Industry Partnerships

Graduate Students

Sustainability

UTIAS

Subheadline

'Together, we hope to unravel the complexities of hydrogen combustion, paving the way for cleaner and more efficient engines'

Researchers in the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering have partnered with Siemens Energy to tackle a key challenge in the energy sector: sustainable energy conversion for propulsion and power generation – such as developing gas turbine engines that can run on sustainable energy sources like hydrogen.

Led by Associate Professor Swetaprovo Chaudhuri from the U of T Institute of Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), the initiative aims to rethink traditional gas turbine engines to reduce carbon emissions from both aviation and land-based fuel consumption.

Chaudhuri’s team is exploring hydrogen combustion as a viable option since it can be burned without producing carbon dioxide.

However, the transition is not without its challenges. For one, hydrogen is a small, highly reactive molecule, causing flames to move five to ten times faster than those of natural gas. This makes existing combustors and engines that run on natural gas incapable of handling pure hydrogen.

Another key challenge is the lack of infrastructure available to transport hydrogen in the way pipelines are used to move natural gas. Until such infrastructure is developed, Chaudhuri’s team is researching how to build reliable fuel-flex gas turbine engines that can work on both fuels.

“Hydrogen and natural gas are vastly different - it’s like comparing a Bugatti Veyron to a public bus in both speed and size,” says Chaudhuri, who leads the Propulsion & Energy Conversion Laboratory at UTIAS. “The critical question is: ‘how can engines be designed to accommodate both fuels seamlessly?’”

The team is led by Chaudhuri in collaboration with Associate Professor Jeff Bergthorson at McGill University, Professor Étienne Robert and Assistant Professor Bruno Savard at Polytechnique Montréal, Patrizio Vena at National Research Council Canada and engineers from Siemens Energy Canada in Montreal.

The project received an Alliance Mission Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to build a comprehensive understanding that will guide the creation of fuel-flex gas turbine engines.

PhD candidate Yazdan Naderzadeh (left) and master’s student Scott Watson from the Propulsion and Energy Conversion Lab work with a swirling hydrogen flame (photo Praful Kumar)

The researchers have constructed a model lab-scale combustor at the Propulsion and Energy Conversion Laboratory at UTIAS, to study the behaviour of natural gas and hydrogen flames within engines. These experiments aim to understand the intricacies of hydrogen combustion to establish engineering principles and guidelines for future engine development.

While practical applications are on the horizon, the immediate goal is to establish a robust knowledge base that will be essential for designing engines that can efficiently and safely use hydrogen as a fuel source.

“Currently, long-range aircrafts cannot, even theoretically, fly on batteries. We need to make significant strides towards combustion engines that use hydrogen or other carbon-neutral fuels to substantially reduce carbon emissions in these critical sectors,” says Chaudhuri.

In a different, stand-alone project, Chaudhuri and his research group are developing a self-decarbonizing combustor, which separates hydrogen and carbon from natural gas within the combustor. This process not only allows for hydrogen to be used for fuel but could also allow the carbon byproduct to be used to offset the additional cost associated with decarbonization.

“Our collaboration with Siemens Energy marks an exciting synergy between academia and industry,” says Chaudhuri. “Siemens Energy’s gas turbines for generating power have historically used natural gas, so this partnership represents a significant step towards a greener future.

“Together, we hope to unravel the complexities of hydrogen combustion, paving the way for cleaner and more efficient engines.”

The development and commissioning of the fuel-flex combustor, capable of safely stabilizing both hydrogen and natural gas flames, presents numerous research opportunities for students.

Yazdan Naderzadeh and Scott Watson, a PhD candidate and master’s student respectively in Chaudhuri’s lab, are working on the project. “I am so excited to work on the ongoing fuel-flex combustor project, addressing concerns related to clean emissions and compatibility with conventional gas turbine burners,” says Naderzadeh. “This endeavor allows for a thorough study and understanding of the challenges associated with hydrogen as a prospective fuel in the aviation industry and gas power plants.”

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U of T renews five-year research partnership with LG

mattimar — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:21:50 +0000

U of T renews five-year research partnership with LG

mattimar Wed, 12/20/2023 - 10:21

Cutline

Kim Byoung-hoon, chief technology officer and executive vice-president of LG Electronics, poses for a photo with U of T President Meric Gertler (photo courtesy of Ji Yong Lee/LG Electronics)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Artificial Intelligence

Global

Meric Gertler

Subheadline

Renewed agreement emphasizes work on autonomous systems, computer architecture and responsible AI

With a focus on advancing state-of-the-art artificial intelligence tools and methods while emphasizing AI responsible development, the ��߲ݴ�ý and LG Electronics have renewed their multimillion-dollar collaborative research agreement for five more years.

