Katherine Fernandez-Blance

More than 18,500 students – Canada’s next generation of leaders – are preparing to graduate this year from the 91�Թ�, the country’s top internationally ranked university.

Of the Class of 2018, more than 14,200 students from all three campuses – downtown Toronto, 91�Թ� Scarborough and 91�Թ� Mississauga – will take part in spring convocation, with almost 12,000 attending the 29 ceremonies that run from June 7 to June 21.

The graduating students will be supported by more than 34,000 family and friends who have ordered tickets to watch their loved ones cross the stage and receive their diplomas at Convocation Hall.

91�Թ� to confer honorary degrees on 15 Canadian and global leaders

Romi Levine — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 14:00:06 +0000

91�Թ� to confer honorary degrees on 15 Canadian and global leaders

Romi Levine Thu, 02/15/2018 - 09:00

Cutline

Beverly "Buffy" Sainte-Marie at the 2016 Juno Awards in Calgary (photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images)

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Topic

Global Lens

Alumni

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Global

Honorary Degree

Indigenous

The 91�Թ� will recognize 15 outstanding individuals with honorary degrees this year – from prominent philanthropists and financial leaders to a NASA engineer, a U.S. Supreme Court justice, a prolific poet laureate – and one of Canada’s most-loved artists.

The list of recipients includes multifaceted artist Buffy Sainte-Marie, Indigenous youth champion Cindy Blackstock, parliamentarian William (Bill) C. Graham, long-time university volunteer George Myhal, and innovation and entrepreneurship leader Ilse Treurnicht. They will receive their degrees at a convocation ceremony this spring or fall and address a graduating class.

“These remarkable leaders have made exceptional contributions to our university, our country and our world,” President Meric Gertler said. “They are an inspiration to the 91�Թ� community, and we are very proud to be celebrating their achievements with the university’s highest honour.”

The list of honorary degree recipients approved by 91�Թ�’s Governing Council for 2018 is below:

Dominic Barton – A trusted adviser to governments in Canada and abroad, Barton has spent his career urging private and public sector leaders to strategize for the greater good, in areas such as climate change, water governance and debt crises. He is the global managing partner at McKinsey & Company and was recently appointed by Canada's minister of finance as chair of the Advisory Council on Economic Growth.

Cindy Blackstock – A champion for the rights of Canada’s Indigenous youth, Blackstock has advocated on behalf of Indigenous children on reserves to ensure they receive the same benefits as other youth in Canada. Blackstock, who earned her PhD in social work at 91�Թ�, has been an adviser to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Dionne Brand – Considered one of Canada’s most accomplished poetic and literary voices, Brand has dedicated her career to writing about Canada’s relationship with gender, race and immigration. She was named Toronto’s poet laureate in 2009 and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017 for her contributions to Canadian literature and poetry, and for raising awareness of issues related to gender, race and intercultural experiences. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree from 91�Թ�.

Janis Chodas – An advocate for gender equality in engineering, Chodas has been recognized extensively for her contributions to NASA’s space program. As an engineer and leader at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), she led the development of attitude control subsystems in two missions that revolutionized our understanding of Saturn and Jupiter. She was recently appointed director for the JPL Engineering and Science Directorate and remains a sought-after industry mentor. She is an alumna of 91�Թ�, where she earned a bachelor of applied science degree in engineering science and a master’s of applied science in aerospace engineering and spacecraft dynamics and control.

Dr. Michael Dan – As a physician, researcher and entrepreneur, Dan has committed his career to the issues of health, homelessness, human rights and the advancement of Indigenous communities in Canada and beyond. Dan, who received his medical degree at 91�Թ�, has a long record of philanthropic generosity to support medical teaching and health research at the university. And in 2014, he and his wife, alumna Amira Dan, made a major gift in support of the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at 91�Թ�’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, the world’s first privately endowed research institute for the health of Indigenous peoples.

William (Bill) Downe – A leading advocate for gender equality in business, Downe has championed diversity and inclusion within Canada’s corporations. He was appointed CEO at the Bank of Montreal in 2007 and served until 2017, and he remains a prominent global leader within finance, while also dedicating much of his efforts to advancing education and supporting Toronto’s most vulnerable communities. He is a Member of the Order of Canada.

