Tuesday, February 4, 2025

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• CELLECT. transforms cervical cancer diagnosis with nanotechnology
• Here's what happened at January's Senate meeting
• Test of the Emergency Notification System set for tomorrow

• Board of Governors meets today and other notes

CELLECT. transforms cervical cancer diagnosis with nanotechnology

This is one of the stories featured in the Global Futures: Innovation Update.

Today is World Cancer Day. It’s a day to recognize the millions of people at the centre of care and those exploring new ways of making a difference.

CT Murphy, founder of CELLECT., is on a mission to transform health screenings by using nanotechnology in menstrual products to detect HPV and cervical cancer. The innovation could potentially eliminate the need for invasive Pap smears, offering a less stressful, non-invasive alternative.

“Our goal is to make health care more inclusive and less intimidating,” says Murphy, a chemical engineering grad student. “By integrating screening into a product that people are already familiar with, we’re removing a barrier to care, making it simpler and more accessible.”

CELLECT. is a Velocity startup that has garnered attention from health-care professionals and potential users, who are excited about the possibility of a non-invasive alternative to Pap smears. The startup is positioned to make a meaningful change, not only for women but also for anyone who menstruates, offering an inclusive, accessible screening method for communities often overlooked by traditional gynecological care models.

Read more on the Global Futures website

Here's what happened at January's Senate meeting

A message from the Secretariat.

The University of Waterloo Senate is comprised of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, governors, and administrative staff who are both elected and ex-officio members. This governing body of the institution is the highest authority on academic matters and meets regularly to discuss topics such as academic programs, educational policies, appointments, and other academic priorities.

The following items were approved at the meeting:

• Amendments to Policy 33 – Ethical Behaviour, with further recommendation to the Board of Governors for final approval
• Major modifications to academic plans
  • Civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical and mechatronics engineering (graduate)
  • Master of Development Practice Plan (graduate)
  • New specialization plan in applied mathematics (undergraduate)
• Individuals to be awarded the titles of Distinguished Professor Emeritus/a, and of Honorary Member of the University degrees (confidential session)
• First reading to proposed amendments to Senate bylaws, to change the start of the Senate governance year from May 1 to September 1
• Amendment to the Constitution and By Laws of the Science Faculty Council and Assembly, to amend the student membership of the faculty council
• Committee membership appointments for the Distinguished Teacher Awards and for the Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student

Additionally, Senate received reports on the following matters:

• Annual Report of the Office of the Vice-President, Research and International
• Undergraduate and graduate admissions update, with figures for the most recent year and data on multi-year trends

For more information

Visit the Senate website to find the meeting agenda and related materials for all recent Senate meetings, as well as dates for upcoming meetings. Information for visitors interested in attending a Senate meeting can be found on the Secretariat website.

If you have any questions, please contact the Secretariat at senate@uwaterloo.ca.

Test of the Emergency Notification System set for tomorrow

On Wednesday, February 5, the emergency notification system (ENS) provided by Regroup will be tested on a campus-wide basis.

The test will include the following communications channels:

• SMS/text
• Email
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Regroup Mobile (safety app)
• Desktop Alert

Please ensure that you have:

1. downloaded Regroup Mobile to your device and follow the login and recommended settings steps,
2. ensured your cell phone number is up to date either in the app if you are staff, or in Quest if you are a student,
3. downloaded and installed the Desktop Alert tool onto your computer if your computer is not managed by the University.

If you have any questions about the upcoming test, or about how to make sure Regroup’s app and desktop alert are installed properly on your devices, email ens@uwaterloo.ca.

And as a side note, it's the end of the road for WatSAFE, as the app is being officially decommissioned this month. It will be removed from the app stores and all reference to it will be removed from centrally-managed University websites. Godspeed, WatSAFE.

Board of Governors meets today and other notes

The University's Board of Governors meets today at 1:30 p.m. in NH 3407 and online. Among the agenda items:

• A motion to approve Tuition Rate Increases and Co-op Fees for 2025-26, effective May 1, 2025;
• A motion to approve 2025-26 residence fee rates, effective Fall 2025;
• A motion to approve the Student Services Fees for all full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students effective May 1, 2025 (the undergrad fee will rise by approximately $25 and the grad fee by $32);
• A three-part motion to rename the Governance Committee the "Governance & Leadership Committee," and that the existing terms of reference for the Committee be repealed and replaced with the new proposed terms of reference, and that the new Committee title and terms of reference be effective immediately.

The Board will also receive a Report on Compliance Activity for Bill 166 and Bill 185 and an Operating Budget Update and Return to a Balanced Budget Report, in addition to regular committee reports, presentations and updates.

Calling all young contact lens wearers! "CORE – The Centre for Ocular Research & Education is seeking participants aged 9-13 for a 3-week study to test new daily disposable contact lenses designed for myopia control," says a note from CORE. "Myopia (nearsightedness) can increase as children grow. Myopia control contact lenses are designed to correct vision and help slow the rate of myopic progression."

Time commitment: 4 study visits over 3 weeks (6 hours total). Participants will be asked to wear studylenses for at least 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, for the 3-week study period.

Remuneration: Your child will receive $120 upon study completion.

The visits will include standard clinical procedures that one might encounter in an eye exam. All study products will be provided.

"Join our research team today - For info and registration visit www.corestudies.ca/amazon."