Research news

Learn more about the latest discoveries and innovations from the U of T Engineering community. Our researchers are developing new ways of capturing and storing clean energy, medical devices that can save and extend lives, smarter ways to design and build cities and much more.

Senior Research Associate Peter Stogios (ChemE) is producing and analyzing viral proteins as part of the Toronto Open Access COVID-19 Protein Manufacturing Centre. (Photo Nick Iwanyshyn)

A U of T Engineering team is manufacturing coronavirus ‘parts’ for COVID-19 research

The newly launched COVID-19 Protein Manufacturing Centre at U of T will distribute virus proteins to the science community free of cost

Professor Timothy Chan (MIE) is collaborating with the University Health Network to launch Redeploy, an optimization tool to improve hospital staffing during the pandemic. (Photo: Pam Walls)

U of T Engineering team develops redeployment tool to optimize hospital staffing amid COVID-19

Team hopes pilot test leads to integration in hospital pandemic planning, future use in care homes

The team developing a more sensitive test for COVID-19 (Photo: Alexandros Sklavounos).

Meet the U of T Engineering team developing an on-the-go test for COVID-19

Professor Warren Chan’s lab are working on a rapid, sensitive testing kit that could be rolled out across under-resourced communities

Fourth-year engineering students Kejdi Kola (back left), Calvin Rieder (back middle) and Anton Meier (back right) met with community members in Las Arrugas, Guatemala to design a water purification system for the community. (Photo courtesy Kejdi Kola)

Clean water for Las Arrugas: U of T Engineering team designs water filters for Guatemalan community

Project supported by CGEN aims to overcome challenges associated with intermittent and contaminated water supply

A research team led by Professor Willy Wong (ECE, IBBME) developed a quick solution for monitoring patients’ respiratory status using small but powerful single-board Raspberry Pi printed circuit boards. (Photo: Harrison Broadbent via Unsplash)

U of T Engineering team programs single-board computers to remotely monitor COVID-19 patients and protect health care workers

Solution developed by Professor Willy Wong (ECE, IBBME) and his team also helps preserve precious supplies of personal protective equipment for front-line workers

Dubbed the Buddy Badge, the wearable device acts as a transponder, using a system of sensors connected to hand-washing stations, doorways, and critical routes to patient rooms. (Photo by Christine Sandu on Unsplash)

U of T startup’s wearable tech encourages hand hygiene to prevent the spread of COVID-19

As COVID-19 cases increases the workload for health-care professionals, an IBBME researcher has developed Buddy Badge to remind frontline workers throughout the day of opportunities to wash their hands

Milica Radisic (ChemE, IBBME) is working with Axel Guenther and Edmond Young (both MIE) to create tiny models of the nose, mouth, eyes and lungs to better understand how COVID-19 infects organs. (Credit: Neil Ta)

How does COVID-19 invade our bodies so easily? U of T Engineering team uses ‘organ-on-a-chip’ model to find out

To develop COVID-19 vaccine and antiviral drugs, researchers first need to understand why this virus spreads so easily and quickly

jeff siegel

Air filtration and COVID-19: Indoor air quality expert explains how to keep you and your building safe

Professor Jeffrey Siegel on the role of indoor air-filtration systems in protecting from the virus

Professor Dionne Aleman’s (MIE) research uses agent-based data to simulate a pandemic outbreak in urban areas. (Photo: Clay Banks / Unsplash)

COVID-19 and the ‘what if machine’: How simulations and models help predict pandemic spread

Professor Dionne Aleman (MIE) explains pandemic models, ‘flattening the curve,’ and how they inform emergency preparedness