Under the renewed agreement, U of T and the global maker of TVs, home appliances, and beyond will build on their existing work in fundamental AI training methods, autonomous driving, health care, materials discovery and robotics.

The new research will also delve into questions such as how to embed trustworthiness and ethics into AI frameworks and how to engineer responsible systems.

“We are proud of the transformative impact of our partnership and we are excited to celebrate its renewal for the next five years,” said U of T President Meric Gertler at a recent event in Seoul, noting that South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visited U of T last year to learn more about AI research from luminaries such as University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton.

President Gertler added that the partnership “has proved to be an amazing sandbox for innovation, collaboration and experimentation.”

U of T and LG first began working together in 2018, expanding their partnership the following year. The collaboration has fostered a mutually beneficial environment for innovation that so far involves 31 projects, 16 U of T professors and two of the university’s three campuses.

“With the strong partnership we have with the ��߲ݴ�ý, we are one step closer to bringing changes to our customers’ lives with AI technologies,” said Kim Byoung-hoon, chief technology officer and executive vice-president of LG Electronics. “LG will continue to collaborate with research institutes and industry innovators to solidify its leadership in AI to develop more efficient, safe and reliable solutions for our customers.

“Our continued partnership with the ��߲ݴ�ý is a testament to the power of collaborative intelligence in shaping a better future for all.”

President Gertler said LG “reaches people around the globe” from its headquarters in Seoul. “So, for our scientists and engineers, collaborating with LG means making a difference in the daily lives of billions of people.”

LG opened its Toronto AI Lab the same year it began working with the university. Supported by investment attraction agencies Invest Ontario and Toronto Global, the lab has served as a local window into LG’s global research and development priorities – including those involving U of T researchers.

For LG, the partnership with U of T gives its researchers opportunities to collaborate with world-class experts across a range of fields and to receive mentorship via an AI Specialist Program – a sort of “inverted” internship.

“In supporting our LG partnership over the last several years, I’ve been continually impressed at the open-minded way in which LG has embraced the true spirit of collaboration,” said Alex Mihailidis, U of T’s associate vice-president of international partnerships.

“The projects have leveraged both technical know-how and deep subject matter expertise to truly take research beyond just the research lab.”

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U of T partners with Vale Energy Transition Metals to accelerate sustainable mining solutions

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 21:12:08 +0000

U of T partners with Vale Energy Transition Metals to accelerate sustainable mining solutions

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 03/09/2023 - 16:12

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Vale Energy Transition Metals Executive Vice-President Deshnee Naidoo and Chief Technical Officer Luke Mahony, left, pose for a photo with U of T's Alex Mihailidis and Rachel Wallace (photo by Alex Webster/Pinpoint Photography)

Tyler Irving

Topic

Mining

Sustainability

A new partnership between the ��߲ݴ�ý and Vale Energy Transition Metals will strengthen Canada’s position in the critical minerals sector by developing sustainable mining solutions, as well as fostering Canadian skills and talent.

The framework agreement was signed this week at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2023 Convention, held in Toronto. The partnership launches with an initial $1.6-million investment over the next three years and will include several multidisciplinary projects led by experts from both institutions.

“As our economy continues its transition toward carbon-free sources of energy, the supply of critical minerals – such as nickel and cobalt, among many others – will only become more important,” says Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives.

“Through this new partnership, we are keeping Canada at the forefront of innovation and further strengthening our position as a trusted global supplier of sustainably sourced critical minerals.”

Last year, the Government of Canada launched the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, which aims to increase the supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals and support the development of domestic and global value chains for the green and digital economy. The new partnership is a flagship example of how those aims can be realized.

“U of T has a long track record of excellence in mining and mineral processing technology, which has been foundational for developing new tools and technologies across the industry,” says Alex Mihailidis, U of T’s associate vice-president, international partnerships.

“Today, we are not only supporting Vale’s ambitions to be leaders in the critical minerals space but also strengthening Canada’s position as global sustainability leaders in key sectors like electric vehicles, power generation and energy storage. Canadian innovation is enhancing our capabilities across this entire value chain, and materials are a vital link.”  

One of the first projects to be funded under the partnership will look at new ways of processing low-grade nickel-containing ultramafic ores.

These ores are plentiful in Canada, including in the area of Thompson, Man., where Vale has significant operations. They represent a major potential new source of nickel, a critical component of lithium-ion batteries, but are difficult to process with existing techniques.

