91ÒùĸÊÓƵ

Lindsey Westover is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering with a cross-appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She is also the associate dean, graduate students, for the Faculty of Engineering. Lindsey completed her bachelor of science and master of science in mechanical engineering at the University of Calgary. Before completing a doctorate in mechanical engineering at the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ, Lindsey worked as a clinical engineer at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the U of A’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine before joining the Faculty of Engineering in 2018.

Lindsey’s research centers on biomechanics and biomedical engineering with extensive experience in both experimental and computational biomechanics. She is an expert in vibrations and mechanics, applying her expertise to clinically relevant problems in osseointegration of bone-anchored implants, geometric characterization of anatomical structures, non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring approaches for scoliosis, and bone and joint tissue mechanics. She leads a multidisciplinary research group with collaborators from numerous disciplines, departments and faculties.

Roger Zemp is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the U of A. He earned his bachelor of science in Physics from the U of A, a master of science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto, and a doctorate in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Following his doctoral studies, Roger Zemp completed postdoctoral research in Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University and Washington University in St. Louis. 

Roger’s research focuses on developing innovative biomedical imaging techniques, particularly in biomedical optics and ultrasound. His work aims to provide clinicians and biologists with critical information that is challenging to obtain through conventional imaging methods. His research encompasses system design, physical modeling, micro- and nano-fabrication methods, optics and laser systems, ultrasound hardware and software development, image and signal processing and analysis, molecular biology-based methods, and nanotechnology. ​

10:05 - 10:40 a.m. - Student presentations

José Antonio Klautau Toffoli - Relative Estimation of Free Fatty Acid to Triglyceride Concentration Ratios Using the Glycerol CH₂ Resonance
Leo Remillard – Experimental Performance of a Metasurface Head Volume Coil for 10.5T MRI
Tereza Assuncao – Unveiling healthy lifespan trajectories of brain iron and myelin with MRI
Mark Wright –A hybrid PCA 2D MR acceleration method for real-time target tracking
Kiarash Jalali  – Accurate Quantitative Proton Density Mapping in the Human Brain by the Addition of a Rapid, Low-Resolution Pulse Sequence

10:40 - 11 a.m. - Break

Industry Event and Networking Lunch

11 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Panel Discussion

Industry Panelists

Dr. Hilal Gul - Moderator

Industrial Professor, 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ & CEO/Founder, MySteMBiotech Inc.

Dr. Andrew Chan

Senior Program Lead, R&D, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

Ron Mills

Founder & CEO, Northernmost

Dr. Patricia Nadworny

Chief Scientific Officer, Innovotech Inc

Joanna Preston

Director, Tech Transfer Services, 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ

12 - 1 p.m. - Networking Lunch

1 - 2:30 p.m. - Student poster presentations

Core 3: Precision Health Design

2:30 - 2:45 p.m. - Keynote speech

, Professor, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering

Andrew R. Martin is a professor in mechanical and biomedical engineering at the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ and the director of the aerosol research laboratory of 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ (ARLA). Martin is also a licensed professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ (APEGA). He has extensive experience in medical device development, inhalation drug delivery and therapeutic gas applications, having worked in industrial research and development across France and the United States.

Dr. Martin has authored over170 peer-reviewed publications on aerosols, drug delivery, and therapeutic gases, and is the lead or co-inventor on 10 granted and pending patents. He actively contributes to the research community as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Drug Delivery and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery. His research has earned international recognition, including the Drug Delivery to the Lungs Emerging Scientist Award (2022) and the ISAM Young Investigator Award (2013).

Through ARLA, Martin continues to advance the field of respiratory drug delivery, combining academic excellence with innovative research to address critical challenges in medicine.

2:45 - 3:20 p.m. - Student presentations

Paola Vottero  – A Machine Learning Framework for Protein-Protein Interaction Prediction
Francesco Chierici – Computational Insights into the Tryptophan-Albumin Interaction: Unveiling
Mateo Gray – Enhancing efficiency and accuracy of RNA interaction prediction
Xiaoxuan Liu – Classification of Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Fibroblast Laser Light-Scattering Patterns Using Deep Learning
Jacopo Zattoni – PLI-Scanner: Leveraging Graph Neural Networks to Improve Protein-Ligand Binding Affinity Estimation A Machine Learning Framework for Protein-Protein Interaction Prediction

3:20 - 3:55 p.m. - Break

Core 4: Bionics

3:55 - 4:10 p.m. - Keynote speech

, Professor, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Medicine

Vivian Mushahwar is a professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. She is also the director of the and a Canada 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ Chair (Tier 1) in Functional Restoration. Her work focuses on developing intelligent wearable and implantable neural prostheses that restore mobility and prevent secondary complications. She also focuses on developing creative rehabilitation interventions that are both efficacious and cost-saving. She led the development of micro-implants for stimulating the spinal cord in restoring standing and walking after paralysis, as well as the development of the wearable garments, Smart-e-Pants and the SOCC, for preventing pressure injuries and deep vein thrombosis.

4:10 - 4:45 p.m. - Student presentations

Aashka Desai – User-informed Task Design in Virtual Reality Platform for Multi-articulating Prosthesis
Muhammad Talha E–EG‐Driven Comparison of Cognitive Load and Creativity in Augmented‐Reality CAD and SolidWorks
Hamid Khabiri – End-Effector Robots for Stroke Rehabilitation: Current Approaches and Future Prospects
Arash Salemi – Real-Time Modelling of Human Motor Learning in Robot-Aided Training
Ephrem Zewdie – BCI-Activated Electrical Stimulation in Children with Perinatal Stroke and Hemiparesis: A Pilot Study

4:45 - 5 p.m. - Closing remarks and award presentation