (CFRIA) et le laboratoire de recherche en interaction humain-système (LARIHS) de l’Université de Moncton, Campus de Shippagan. La plateforme technologique qui résultera de ce projet va impulser le développement de solutions innovantes et commercialisables tout en proposant des formations aux entreprises du Nouveau-Brunswick et d’ailleurs. Cette initiative vise l’instauration d’une synergie continue impliquant le personnel de recherche à tous les cycles d’études et le personnel opérant dans le secteur industriel et de services pour exploiter pleinement le potentiel de la robotique et de l’IA. Le personnel hautement qualifié sera en mesure de fournir des outils et des technologies de pointe aux partenaires. Sans être exhaustif, il sera par exemple possible de proposer des solutions qui optimisent l’automatisation de l’industrie du bois, de l’industrie des pêches, de l’aquaculture, ainsi que des outils d’aide aux personnes à besoins spéciaux et de sécurisation des chaines d’analyse histopathologiques. Il est à noter que nous comptons des collaborations avancées dans ces secteurs. Des modules de formation, selon le secteur d’activité, seront développés pour généraliser au sein des partenaires du milieu socio-économique et manufacturier, le couplage de l’IA-système de vision numérique et robotique industrielle. Grâce à de nouveaux algorithmes d’apprentissage-machine profond nous contribuerons à l’amélioration de la productivité, l’ergonomie, la sécurité et la compétitivité de diverses industries et services.
Funding Awarded:
Un solide partenariat inter-campus est établi avec le laboratoire R.E. I. 4.0 de la faculté d’ingénierie de l’Université de Moncton. Ce partenariat voit la participation des professeurs Mohsen Ghribi et Azeddine Kaddouri dans les activités liées à ce projet. Des contacts préliminaires ont été effectués avec le collège communautaire (CCNB) afin d’établir une grappe stratégique dans les domaines de l’IA et de la robotique. De plus, le chercheur principal compte capitaliser sur son partenariat avec l’Institut National de Recherche Scientifique du Québec (INRS-Énergie-Matériaux et Télécommunications) car il y détient le statut de professeur associé. Prof. Selouani est également chercheur associé au département d’informatique de l’UQAM (Montréal), ce qui lui donne accès à la supervision des personnes étudiantes graduées. À l’international, un partenariat avec l’Université Paris Est-Créteil (France) dans le domaine de l’intelligence artificielle et la robotique sera mis à profit à travers de la mobilité étudiante et professorale.
Erik Scheme
The partners, CyberNB and Stepscan, are dedicated to being closely engaged throughout the project. Stepscan lead R&D engineer, Patrick Connor is a Ph.D. and Post-Doc trained researcher who initiated this line of research. Dr. Angkoon Phinyomark and Dr. Pradeep Kumar, within the PIs team, bring a substantially related background in gait and biometrics. Combined with Dr. Scheme’s own experience in human movement, machine learning, and biometrics, the team is well-positioned to conduct this research. As such, no other independent researchers are currently involved. Should the need and/or opportunity arise, additional partnerships may be formed with local researchers (such as Dr. Chris McGibbon, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, with expertise in gait) or other national leaders in Biometrics research (such as UCalgary’s Biometric Technologies Laboratory, or UofT’s Biometrics Security Lab).