“These ores have a very high magnesium content, which interferes with the operation of conventional mineral processing and smelting techniques,” says Mansoor Barati, a professor in the department of materials science and engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

“In partnership with Vale Energy Transition Metals, my group plans to develop an alternative route for nickel recovery which does not require high-temperature smelting. This addresses the challenge posed by the magnesium, but it also lowers the overall energy footprint of the process and could virtually eliminate sulphur dioxide emissions as well.”

Vale Energy Transition Metals, headquartered in Toronto, is one of the world’s largest producers of responsibly sourced nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group metals. In Canada, the U.K., Brazil, Japan and Indonesia, Vale produces critical minerals that power electric vehicles, create renewable energy solutions and help develop life-saving medical equipment.

“This multiyear strategic partnership is an important catalyst to accelerate and expand our portfolio of decarbonization efforts and circular mining knowledge,” says Vale Energy Transition Metals Executive Vice President Deshnee Naidoo.

“For Vale, it means working in close co-operation with leading minds and researchers across a global network to drive innovation, expand the skills of our people and provide new ways to link to the communities where we operate.”

The partnership will extend beyond research to include experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

“Canada is poised to be a leader in the clean-energy transition – we have the capacity and the ambition,” says U of T Engineering's Rachel Wallace, an associate director, strategy and business development.

“This partnership is a first of its kind for the industry producing new technologies, novel knowledge discovery and a built-in pipeline to bring those insights to market. Most importantly for young people and Canada, it will create high-value, future-ready career paths, helping us foster a new generation of world-class talent.”

Learn more about industry partnerships at U of T

U of T collaborates with Naver, Wattpad on AI research

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 15:12:11 +0000

U of T collaborates with Naver, Wattpad on AI research

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 11/01/2022 - 11:12

Cutline

Namsun Kim, Naver's chief financial officer, and Alex Mihailidis, U of T's associate vice-president, international partnerships, recently met in South Korea to help launch a five-year research partnership (photo courtesy of Naver)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Artificial Intelligence

Computer Science

Faculty of Information

Global

South Korea

The ��߲ݴ�ý will work with South Korean technology company Naver Corp. – and its Toronto-based subsidiary Wattpad – on artificial intelligence research aimed at harnessing technology to empower human creativity.

Guided by a partnership framework agreement, Naver will collaborate with U of T on four research projects spanning subject areas ranging from human-computer interaction to natural language processing. Two of the projects will be carried out in partnership with Wattpad, a digital storytelling platform that was founded by U of T alumni and acquired by Naver in early 2021.

The five-year research partnership – which would train dozens of master’s, PhD and post-doctoral researchers – was recently announced following a visit by senior leaders from U of T’s Office of the Vice-President, International to South Korea.

“The partnership with Naver and Wattpad is a landmark corporate partnership,” said Alex Mihailidis, U of T’s associate vice-president, international partnerships. “It allows us to pair the support of a Toronto-based business in Wattpad with the global ambitions of their corporate parent, Naver, all while combining two of U of T’s greatest strengths in computing: artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction.

“This partnership is multi-disciplinary, multi-party and multi-year. It is a great testament to the power of comprehensive expertise – something that U of T is uniquely positioned to deliver.”

The project will see Naver, one of the largest companies in South Korea and a global powerhouse in AI research and development, provide funding for research projects led by Anastasia Kuzminykh and Tony Tang of the Faculty of Information, and Daniel Wigdor, Fanny Chevalier, Frank Rudzicz and Gerald Penn of the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

The projects will address one of the biggest challenges in the field: how to establish an effective human-computer conversation architecture and realize the AI’s power in writing and social reading technologies – all while ensuring that diversity and fairness are incorporated into AI text recommendations.

“AI is a powerful technology, but its true value is only realized when paired with world class human-computer interfaces,” said Jung-Woo Ha, head of Naver AI Lab. “We are excited to be working with some of the foremost experts in these topics through the partnership with U of T.”

From left: Namsun Kim, Suk-geun Chung, Jung-woo Ha, Sang-doo Yun, Young-ho Kim, Illan Kramer, Alex Mihailidis, Catherine Lee and Trevor Novak (photo courtesy of Naver)

The announcement comes on the heels of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s recent visit to U of T’s St. George campus, where he met with U of T President Meric Gertler and discussed the growth and applications of AI with leaders and luminaries in the field, including University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton.

The event included presentations on avenues for AI research and collaborations by South Korean tech companies, including Naver.

