Innovation | Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS)

Empathy, immersive technology drives 91��ɫ professor's approach to dementia care

qings — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:34:06 +0000

Eva Peisachovich, associate professor and graduate program director in the Faculty of Health’s School of Nursing, is leading a team of researchers that are using augmented reality (AR) to reimagine how health care providers learn to care for people living with dementia. After two decades as a registered nurse in geriatrics, medical-surgical nursing and high-acuity care, one factor has stood out as essential for patient outcomes. "I recognized the critical role of empathy in effective clinical practice," she says. "I also recognized it as a clinical skill that can be taught, practised and strengthened." Research, Peisachovich says, has shown that when patients feel understood by their health care providers (HCPs), they are more likely to communicate openly, adhere to treatment plans and report improvements in their overall well-being. Support from caregivers with higher understanding and higher empathy scores has also been shown to lower complication rates, hospital readmissions and pain perception.

New AI assistant improves graduate funding support at 91��ɫ

qings — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:01:47 +0000

What began as a project to manage a growing number of funding inquires has transformed into a new service model that expands support for graduate students at 91��ɫ. The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) recently launched an AI-powered graduate funding virtual assistant that connects students and staff with information in seconds. Navi provides students and staff with immediate answers to questions about graduate funding using verified information from FGS. The tool represents a new approach to student support, combining institutional expertise with emerging technology to make information easier to access and navigate.

Turning food waste into sustainable chemicals: 91��ɫ study investigates

qings — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:02:04 +0000

What if food waste could be transformed into something useful instead of ending up in landfill? A new 91��ɫ-led study suggests carefully selected microorganisms could help recover valuable chemicals from discarded food while reducing the energy needed to produce them. “When we think of environmental sustainability, we often immediately think about newer energy-efficient technologies. Organic waste treatment becomes rather an afterthought,” says Reema Kumar, a PhD candidate at 91��ɫ's Lassonde School of Engineering and lead author of the study.

AI tool developed at 91��ɫ U signals breakthrough for movement research

qings — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:37:37 +0000

At 91��ɫ, Faculty of Health researchers are addressing this challenge through the development of ATHENA (Automatically Tracking Hands Expertly with No Annotations), an AI-powered motion-tracking system that captures natural hand movements without requiring markers, sensors or wearable devices. The project is led by Jonathan Michaels, assistant professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, alongside Daanish (Dan) Mulla, a postdoctoral fellow and lead researcher on the project. "We wanted a way to measure natural hand movement as it actually happens, without attaching anything to the person," says Michaels.

91��ɫ prof explores AI safeguards for youth mental health

qings — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:21:11 +0000

As AI chatbots become a growing source of advice, guidance and emotional support for young people, 91��ɫ postdoctoral researcher Abeer Badawi from the Faculty of Health is investigating the risks associated with these interactions and how the technology can be made safer. Drawing on recent research findings, usage statistics and her own work, Badawi has observed that chatbot use is increasing, with many people turning to these tools not only for information and practical assistance, but also for advice, emotional guidance and support with personal decisions.

Olympiad victory positions 91��ɫ grad student among world’s top young engineers

vinish — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:26:24 +0000

Ali Ramezani’s relentless pursuit of excellence earned him global recognition when he outperformed more than 1,000 competitors in a prestigious microelectronics contest. Ramezani’s victory positions him among the world’s emerging young leaders in microelectronics, showcasing his expertise among engineers and students under 30. The competition, designed to recognize and inspire young talent, aims to build a global community of microelectronics specialists. As a research assistant at 91��ɫ, Ramezani has engaged in research projects on power electronics, smart grids, renewable energy and deep learning applications. He has contributed to multiple IEEE conference and journal papers, including studies on AI applications in smart grids, as well as connected technologies making energy systems safer and more efficient.

AI drone developed by 91��ɫ U student targets urban litter

vinish — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:09:22 +0000

91��ɫ Lassonde School of Engineering student Garnet Maxwell has created a drone that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and map litter, offering cities a faster, more precise approach to waste management. City waste management departments across Canada face a costly bottleneck: before cleanup crews can be deployed, workers must manually survey litter, walking predetermined routes with clipboards to estimate quantities and types of trash. The process takes hours, costs thousands in labour and produces inconsistent results, as surveys can be subjective and variable.

It’s in the air: art, science and engineering merge to light up airborne pollution

vinish — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:44:09 +0000

91��ɫ researchers are working to make invisible air pollution visible through an innovative project that merges art, science and engineering. Focusing on the threats of airborne black carbon—a pollutant resulting from vehicle exhaust and wildfire smoke—the team will create wearable technology that detects these harmful emissions in real time. With the World Health Organization reporting an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths each year caused by ambient air pollution, the “SensingChange: Black carbon air pollution detection and critical artworks” project aims to develop a novel measurement tool and increase public awareness.

91��ɫ U researchers design wearable device to monitor health

vinish — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:31:27 +0000

Ever wonder what secrets sweat holds about health? A team of researchers at 91��ɫ is working to make this a reality by designing a simple wearable device that decodes those secrets in real time. Led by Razieh Salahandish, an assistant professor in 91��ɫ’s Lassonde School of Engineering, the research team is developing a wearable biosensing device that promises to revolutionize preventative health care through the use of sweat. The non-invasive wearable device integrates microfluidic technology and advanced sensors to offer real-time insights into various physiological states by analyzing sweat—a readily accessible body fluid that researchers believe can offer a wide scope of health information.

Celebrating Innovation and Collaboration in Biotechnology

vinish — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:31:11 +0000

On November 29, our Biotechnology Graduate Students proudly showcased their exceptional work-integrated-learning projects, which they diligently developed throughout the semester. Thanks to funding from CEWIL Canada and the close collaboration with our industry partners, each student team had the unique opportunity to work with industry mentors, tackling real-world challenges and creating innovative solutions.

Our students addressed a variety of industry challenges, including:

Management Challenge with
Alternative Proteins in Pet Food with
Project Management Challenge with Dalton Pharma Services
AI in Clinical Trials with
Training Management Challenge with Dalton Pharma Services
AI Identification of Bio-active Peptides with

_{A group photo of Biotechnology Graduate Students during the event.}