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Erik Scheme
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
Biometric authentication is increasingly important in today’s digital age, with physical and cyber threats becoming commonplace. Physiological biometrics (finger, iris, face) tend to be more secure than their behavioral or possession-based counterparts (passwords, signatures, swipe cards), but require that a user present themselves to a sensor to be scanned. COVID-19 has emphasized the need for new, contactless biometrics, as current approaches are invasive, require close contact, or are confounded by personal protective equipment (PPE). Video-based systems have recently faced increased scrutiny over privacy and remain challenged by clothing, lighting, and environmental limitations. Stepscan Technologies (Charlottetown) has developed the world’s first modular pressure-sensitive flooring system that is large enough to capture many footsteps of natural gait leading into a secure area. Research has also shown that gait information is highly individual and difficult to imitate given its composition of spatiotemporal physiological and behavioral information. It is also completely unobtrusive, making it an ideal candidate for authenticated entry into secure facilities. To develop and demonstrate the Stepscan system as a biometric authentication tool, we have partnered with CyberNB to instrument the lobby of their new Cyber Centre facility in Knowledge Park, leading up to swipe card access turn styles. This will give us unprecedented access to real-world usage data, enabling us to identify and resolve confounding factors that would otherwise affect the performance of the system. An additional set of tiles installed at UNB will enable more targeted and controlled research into these factors and ensure prolonged research benefits beyond the life
Funding Awarded:
The partners, CyberNB and Stepscan, are dedicated to being closely engaged throughout the project. Stepscan lead R&D engineer, Patrick Connor is a Ph.D. and Post-Doc trained researcher who initiated this line of research. Dr. Angkoon Phinyomark and Dr. Pradeep Kumar, within the PIs team, bring a substantially related background in gait and biometrics. Combined with Dr. Scheme’s own experience in human movement, machine learning, and biometrics, the team is well-positioned to conduct this research. As such, no other independent researchers are currently involved. Should the need and/or opportunity arise, additional partnerships may be formed with local researchers (such as Dr. Chris McGibbon, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, with expertise in gait) or other national leaders in Biometrics research (such as UCalgary’s Biometric Technologies Laboratory, or UofT’s Biometrics Security Lab).
Benjamin de Jourdan
The research partners involved in the NRCan MPRI Program are international leaders from multi-disciplinary backgrounds and include: • Dr. Bjørn Henrik Hansen (SINTEF, Norway), a toxicologist with extensive experience conducting ecotoxicological experiments with crude oils on various cold-water species. • Dr. Lisbet Sørensen (SINTEF, Norway), an environmental and analytical chemist specialized in high resolution analytical techniques to understand fate and impacts of complex chemical mixtures in the environment. • Dr. Thomas Parkerton (ENViSCi Consulting [retired ExxonMobil], USA) is a world-renowned and award-winning scientist, recognized for his expertise as an environmental toxicologist, environmental-fate modeller, and risk assessor. • Dr. Deborah French-McCay (RPS, USA) is an internationally recognized expert in oil spill fate and effects modelling for response planning, environmental risk assessments and impact evaluations. • Dr. Ben Speers-Roesch (UNB, Canada), is a professor who uses whole-animal, physiological, and biochemical approaches to explore how animals’ function, perform, and persist in challenging environments.
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Benjamin de Jourdan
Huntsman Marine Science Centre
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
The ocean economy is a significant contributor to Canada’s economy, with an estimated contribution of $31 billion each year. The ocean economy includes industries such as fisheries and aquaculture, marine transportation, marine renewable energy, tourism and recreation, and ocean technology. In the past 5 years the Huntsman has positioned itself as a leader in delivering toxicity testing to support the responsible and sustainable development of these industries. Owing to our success in this area, as measured by repeat clients from government and industry and a continued new stream of clients, we have reached a stage where we must expand our operations. The Strategic operations fund will provide us the opportunity to leverage existing funding to help expand our operational capacity and deliver cutting edge research.
Funding Awarded:
The research partners involved in the NRCan MPRI Program are international leaders from multi-disciplinary backgrounds and include: • Dr. Bjørn Henrik Hansen (SINTEF, Norway), a toxicologist with extensive experience conducting ecotoxicological experiments with crude oils on various cold-water species. • Dr. Lisbet Sørensen (SINTEF, Norway), an environmental and analytical chemist specialized in high resolution analytical techniques to understand fate and impacts of complex chemical mixtures in the environment. • Dr. Thomas Parkerton (ENViSCi Consulting [retired ExxonMobil], USA) is a world-renowned and award-winning scientist, recognized for his expertise as an environmental toxicologist, environmental-fate modeller, and risk assessor. • Dr. Deborah French-McCay (RPS, USA) is an internationally recognized expert in oil spill fate and effects modelling for response planning, environmental risk assessments and impact evaluations. • Dr. Ben Speers-Roesch (UNB, Canada), is a professor who uses whole-animal, physiological, and biochemical approaches to explore how animals’ function, perform, and persist in challenging environments.
