Researchers from the University of Toronto have unveiled a new technological breakthrough that promises to transform early childhood music education. The study addresses a critical gap in musical instrument classification, particularly concerning non-pitched percussion instruments. The findings are published in a recent issue of PLOS one. While pitched instrument classification has been extensively studied, non-pitched percussion instruments such as tambourines, maracas, and castanets present unique challenges due to overlaps in frequency bands and variations in sound quality and play style ..read more

Professor Omar F. Khan has been awarded the prestigious McCharles Prize for Early Career Research Distinction for his contributions to the fields of biomedical and immune engineering.  Joined the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the University of Toronto in 2020, Prof. Khan has demonstrated exceptional research achievements throughout his career. His pioneering work in RNA nanotechnologies for disease treatment and overcoming bioengineering challenges has revolutionized the field, showcasing his innovative approach and commitment to scientific advancement.   Among hi ..read more

Professor Warren Chan, a world-renowned expert in nanobiotechnology, has been recruited as the next Dean of the College of Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. Professor Chan will oversee one of the largest Engineering schools in the world with over 14,000 students and has been ranked among the top 15 Engineering schools in the world according to QS World University Rankings.  He will provide leadership for the strategic, academic, intellectual, and administrative endeavours at NTU. Currently a distinguished ..read more

The latest research published in a peer-reviewed article showcases a pioneering approach to gait analysis, a crucial aspect of rehabilitation and clinical diagnosis. Clinicians have long relied on gait indicators like step length, stride velocity, and joint angles to assess and treat gait issues. However, traditional statistical methods have limitations in analyzing the vast sets of data generated by instrumented gait analysis techniques. This finding was published in the journal PLOS one. The study, led by Professor Jan Andrysek and ..read more

Wellspring Data Limited, a pioneering Software as a Service (SaaS) startup specializing in cardiac health management in incubation at Empowered Startups, announces a strategic partnership with the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME). This collaboration aims to revolutionize cardiovascular health monitoring through cutting-edge research and innovative technology solutions. This a critical issue for Canadians, as cardiac (or heart) disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada and 1 in 12 (or 2.6 million) Canadian adults age ..read more

Joseph Sebastian, a BME PhD student at Professor Craig Simmons’ lab, has recently been awarded the University of Toronto Student Leadership Award (UTSLA).  The UTSLA continues the tradition of the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award, recognizing outstanding student leadership and volunteer service at U of T. Recipients of the UTSLA join the esteemed community of past Cressy Award recipients in being recognized for their impactful leadership and volunteerism at the University of Toronto.  Sebastian is one of the 18 Faculty ..read more

In a recent study, a research team led by Dr. Freeman Lan has developed a method for single-cell genetic profiling of microbes. The findings, published in Nature Methods, introduce a robust and easily adaptable droplet microfluidics workflow named DoTA-seq (Droplet Microfluidics for Targeted Amplification Sequencing), providing a scalable solution for studying single-cell heterogeneity in microbial populations.  Single-cell genetic heterogeneity is a pervasive phenomenon in bacteria, influencing critical processes such as evolution, antimicrobial resistance, host colonization, and pathoge ..read more

Dr. Aaron Wheeler has recently been honoured with the Ricardo Aroca Award. This esteemed award is bestowed upon a scientist residing in Canada who has made outstanding contributions to the realm of analytical chemistry while actively engaged in research within the country (https://www.cheminst.ca/awards/csc/arcoca/).  At the University of Toronto, Dr. Wheeler leads the Wheeler research group, which focuses on advancing lab-on-a-chip techniques to address challenges in chemistry, biology, and medicine. Leveraging an array of tools such as microfabrication, fluorescence microscopy, chemical ..read more

Researchers at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering have successfully utilized an artificial intelligence (AI) framework to redesign a crucial protein involved in the delivery of gene therapy. Led by Dr. Michael Garton, this study focuses on optimizing proteins to mitigate immune responses, therefore improving the efficacy of gene therapy and reducing side effects.  This research was published in the recent issue of Nature Machine Intelligence.  “Gene therapy holds immense promise, but the body’s pre-existing immune ..read more

Dr. Milica Radisic has been elected as a 2023 Fellow of US National Academy of Inventors (NAI), this achievement underscores her exceptional contributions to advancing research and positively impacting real-world applications.  The NAI Fellows Program honours the outstanding achievements of academic inventors who, through interdisciplinary collaboration, dedication, and innovation, have successfully translated their research into tangible commercial technologies that significantly enhance society. Being selected as an NAI Fellow represents the pinnacle of professional recognition for acad ..read more