Kuzminykh says her research with Naver will examine how human perceptions of – and interactions with – conversational “agents” (like chatbots and virtual assistants) are affected by various aspects of “conversational architecture,” or the structure and flow of conversation.

“The lack of understanding of these effects, [which are] critical for informing the agent’s speech synthesis, leads to shortcomings in the current human-agent interaction design,” says Kuzminykh.

She noted current conversational user interfaces are dominated by transactional exchanges that convey information, rather than prolonged back-and-forth interactions. “If agents are truly to be communication partners to human users and to provide meaningful input, their operations should support extended conversations, augmenting transactional interactions with social ones used to establish and maintain social relationships,” Kuzminykh says.

Rudzicz, meanwhile, said his project with Wattpad will focus on disentangling linguistic information in modern language models so that the syntactic, semantic and rhetorical aspects of texts within neural networks are better understood.

“This will be applied to identify sources of bias in text and in the model, towards more fair machine learning,” he says.

Headquartered in Seongnam, a satellite city of South Korea’s capital Seoul, Naver boasts several companies and services including its eponymous search engine, the Line instant communications app, Naver Clova interactive AI engine and digital comics platform Webtoon.

In early 2021, Naver acquired Wattpad, founded by U of T alumni Allen Lau and Ivan Yuen, for $600 million US. At the time, Lau told U of T News that the opportunity to tap into Webtoon’s digital comics audience was a key driver behind the acquisition, which he said would help take Wattpad “to the next level.”

“We are very excited to partner closely with both U of T and Naver in developing research that will help us provide more innovative experiences to our users,” said Brendan Cone, Wattpad’s head of engineering. “Between Wattpad’s content platform, with millions of stories from diverse voices around the world, Naver’s impressive hyperscale AI technology, and U of T’s comprehensive AI expertise, we hope to help our users find and create more of the content they love.”

Patrycja Thompson, U of T’s partnerships officer and lead on the Naver relationship, said the collaboration between U of T and Naver will provide significant training opportunities for graduate and postdoctoral students.

“We hope that both Naver and Wattpad see this partnership as a launchpad to a long-term relationship with the university and will continue to leverage U of T innovations to further support their missions to empower human creativity.”

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U of T Engineering lab partners with Moderna to develop RNA-based tools to treat and prevent disease

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 18:31:32 +0000

U of T Engineering lab partners with Moderna to develop RNA-based tools to treat and prevent disease

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 10/21/2022 - 14:31

Cutline

Assistant Professor Omar F. Khan ( back row, second from left) and his lab team focus on diseases that are currently incurable and untreatable (photo by Safa Jinje)

Safa Jinje

Topic

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

A team of researchers at the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering has partnered with biotechnology company Moderna to develop next-generation RNA platform technologies.

This industry-university strategic research agreement is the first academic partnership under the collaborative partnership framework agreement between U of T and Moderna.

“We are making new kinds of nanotechnology and RNA to help prevent and cure diseases. Together, we’re driving new technological innovations to provide patients with even more options for highly efficacious RNA-based medicines,” says Omar F. Khan, an assistant professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering who is leading the U of T research team and holds the Canada Research Chair in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics.

“Moderna has an incredible track record of taking research from idea to clinic. This partnership is a great opportunity for us to reach our collective goal of efficiently engaging the body to treat and prevent diseases.”

As demonstrated by the success of its COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna is an established name in messenger RNA (mRNA) science. Now, Moderna and Khan’s lab group are leveraging fundamental knowledge of chemistry, engineering, biology and immunology to design new types of RNA and their safe, effective delivery to the body.

“We believe mRNA is a platform that could significantly improve the way treatments and vaccines are discovered, developed and produced,” says Shehzad Iqbal, country medical director at Moderna Canada.

“It’s critical for the next generation of mRNA medicine to be fully controllable – we need both the understanding and ability to optimize delivery systems and their payloads to maximize the benefits of mRNA medicine while minimizing unwanted side effects.”

Ribonucleic acid, commonly referred to as RNA, is a nucleic acid in the same chemical family as DNA and it is found naturally in the body. While DNA encodes all human genes, RNA is involved in the expression and regulation of those genes, including their translation into proteins. Certain viruses also use RNA as genomic material, including SARS-CoV-2.

Delivering customized RNA sequences into the body could offer a way to inhibit undesirable processes and stimulate beneficial ones. For example, researchers could use RNA constructs to block biochemical processes that enable cancer tumours to grow and metastasize, or to help the body’s immune system fight off infections.

