As cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs have been shown to reduce mortality, lower hospital readmissions and improve quality of life.

Despite its proven value, significant gaps remain in who is referred to cardiac rehabilitation and who ultimately participates, particularly in parts of the world where cardiovascular disease places a disproportionate burden on health systems and patients.

"Even when CR programs are available, patients still face barriers to being referred, accessing programs and affording care," says Carson. "Understanding these gaps helps identify where changes in healthcare systems and policies could improve access, particularly in lower-resource settings.鈥�

Previous studies had tracked barriers to cardiac rehabilitation and identified disparities in participation across countries and health care systems. However, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted CR delivery and access worldwide, says Carson. As a result, the global cardiac rehabilitation landscape had not been comprehensively assessed in the years since, with little recent data available on referral practices, wait times, funding models and the costs individuals face when seeking care.

"An updated audit was therefore needed to understand what CR looks like globally today, where progress has been made, and where gaps in referral and access persist,鈥� says Carson.

Under the supervision of 91亚色 Professor Sherry L. Grace and Adjunct Professor Gabriela Ghisi, Carson conducted a global survey of CR programs in 2025 examining referral practices, limitations to participation, wait times, strategies to improve entry to treatment, funding models and patient costs.

The researchers ultimately received survey responses from 1,505 CR programs across 90 countries. Program leaders completed questionnaires about how care is delivered, how people utilize services and the financial challenges both patients and providers face. The researchers then analyzed the results by country income level.

Among the study's observations was the limited adoption of systematic referral systems, which automatically refer eligible individuals to cardiac rehabilitation rather than relying on a clinician to manually make the referral.

"It was striking that systematic referral, despite being an effective way to increase CR use, was implemented in only about one-fifth of programs globally," says Carson.

The finding also reflected one of the study's broader themes: inequity in access. Systematic referral was far more common in high-income countries than in middle- and low-income countries, with programs in high-income countries estimating that roughly 80 per cent of eligible patients were referred to rehabilitation compared with about 50 per cent in middle-income countries.

The study also found that access was shaped not only by referrals, but by whether patients could afford to participate.

"One finding that stood out to me was the magnitude of the financial barriers," says Carson. "Programs globally estimated that 50 per cent of indicated patients may forego CR because of out-of-pocket costs."

Nearly half of surveyed programs relied on direct patient payments as a source of funding. When patients were required to pay, they covered an average of about 60 per cent of rehabilitation costs themselves. In lower-middle-income countries, patients often paid the entire cost of care out of pocket.

Together, the findings point to a broader inequity. Many of the countries carrying the greatest burden of cardiovascular disease also face some of the greatest barriers to rehabilitation, meaning access to treatment known to improve survival and quality of life can depend on where patients live and what they can afford.

The study also highlighted efforts already underway to improve participation. Researchers found that many programs are taking steps to make cardiac rehabilitation more accessible, including by providing information in multiple formats, offering plain-language educational materials, tailoring services to diverse populations and making resources available in different languages with the support of multilingual staff or interpreters.

Building on this progress, the researchers say addressing the persistent inequities identified in the study will require broader policy action. They recommend stronger public investment in CR, expanded health care coverage to reduce out-of-pocket costs and wider use of systematic referral systems to help more who are eligible for care. Those changes could extend the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation to more patients who need it and ultimately help reduce cardiovascular illness and death.

For Carson, the hope is that her work will help inform practical changes that improve access to care for patients around the world.

"I hope these findings help inform changes in policy and clinical practice that make CR more accessible and affordable," says Carson. "Ultimately, improving referral processes and reducing financial barriers could allow more patients to benefit from cardiac rehabilitation."

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This summer, YFile examines how 91亚色-led researchers move ideas into impact through the Connected Minds Prototyping Awards. This series shows innovation in practice 鈥� how socially responsible technologies are tested in real-world settings and how this work drives meaningful change.

As Canada's population ages and demand for care continues to grow, researchers are exploring how technology can help older adults live more independently while easing pressure on caregivers.  

An emerging area of focus is social robotics, a field dedicated to developing robots capable of interacting with people in natural, human-centred ways. Unlike industrial robots designed for manufacturing, social robots can communicate, respond to social cues and assist in settings such as homes, hospitals and long-term care facilities.  

At 91亚色, a team led by聽James Elder, professor聽at the 聽and the Faculty of聽Health聽and 91亚色 Research Chair in Human and Computer Vision,听is聽exploring how聽social robots聽can better聽interact聽with the people they are designed to support.聽

The project centres on Psibot, a novel robotic vision system designed to help robots perceive and understand the people around them. By drawing inspiration from how humans see and direct their attention, the technology aims to equip robots with social awareness to assist, monitor and interact in more natural ways. 

"Our research explores the potential for robots and AI to work with human caregivers in providing continuous assessments, assistance and care to older adults," says Elder, who also serves the University as director of the Centre for AI & Society. "To fulfill this potential, robots must have a high degree of social intelligence."  

For social robots to be effective, they must be able to detect, recognize and interpret human behaviour and social cues. However, giving robots the visual capabilities to perform these tasks remains a significant challenge. 

