News

University of Waterloo spin-off company CELLECT. is revolutionizing women’s health with a non-invasive disease screening method. This user-friendly alternative to Pap smears integrates nanotechnology with menstrual products to detect HPV and cervical cancer.

Founded in 2023 by CT Murphy (BASc '23, nanotechnology engineering & MASc in progress, chemical engineering), the company aims to empower women by making health care more inclusive and less intimidating.

An interdisciplinary research team at the University of Waterloo has developed a method to convert food waste into biodegradable plastics using bacteria. The plastics are soft and flexible, making them suitable for applications like food wrap, drug delivery systems and tissue engineering.

Led by Dr. Tizazu Mekonnen, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, and Dr. Trevor Charles, a professor in the Department of Biology, the team produced polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a type of plastic that decomposes into harmless byproducts.

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Waterloo's Faculties of Engineering and Science have received $2.5 million in federal funding to develop new ways to convert waste materials into valuable commodities. 

Led by Dr. Christian Euler, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, the team is reimagining how plastics, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and agricultural residues can be transformed into biodegradable bioplastics or useful chemical products.

Microplastics, tiny particles that result from the breakdown of larger plastic materials, pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health due to their resistance to decomposition. Until now, scientists have struggled to fully understand how these particles degrade, especially at the microscopic level.

In a groundbreaking study, Waterloo Engineering researchers Dr. William Anderson and Dr. Boxin Zhao, in collaboration with the National Research Council (NRC), have used 3D imaging technology to examine microplastics in unprecedented detail, a critical step toward improving plastic recycling methods.

An interdisciplinary research team from the University of Waterloo is launching a new battery research centre that will play a crucial role in developing the electric vehicles of tomorrow.

The Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry Research Centre (OBEC), led by Dr. Linda Nazar from the Faculty of Science and Dr. Michael Pope from the Faculty of Engineering, will be Canada’s newest facility tasked with advancing next-generation electric vehicle battery development.