Innovation /research/taxonomy/term/448/all en Extracellular vesicles: the body’s ‘postal system’ /research/article/extracellular-vesicles-bodys-postal-system <p>The COVID-19 pandemic made mRNA a household term, but how much do people really know about these multifunctional molecules? Some people may also have heard of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) which play a key role in protecting the mRNA and helping it get into the right cell making sure mRNA vaccines are safe and effective. But probably few non-scientists have heard of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs).</p> Fri, 15 Sep 2023 17:56:31 +0000 Charlotte Bawol, Ms. and Junji Nishihata, Mr. 1027 at /research Third Call for I+P Partnership Program /research/article/third-call-ip-partnership-program <p>The Office of Innovation and Partnerships (I+P) is launching its third call of the I+P Partnership Program for 2022 to encourage collaborations and implement the diffusion of innovation between SM research teams and Quebec-based companies for research in all disciplines. This program is supported by Quebec’s <em>Ministère de l’Éducation and the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur</em>.</p> Fri, 06 Jan 2023 04:24:27 +0000 Junji Nishihata 777 at /research Breaking down the silos: app puts data in the hands of patients /research/article/breaking-down-silos-app-puts-data-hands-patients <p>In case you missed the memo, modern life is awash in data. Indeed, if you were to print the amount generated each day (estimated to be 2.5 exabytes) in book form and stack them up, you could reach the moon – twice! Information overload – predicted as long ago as 1755 by <a href="https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=2481">Denis Diderot</a> – is more than a phrase, it’s a societal condition.</p> Fri, 06 Jan 2023 04:22:48 +0000 Junji Nishihata 776 at /research Made in Quebec: The Sky is the Limit for Nanocrystals /research/article/made-quebec-sky-limit-nanocrystals <p>“It’s like a Saturn V rocket, except it’s upside down.” Howard Fields is excited, and with good reason: things at <a href="http://anomera.ca">Anomera </a>are poised to takeoff, and in a big way.</p> <p>Anomera, for the uninitiated, is a small company based in Montreal with locations in Mississauga, Ontario and Témiscaming, Quebec. Anomera specializes in nanoparticles, specifically, carboxylated nanocrystalline cellulose, or CNCs for short. And while the company may be small, and the particles they sell much, much smaller, they are on the verge of big things. Very big things.</p> Wed, 04 Jan 2023 23:01:18 +0000 Junji Nishihata 769 at /research Students boost community business in social innovation competition /research/article/students-boost-community-business-social-innovation-competition <p>‘Support local business,’ is a slogan that has been bandied about since time immemorial. But the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic have made that simple statement particularly difficult to implement. Our online lifestyle has also added a level of complexity to the challenge of promoting small business; although social media channels offer tremendous leverage, they are also very crowded. What is an independent business owner to do?</p> Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:58:40 +0000 Junji Nishihata 768 at /research Pioneering research suggests feasibility of cheaper, more powerful batteries /research/article/pioneering-research-suggests-feasibility-cheaper-more-powerful-batteries <p>As the world pivots <i>en masse</i> to renewed commitments to reducing greenhouse gases and harmful emissions, the demand for high-performance, inexpensive batteries will continue to grow. But the current industry-standard lithium-ion battery presents numerous technical constraints that limit its effectiveness and sustainability.</p> Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:55:43 +0000 Junji Nishihata 767 at /research Made in Quebec: Moneyball in Montreal /research/article/made-quebec-moneyball-montreal <p>In 1999, at the tender age of 18, Craig Buntin boarded an airplane in Kelowna, BC. His destination: Montreal. His purpose: to find the necessary coaching that would help him reach his dream of going to the Olympic games as a figure skater. He had a one-way ticket, and enough savings to keep him going for a couple of months. If it didn’t pan out, he would be hitching a ride home.</p> Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:43:07 +0000 Junji Nishihata 765 at /research UPDATED: I+P Partnership Program /research/article/ip-partnership-program <p><em>Important: the deadline for this program is approaching. To qualify for funding, all applications must be submitted by <strong>Monday, May 3rd at 10:00 AM.</strong></em></p> <p>The Office of Innovation and Partnerships (I+P) is launching its second call of the I+P Partnership Program for 2021-2022 to encourage collaborations and implement the diffusion of innovation between SM research teams and Québec based companies for research in all disciplines. This program is supported by <i>Québec’s Ministère de l’Éducation and the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur</i>.</p> Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:40:20 +0000 amanda.testani@mcgill.ca 764 at /research Alliance grant for SM Professor and Canadian fusion energy company /research/article/alliance-grant-mcgill-professor-and-canadian-fusion-energy-company <p>SM and General Fusion announced today that they have received a NSERC Alliance Grant for the study and mitigation of hydrodynamic instabilities in magnetized target fusion. The grant is worth $240,000 with General Fusion contributing an additional $120,000 over three years. The partnership builds off 10 years of collaboration between the organizations in the quest to advance fusion energy.</p> Wed, 04 Jan 2023 22:38:09 +0000 Junji Nishihata 763 at /research Cellulose nanocrystals? It’s not pulp fiction /research/article/cellulose-nanocrystals-its-not-pulp-fiction <p>Wood chips, it must be admitted, are not the most glamorous material around. Scattered in gardens or lining the cages of household pets, it is a commodity that attracts little attention. Luckily, a team of researchers in SM’s Department of Chemistry developed a method to create carboxylated crystalline nano-cellulose using this often-ignored by-product of the pulp and paper industry. This super material has the potential to dramatically alter not just one, but multiple industries.</p> Thu, 22 Dec 2022 22:57:20 +0000 Junji Nishihata 748 at /research Calling all inventors: Read this first! /research/article/calling-all-inventors-read-first <p>“Build a better mousetrap,” goes the old adage, “and the world will beat a path to your door.” If only that were true. But, the reality of inventing a product or a process – and successfully commercializing it – is much different. Indeed, this old saying should probably go down as some of the worst business advice in history.</p> Thu, 22 Dec 2022 22:50:12 +0000 Junji Nishihata 745 at /research UPDATED: nplex-SM partnership selected by CQDM for a $1M grant to apply next-generation ELISA in drug discovery /research/article/nplex-mcgill-partnership-selected-cqdm-1m-grant-apply-next-generation-elisa-drug-discovery <p> </p> <p><em>UPDATE: nplex biosciences has been renamed to Nomic. Check out their new website at: <a href="http://nomic.bio">nomic.bio</a></em></p> Thu, 22 Dec 2022 22:35:01 +0000 Junji Nishihata 742 at /research