William (Bill) C. Graham – Graham has served as member of Parliament for Toronto Centre-Rosedale and as Canada’s minister of foreign affairs and minister of defence. In 2016, he was appointed to the federal government's Ministerial Advisory Panel on Canada’s Defence Policy Review as one of four “eminent Canadians with expertise in defence, security, foreign affairs, and legal matters.” Graham received his bachelor's degree and law degree from 91�Թ� and currently serves as the chancellor of Trinity College at the 91�Թ�.

Elena Kagan – A lawyer, scholar and current justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Kagan is also the first woman to serve as both dean of Harvard Law School and U.S. solicitor general. She is highly regarded as one of the great writers of the legal profession and as a transformative academic leader.

Geoffrey Matus – An investment and real estate expert, Matus has an extraordinary record of service as a volunteer at the 91�Թ�. Matus has provided critical advice and guidance on matters pertaining to investment, real estate and the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. He served on the University’s Governing Council and is currently serving as co-chair of the university's Investment Committee.

George Myhal – For more than 40 years, Myhal has distinguished himself through his leadership in the asset management business and his extraordinary community service. In addition to his 34 years at Brookfield Asset Management, he has served on the university’s Governing Council and the dean’s advisory board of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. His support for the Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship was pivotal to that project’s ultimate success. He is an alumnus of 91�Թ�'s industrial engineering program and was named a Member of the Order of Canada last year.

Richard Nunn – As a long-time volunteer and advocate, Nunn has made a lasting impact on the university through his service on the university’s Governing Council. Elected as its chair in 2011, he shaped the current governance structures, laying the groundwork to ensure the university’s success well into the 21st century. He has also served as chair of the Oakville Hospital Finance Committee and is chair and treasurer of the Halton Healthcare Board’s finance and audit committee.

Loretta Rogers – Rogers is one of Canada’s most active and notable philanthropists. Together with her family and her late husband Ted Rogers Jr., and through the Rogers Foundation, she has long championed and supported initiatives related to health and education. In 2014, her family contributed an historic $130-million gift to help create the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, which is dedicated to radically improving outcomes for heart patients.

Beverly “Buffy” Sainte-Marie – For more than 50 years, Sainte-Marie has moved and inspired audiences worldwide with her multifaceted art and her focus on affirming the strengths and traditions of Indigenous Peoples. Sainte-Marie has been honoured extensively for her work internationally, receiving major awards in music, television and film – including an Oscar. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Ilse Treurnicht – A leader in Canada’s innovation and entrepreneurship community, Treurnicht serves as a key adviser to the federal government on economic growth and innovation. A former CEO of MaRS Discovery District, she helped transform the organization into one of the world’s largest innovation hubs, and has been instrumental in developing the university’s partnership with MaRS.

Also among those receiving an honorary degree this year is Mark Carney, who was previously nominated and approved for the honour but was unable to attend a ceremony until 2018 due to scheduling conflicts. The Governor of the Bank of England, and former Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013, Carney has built an illustrious global career in finance, including a 13-year career with Goldman Sachs before joining the public service.

#UofTGrad17: Meet four of fall convocation's impressive graduates

rasbachn — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 22:20:51 +0000

#UofTGrad17: Meet four of fall convocation's impressive graduates

rasbachn Thu, 11/02/2017 - 18:20

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Topic

City & Culture

#UofTGrad17

Convocation 2017

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Faculty of Arts & Science

They spent years in lecture halls, libraries and laboratories, volunteered in communities across Canada and interned with companies around the world – and now they’re graduating from the 91�Թ�.

From Monday to Thursday, more than 4,800 students from all three campuses will receive their undergraduate and graduate degrees, becoming 91�Թ�'s latest alumni.

The convocation plaza is set up and the diplomas are packaged and ready to give out. The students will be joined by three honorary degree recipients who have made notable achievements in their fields: Senator Murray Sinclair, who served as chief commissioner of Canada's Truth and Reconcilation Commission, longtime Faculty of Music instructor Mary Morrison and renowned soprano Barbara Hannigan.