Traditional robotic vision systems often face a trade-off: they can either scan a wide area at lower detail or focus closely on a specific person or object. Psibot tackles this challenge by combining broad awareness with the ability to focus on specific people and interactions when greater detail is needed. 

Much like people use peripheral vision to stay aware of their surroundings while focusing their attention on a person or activity,听Psibot聽combines wide-angle cameras with a high-resolution sensor that can rapidly direct its gaze where it is needed most. This allows the robot to聽maintain聽awareness of its environment without losing the ability to closely聽observe聽important interactions.聽

The team has already developed two functioning prototypes, PSIBot 1.0 and PSIBot 2.0, and continues to refine the technology. 

The project received support through the Connected Minds Prototyping Award, which helps researchers move promising ideas closer to real-world testing and deployment. Connected Minds is a multi-million-dollar transdisciplinary research initiative led by 91亚色 and Queen鈥檚 universities that explores the bridge between emerging technology, public health and social justice.  

According to Elder, the funding has been instrumental in advancing this work toward field testing and commercialization opportunities. 

The prototype has significant potential in health care and senior care settings, where social robots could complement human caregivers by monitoring well-being, supporting daily activities and improving access to care. 

Elder also sees promise in their ability to support emotional and social health by identifying changes in social behaviour, such as an increase in isolation, and encouraging residents to participate in activities or connect with others. 

鈥淪ocial robots can serve as escorts, guiding an older adult from place to place within a potentially large facility,鈥� says Elder. 鈥淭his can preserve the mobility of the individual while keeping them safe.鈥� 

 Monitoring changes in mobility over time is another application, where caregivers could receive alerts about potential fall risks and offer earlier interventions when needed. 

As health care systems face growing demands, technologies that support independent living and aging in place may play an increasingly important role in helping older adults maintain their quality of life, says Elder. 

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Announced July 21, SSHRC will provide funding through three of its programs: Insight Development Grants: February 2026 Competition; Partnership Development Grants: 2025 Competition; and Connection Grants: May 2026 Competition.

More than $2.5 million will support 33 91亚色-led Insight Development Grants for early-stage projects and help researchers pursue innovative questions, methods and approaches that can lay the groundwork for larger research programs.

Close to $1 million will support five 91亚色-led Partnership Development Grants, helping researchers build new collaborations with universities, community organizations, governments and industry partners. Knowledge mobilization will also be supported through Connection Grants, with close to $50,000 for a 91亚色 initiative.

The projects cover a wide range of topics, including Indigenous health and decolonization, democratic discourse, climate adaptation, financial vulnerability, labour and social justice, migration, cultural identity and AI.

"These investments in research are investments in our collective future," says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. "These projects empower researchers to test new ideas, forge meaningful partnerships and generate knowledge that addresses complex societal challenges. Together, they are laying the foundations for discoveries and innovations that will create meaningful benefits for communities in Canada and around the world."

The projects reflect 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to community-engaged research, interdisciplinary collaboration and generating knowledge that addresses real-world challenges.

Insight Development Grants

The 33 Insight Development Grants demonstrate the diversity and breadth of emerging research underway across the University. Among the funded projects are those that examine topics such as Indigenous knowledge systems, public health, democratic discourse, AI and financial vulnerability:

• Dayna Scott () 鈥� Visualizing Cumulative Effects: Anishinaabe Counter-Mapping on the Extractive Frontier
• Emily Kuang () 鈥� Multicultural and Multilingual Family Bonding and Knowledge Sharing Across Generations: A Culturally Responsive Approach to Generative AI Application
• R茅mi Viv猫s (Glendon College) 鈥� Measuring Populist Discourse: Canada in Comparative Perspective
• Ashley Day () 鈥� Wiisokotaatiwin 鈥� gathering to re-imagine decolonial health education
• Peiya Cao (Faculty of Health) 鈥� Intergenerational Minority Stress and Child Well-Being in LGBTQ+ Families: A National Census-Linked Study in Canada
• Zissis Paraskevas Poulos (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies) 鈥� Risk-Sensitive Learning and Tacit Coordination in Algorithmic Financial Markets

Other initiatives examine corporate accountability, Black Canadian history, labour law, climate resilience in public infrastructure, machine ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship, disability rights, migration, Indigenous knowledge systems and social inclusion. View the of recipients and their projects.

Partnership Development Grants

The six 91亚色-led Partnership Development Grants will support collaborations focused on financial vulnerability, youth in care, planetary health, workers鈥� education and Canadian computing heritage and include:

• Ida Ferrara 鈥� (LA&PS) Addressing Financial Vulnerability Through Inclusive Insurance
• Jennine Rawana (Faculty of Health) 鈥� Exploring the Needs of Youth Transitioning Out of the Care of Child Welfare Agencies
• Kate Tilleczek (Faculty of Education) 鈥� Planetary Health Partnership: Mapuche-Williche Youth-Led Research as Practices of K眉me Mogen
• Katherine Nastovski (LA&PS) 鈥� Re-Imagining Workers鈥� Education in the 21st Century
• Mark Hayward (LA&PS) 鈥� Preserving, Promoting and Researching Canadian Computing Heritage
• Sarah Rotz (Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change) 鈥� Confronting Financialization, Consolidation, and Settler-colonial Agri-food Land Governance in Canada

91亚色 researchers are also directly involved as co-applicants for six other Partnership Development Grants totaling $1.19 million. See the of projects and recipients.

