AR Goal R1

R1A Lead nationally and globally at the interface of society, health, and technology

R1B Attract and retain tomorrow’s research leaders

R1C Explore interdisciplinary, cross-faculty research opportunities

R1D Prioritize international partnerships for the global good

Creating a health innovation hub 

Increasing faculty awards and recognition 

Focus: The right stuff: health innovation at Waterloo

Faculty of Health receives funding for dementia search-and-rescue initiative

Delays in finding people with dementia who go missing can result in tragic outcomes

The federal government has granted Waterloo $2.1 million in funding through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund, which will support a search-and-rescue project led by the Faculty of Health. The project will build capacity to support people living with dementia, helping to keep them safe by building partnerships and seamless coordination between care partners and the search-and rescue community. Read more about this important capacity-building initiative. 

“Smart” segmented ring device delivers medications to stop HIV transmission

Researchers in the School of Pharmacy have designed a device that delivers two medications that target different aspects of the HIV infection process to help stop HIV transmission. This device helps women protect themselves from HIV infection and greatly reduces the usage of drugs that are not necessary.

Layton Lab releases new videos in latest work on knowledge translation and research communications

The Layton Lab conducts important research in the areas of computational physiology and medicine, which is highly technical. The Lab communicates advancements in these areas to the public through short, engaging videos that use plain language and vivid imagery. The intention is to bridge the gap between academia and the world outside its walls, so that the latest insights and discoveries help inform public decision-making. Find out more about how the Layton Lab communicates their knowledge.

Food-tracking AI system developed to reduce malnutrition in LTC homes

New technology automatically records and tracks how much food residents consume

Researchers at the University of Waterloo, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, and the University Health Network have developed innovative technology to reduce malnutrition and improve overall health of residence in long-term care. AI software is used to analyze photos of plates of food after residents have eaten to ensure they’re meeting nutrient requirements. Currently this is done manually, with a 50% error rate, whereas the technology is accurate to within 5%. Learn more about this collaborative project with Health and Engineering.

Fighting cancer with exercise

UW WELL-FIT is a suite of evidence-based exercise programs designed for individuals who are undergoing, or have completed, cancer treatment. Research shows that the loss of muscle that happens during these treatments can have a detrimental effect on survival. Exercise is critical to keeping people strong while fighting cancer. UW WELL-FIT not only helps individuals through exercise, it also enhances their quality of life through the community they find in the program. Read more about UW WELL-FIT.  

Why people trust or distrust experts when it comes to critical issues

Ashley Rose Mehlenbacher, Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature and Canada Research Chair in Science, Health & Technology Communication is looking at how people perceive expertise, discovering how they learn to trust sources in a time where misinformation can have devastating consequences. 

Funding for International Doctoral Students

Waterloo is committed to supporting its best and brightest with financial aid that helps them focus on scholarly endeavors. By reducing the financial burden for all doctoral students, both international and domestic, Waterloo can rely on laser-focused students to advance research and enrich the learning experience for students who are being mentored by PhD candidates. Waterloo's Faculty of Environment has launched a new program to support international doctoral students - learn about the program here. 

Study recommends six steps to improve our water quality

A roadmap to overcome the challenges associated with legacy nitrogen for faster improvements to our water quality

Prof. Nandita Basu of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Civil and Environmental Engineering at Waterloo has led a study that provides six steps to address the issue of water pollution due to excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers. The study provides insights from both scientific and socio-economic angles to design watershed management strategies that factor in past legacies. Find out more about this interdisciplinary study.

New collaborative program a first in Canada

The Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA) fosters interdisciplinary inquiry, cross-sector partnerships, and experiential learning to build a future of sustainable aviation and aerospace research, technology, and education. This collaboration between the faculties of Arts, Environment and Science has brought forth the first institute of its kind in Canada, attracting partners across industries to work together to make aviation more sustainable. Learn more about WISA.

New approach to advance care planning preferred by Canadian long-term care residents

Researchers at the Universities of Waterloo, Manitoba, and Calgary developed a tailored, person-centred approach to support end-of-life planning that is based on best practices and was tested in 29 long-term care homes across Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta. This advanced care planning ensures that an individual’s values, wishes, and preferences are honoured at the end of life.