When combined with spring convocation, 91�Թ�’s Class of 2017 is more than 18,000 strong. Here are some of their stories:

Antu Hossain: Advocate for public health

Antu Hossain receives the 2015 Gordon Cressy student leadership award, flanked by 91�Թ� President Meric Gertler (left) and Cressy (right)

Antu Hossain had her first "aha" moment when she was only 19.

In the summer of her second year at 91�Թ� Scarborough, Hossain spent a summer volunteering in Kenya as a health project manager, part of a 91�Թ�-run student international development club, now known as Partners for International Development.

“I wanted to get more hands-on experience of what health looked like outside of the classroom. I got that, and for me that was my life-changing experience from a really young age,” says Hossain.

“That’s when I realized I really wanted to pursue health equity.”

Hossain completed her undergraduate degree in 2015 and then pursued her master's degree. On Thursday, she will be part of 91�Թ�'s Class of 2017 when she receives her Master of Public Health from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

For Hossain, public health is about much more than health care – it’s about advocating for community needs and having a real impact.

Hossain’s time as a graduate student at 91�Թ� included placements in a remote community in Labrador, where she worked on improving child health, and in Vienna, where she worked at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, focusing on prisoner health.

Both experiences challenged her to better understand inequities in health, and how advocacy can help reduce some barriers.

“As much as it is pushing for government to do something, your voice matters as well,” says Hossain. “Public health professionals have the privilege of speaking with community, engaging in those narratives and bringing them to the table.”

Hossain has utilized every opportunity she’s had to help move the dial on the public health issues about which she’s most passionate.

Earlier this year, she was selected to represent her federal riding as part of Daughters of the Vote – a multipartisan, Canada-wide initiative to acknowledge and celebrate women’s suffrage. In the three-minute speech she gave to Parliament’s Standing Committee on the Status of Women, Hossain spoke about migrant detention in Canada and how women are disproportionately affected.

Hossain hopes to continue applying the research and policy skills she gained from her time at Dalla Lana as she seeks opportunities after graduation. Ultimately, she plans on making the world a better place for racialized, migrant women.

“I want to continue trying to improve the health inequities that exist, not just within Toronto but also worldwide.”

Trina Moyan: Mature student and Indigenous organizer

When Trina Moyan’s son Shadrak Gobért graduated high school and began his undergraduate degree at 91�Թ�, Moyan had reached a turning point.

She had a successful career working on Indigenous issues as a TV and video producer, communications specialist and business owner. But she wanted to pursue something that had been on her bucket list for a long time: a university degree.

She enrolled in Woodsworth College’s academic bridging program in 2012 as a mature student. Then her son began his studies at 91�Թ�, and she knew it was the right time for her to continue on the path to completing her degree.

“I thought this was perfect. I could go back to school with my son,” she says.

For the next four years, Moyan and her son formed a unique support system. They chose the same major, which meant they took notes for each other when one of them couldn’t make it to class, and they studied for exams together.

On Thursday, she’ll cross the stage to receive her bachelor's degree in environmental studies, five months after her son received the same degree and 18 years after her husband John Kim Bell received an honorary doctorate of law from 91�Թ�.

“We’re a whole family of Indigenous alumni from the 91�Թ�,” she says.

Throughout her time at 91�Թ�, Moyan has sought out numerous opportunities to contribute to Indigenous groups on campus. In March, she helped co-ordinate the university’s first powwow in 20 years. Currently, she is finishing up research to help First Nations House mark its 25^thanniversary.

“It’s been such an honour and privilege for me to be able to support … all of the Indigenous bodies that really paved the way for Indigenous students like myself to be comfortable and feel at home at 91�Թ�,” she says.

While she may have completed her last undergraduate class this summer, Moyan hopes that her academic journey will have a second act.

“My son is taking a year off as well,” she says. “We’re talking about possibly taking the same master’s program.”

Kaela Newman: Inspired by physical therapy

Kaela Newman first discovered that she wanted to study physical therapy when she was recovering from a knee injury.