鈥淭he awards underscore 91亚色's leadership in advancing research that connects disciplines, sectors and communities in pursuit of positive social change. By fostering collaborations across local, national and international networks, our researchers are generating knowledge and solutions that help build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for all,鈥� says Asif.

Connection Grants

SSHRC鈥檚 Connection Grants competition, which funds short-term knowledge mobilization initiatives, will provide $49,974 to Richard Saunders (LA&PS) to examine the social and environmental dimensions of critical mineral extraction through knowledge-sharing and public engagement activities through his project Image as Voice: Perspectives on Lithium Extraction in Argentina and Zimbabwe. 

Two other projects that focus on aging and Asian Canadian studies include co-applicants from 91亚色. View the  of recipients. 

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Awarded through CIHR's Project Grant program, the funding supports researchers and trainees pursing projects across the health research spectrum, from foundational discovery to applied research and knowledge mobilization.

The four 91亚色-funded projects span neuroscience, mental health, autoimmune disease and Indigenous health, and position the University as a leader in research that focuses on building healthy lives, communities and environments through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.

"This investment reflects the excellence, breadth and growing impact of health research at 91亚色 and the ,鈥� says Dean David Peters. These CIHR-funded projects bring together researchers, trainees and community partners to improve care, inform policy and advance the health and well-being of individuals and communities.鈥�

Ali Abdul Sater, associate professor at the Faculty of Health, received $1,017,450 to investigate the role of a protein known as TRAF1 in rheumatoid arthritis. The  aims to identify new ways of targeting inflammation while preserving protective immune functions, with the goal of informing the development of more precise treatments for the autoimmune disease. 

Kate Dunn, assistant professor at the Faculty of Health, was awarded $761,174 to work with First Nations communities on culturally grounded approaches to liver wellness and hepatitis C awareness, screening and care. Building on previous CIHR-funded research, and working with a team of co-investigators including 91亚色鈥檚 Mia Biondi, Karen Campbell, Tarama Barnett and Ashley Day, the  will co-design community-integrated pathways that combine Indigenous knowledge, creative engagement and clinical access to improve awareness and access to services.  

Also at the Faculty of Health, Jonathan Weiss, a professor in the Department of Psychology, was awarded $730,576 together with co-principal investigator Yona Lunsky (The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) for a project exploring therapeutic photography as a mental health intervention for youth with intellectual disabilities. Co-designed with young people and their families, the  will test whether photography can provide an accessible means of self-expression and support mental well-being. The project includes several co-investigators, with 91亚色鈥檚 Shital Desai, Nazilla Khanlou, Georges Monette, Paul Ritvo and Kate Tilleczek among the group. 

At the Faculty of Science,听Jeffrey Schall, a professor in the Department of Biology, received $1,059,526 for research examining how the brain's prefrontal cortex supports attention and decision-making.聽The聽聽will use advanced brain imaging and monitoring techniques to advancing understanding with potential applications for conditions that affect these functions.聽

础苍辞迟丑别谤听聽at University Health Network聽(UHN)聽will be聽co-led by 91亚色 assistant professor聽Divya Sharma, Faculty of Science and carried out at the University. 聽With聽$726,752聽in funding聽to聽UHN, the team of researchers will聽investigate the use of AI聽to聽analyze聽biological聽differences among聽people聽with knee osteoarthritis. The work aims聽to聽better predict who is most likely to聽benefit聽from knee replacement surgery聽and聽could help guide more personalized treatments and patient outcomes.聽

"Addressing today's pressing health challenges requires inspired collaboration across fields, linking excellence in fundamental science to practice at the bedside," says Faculty of Science Dean Maydianne Andrade. "These federally funded projects are emblematic of the research at 91亚色 and the Faculty of Science, advancing our ability to translate complex data into innovative models and decision tools that can transform lives."

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Each Faculty will receive $5,000 a year over five years for the scholarship, reflecting a total gift amount of $75,000.

The donor, an engineer by training, understands that many university students are finding it increasingly difficult to fund their education given challenging economic times, changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and the uncertainty of clear career paths after graduation.

鈥淭his scholarship represents an important opportunity to give back to the community and to support the next generation of students and leaders,鈥� he said in an interview. 鈥淢y desire is to provide funding for three programs which are socially critical but are often economically undervalued.鈥�

The donor believes that increasing access to education is essential and warrants support.

鈥淚鈥檝e benefited a lot from great teachers,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 value what a great teacher can do for a class or even for one student. 鈥楾o teach is to touch鈥� and the impact a teacher can have on someone is enduring and profound.鈥�

Professor Robert Savage, dean of the Faculty of Education at 91亚色, said, 鈥淚 salute our donor鈥檚 generosity, as well as his deep understanding that good educators have a foundational impact on student success at all levels.