Marion Tétégan Simon
Centre de recherche, de développement et de transfert technologique acéricole inc Université du Québec en Outaouais Groupe de recherche en écologie des tourbières de l’Université Laval
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Marion Tétégan Simon
Valorés (IRZC)
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
On the one hand, in the peat industry, notoriously unfavorable weather conditions in North America meant that the harvest unfortunately failed to live up to expectations. Variable weather conditions combined with frequent rainfall in early and mid-summer limited the harvest. In New Brunswick, the worst harvest conditions on record were recorded, with results well below expectations. For the peat industry, the project’s objectives are: (i) to provide access to climate change adaptation tools for the peat industry; and (ii) to help them and government decision-makers identify and implement adaptation measures. On the other hand, for the maple syrup industry, the project has four main objectives: (i) to develop a robust methodology for estimating carbon sequestration in maple groves; (ii) to assess the effects of key biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors on carbon sequestration in the context of maple groves; (iii) to evaluate the economic benefits of carbon sequestration and storage in maple groves, and finally (iv) to develop a tool for maple syrup producers, enabling them to estimate carbon sequestration and obtain recommendations for improving their carbon footprint.
Funding Awarded:
Centre de recherche, de développement et de transfert technologique acéricole inc Université du Québec en Outaouais Groupe de recherche en écologie des tourbières de l’Université Laval
Clodualdo Jr. Aranas
The project involves key partners, each playing crucial roles in ensuring the success and applicability of the research outcomes. Below is a description of these external research partners: Dana Incorporated is the industry partner and will be the commercialization partner for the technology developed in this project. After the project’s completion, the industrial partner will oversee industrial demonstrations and production scaling to achieve TRL 6+. CanmetMATERIALS, Natural Resources Canada is a federal research laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including pilot-scale hot/cold rolling mills and casting machines, to support the project’s activities. Projects related to new materials for sustainable electrification are of interest to the federal research laboratory. In the later phases of the project, Prof. Sheldon Williamson of Ontario Tech University (Canada Research Chair in Electric Energy Storage Systems for Transportation Electrification) will collaborate with the Project Leader on activities related to motor assembly and testing.
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Clodualdo Jr. Aranas
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
The project aims to develop a sustainable alternative to rare-earth metals used in electric vehicle (EV) permanent magnets by focusing on a promising rare-earth-free candidate known as tetrataenite L10-FeNi phase. To circumvent the kinetic requirements imposed by natural tetrataenite formation in meteorites through ultraslow cooling after millions of years, this project pioneers a strategic combination of alloy engineering, modern metallurgy, and thermomechanical treatments to replicate this structure in cast FeNi alloys. Our method seeks to overcome the diffusion constraint with an out-of-the-box approach by investigating the viability of modifying the atomic arrangement, optimizing the material texture, generating mechanical driving forces, and strategic application of heat treatment. Developed in collaboration with Dana Incorporated, an industry leader in automotive electrification, the project ensures that the resulting manufacturing scheme is not only scientifically robust but also practical, scalable and aligned with both Canada’s Critical Mineral Strategy and Net-Zero Emissions targets. By capitalizing on Canada’s significant nickel production, the project supports domestic circular economy and mitigates risks related to geopolitical uncertainties affecting rare-earth metals. Dana’s expertise in automotive electrification ensures rapid commercialization, while CanmetMATERIALS, Natural Resources Canada will facilitate a seamless transition from research to production lines of metal manufacturers. By developing rare-earth-free permanent magnets, this project aims to enhance Canada’s EV manufacturing capabilities, promote sustainability, and fulfill national environmental goals. The project is a strategic opportunity that could position UNB as a leader in the development of new magnetic materials and in HQP training through state-of-the-art infrastructure development.
Funding Awarded:
The project involves key partners, each playing crucial roles in ensuring the success and applicability of the research outcomes. Below is a description of these external research partners: Dana Incorporated is the industry partner and will be the commercialization partner for the technology developed in this project. After the project’s completion, the industrial partner will oversee industrial demonstrations and production scaling to achieve TRL 6+. CanmetMATERIALS, Natural Resources Canada is a federal research laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including pilot-scale hot/cold rolling mills and casting machines, to support the project’s activities. Projects related to new materials for sustainable electrification are of interest to the federal research laboratory. In the later phases of the project, Prof. Sheldon Williamson of Ontario Tech University (Canada Research Chair in Electric Energy Storage Systems for Transportation Electrification) will collaborate with the Project Leader on activities related to motor assembly and testing.