Newman, who had always been interested in science and anatomy, received therapy for her knee, and immediately knew this was the path she should pursue.

“As a physiotherapist, you take evidence-based knowledge of anatomy and function, and translate it into practice by working one-on-one with your patients,” says Newman. “It’s very rewarding to see how you can improve an individual’s function and quality of life through the combination of knowledge and hands-on expertise.”

On Tuesday, Newman will join her classmates on stage as she receives her master's degree in physical therapy from the Faculty of Medicine.

Studying at 91�Թ�, she says, gave her access to world-renowned hospitals and unique placements.

She completed six placements in the two-year program, including one with a neurological focus.

“For me, this neurological placement was when my love for the brain, its plasticity, and our ability to help patients recover from a severe insult to their brain began.”

During the placement, Newman witnessed her patient take a few steps six months after a heavy stroke. She saw another patient walk out of the rehabilitation facility to go home after a year-long recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder.

“To be a part of someone’s rehab and recovery is one of the most satisfying feelings, despite the ups and downs they may face in their journey,” says Newman. “Having the autonomy as a health-care professional to assess, diagnose and treat a variety of patients makes each day different.”

After graduating, Newman plans on working in a private-practice setting, with a caseload of patients with musculoskeletal injuries and neurological conditions.

Terese Pierre: A detour on her way to medicine

For Terese Pierre, taking a less traditional path towards medicine has opened her up to experiences that she hopes will eventually shape her as a doctor.

Pierre started at 91�Թ� studying life sciences, believing that to be the most typical path towards becoming a doctor.

She worked tirelessly throughout her first year, focusing primarily on her academics.

“I thought that if I didn’t join any clubs, that would somehow make my grades better, which wasn’t really true,” she says.

After taking a step back to assess her grades, she realized that her highest marks were in philosophy, which led to her changing her major to bioethics.

With her academics refocused, Pierre, whose previous experience with Hart House had been limited to using its gym, decided to explore the extracurricular opportunities the community had to offer. She found herself at home with the broad range of arts activities available at 91�Թ�.

“I tend to think that you’ll do well in things that you love and things that don’t feel like a chore to do,” she says. “As long as I can remember, I’ve always been in a choir and I’ve always been writing.”

During her time at 91�Թ�, Pierre has been student chair of the Hart House Singers, poetry editor of The Spectatorial, and choir director of the Healing Sounds of Music. She received the Student Engagement in the Arts Award from the university in April. And, on Monday, Pierre will graduate with a bachelor's degree in bioethics.

“I want to be able to make a positive impact in the lives of others,” says Pierre, who continues to be involved with Hart House activities even after completing her course work.

Pierre has already begun a master’s degree in philosophy at York University, and is looking at additional master’s programs, as well as her medical school ambitions, in the years to come.

“I hope that my philosophy degree will expose me to different ethical issues and ethical problems that I can later bring to my medical degree,” says Pierre. “I still want to be a doctor – that has never changed.”

See the full schedule of #UofTGrad17 convocation ceremonies

Cancer doesn't have to be your inheritance

ullahnor — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 18:25:33 +0000

Cancer doesn't have to be your inheritance

ullahnor Thu, 04/13/2017 - 14:25

Cutline

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing professor Kelly Metcalfe's research focuses on identifying the two main breast cancer genes

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Author legacy

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Topic

Breaking Research

Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Breast Cancer

Subheadline

91�Թ� researchers are global leaders in preventing and treating genetic cancers

Professor Kelly Metcalfe, of 91�Թ�’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, is leading the charge against hereditary breast and ovarian cancers by helping establish the standard protocol for addressing cancers associated with BRCA gene mutations.

Women with these mutations are at far higher risk for breast cancer, and if they do develop cancer, it appears at an earlier age and is more aggressive than sporadic forms of the disease. Metcalfe has shown that surgical interventions for women with BRCA mutations can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by 90 per cent and increase cancer survival by 50 per cent.

“Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 can save lives,” says Metcalfe. “I want women to have this genetic information so they are in a position to prevent a cancer before it happens or receive personalized cancer treatment to reduce their risk of dying.”

Metcalfe holds the Bloomberg Professorship in Cancer Genetics at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, which is ranked No. 6 in the world. She spoke with 91�Թ� News about her research.

What is your area of research?

It’s mainly focused on the two main breast cancer genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2.

How do we identify people who are at higher risk of developing breast cancer, [and] once we identity them, how do we prevent breast cancer from ever happening. How do we target their treatment so they have the highest chance of surviving the disease?

I’m very committed to ensuring women have the most up-to-date information so they can make a decision that’s going to be the best for them.

What’s the importance of knowing if you have the breast cancer genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2?

When it comes to breast cancer diagnoses, most women don’t know if they have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. This is valuable information to have to help women best evaluate their surgical options and improve their survival rates.

With the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, the most aggressive type of breast cancer surgery – a bilateral mastectomy (removal of both breasts) – is often the best approach as it reduces the risk of dying by about half. This is different than in women without a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, where there is no survival advantage associated with a bilateral mastectomy compared to breast conserving surgery.

Genetic test results typically take a long time to come back – up to months – so even if a woman was tested at the time of her breast cancer diagnosis, she wouldn’t know the results before she had to decide on the surgery. I wanted to change this because with current genetic technology we can offer these tests much faster.

As part of a study, we’re [doing genetic] testing on 1,000 women at the time of breast cancer diagnosis. We give them their genetic test results back within 10 business days, prior to them having their surgery, and then we’re evaluating whether they change their surgical decisions based on their results.

To date, we’ve tested just over 700 women. The preliminary results show that women use their genetic information to make surgical decisions. The uptake of bilateral mastectomy is over 90 per cent for those women who have the BRCA mutation.

Does having genetic tests done at the time of diagnosis cause even more stress for the patient?

I was concerned that may be the case so we are evaluating that as part of the study.

To date, the results have suggested that those identified with a BRCA mutation are no different in any type of psychological measure – anxiety, depression, cancer-related distress. It isn’t adding an increased burden to what they are already experiencing as a result of their breast cancer diagnosis.

Women want this kind of information. When the study comes to an end, we will try to ensure that we can integrate this type of service into clinical care so that women can continue to benefit from fast genetic test results.

How is genetic testing for breast cancer genes currently being done?

In Ontario – and it’s very similar across all provinces in Canada – there are very strict criteria as to who can have genetic testing for the two main breast cancer genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2. This is mainly based on personal and family history of cancer.

Do I think they’re perfect? No. Are we missing people who have these genetic mutations based on this criteria? Absolutely.

For example, we did a large study a few years back with the Jewish population. We know BRCA mutations are more frequent in this population. We offered free genetic testing to 6,000 Jewish women [in Ontario], and we were able to identify women with the BRCA mutation before cancer happened.

We also found the majority of the women we identified with the BRCA mutation would not have met [standard] criteria for testing in the province. Based on that, we know we’re missing people who have these genetic mutations.

We want to change this and are currently offering a study where we provide genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 to any Canadian over the age of 25 for a very low cost. It is important to evaluate providing population based genetic testing, even to people without a family history of cancer. We think that every Canadian should have access to this test if they want the information. Anyone can sign up for the study at thescreenproject.ca.

What’s next for you in your research?

In the last 20 years, my research has contributed to what we know about the clinical implications of having a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2.

However, there are newer cancer causing genes that we know less about. One example is PALB2. Women are having genetic testing for this gene in addition to others, and we really don’t know what to tell them if they get a positive result. I want to change that. I want to be able to tell a woman with a PALB2 mutation what she should do to maximize her chance of not getting or dying of breast cancer.

What kind of feedback have you received about your research?

A big part of what I do is translate our research findings for the research, medical and patient communities.

[These patients] are very engaged in research because this is a genetic mutation that gets passed down from generation to generation. Many of the women that we see also have a very significant family history. They’ve seen many of the women in their family develop and die of cancer.

I try to ensure the research is translated to the patient so they know the latest research that’s happening, which many of them have contributed to.

