Discover the projects shaping our mission to improve health and well-being. From innovative apps to data-driven research, each project reflects our dedication to real-world impact. Learn more about what we’re building together.
Chatbot Evaluation
In collaboration with the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health unit, this project focuses on developing an interactive and user-friendly chatbot designed to engage with the public and facilitate effective information coordination. In parallel, an evaluation framework was established to systematically assess the chatbot’s outputs for accuracy, clarity, and usability. Together, these components aim to ensure reliable, consistent, and high-quality interactions that support transparent communication and user trust.
AI Scribe
In collaboration with Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH), the AI Scribe project aims to reduce documentation burden for infectious disease investigators and improve workflow efficiency. The project was conducted in two phases: simulation testing and real-world implementation. These phases were used to assess the scribe’s capabilities in a public health context and understand how AI documentation tools, used in other healthcare settings, can be adapted to support infectious disease investigation workflows. Overall, the project explores the impact of AI scribe technology on documentation quality, investigator efficiency, and public health service delivery.
CAN-VIEW
In collaboration with the School of Optometry & Vision Science and the Waterloo Eye Institute optometry clinic, the CAN-VIEW project has a vision to establishing a national eye data repository for AI-driven vision care policy and innovation.
CAN-VIEW aims to streamline the collection of routine eye exam data from optometry clinics through standard FHIR and proprietary interfaces. Hosted on a regulatory-compliant high-performance digital research platform (Digital Research Infrastructure), CAN-VIEW supports evidence-based policy-making and advances AI innovation in primary eye care.
Food Inspection Modeling
In collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, Region of Waterloo Public Health, and Toronto Public Health, this project aims to develop a integrated, explainable AI system capable of predicting critical violations to support proactive food inspection scheduling and risk mitigation. By leveraging inspection and public health data, the project seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of food safety monitoring while supporting evidence-based decision-making for public health inspectors. The project consists of three phases: a scoping review, a modelling phase, and an evaluation component.
Civic Inquiry
In collaboration with Future Cities Institute (FCI), the Civic Inquiry project aims to understand existing policy, co-create data-driven policy prescriptions with partners, and evaluate community-led housing solutions.
Long term, this project has the goal to establish the FCI and UW as international leaders in the interdisciplinary and longitudinal research and knowledge mobilization (KMb) for data-driven decision-making related to housing and homelessness.
Social Listening Platform
In collaboration with York Region Public Health, this project leverages social media data to examine public perceptions of key health topics, with a focus on misinformation surrounding measles vaccination. Using data-driven and computational methods, the project aims to identify prevalent themes, track the spread of misinformation, and generate insights to support more effective public health communication strategies.
Doro
In collaboration with the developer, this project aims to determine whether a fully autonomous, AI-driven psychotherapeutic intervention can effectively support individuals with subclinical anxiety and depression, thereby preventing escalation to clinical disorders while maintaining high standards of reliability, safety, and privacy.
Doro is an AI-driven platform providing structured interventions—adapted from CBT, DBT, and ACT—tailored for subclinical anxiety and depression. By offering guided, personalized strategies for early-stage symptom management, Doro aims to prevent millions of individuals worldwide from developing severe psychiatric disorders—ultimately reducing healthcare burdens, preserving productivity, and improving quality of life.
Bringing Evidence to Alternative Medicine (BEAM) Platform
In collaboration with an Ottawa-based clinic, this project aims to develop the BEAM App (Bringing Evidence to Alternative Medicine), an innovative digital tool designed to support both patients and practitioners throughout the pain management journey. The BEAM App will serve as an intermediary platform that facilitates evidence-based, personalized insights to enhance decision-making at the point of care.
By integrating patient-reported data with clinical information, the project seeks to generate actionable insights that empower individuals to better manage their pain while enabling practitioners to deliver more informed, effective care. Beyond individual outcomes, the project will also create an aggregated, anonymized dataset that contributes to the broader scientific community — establishing a comprehensive evidence base for the study and advancement of alternative and integrative pain management practices worldwide.
Nephroport
In collaboration with Waterloo Regional Health Network, this project oversees the management and coordination of dialysis machine maintenance and related data reporting across participating sites. The initiative ensures that all dialysis equipment within the network is properly maintained, meets operational standards, and adheres to provincial safety and performance guidelines.
In addition to maintenance coordination, the project is responsible for accurate and timely data submission to the Ontario Renal Network (ORN) and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). These submissions support provincial monitoring, quality improvement initiatives, and resource planning. By aligning operational practices with ORN and CIHI reporting requirements, the project contributes to improved accountability, data quality, and patient care outcomes across Ontario’s renal programs.