Scott Henwood
All the companies and organizations we are working with will have access to the requested infrastructure as appropriate to a project. These include projects involving our NSERC partners and stakeholders: • Brilliant Labs • D2L • HotSpot • IGT • Innovatia • Kognitiv Spark • Mariner • Missing Link Technologies (MLT) • City of Fredericton Boost MLT and Kognitiv Spark have specific interests in 5G and have helped us plan infrastructure in this area. These also include projects with the following organizations: • Greystone Energy Systems (mobile, IIoT, 5G) • Mohawk College IoT Lab (NSERC Industrial Research Chair) and La Fleur du Pommier (mobile and IIoT) • Sensory Friendly Solutions (NBIF Lab-to-Market, UX) • Blue Kit (formerly Blue Spurs) (IIoT) • York Care Centre and McGill Medicine (GNB HSPP) • Greater Fredericton Social Innovation (UX) • Civic Tech Fredericton • Kraken Robotics and UNB Dr. Scott Bateman (Ocean Supercluster project with Kognitiv Spark, UX) • Field Effect (via CyberNB, 5G) • UNB Dr. Lucia O’Sullivan (software development, UX)
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Scott Henwood
NBCC Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
Demands for our advanced software prototyping, user interface design and usability testing / user experience (UX) services have increased. We must also add support for 5G and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The NBCC Centre for Applied Research in Mobile & Ubiquitous Computing will upgrade, renew, and expand our infrastructure to meet these demands. First, we need the latest phones, tablets, and mixed reality devices. Second, we need to renew UX software licenses, including remote testing technology acquired because of COVID-19. Third, we must expand our prototyping capabilities into 5G and IIoT. Finally, we need to upgrade the computing resources we use to develop prototypes. Having the most current mobile devices enables our clients to gain a competitive advantage by leveraging the new functions they introduce. Usability is indispensable to successful innovation. 5G and IIoT offer compelling benefits for companies and are finally practical for us to acquire. New computers will enable more efficient software development. The new infrastructure will also expand the areas in which we develop highly qualified personnel. The new infrastructure will increase our services’ quality, quantity, and overall impact for companies and the innovation ecosystem. We worked with partners to identify current and strategic infrastructure needs concerning. Our partners include Sensory Friendly Solutions, Kognitiv Spark, Greystone Energy Systems, MLT, IGT, La Fleur du Pommier, Mohawk College, UNB, GFSI, and the City of Fredericton. The new infrastructure will help our partners achieve competitive advantages and create unforeseen opportunities for all of New Brunswick’s innovation ecosystem.
Funding Awarded:
All the companies and organizations we are working with will have access to the requested infrastructure as appropriate to a project. These include projects involving our NSERC partners and stakeholders: • Brilliant Labs • D2L • HotSpot • IGT • Innovatia • Kognitiv Spark • Mariner • Missing Link Technologies (MLT) • City of Fredericton Boost MLT and Kognitiv Spark have specific interests in 5G and have helped us plan infrastructure in this area. These also include projects with the following organizations: • Greystone Energy Systems (mobile, IIoT, 5G) • Mohawk College IoT Lab (NSERC Industrial Research Chair) and La Fleur du Pommier (mobile and IIoT) • Sensory Friendly Solutions (NBIF Lab-to-Market, UX) • Blue Kit (formerly Blue Spurs) (IIoT) • York Care Centre and McGill Medicine (GNB HSPP) • Greater Fredericton Social Innovation (UX) • Civic Tech Fredericton • Kraken Robotics and UNB Dr. Scott Bateman (Ocean Supercluster project with Kognitiv Spark, UX) • Field Effect (via CyberNB, 5G) • UNB Dr. Lucia O’Sullivan (software development, UX)
Julia Woodhall-Melnik
See attached application / more than 150 words.
INSITUTION:
Social Sciences
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Julia Woodhall-Melnik
UNB Saint John
INSITUTION:
Social Sciences
See attached application / more than 250 words.
Funding Awarded:
See attached application / more than 150 words.
