Bridging Academia and Industry: Mitacs funding fuels collaborative biomedical research between Lassonde and Scanbo Technologies

In support of cutting-edge biomedical research, Razieh (Neda) Salahandish, 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 is tailored to enrich the academic journey of students, providing them with invaluable hands-on experience through real-world projects. The Mitacs Accelerate program also fosters collaboration with industry organizations, empowering students to build vital connections and professional skills.

Professor Salahandish’s funded projects 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 AI-driven medical diagnostics, 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 Professor 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, Professor Salahandish’s postdoctoral fellow, Dr. 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 measurement of these hormones is not only critical for healthcare applications but also ethical practices in 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 employ a quantitative lateral flow assay 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.

Through the Mitacs Accelerate program, students will immerse themselves in transformative, industry-driven research experiences, gaining invaluable exposure to novel technologies and skill-building opportunities. This unique blend of theory and practice will elevate their educational experience, preparing them for impactful careers in biomedical engineering and related fields.

The collaboration between Professor Salahandish, her students and Scanbo Technologies represents an exciting leap forward in biomedical innovation, with the potential to make a significant impact on fields beyond healthcare. These joint projects promise to empower the next generation of researchers and drive meaningful change.