RNA-based therapeutics have the potential to treat many diseases – from diabetes to cancer to musculoskeletal diseases – through targeted approaches that focus on the biochemical pathways those diseases exploit. RNA molecules could be used to combat genetic diseases, by either silencing some genes or enhancing the expression of others, all without genome editing or the use of small-molecule drugs.

Despite this potential, RNA is a comparatively fragile molecule. To do its job, it needs to be delivered in a package that protects the material from damage and preserves its potency as it is delivered and stored around the world. The packaging also enables cells to take up the RNA sequence and read its instructions.

The new partnership will design both those delivery vehicles, and the customized RNA sequences they will contain.

“On the nanotechnology side, we are working on delivery molecules,” says Khan. “On the RNA side, we are working with mRNA, which people are familiar with. We’re also going beyond mRNA to create new and advanced technology that can prevent and treat diseases.”

Khan brings an effective blend of academic and industry experience to the Moderna partnership. His research was recently supported by Medicine by Design’s Pivotal Experiment Fund – a program that backs a pre-clinical pipeline of regenerative medicine-based therapies that have a strong potential for clinical and/or commercial impact.

“The Khan lab has deep expertise in identifying ‘what comes next’ and Moderna brings significant manufacturing and development experience to help realize that next big thing Dr. Khan and his team are dreaming up,” says Iqbal.

“Working with Moderna, a leader in RNA medicine that has helped countless lives, is a wonderful opportunity for all my trainees,” adds Khan. “My team can showcase their innovative talent and work toward our mutual goal of using science and engineering to improve the health of people across the world. The global health impact is very tangible.”

“Together, we’re looking ahead, and we’re foreseeing the true value of nanotechnology and RNA in its many forms.”

Learn more about industry partnerships at U of T

U of T Entrepreneurship partners with Desjardins on startup prize

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:33:07 +0000

U of T Entrepreneurship partners with Desjardins on startup prize

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 10/19/2022 - 10:33

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(Photo by Luis Alvarez/Getty Images)

Alyson Bruce

Topic

Entrepreneurship Week

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Startups

One of the the biggest challenges for a student entrepreneur when building a company is capital – it costs money to develop a prototype, pay for professional services such as legal support and then market a product or services to customers.

Enter the Desjardins Startup Prize.

“This award will mean the ��߲ݴ�ý’s best and brightest innovators will be able to secure funding for their startup without giving up any equity in their business,” said Jon French, director, U of T Entrepreneurship (UTE). “More than $100,000 in non-dilutive prize money will be awarded.”

The competition is open to all teams with at least one full-time U of T student or recent grad and the prize will be awarded during Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from March 6 to March 10, 2023.

“Entrepreneurship Week is the university’s annual celebration of innovation, featuring events across the three campuses – and the perfect place for competitors to showcase their startups,” French said.

Finalists will be divided into early-stage and late-stage categories based on criteria including funding to date and current revenue. They will each have five minutes to pitch to a panel of investors, entrepreneurs and other business leaders before being asked questions in a format reminicent of CBC’s Dragons’ Den. The prize money will be divided between the two categories, with the top three finishers in the early-stage category sharing $30,000 and those in the late-stage category sharing $70,000.

“The engagement in entrepreneurial activity at U of T is increasing rapidly,” French said. “There are almost 500 teams annually that are building innovative solutions to the world’s problems and this support from Desjardins gives them the critical resources they need to grow and succeed.”

The Desjardins Startup Prize is part of a larger, three-year commitment as a lead partner for UTE that will also feature a financial literacy workshop for founders and the Desjardins Speaker Series – inspirational thought leadership events covering topics relevant to the UTE community.

“Entrepreneurs are vital to Canada’s socioeconomic development. They create jobs and new opportunities, they develop innovative solutions to our challenges while serving the needs of our communities,” said Guy Cormier, president and CEO of Desjardins Group.

“Supporting entrepreneurs means investing into the vitality of our communities. That’s why we’re so proud to partner with the ��߲ݴ�ý to support entrepreneurs and bring their dream one step closer to reality.”

Learn more about industry partnerships at U of T

Acceleration Consortium cements partnership with global technology leader Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 06 May 2022 20:30:09 +0000

Acceleration Consortium cements partnership with global technology leader Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 05/06/2022 - 16:30

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Researchers Emre Alca and Robert Pollice work in the laboratory of Alán Aspuru-Guzik, who is the director of the Acceleration Consortium at U of T (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Faculty of Arts & Science Staff

Topic

Acceleration Consortium

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Artificial Intelligence

Chemistry

Computer Science

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

As it builds a global community to accelerate the discovery of materials for a healthier, more sustainable future, the Acceleration Consortium at the ��߲ݴ�ý recently welcomed a visit from one of its new industry partners: Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

The collaboration aims to advance the emerging field of accelerated discovery using self-driving labs, which combine artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced computing to rapidly design new materials and molecules.

