In support of cutting-edge biomedical research and student development, Razieh (Neda) Salahandish, an assistant professor in the Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Department at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, has secured funding through the Mitacs Accelerate program.
This dynamic program connects organizations with research talent to help solve business challenges and achieve innovation goals. It is tailored to enrich the academic journey of students, providing them with invaluable hands-on experience through real-world projects. The collaboration with industry organizations empowers students to build vital connections and professional skills.
Salahandish’s projects being funded through this program align closely with her laboratory’s mission to develop and optimize cutting-edge biomedical devices for disease diagnostics and improved patient outcomes. Each project will be conducted in collaboration with Scanbo Technologies, a leader in medical diagnostics driven by artificial intelligence (AI), making this a powerful intersection of academia and industry.
“Securing this Mitacs Accelerate funding is a pivotal step for our lab, Lab-HA, as it allows us to bridge the gap between academic innovation and industry needs,” says Salahandish. “This industry partnership not only provides invaluable, hands-on experiences for our students but also accelerates our mission to create advanced diagnostic tools that can truly impact patient care. We’re excited to see these projects drive tangible progress in biomedical device development.”
Both projects focus on supporting Scanbo Technologies in addressing the growing demand for at-home health monitoring systems. The company has already made strides by developing AI-enabled kits capable of tracking crucial biological metrics such as glucose levels, blood pressure and core body temperature.
With support from the Mitacs Accelerate program, Salahandish’s team – made up of postdoctoral fellow Fatemeh Rahimi, graduate students Alireza Norouziazad and Elnaz Haghani, and undergraduate students Farzin Deljoo, Parham Shahbeiki and Abed Matinpour – will help design and fabricate AI-assisted diagnostic devices. These devices will allow for the measurement of additional vital markers, including total hemoglobin, glycated hemoglobin and low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein ratio. Monitoring these indicators is crucial for managing various diseases such as diabetes, improving treatment outcomes, assessing disease risk and understanding disease progression.
These projects also open up an exciting opportunity for students to engage in groundbreaking research aimed at developing a cost- and time-effective method for measuring sex hormone concentrations – particularly testosterone and progesterone – in blood samples. Accurate measurements of these hormones is not only critical for health-care applications but also for ethical practices in the sport and agriculture sectors. For example, determining hormone levels in livestock can highlight issues of unethical treatment, while testing athletes can ensure compliance with regulations, especially concerning female athletes.
The proposed method will use a quantitative lateral flow testing strip featuring advanced sensing mechanisms that allow for the detection of both testosterone and progesterone. This solution promises enhanced sensitivity, accuracy and selectivity compared to existing methods, while also ensuring ease of use and portability.
The collaboration between Salahandish, her students and Scanbo Technologies represents a leap forward in biomedical innovation, with the potential to make a significant impact on fields beyond health care. These joint projects promise to empower the next generation of researchers and drive meaningful change.