We organize a biannual event where we invite all the people who have contributed to our research, and we share the most recent findings with them. I’m very focused on trying to get that research back to the patient.

Here in Canada and also throughout the world, there are many different patient conferences where I try to go and share some of the research findings.

How has the Faculty of Nursing supported your research?

I’ve been very fortunate. I have a professorship now from the Faculty of Nursing from the Bloomberg donation that supports my research financially so I’m able to do research without having to worry all the time about applying for external research funding.

Research at the 91�Թ� is a big part of what we do as professors. My goal is to not only conduct world leading research in the area of cancer genetics, but also to translate the research findings so that patients all over the world can benefit from this research. 91�Թ� provides valuable resources to enable me to do this.

What would you like others to take away from your research?

Genetic testing for cancer-causing genes can benefit those with and without cancer. I think it’s important for people to know that these genes do exist. We can test for them, and if we do find that there is a problem or a genetic mutation, we can do something about it. I believe genetic testing should be available to every person who wants the information, and I think that we are slowly making our way there.

Kelly Metcalfe is a professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and a scientist at the Women’s College Research Institute at Women’s College Hospital. Her cancer research and clinical work is just one example of extraordinary impact at 91�Թ�. Learn more at utoronto.ca

Entrepreneurship @ UofT Week: startups nurtured here

lanthierj — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 21:23:42 +0000

Entrepreneurship @ UofT Week: startups nurtured here

lanthierj Mon, 03/27/2017 - 17:23

Cutline

Co-founders Jonathan Lung (left) and Phil Lam (right) of 91�Թ� startup Sojourn Labs are focused on developing a car-bike hybrid (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Author legacy

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Topic

It’s Entrepreneurship@UofT Week – your chance to meet innovators from Canada’s leading startups and get tips on everything from making connections to perfecting your elevator pitch.

#EntWeekUofT is the hashtag to follow as the 91�Թ� hosts a wide range of events from March 27 to 31.

The week features more than a dozen events hosted by incubator and accelerator programs and other partners, from a webinar with Entrepreneurship Librarian Carey Toane to a session on social entrepreneurship with The Agency.

“Research that feeds innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization is thriving at 91�Թ�, ” said Professor Vivek Goel, 91�Թ�'s vice-president, research and innovation. “In all sectors and across all of our campuses, our faculty and students are turning ideas into products, services, jobs, and companies that are contributing to the Canadian economy and improving lives around the world.”

Everything wraps up Friday with an all-day Startup Showcase at 91�Թ�'s Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport featuring a networking opportunity with more than 60 of 91�Թ�’s leading startups – and the first annual RBC Prize for Innovation and Entrepreneurship pitch competition, where 10 of 91�Թ�’s leading startups will compete in front of a panel of judges for top prizes.

Among Friday’s highlights: the RBC Innovation & Entrepreneurship Speaker Series with leading artificial intelligence researcher and Vice-President Engineering Fellow at Google, Emeritus Distinguished Professor Geoffrey Hinton.

Learn more about the augmented reality bus tour

More than 150 research-based startups have been launched at 91�Թ� during the past five years. Artificial intelligence-based NuraLogix has pioneered facial blood flow technology that will make it easier to monitor a loved one’s health, even if they are across the world.

Could your face be a window to your health? 91�Թ� startup gathers vital signs from video

ullahnor — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 16:32:29 +0000

Could your face be a window to your health? 91�Թ� startup gathers vital signs from video

ullahnor Fri, 03/24/2017 - 12:32

Cutline

91�Թ� professor Kang Lee's NuraLogix will allow doctors to use regular webcams to remotely monitor patients' heart rate, blood pressure, stress and pain

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Author legacy

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Topic

Breaking Research

OISE

Artificial Intelligence

Kang Lee has invented an astonishing new technology. By analyzing video of a person’s face, his artificial intelligence-based system detects blood flow in facial tissue and uses it to measure vital signs and emotions.

