Hamilton’s winning ideas to address COVID-19

While research dollars are scarce, three McMaster University projects win private grants

Three Hamilton research projects have been awarded private funding for bringing forward the most innovative ideas to address challenges of COVID-19.

At a time when research dollars are scarce — especially private grants — more than 840 submissions from across Canada were received since March 27 by biotech and pharmaceutical company Roche Canada for its COVID-19 challenge.

The three McMaster University solutions were among 11 winners announced Tuesday, sharing $900,000 in funding.

“Healthcare systems have been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a variety of issues and problems affecting the daily lives of Canadians,” states Roche.

The first Hamilton project aims to help cities as they decide when and how to reopen municipal facilities, schools and parks as well as operate transit systems during COVID-19.

Lead researcher Wael El-Dakhakhni proposes using techniques in network science, machine learning and systems analysis to create the CityDNA model to help leaders make tough decisions during COVID-19

and future pandemics.

“This project intends to provide innovative solutions to mitigate the risk of lasting economic and social damages caused by COVID-19 in cities across Canada,” states the description.

The next solution imagines a diagnostic test that can help predict the course of the virus and what health care the infected person will need. Led by Jeremy Hirota, the project sets out to understand immune response to forecast outcomes.

The third project seeks to reduce hospital admissions after surgery by using virtual care and remote automated monitoring technology.

“To confront the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals need to maximize bed availability and minimize emergency department visits for non-COVID-19 reasons,” states the description.

“Hospitals also have an obligation to treat non-COVID-19 patients with urgent conditions. Hospitals are continuing to provide surgery to patients for nonelective indications, and post discharge, these patients are at high risk of needing acute-hospital care.”

The last project is led by Dr. P.J. Devereaux at the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster and Hamilton Health Sciences. It also involves St. Joseph’s Healthcare and other Ontario hospitals.