Self-driving labs can reduce the time and cost associated with bringing advanced materials to market from an average of 20 years and $100 million to as little as one year and $1 million.

“Advancements in how technology is developed through artificial intelligence will transform discovery of new molecules and materials for health care, life science and electronics,” said Laura Matz, chief science and technology officer at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, one of the world’s leading science and technology companies.

“To drive innovation in the field of artificial intelligence for R&D and robotic experimentation, we need joint efforts, and the Acceleration Consortium at the ��߲ݴ�ý is convening the best and brightest in the field to get this work done. If we are able to develop advanced materials significantly faster in the future, it will be a game changer in providing solutions for human progress.”

From left to right: Christine Allen, U of T’s associate vice-president and vice-provost, strategic initiatives; Laura Matz, chief science and technology officer at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany; and Alán Aspuru-Guzik, director of the Acceleration Consortium (photo by James Morley)

Workforce development is a critical element across many sectors, a demand that the Acceleration Consortium will help to address with the launch of a micro-credentials program in fall 2022. The program will upskill the existing workforce and train the next generation of scientists on the novel skills and tools needed to propel the field of accelerated discovery.

“The materials that will power our society in this century need to be circular economy-friendly, sustainable, inexpensive and high-performance,” said Alán Aspuru-Guzik, director of the Acceleration Consortium and a professor in the departments of chemistry and computer science in U of T’s Faculty of Arts & Science.

“To find these materials as quickly as possible, this work cannot just be done at a single lab, or a single university, and not just in universities or government labs, but together with leading industry partners like Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.”

Representatives of the Acceleration Consortium at U of T and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. From left to right: Illan Kramer, Sean Caffrey, Alex Mihailidis, Christine Allen, Laura Matz, Alán Aspuru-Guzik, Jacob Woodruff, Steven Johnston, Christopher Yip and Padraic Foley (photo by James Morley)

The Acceleration Consortium comprises nearly 100 researchers from U of T and over 40 other universities across the world; 20 partners from industry, government and the artificial intelligence community; and a growing network of 30 self-driving labs. As one of its anchor partners, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany will help to set the consortium’s short-, medium- and long-term fundamental and applied research priorities.

The consortium is driving the materials and molecular innovation needed to address some of the world’s major challenges, from pandemics and climate change to sustainable electronics technology and clean energy. By bringing together academia, government and industry partners, the Acceleration Consortium is building a community of experts, regulators, innovators, investors and end-users to expedite research translation and commercialization that is critical for a cleaner, richer and healthier world.

“The ��߲ݴ�ý’s Acceleration Consortium understands the value of bringing partners together across disciplines, sectors and geographies, an approach that first attracted Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a company with a long history of scientific exploration and entrepreneurship,” said Christine Allen, U of T’s associate vice-president and vice-provost, strategic initiatives.

“Collaboration is critical for innovation, especially when the work has the power to transform materials discovery and, in turn, improve our lives and our world for the better.”

Aspuru-Guzik believes that major industrial players across a diversity of sectors are a key component to scaling this work. Having partners commit to collaborating with each other on pre-competitive research and on an ongoing basis is an important piece of the consortium’s mandate.

“We are thrilled to embark on this journey of discovery together and are equally proud to know that Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany views the Acceleration Consortium as a bet worth going all in on from the start,” he said. “We look forward to changing the world, together.”

Housed at the Faculty of Arts & Science at U of T, the Acceleration Consortium is one of the University’s Institutional Strategic Initiatives. Learn more about how U of T partners with industry at the Blue Door.

U of T partners with Moderna to advance research in RNA science and technology

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 14:16:42 +0000

U of T partners with Moderna to advance research in RNA science and technology

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 04/07/2022 - 10:16

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From left to right: Illan Kramer, Akshita Vincent, Derek Newton, Leah Cowen, Andrea Carfi, Patricia Gauthier, Kavisha Jayasundara and Shehzad Iqbal (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Leah Cowen

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

The ��߲ݴ�ý and Moderna, Inc. – known for its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine – plan to work together to develop new tools to prevent and treat infectious diseases.

Guided by a partnership framework agreement, the U.S. biotechnology firm will collaborate with U of T researchers who are working across a wide range of fields, including molecular genetics, biomedical engineering, biochemistry and beyond.

