Ten leading U of T researchers recognized with Connaught Innovation Awards

Ten University of Toronto researchers are receiving Connaught Innovation Awards to help them accelerate the development and commercialization of their promising technologies.

The winning projects were selected for their strong socio-economic and commercial potential and are expected to make a positive impact on society. 

“One hundred years ago the world-changing discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto sparked a century of health innovation and advances by U of T researchers,” said University Professor Ted Sargent, U of T's vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “That legacy continues through programs such as the Connaught Innovation Awards – and the transformative research these fund today.

“From medical devices that allow us to better study the gut microbiome, to advances in sustainability that will make our planet a healthier place to live, this year’s winners are making important contributions locally and globally through their research – and I look forward to seeing the impact of their work.”

The winners are:

• Mansoor Barati of the department of materials science and engineering: Process Scale-up for a Novel Method of Nickel Extraction
• Eric Diller of  the department of mechanical and industrial engineering: Non-invasive Sampling in the Gut using a Magnetic Capsule
• Levente Diosady of the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry: Iron Fortification of Tea Beverages
• Roman Genov of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering: Energy-Efficient Coded-Exposure-Pixel Cameras for Accurate Imaging without Motion Artifacts
• Patrick Gunning of the department of chemical and physical sciences: Picomolar HDAC6 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Hematological Malignancies
• Emma Master of the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry: 2-ZYME: Two-Step Biocatalytic Conversion for Underused Biorefinery Side-Streams to Glucaric Acid
• Prasanth Nair of the Institute for Aerospace Studies: Computational Framework for Fast Uncertainty Quantification and Decision Analytics
• Taufik Valiante of the department of surgery: Implantable Neuromodulation Device for Comparative Medicine in Canine and Human Epilepsy
• Yu Sun of the department of mechanical and industrial engineering: Development of an Automated System for Blastocyst Biopsy with Minimal Invasiveness in IVF Clinics
• Xiao Yu (Shirley) Wu of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy: Development of a Nanotechnology-based Platform for the Central Nervous System (CNS) Diseases