A 91�Թ� professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Lee co-founded NuraLogix to commercialize his research breakthrough. Their first product will allow doctors to use regular webcams to monitor the heart rate, blood pressure, stress and pain of their patients remotely, helping to reduce costly and unnecessary visits to the emergency room. We will soon be able to measure our loved ones’ vital signs with just a video app, whether they are in the room or on the other side of the world.

Lee also envisions his technology as “an emotion engine,” empowering smartphones, cars, laptops and even social robots to help calm people in stressful situations and to better attune machines to our needs.

91�Թ� News spoke with Lee ahead of Entrepreneurship@UofT Week.

Can you describe your research-based startup NuraLogix?

What we’re doing is we’re using a very new technology to reveal the invisible emotions underneath our face.

The mission of the company is really to put our technology – as an emotion engine – in all the technological devices we have now or in the future, such as an iPhone, car, laptop or a social robot.

The idea is to make these devices emotionally aware so that when you’re looking at your electronic devices such an iPhone your device actually knows your emotional state. Then the phone may say, “Hey, it looks like you’re feeling anxious, can I play soothing music for you?”

Or, if you’re driving, your car can detect if you’re angry at the driver in front of you and remind you, “You may want to calm down and take a deep breath.”

The social robot right now is very popular and many companies are producing it. In the future, it will be widely used in such areas as health care, child care and elder care. If you have a social robot that is able to detect the invisible emotions we are experiencing then the robot can really help us a lot.

Our technology’s application for health monitoring and telehealth is one area we are focusing on right now. The other one is marketing research – for example, finding out whether people like or dislike a product such as a car or a designer handbag.

How does this technology work? How does it use artificial intelligence/deep learning?

The technology can find out the blood flow on your face instantaneously, and it works in most natural lighting situations with any kind of digital video cameras.

This is how the technology works: first, we take the video images from a video camera. Then, using our transdermal optical imaging software, we strip away the facial skin to see the blood flow changes underneath the facial skin.

Blood flow changes are associated with physiological and emotional changes we are experiencing. Using data we have collected with people experiencing various emotions, we can build emotional models based on different patterns of facial blood flow change and use these models to detect whether you’re happy, you’re sad, if you’re experiencing fear, surprise and so on.

In order to get the blood flow out of your face, we need machine learning. So we used data – what we called ground truth data to help us extract blood flow. We use ground truth to separate the noise from the data that actually corresponds to happy/not happy. Once you have that, then you do deep learning – you build two models. One is the happy model, one is the sad model. Now you have these two computational models. They are basically like equations with weights.

For example, we discovered that when you tell lies, the facial blood flow on the cheek actually goes down, but the facial blood flow on the nose goes up, which we call the “Pinocchio Effect.”

Why is it important to detect people’s true and invisible emotions?

Currently, people are mainly using facial expressions to detect your emotions. But it turns out that’s not good enough. The reason is that a former student of mine did a study, and she found that 90 per cent of the time, our facial expressions are neutral. However, during the 90 per cent of the time period, people are not emotionless but experiencing various inner emotions that are invisible.

If your technology relies solely on facial expressions, you’re not going to do well because you only can detect less than 10 per cent of the time how someone really feels. On top of that, we can fake our emotions, and the system can be defeated.

But invisible emotion is controlled by the autonomous nerve system, which is beyond our conscious control and because of that you can really reveal people’s real emotions, not just expressed emotions or faked emotions with the use of our technology.

Are there any ethical issues?

Oh yes!

You can do this without the target’s consent or knowledge that their emotions are being monitored. That’s why we believe there has to be some kind of legal or ethical guidelines to go along with the use of this technology.

What made you realize that your research could be commercialized?

I wasn’t thinking about commercializing it, but the 91�Թ� had this contract with MaRS. The MaRS people came over, and said, “You can commercialize this research and make it work even beyond lie detection.”

This motivated me to have our technology commercialized. We are now hiring almost one person every month. We just hired someone today at noon! We have 22 employees now.

Katherine Fernandez-Blance

#UofTGrad18: 91�Թ� gets ready for spring convocation

Read more about Convocation 2018

91�Թ� to confer honorary degrees on 15 Canadian and global leaders

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