鈥淚n helping to remove financial barriers for talented students, he is creating opportunities for not only those students, but also the generations of others who will be influenced by these future teachers鈥� skills, knowledge and values. The ripple effect will touch people far beyond the Faculty of Education.鈥�

The donor also aims to help students in the arts and in psychology. As a patron and supporter of the arts, he believes art can challenge people to think deeply about themselves and society. In addition, mental health support should extend to everyone, he said, because 鈥渁 great mental health practitioner can make a real and lasting impact on someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

鈥淏eginning University is a significant milestone, and support during this important transition can have a lasting impact on a student鈥檚 confidence, success and academic journey,鈥� says Faculty of Health Dean David Peters. 鈥淭his generous gift recognizes the value of psychology education and will help our students thrive at 91亚色."

Brandon Vickerd, dean of AMPD, says the donor鈥檚 investment in student success across multiple disciplines reflects a deep commitment to the transformative power of education.

鈥淏y supporting students at a pivotal stage in their academic journeys, this gift will help foster creativity, leadership and meaningful community impact. We are grateful for the donor鈥檚 vision and generosity,鈥� he says.

The scholarships, named the Wild Rose Awards after the donor鈥檚 native Alberta, are open to first-year undergraduates in each field. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and a strong dedication to leadership through volunteer work, student leadership roles or other community involvement, as well as a demonstrated commitment to advancing women in their field or community through leadership, advocacy or engagement.

Those interested are asked to submit a brief statement about themselves with their application.

鈥淭hese scholarships are intended to enable students to pursue leadership opportunities, refine their craft and access training that they are passionate about,鈥� the donor said. 鈥淚 hope that this scholarship allows recipients to create something beautiful, whether through understanding, insight, creativity or by paying it forward to others.鈥�

For additional information about the Wild Rose Awards, visit .

With files from Elaine Smith

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Awarded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's (SSHRC) Insight Grants program, the funding supports medium- and long-term research initiatives over four to six years.

The projects, led by 91亚色 researchers across multiple Faculties and research units, address issues affecting communities in Canada and around the world with research topics that explore a range of issues with local, national and global significance.

"SSHRC Insight Grants enable researchers to pursue ambitious, long-term programs of inquiry that deepen understanding of complex social issues and generate knowledge with real-world relevance," says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. "This year's funded projects demonstrate the remarkable breadth of 91亚色's research strengths, spanning health and well-being, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, Indigenous knowledge and cultural resurgence, education, labour markets, environmental and climate challenges, social inclusion, governance and public policy. Together these projects will generate new insights that help inform policy, practice and public dialogue in Canada and around the world."

Among the largest grants is a six-year, $463,646 project led by Stephanie Ben-Ishai () examining the financial and psychological effects of insolvency. Ann Marie Murnaghan (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies) received $459,784 for a six-year project focused on cultural resurgence in Witsuwit'en territories, while Michael Kalu () received $456,501 for research examining the needs of Black older adults and developing Afrocentric-informed strategies.

Other significant awards include Andrea Emberly's (LA&PS) six-year study exploring community connection and musical arts among young people, funded at $435,379, and Shital Desai's () six-year, $417,127 project investigating approaches to strengthening communication and relationships in dementia care. Enakshi Dua (LA&PS) received $411,890 for a five-year project that explores the changing landscape of diversity, equity, inclusion and decolonization initiatives.

Several funded projects examine the social implications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Christo El Morr (Faculty of Health) received $396,562 for Mapping Workplace Racism in Canada: A Community-Driven AI Platform Grounded in Ontario, while sava saheli singh's (Faculty of Education) Machine Learning or Learning Machines: Critical AI Futures in Education received $111,678. Isha Sharma (LA&PS) received $123,659 to study the adoption and impact of agentic AI in financial crime compliance.

Health and social well-being are also prominent themes. Mary Fox (Faculty of Health) received $400,708 to develop an e-learning intervention aimed at disrupting ageism in social work education, while Nazilla Khanlou's (Faculty of Health) $390,389 project will examine supports for racialized families of children and youth with developmental disabilities. Kerry Scott (Faculty of Health) received $286,282 to investigate public trust and engagement with Ontario's health system.

Other projects, listed below, explore immigrant inequality, labour market barriers, disability and education policy, climate and energy transitions, Indigenous resurgence, entrepreneurship in the age of AI, anti-human trafficking and cultural heritage, and more, reflecting the breadth of 91亚色's research strengths.