The research partnership – Moderna’s first with a Canadian university – was announced Monday during a visit by company executives to U of T’s St. George campus.

Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, said U of T is excited to work alongside Moderna to protect society from current and future health threats.

“Today we are delighted to announce that Moderna is partnering with U of T, and is keen to do so because Moderna recognizes that there is nowhere else in the world where you can find expertise at scale like you can at U of T,” Cowen said during an executive meeting of Moderna and U of T leaders at Simcoe Hall.

“It’s not every day that an opportunity presents to combine a world class life-sciences research community and a disruptive biological innovator. We are proud to say that today is one such day.”

Cowen touted the diversity found at U of T – which reflects that of Toronto, the province and Canada as a whole – as a key strength of our research ecosystem.

“It is this diversity, across our country and across our three campuses, that can propel creative companies like Moderna to flourish,” Cowen said. “We are delighted to have Moderna immersing itself in this burgeoning ecosystem in the coming weeks, months and years.”

Founded in 2010, Moderna is pioneering a new category of medicines made from messenger RNA, or mRNA, which is used by cells to provide instructions to make the proteins that drive human health and treat and prevent disease. Its first commercial product was its COVID-19 vaccine.

Natasha Christie-Holmes, director of strategy and operations at U of T’s Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium, speaks with Moderna's Andrea Carfi and Patricia Gauthier at the C-CL3 facility (photo by Johnny Guatto)

The company’s research pipeline also includes development candidates for several other mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics – with several clinical trials and discovery programs already underway.

Patricia Gauthier, Moderna’s country general manager in Canada, said the firm is looking forward to tapping U of T’s interdisciplinary expertise to accelerate shared priorities in medical research.

“At Moderna, we have several different modalities that we’re working towards,” she said. “We’ve proven our approach works with infectious diseases, so there’s a really big focus on that – but I think we can also go way beyond.

“We look forward to working together and exploring how we can leverage the varied expertise and capabilities that exist at the ��߲ݴ�ý. We’re excited to share more about our research priorities going forward – and to hear your thoughts on how U of T investigators and teams from different disciplines can be pulled together to tackle complex problems and contribute to improving the lives of patients around the world.”

Omar Khan, an assistant professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, was among the university researchers who attended a Moderna presentation delivered by Andrea Carfi, the company’s chief scientific officer, infectious diseases. Khan, whose lab is creating new nanotechnologies to control and deliver nucleic acids, will lead a team that plans on working with Moderna to develop next-generation vaccine platforms.

“The pandemic has showed us how innovation in the nucleic acid delivery space can result in great things,” said Khan, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics.

“There are still so many opportunities to create technologies that protect people from other diseases.”

Moderna’s delegation took a tour of the Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories and the Combined Containment Level 3 (C-CL3) facility, which conducts critical research on infectious diseases including COVID-19. Located on the St. George campus, the C-CL3 facility is the only lab in the Greater Toronto Area that is equipped for safe and secure research on Risk Group 3 pathogens and is therefore a crucial component of the country’s capacity to develop therapies and cell biologics related to infectious diseases.

“Our facility is equipped for the study of replication and infection by Risk Group 3 pathogens, whether bacterial, viral or fungal,” said Scott Gray-Owen, the lab’s director. “Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked closely with researchers from across campus and at our partner hospitals to develop approaches to study the SARS-CoV-2 virus, supporting work by government agencies, industry and universities across Canada – and training dozens of researchers along the way.”

Gray-Owen, a professor in the department of molecular genetics in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, noted that C-CL3 is one of the pillars of U of T’s Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC), which aims to connect researchers from U of T and its partner hospitals with industry and government agencies in a manner that strengthens Canada’s capacity to respond to infectious diseases.

“Moderna is a partner that we’re very excited to facilitate these interactions with – and we’re delighted to be able to introduce them to our facilities and the many talented researchers who work here,” Gray-Owen said.

EPIC is one of several U of T Institutional Strategic Initiatives that is tackling problems pertinent to the life sciences. Others include Medicine by Design, which is advancing discoveries in regenerative medicine, and the Acceleration Consortium, which is accelerating discovery of advanced materials and small molecules.

U of T is also home to the Institute for Pandemics, the world’s first academic centre dedicated to pandemic readiness, resilience and recovery.