Barry Blight
UNB project partners/co-applicants Prof Laura Romero-Zéron, UNB Chemical Engineering Prof Kyle Rogers, UNB Chemical Engineering LRZ and KR are both experts in applied industrial chemistry. We rely on them for their insights into scale-up details as we relate lab-scale work to a practical pilot scale. They will be integral as the scale-up phase proceeds towards the end of this grant. Advisory Committee: Morgan MacGregor, P Eng. Senior Manager Business Planning, Liberty Utilities. Andy Carson, Director of Energy Transition Group, Irving Oil Limited Dave Lamb, Lead Process Engineer, Irving Oil Limited Chris Mathis, Principal, Viable Solutions Herb Emery, Vaughn Chair of Economics, UNB Ryan Reid, IBEC Program Officer, UNB We have been reporting to this committee since early 2023 with gaining insight into industrial perspectives and socioeconomic impacts. This committee is essential and will lead to key partnerships.
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Barry Blight
UNB Fredericton
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
We will provide a new recycling route for aluminum to generate hydrogen fuel and other valuable by-products. This project will use existing methods confirmed to generate hydrogen gas on a lab-scale from the reaction of high pH water with waste aluminum metal (Al). There has been little interest in using recycled Al (cans and other materials) in this process, as the by-products generated have been viewed as waste instead of a source of recyclable material. Recycling of Al is hugely energy inefficient process (smelting requiring >1250°C) that requires electricity and fossil fuels, producing a significant carbon footprint for a process that is ‘deemed’ environmentally helpful. Here, hydrogen gas will be produced as a new fuel source. The plastic coatings (polyethylene terephthalate; PET) in cans can be isolated and upcycled into raw materials for 3D-printer filament or single use plastic bottles. The Al oxide by-products will be converted to value-add hydrogen storage porous material and/or looped back into aluminum production. The goal for this 2Y project is to validate the decarbonization of the Al lifecycle using hydrogen gas via a carbon-free route, while using byproducts as a source of value-added materials. Fully funded by NBIF/ACOA/UNB, this project will employ a postdoctoral researcher for 2Y, a MSc student for 1Y, and one summer student. It will also facilitate essential equipment purchase required to drive this initiative. This submission will give us the equipment and workforce to continue the NBIF seed-funded work that we began in early 2023 (CF-0000000104). See letters of support.
Funding Awarded:
UNB project partners/co-applicants Prof Laura Romero-Zéron, UNB Chemical Engineering Prof Kyle Rogers, UNB Chemical Engineering LRZ and KR are both experts in applied industrial chemistry. We rely on them for their insights into scale-up details as we relate lab-scale work to a practical pilot scale. They will be integral as the scale-up phase proceeds towards the end of this grant. Advisory Committee: Morgan MacGregor, P Eng. Senior Manager Business Planning, Liberty Utilities. Andy Carson, Director of Energy Transition Group, Irving Oil Limited Dave Lamb, Lead Process Engineer, Irving Oil Limited Chris Mathis, Principal, Viable Solutions Herb Emery, Vaughn Chair of Economics, UNB Ryan Reid, IBEC Program Officer, UNB We have been reporting to this committee since early 2023 with gaining insight into industrial perspectives and socioeconomic impacts. This committee is essential and will lead to key partnerships.
Michael Cormier
The only full partner in the research outside of my team is the industrial partner, NB Power. A letter of support from NB Power is attached to this application. Note that NB Power engineers have reviewed and provided input to this application and the detailed free-form proposal. Outside of the present NB Power–Mount Allison partnership, I have also worked with a number of specialists in human-computer interfaces in the past, including Prof. Dan Vogel of the University of Waterloo and Prof. Karyn Moffatt of McGill University. If required, either/both individual/s may be available to collaborate on or discuss specific, specialized sub-problems in the later stages of research.