Russ Patrick P. Alcedo, AMPD
Project: From Field to Stage: Choreographing for Theatre Philippine Folk Dance Practices through Ethnographic Research
Funding: $163,951

Lalaie Ameeriar, LA&PS
Project: We Inherit Each Other: Racialized Care Work and Reproductive Labour during and after COVID-19
Funding: $109,580

Ilya Archakov, LA&PS
Project: Measuring and Modeling Economic Correlations: Robust, Valid, and Large-Scale
Funding: $59,770

Godfred O. Boateng, Faculty of Health
Project: A Cross-Cultural Validation of Housing Insecurity Scale in Slums and Informal Settlements
Funding: $362,992

Rebecca Caines, AMPD
Project: Interfacing, Playtesting, Resetting: Reframing Technology Use Through Improvised Creative Technologies
Funding: $118,750

Barnali Choudhury, Osgoode Hall Law School
Project: Improving Modern Slavery Reporting in Canada: Legal Ripple Effects and Insights from Australia
Funding: $185,789

Elicia A. Clements, LA&PS
Project: Interventions in Early Twentieth-Century Opera: Gender, Race, Coloniality
Funding: $104,553

Matias Cortes, LA&PS
Project: The Role of Firms in Lifecycle Earnings Growth and Inequality
Funding: $109,052

David B. Goldstein, LA&PS
Project: Imagined Tables: Eating and the Articulation of Community
Funding: $111,875

Luann M. Good Gingrich, LA&PS
Project: Places and Spaces of Social Inclusion: A Contextual Analysis of Immigrant Inequality in Canada
Funding: $254,831

Philip A. Harland, LA&PS
Project: Criminalization of Minorities and Subject Peoples in Antiquity
Funding: $116,231

Robert J. Heynen, LA&PS
Project: Mediations of Anti-Human Trafficking: Technology, Securitization, and Policing at the Border
Funding: $218,627

Alice J. Hovorka,
Project: Animal Performativity: 鈥楤ecoming Primate鈥� in Human Society
Funding: $207,650

Hong Kal, AMPD
Project: Grievable Images: Visualizing State Violence and Resistance in South Korea Since 1948
Funding: $115,556

Magdalena J. Kazubowski-Houston, AMPD
Project: Performing Eco-Grief: Youth, Theatre, and Climate Mourning in Canada and Poland
Funding: $217,657

脡tienne Lal茅, LA&PS
Project: Foot Traffic, Consumer Spending, and Employment: New Insights from Cell Phone Data
Funding: $105,346

Margaret E. MacDonald, LA&PS
Project: Governing Reproduction in Senegal: Discourses and Images in the Postcolonial Archive
Funding: $105,490

Raymond A. Mar, Faculty of Health
Project: Learning Social Content from Stories
Funding: $124,843

Yuka Nakamura, Faculty of Health
Project: Community and Connection: Understanding the Growth and Social Impact of Ethnic, Cultural and Religious Sport Organizations in Toronto
Funding: $172,229

Lilian K. Ng,
Project: Giving Where They Operate: Biodiversity Governance and Corporate Philanthropy
Funding: $161,035

Ken Ogata, LA&PS
Project: Legitimacy and the Hierarchy of Artefacts Along the Entrepreneurial Journey: Evidence from the Introduction of Third-Party Certification Agencies into the Collectible Comic Books Industry
Funding: $101,646

Nathanael Ojong, LA&PS
Project: Entrepreneurship and the Sustainable Development Goals in the Age of AI
Funding: $286,219

Salewa Olawoye, LA&PS
Project: Towards An Inclusive Monetary Theory: African Entrepreneurship and Money Creation
Funding: $124,927

Oyemolade Osibodu, Faculty of Education
Project: Navigating Blackness: Sub-Saharan African Immigrant Parents' and Youth's Perspectives on the Racialization of Mathematics Education
Funding: $106,237

Gillian Parekh, Faculty of Education
Project: Constructing Disability in Education: Disability Identity, Policy Enactment and Academic Outcomes
Funding: $342,757

Jennifer R. Pybus, LA&PS
Project: Extracting Intimacy: FemTech, Surveillance, and Sovereignty
Funding: $98,892

Amanda Ricci, Glendon College
Project: At the Heart of the City: A History of the Garment Industry in Montreal, 1930鈥�1990
Funding: $81,855

Perry Sadorsky, Schulich School of Business
Project: Energy Transition Systemic Risk in Times of Uncertainty
Funding: $109,082

Akolisa Ufodike, LA&PS
Project: Gatekeeping Growth: Immigration, Credentialing, and the Hidden Drivers of Canada's Productivity Decline
Funding: $375,300

Daniel J. Wigfield, LA&PS
Project: Systemic Integrity: Institutional Logics and Misconduct in Federated Sport Governance
Funding: $242,431

91亚色 researchers are also directly involved as co-applicants for 15 other projects awarded a total of $3.85 million. See the of projects and recipients.

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This summer, YFile examines how 91亚色-led researchers move ideas into impact through the Connected Minds Prototyping Awards. This series shows innovation in practice 鈥� how socially responsible technologies are tested in real-world settings and how this work drives meaningful change.

From buttoning a shirt to turning a doorknob, people rely on their hands to perform countless tasks every day. Yet, despite the importance of the human hand, studying how people learn and perform these movements is challenging for researchers.

Traditional methods of tracking hand movements are often expensive, time-consuming and require participants to wear uncomfortable sensors or reflective markers. These techniques often interfere with the natural hand movements researchers attempt to study, rendering the results as ineffective.

At 91亚色, 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.

Using synchronized video from multiple low-cost cameras and machine-learning algorithms, ATHENA captures footage of a person to map their hand, body and face movements in three dimensions. This open-source software removes the barriers associated with traditional motion capture systems by eliminating costs and tedious setup requirements while upholding accurate measurements.