Learn more about industry partnerships at U of T

Bioinnovation partnership: U of T Engineering and Ford Canada introduce new, sustainable automotive material

lanthierj — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:17:30 +0000

Bioinnovation partnership: U of T Engineering and Ford Canada introduce new, sustainable automotive material

lanthierj Fri, 01/07/2022 - 11:17

Cutline

“If we want to reach carbon neutrality, we have to find ways to have more energy-efficient processes that use fewer materials and fewer resources with enhanced functionality,“ says Professor Mohini Sain (Photo by ��߲ݴ�ý)

Safa Jinje

Topic

Breaking Research

Bioinnovation

Collaboration

Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Sustainability

A collaboration between ��߲ݴ�ý researchers and Ford Canada, led by the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering’s Professor Mohini Sain, has produced a new, sustainably-sourced, production-ready engine component for high-performance vehicles.

The Carbon Fibre-Composite 5.0L Engine Timing Cover reduces emissions by displacing fossil fuel-derived plastics with renewable alternatives that can be recycled and by decreasing vehicle weight, leading to improved fuel efficiency.

Five years in the making, the new part was developed through a partnership between Sain’s lab group and Ford Canada’s Powertrain Research and Development Centre (PERDC), led by Dr. Jimi Tjong, the technical lead at its Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ont., which is equipped with more than 20 design and process engineers.

The partnership was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence.

“My goal is to not only do research; I want to be involved in the process from research to commercialization,” says Sain, a professor of mechanical and industrial engineering. “Our research group starts with the fundamental research and then we translate it into practice, going from concept to production-ready products.

“We constantly consult with our industry experts to bring synergy in our design engineering to develop optimal cost/performance balance. Pricing is a key factor in driving our innovation.”

The director of U of T Engineering’s Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing, Sain is a leading researcher in advanced low-carbon materials and sustainable bio-manufacturing.

The Carbon Fibre-Composite 5.0L Engine Timing Cover introduces a new sustainable material into the automotive industry. (Photo: Dr. Jimi Tjong/Ford Canada)

He has a track record of working with industry partners to create low-carbon, carbon-neutral, or carbon-negative products and advanced manufacturing processes that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sain previously commercialized bio-composites designed to be used in the interior of Ford vehicles. But focusing on the structure and the powertrain elements have a greater potential impact because these parts are among the heaviest components of a vehicle.

Engine timing covers, which are typically made of metals like aluminum or fossil-fuel-derived plastic, protect the timing components inside a vehicle’s engine.

By contrast, the material that Sain and his team created is a novel, multi-functional composite that combines engineered carbon material from sustainable sources with recycled carbon fibre that has a tunable carbon structure and interfacial chemistry, and engineered polyamides.

Simply making a “greener” engine component is not enough to bring about a change in the industry, says Sain. The new material must perform as well or better than what it is replacing.

“One of the challenges for us was competing with metal in terms of strain, structure, crashworthiness, esthetics and long-term stability. And metal is also very heavy,” he says.

“We also wanted to build a circular carbon economy so that the material we make from sustainable sources can be recycled at the end of its life.”

Sain and his team spent years collaborating with Tjong and the researchers at Ford to perfect the mechanical characterization and composite rheology of the new component. They also collaborated on developing the processes by which it is made.

“Since it’s a new material and new design, we were involved with designing the mould and the manufacturing process,” Sain says. “At each stage of development, we had to work closely with the Ford team on specifications to get the product to the marketplace.”

The final design not only introduces a new sustainable material into the automotive industry, but it is also seven pounds lighter than previous models, while providing a sleek appearance and functionality critical for reducing emissions and increasing the performance advantage for racing vehicles.

Ford’s Carbon Fibre-Composite 5.0L Engine Timing Cover featured at the 2021 SEMA New Product Showcase in Las Vegas this past November and was recognized by its Global Media Awards, which are chosen by the automotive industry’s top publications.

Sain hopes that the new timing cover can serve as a proof-of-concept that will enable further expansion of low carbon composites in electric vehicles.

“The larger benefit of this new material and manufacturing process is its application in lightweight structural battery pack and fuel cell packs, with added functionality such as electromagnetic interference shielding,” he says.

“If we want to reach carbon neutrality, we have to find ways to have more energy-efficient processes that use fewer materials and fewer resources with enhanced functionality. There are tremendous opportunities for transformative change.”

Learn more about industry partnerships at U of T

U of T and Merck Canada partner to advance and share vaccine knowledge and research

lanthierj — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 20:18:33 +0000

U of T and Merck Canada partner to advance and share vaccine knowledge and research

lanthierj Tue, 04/27/2021 - 16:18

Cutline

A $3-million contribution from Merck Canada Inc. to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health’s Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases reinforces U of T’s role as a leader in the advancement of immunization and vaccine science (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Meric Gertler