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Michael Cormier
Mount Allison University
INSITUTION:
Information Technology and Physical Science
Operator training is a significant challenge for corporations, such as electrical generating plants, that rely on complex systems to perform specific tasks reliably and accurately. The complexity of the systems that operators must master means extensive memorization of interconnections and interrelations between system components is required. Systems like this have traditionally been learned through static diagrams and flowsheets. The use of simulator training is also employed because of its exceptional experiential learning; however, the high costs associated with simulator setup and maintenance limit their widespread use, which is exacerbated by the need to retrain operators to maintain regulatory compliance. Operators must instead train using complex, static diagrams to gain an understanding of the systems which they are learning to control. To facilitate and accelerate learning, it is therefore advantageous on many levels to transform the existing corpus into interactive, dynamic diagrams to clarify and reinforce the information contained in the static diagrams without increasing the trainees’ reliance on simulators. This proposed research project will produce a system for parsing technical diagrams and, using computational models, integrate the systems they represent into an augmented reality (AR) environment. The system will capture an image of the diagram and produce a virtual model of the structure described by the diagram, including the symbols, the labels, and the connections between them. This structural model will be connected with existing dynamical models to provide a trainee with an interactive and flexible learning environment.
Funding Awarded:
The only full partner in the research outside of my team is the industrial partner, NB Power. A letter of support from NB Power is attached to this application. Note that NB Power engineers have reviewed and provided input to this application and the detailed free-form proposal. Outside of the present NB Power–Mount Allison partnership, I have also worked with a number of specialists in human-computer interfaces in the past, including Prof. Dan Vogel of the University of Waterloo and Prof. Karyn Moffatt of McGill University. If required, either/both individual/s may be available to collaborate on or discuss specific, specialized sub-problems in the later stages of research.
Rémy Rochette
Non-UNB research partners on this project are Dr. E. Bjorkstedt and a researcher at the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s Bedford Institute of Oceanography. Dr. Bjorkstedt is with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and he is an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Fisheries Biology at Humboldt State University in California. He will be the lead on the modeling component of the project. He will host the Doctoral student in his lab for approximately 6 weeks in year two of the project, and he will co-supervise this student with R. Rochette at UNB in Saint John. DFO scientists cannot be official partners in this project, given the nature of the funding, but they are engaged with us and will play a critical role in eventual uptake of our findings.
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Rémy Rochette
UNB Saint John
INSITUTION:
Environment & Agriculture
The American lobster Homarus americanus supports the single most important fishery in Canada. In NB, where there are approximately 1,460 independent license owners, the annual value of lobster landings has increased markedly over the last 30 years, and particularly since 2010, when it averaged $189M and accounted for 61% of the value of all marine fisheries in the province. To this must be added other significant economic (not to mention social) benefits of the industry, such as those related to transformation and exports; for example, in 2018, NB exported $734M worth of lobster to the US, and $16M to the growing market in China. In this project, we will use cutting-edge technology and a novel modeling approach to quantify, in greater detail than ever before, the movements of adult lobsters in nature. We will attach archival satellite tags to adult lobsters in the Bay of Fundy/Canadian Gulf of Maine, which will record the daily temperature and depth experienced by these animals over different seasons of the year. The data will then be combined with model-derived bathymetry and temperature data of the study region to reconstruct, using a maximum likelihood approach, the seasonal migrations and movement tracks of these animals. We recently demonstrated the feasibility of this work in a preliminary study. This project will generate the most detailed information to date concerning benthic movements of adult lobsters in nature, as well as a new tool to study these movements as they continue to be affected by a changing climate.
Funding Awarded:
Non-UNB research partners on this project are Dr. E. Bjorkstedt and a researcher at the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s Bedford Institute of Oceanography. Dr. Bjorkstedt is with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and he is an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Fisheries Biology at Humboldt State University in California. He will be the lead on the modeling component of the project. He will host the Doctoral student in his lab for approximately 6 weeks in year two of the project, and he will co-supervise this student with R. Rochette at UNB in Saint John. DFO scientists cannot be official partners in this project, given the nature of the funding, but they are engaged with us and will play a critical role in eventual uptake of our findings.
Anthony Reiman
Memorial University of Newfoundland. Eastern Health (EH),the largest health authority in NL. Dalhousie University. Nova Scotia Health (NSH). Atlantic Cancer Research Institute (ACRI). Vitalité Health Network (VHN). The University of Prince Edward Island.