In validation studies, ATHENA was tested against traditional marker-based technology commonly considered the gold standard in movement science. The results showed strong accuracy across a range of tasks, from simple reaching and grasping to handling objects such as mugs, books, pens and tools.

Ultimately, the team hopes ATHENA will become a tool for those seeking to better understand how people move, learn new skills and recover from injury.

Now fully functional and freely available to researchers, ATHENA鈥檚 success moving from concept to real-world application was driven in part by the Connected Minds Prototyping Award.

The award is designed to support prototype developments aligned with the mandate of Connected Minds, a multi-million-dollar transdisciplinary research initiative led by 91亚色 and Queen鈥檚 universities that explores the bridge between emerging technology, public health and social justice.

Funding for ATHENA enabled the team to develop portable versions of the system that can be transported and deployed outside the laboratory. These mobile setups have already been used in autism clinics in Israel and the GTA, expanding the tool鈥檚 reach beyond traditional research environments.

"The award was instrumental in moving ATHENA from a validated proof-of-concept into a tool that can actually be used out in the world," says Michaels.

Recipients of the award also receive support from other sources and partners. For ATHENA鈥檚 team, it fostered a collaboration with 91亚色's IP Innovation Clinic for guidance on developing a strategy to maximize adoption while keeping it freely available.

By remaining open source, affordable and developed in collaboration with the communities and clinics that use it, Michaels says ATHENA reflects Connected Minds' goal of creating accessible, socially responsible technology.

Through the prototyping process, the team learned that developing a useful technology requires more than proving it works.

"The hardest part of building a useful tool is often not the core idea, but making it robust, easy and trustworthy enough that other people will actually adopt it," says Michaels.

Navigating the challenges of moving from controlled laboratory environments to clinics and community settings, where lighting conditions vary, people move more freely and privacy considerations become essential, he says.

Because the tool operates entirely without bulky tracking equipment, it can capture movement in more natural settings and offer a more comfortable experience for participants. The comfort and ability to track naturalistic movements translates well with respect to ATHENA's most promising application in health care and clinical research.

An example of this is a collaboration with the Freud Lab at 91亚色 where researchers are using ATHENA to study how children move during activities such as building with LEGO. The goal is to identify patterns that could support earlier and more objective identification of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Michaels says plans are underway to expand ATHENA's capabilities, such as integrating eye tracking, object tracking and multi-person tracking. And, by working with additional clinical and educational partners, the team hopes to broaden adoption while maintaining the platform's open-source model.

"Our goal is for ATHENA to become a broadly used, trusted and freely available resource that helps the research and clinical community better understand human dexterity and improve lives," says Michaels.

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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.

Badawi's interest in the issue grew out of her work with Kids Help Phone, Canada's national 24/7 e-mental health service for young people. While working at the Vector Institute, she gained exposure to the mental health challenges facing youth and saw firsthand how digital tools were increasingly being used to provide support.

The experience led her to pursue postdoctoral research at 91亚色 through the Connected Minds program with a focus on mental health and AI safety. Supervised by Assistant Professor Elham Dolatabadi and Laleh Seyyed-Kalantari from the , as well as Frank Rudzicz of Dalhousie University, Badawi鈥檚 research finds that youth, in particular, are turning to AI systems for help navigating everyday challenges, relationships and emotional concerns 鈥� even when they may not explicitly describe those interactions as mental health support.

Badawi's findings reinforced a growing concern about the role AI plays in people's lives. Chatbots, such as ChatGPT, are increasingly serving roles once filled by family members, friends and other trusted sources. Whether youth describe it that way or not, Badawi believes many of these exchanges have begun filling an emotional support role in people's lives.

鈥淓ven if they don't define it as mental health support, they are still using it as a type of mental health support,鈥� she says.

The concern, Badawi says, is that AI chatbots were not designed to serve that purpose.

Unlike therapists and other mental health professionals, general purpose large language models like ChatGPT are not designed to provide clinical care. As a result, users may receive advice or validation before sufficient context is gathered or alternative perspectives are explored.

鈥淵ou can end up with a system that always agrees with you,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t doesn't challenge you or ask questions in the same way a person would.鈥�

That dynamic can have consequences, she notes. Someone discussing a conflict with family, for example, may receive responses that validate their feelings without fully exploring the situation or offering alternative perspectives. Over time, Badawi worries that constant affirmation could contribute to overconfidence, one-sided thinking and an increasing reliance on AI systems.

Her research examines what she and her colleagues call 鈥� a potential pattern of interaction in which repeated reliance on AI may shift reflection, coping, emotional regulation and decision-making away from individuals and toward AI systems.

The concern, however, extends beyond questions of decision-making or dependence. She worries the same behaviours that encourage people to rely on AI for advice and emotional guidance may, in extreme cases, contribute to more serious harm. Models that consistently validate users, reinforce their perspectives and foster emotional attachment can become particularly problematic when people are vulnerable or in distress.

The issue became an important focus for Badawi following reported cases in which AI chatbot interactions were examined in connection with youth suicide. For her, these cases raised urgent questions about how chatbots respond when vulnerable users express distress, form strong emotional attachments to the system or require support beyond what an AI tool can safely provide. They also highlight the importance of designing models that recognize risk and encourage users to seek appropriate human help.

