Ten Waterloo researchers are receiving seed funding from the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology (CBB). This funding will support the collaboration of multi-disciplinary research teams across Waterloo faculties and departments with the goal of propelling scientific innovation and growth, and mentoring the next generation of researchers. The projects receiving seed funding are:
Quantitative modeling of spasticity in spinal cord injury
Arah Arami (Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering) and Ning Jiang (Systems Design Engineering)
The research will provide clinicians with better tools to assess the outcome of rehabilitation treatments for stroke patients and individuals with Parkinsons disease and spinal cord injuries.
A semiconductor-integrated electrochemical camera for real-time label-free cell assays.
Peter Levine (Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Robin Duncan (Kinesiology)
The research aims to demonstrate fully-electronic real-time label-free imaging (sensing and monitoring) of cells using semiconductor integrated circuits that could decrease the complexity and cost of therapeutic drug development and cell efficacy research, development, and analysis.
Retinal oxygen metabolic rate extraction using a novel imaging method
Parsin Haji Reza (Systems Design Engineering) and Vivian Choh (Optometry)
The research may lead to the development of the first non-contact non-invasive optical-absorption based imaging tool for early detection and better treatment methods of glaucoma and other ocular diseases.
Structural studies of bacterial IgA1 proteases
Todd Holyak (Biology) and Scott Taylor (Chemistry)
The research may lead to the development of novel antibiotics to treat pathogens such as H. Influenzae, N. gonorrhea, and S. pneumonia. Findings could provide further insight into the potential for engineering bacterial pathogen fighting enzymes for the treatment of kidney diseases such as Bergers disease (1gA1 nephropathy).
Evelyn Yim (Chemical Engineering) and David Spafford (Biology)
The research aims to understand the genetics of cell and tissue development to study the progression of Rett Syndrome (a rare and severe disorder within the autism spectrum).