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
Anthony Reiman
Dalhousie Medicine NB
INSITUTION:
Bioscience and Health
We have been invited to apply to join the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MoHCCN) as a designated consortium from Atlantic Canada. The MoHCCN’s mission is to bring together leading cancer centres, clinics, and academic institutions across Canada to collaborate on precision medicine research to benefit cancer patients and drive innovation. For more details on MoHCCN, please visit https://www.tfri.ca/our-research/marathon-of-hope In Atlantic Canada we share the MoHCCN vision to unite Canada to cure cancer. We are aligned with the MoHCCN mission to create a national network that applies world-leading science to cancer care, with a focus on precision medicine. We have rallied our region’s leading cancer researchers, institutions and care facilities to unite around this vision and mission through our active ACC demonstration project and the assembly of this proposal to join the MoHCCN as a full designated consortium. The ACC will make the following key contributions to the MoHCCN in the next three years: • Contribution of 900 “gold cohort” cancer cases for comprehensive biological and clinical profiling • Engagement with rural and underserved communities to deliver precision oncology opportunities • Engagement with Indigenous communities to develop a framework for collaboration • Enhanced opportunities in precision cancer medicine for ACC trainees and new investigators • Regional projects with the potential for national leadership in our areas of cancer research strength, including o Implementation of precision medicine in the clinical setting o Immunology o Metabolism o Biomarkers
Funding Awarded:
Memorial University of Newfoundland. Eastern Health (EH),the largest health authority in NL. Dalhousie University. Nova Scotia Health (NSH). Atlantic Cancer Research Institute (ACRI). Vitalité Health Network (VHN). The University of Prince Edward Island.
ziba vaghri
The primary research partners for the SOF project are the NB Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT), the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity (CIC), and the Landon Pearson Resource Centre for the Study of Childhood and Children’s Rights (LPC). NB-IRDT, an institution based at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), is one of the premier data stewards in the province. They hold significant NB administrative data and facilitate access to government data sets through their lab. As the GlobalChild platform is digitally hosted on Amazon Web Services, CIC, Canada’s cybersecurity research hub, will play an essential role in ensuring the integrity of the platform and providing protection against malware, bots, and other intrusions. Lastly, LPC will provide resources and guidance in organizing the STM as they are the creators of this innovative model for collaborative consultation with young people.
INSITUTION:
Social Sciences
PROGRAM:
Strategic Opportunities Fund
ziba vaghri
UNB Saint John
INSITUTION:
Social Sciences
We request $130,000 from NBIF to maintain and make improvements to GlobalChild (GCh): the world’s first comprehensive child rights monitoring platform, and to undertake two large-scale knowledge translation (KT) activities that will disseminate the findings from GCh’s first pilot, currently underway in New Brunswick (NB). The Strategic Opportunities Fund (SOF) project will occur from May 2023 to August 2024 and build upon the applicant’s current New Brunswick Innovation Foundation project, the NB-Pilot, which is a comprehensive review of the gaps and strengths in the provincial government’s capacity to fulfill children’s rights using the GCh platform. The SOF will sustain the important work being undertaken by funding the operation and maintenance of the GCh platform and also expand upon the work by funding platform improvements and facilitating innovative KT activities with NB stakeholders and children themselves. The SOF has the potential to connect to a significant pan-Canadian GCh implementation plan that the applicant has proposed through a recently submitted SSHRC Partnership Grant (PG) which would begin in September 2024. The 6 partners on the SOF represent the academic, government, and non-profit sectors and are either major NB child-serving organizations/institutions or data/technology hubs. The Matching Funds are a CIHR Project Grant and SSHRC Insight Grant with a combined value of $520,000. Together, this plan will sustain the GCh platform and facilitate extensive dissemination of the NB-Pilot findings to a range of audiences, with the aim of influencing the development of child- and family-friendly policies and programs in the province.
Funding Awarded:
The primary research partners for the SOF project are the NB Institute for Research, Data and Training (NB-IRDT), the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity (CIC), and the Landon Pearson Resource Centre for the Study of Childhood and Children’s Rights (LPC). NB-IRDT, an institution based at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), is one of the premier data stewards in the province. They hold significant NB administrative data and facilitate access to government data sets through their lab. As the GlobalChild platform is digitally hosted on Amazon Web Services, CIC, Canada’s cybersecurity research hub, will play an essential role in ensuring the integrity of the platform and providing protection against malware, bots, and other intrusions. Lastly, LPC will provide resources and guidance in organizing the STM as they are the creators of this innovative model for collaborative consultation with young people.