Those cases helped inform a research project supported through OpenAI's AI and Mental Health Grant Program, an initiative aimed at supporting research into how AI systems affect mental health and how they can be designed more safely.

As principal investigator, Badawi is leading Preventing Cognitive Atrophy in LLM Mental Health Support Through Psychometric Evaluation and Therapist-Aligned Design, a project that aims to better understand how AI systems can support mental health while reducing the risk of emotional dependency.

The team is developing new ways to measure how AI behaves in emotionally sensitive conversations. The goal is to design technology that will encourage users to seek help from people they trust and provide resources and responses that support independent coping and problem-solving.

To do that, researchers are analyzing conversations between users and chatbots and are working with experts in psychology and mental health to examine whether models gather sufficient context, encourage independent decicion-making, ask appropriate clarifying questions and respond with empathy.

One goal is to identify conversational patterns that can steer interactions into increasingly risky territory. Ultimately, Badawi hopes the work will help create safeguards that prevent AI systems from reinforcing harmful ideas, fostering unhealthy emotional attachment or encouraging dependence.

The obstacles, however, extend beyond the technology itself.

With more than a decade of experience working at the intersection of AI and health care, Badawi has collaborated with clinicians, mental health professionals and researchers across disciplines. Those experiences, she says, have underscored the importance of collaboration while also revealing how difficult it can be.

One obstacle is determining what a "good" response from an AI system actually looks like. As part of the project, and assess how the models respond in emotionally sensitive situations. Those evaluations help researchers identify the kinds of behaviours they want these tools to emulate 鈥� and those they want to avoid.

But unlike many areas of health care, there is no single correct answer. Different experts can interpret the same interaction in different ways, making it difficult to establish clear standards. A response one psychologist considers appropriate may prompt debate from another, not because either is wrong, Badawi says, but because they are approaching the situation from different perspectives.

鈥淚f humans don't agree, how are you expecting the model to follow a pattern?鈥� she asks.

Despite those challenges, Badawi believes progress is possible. She is also quick to emphasize that AI tools can still provide value.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 stop people from using AI tools,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he question is how to make them safer.鈥�

Her long-term goal is to develop AI-driven tools specifically , with safeguards that recognize when interactions are becoming problematic and encourage users toward reflection, autonomy and real-world sources of support.

鈥淭he real measure of progress is whether AI can recognize danger early, interrupt harmful patterns and connect a vulnerable person to human help before it is too late,鈥� she says.

Ultimately, the objective is simple: people are already using these systems every day. The task now is ensuring they can do so safely.

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This summer, YFile examines how 91亚色-led researchers move ideas into impact through the Connected Minds Prototyping Awards. This series shows innovation in practice 鈥� how socially responsible technologies are tested in real-world settings and how this work drives meaningful change.

Knee injuries and osteoarthritis are among the most common causes of pain, disability and reduced mobility. While knee braces are often prescribed to support recovery after injury or surgery, most provide only passive support and rely on subjective feedback to guide treatment decisions.

Patients and clinicians have limited tools to monitor changes in knee function between appointments, creating challenges when personalizing rehabilitation and tracking recovery progress.

At 91亚色, researchers from the and the are working together to develop an instrumented "smart" knee brace that could help monitor knee function beyond the clinic.

The project brings together William Gage, professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Science in the Faculty of Health, Gerd Grau, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Garrett Melenka, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Combining expertise in biomechanics, engineering design, wearable technologies, sensing systems and prototype development, the team aims to create a knee brace that is scientifically precise and practical for real-world use.

鈥淥ur project was inspired by a simple question: What if we could continuously monitor knee function outside the clinic using a wearable device?鈥� says Gage.

The Intelligent Knee Brace transforms a traditional support device into a wearable, smart monitoring system. By integrating sensors and machine-learning algorithms, it captures data on how people move in their daily activities, providing a more complete picture of mobility and recovery.

Gage and his team received a Phase 2 Connected Minds Prototyping Award, which provides up to $50,000 for full prototype development. The award program is part of the Connected Minds transdisciplinary research initiative at 91亚色 that partners with Queen鈥檚 University to support the development of socially responsible technologies.

Backed by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund and a network of more than 50 industry, hospital and community partners, Connected Minds explores how humans and intelligent machines interact.

Through the prototyping award, Gage and his team have moved the Intelligent Knee Brace through prototype development, sensor integration and the early development of machine-learning capabilities. Now developed into a working model, the smart knee brace integrates wearable sensors capable of measuring lower limb movement.

鈥淭he award has created an environment where researchers and industry partners can work together to rapidly test ideas, identify challenges and refine solutions that have the potential to make a meaningful impact in health care,鈥� says Gage.

From idea to development, the team has gained insights on how wearable sensing technologies and AI can be combined to generate meaningful information about human movement.

鈥淲hile wearable sensors can collect large amounts of data, transforming that data into clinically useful insights is a much more complex challenge,鈥� says Gage. 鈥淭hese findings are helping to shape the next generation of the prototype.鈥�

The project has demonstrated the feasibility of integrating sensing technology into a knee brace and will advance into the testing phase and will begin the validation process with industry and technology partners.

Gage says the goal is to determine how accurately the brace captures knee motion compared with laboratory-based systems.

As technology continues to develop, the potential for this smart device to enhance health care extends beyond individual clinical assessments. By offering continuous monitoring of knee function, the brace can provide more personalized rehabilitation, track recovery following injury or surgery and detect early changes in mobility that may require intervention.

In medical settings, this means clinicians can access continuous data between appointments, offering a more holistic understanding of patient needs. Over time, this comprehensive data can help shift care from periodic assessments toward more proactive models of health management.

"Ultimately, our goal is to help clinicians make better-informed decisions while giving patients more personalized feedback about their recovery and mobility," says Gage.

The next phase of the project will focus on expanding participant testing, validating the system鈥檚 accuracy and refining the machine-learning models used to interpret movement data. The team also plans to explore how the brace performs in populations with knee osteoarthritis and other mobility-related conditions.

Building on the project鈥檚 early successes, Gage and his team hope to establish large-scale clinical studies and industry collaborations that will support the technology鈥檚 path toward real-world health care applications.

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The 91亚色 graduate, who received a BSc in kinesiology and exercise science in June, discovered her early interest in health science had deepened after taking Regional Human Anatomy 3460 and 3465 with Assistant Professor Nicole Ventura.

鈥淗er teaching style just really resonated with me,鈥� says El-Dassouki.

A professor at 91亚色鈥檚 , Ventura creates opportunities for students to understand the human body using virtual dissection tools and synthetic cadavers.

She joined 91亚色鈥檚 School of Kinesiology & Health Science in Fall 2025 and now teaches courses on advanced regional anatomy using modern technology.

In the anatomy lab, Ventura is precise, direct and calm, pushing students to get every detail right without losing sight of the individuals who donated their bodies to science.

That mix of respect and rigour earned her major teaching awards during her nearly 10 years on faculty at McGill University.

There, Ventura taught labs using real human cadavers, an experience she describes as 鈥渁 privilege.鈥� Like many institutions, 91亚色 does not have a human body donor lab 鈥� but it does have a wealth of virtual dissection tools and synthetic cadavers for physiology and anatomy students to work with.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really given me a new opportunity and a new challenge to teach and think about anatomy in a different way,鈥� Ventura says.

Still, there are limitations to teaching with virtual bodies. For example, dissecting a flesh-and-embalming-fluid cadaver forces students to confront death at a very personal level, Ventura says. It can be difficult 鈥� or impossible 鈥� to get the same depth of emotional resonance working with a virtual or synthetic body. And for those who go on to work in surgical medicine, donor bodies offer a very realistic window into what they can expect when operating on a patient, from the colour of organs to the thickness and texture of tissues.

But virtual dissections also offer serious advantages. For one, they are much more accessible. With online tools, students can 鈥渄issect鈥� a body anywhere, anytime, for as long as they need. 鈥淚 could just open it at home and study it for hours, which was great,鈥� El-Dassouki says.

When 91亚色 moved courses online during COVID-19 lockdowns, those virtual tables went from an add鈥憃n to a lifeline, says Professor Nicolette Richardson who teaches anatomy alongside Ventura. The software also allows for bigger class sizes while ensuring that each student still gets direct lab experience.

The virtual software is updated regularly, which gives students access to a wider range of bodies than they might see in a more standard lab setting. They can learn about 鈥渇olks of different ethnicities, different genders, and get access to things like clinical case studies,鈥� Richardson says.

For Ventura, this is an important feature. She says it helps students, especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, better connect to the material.

Synthetic cadavers 鈥� or 鈥渟yndavers鈥� 鈥� are also a crucial part of 91亚色鈥檚 anatomy and physiology labs. These synthetic bodies are extremely lifelike, and give students a tactile experience. 鈥淚t allows them to actually get their hands in there,鈥� Richardson says.

And this approach, too, has some advantages: unlike real bodies, where the organs and tissues all tend to be a similar shade of pinkish-brown, the syndavers are brightly coloured, enabling students to easily distinguish between different structures. As well, the models can be reused because they don鈥檛 need to be removed after dissection and pose no biohazard risks. 91亚色 currently has one full-bodied synthetic cadaver, as well as several independent lower and upper limbs.

According to a 2025 comparative study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal , students using virtual dissection tables achieved learning outcomes comparable to those in traditional cadaver laboratories, though each method provided distinct educational experiences.

Ultimately, the key to successful physiology instruction lies in cultivating genuine student engagement, regardless of the type of cadavers they practice on. 鈥淚 just think anatomy is really cool,鈥� Ventura says. 鈥淚t allows people to have a better understanding of their own bodies, which is pretty unique in itself.鈥�

El-Dassouki agrees. She plans to pursue a career in physiotherapy, and credits her enthusiasm for the field to professors like Ventura and Richardson.

鈥淚 have recommended 91亚色 to so many people applying to universities, just because I loved it so much.鈥�

With files from Joanna Thompson鈥�

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