Capstone research projects database
The Capstone research project is where students work on real-world issues.
See the Capstone projects TRP students have worked on over the years.
Pilot Marshal Project
The Pilot Marshal Project aims to support researchers as they implement Pilot Projects within unique and complex environments.
Interventions that are found to be effective on an individual scale, or within a specific context, often fail when implemented in a separate context.
Using the SUPPORT-Dialysis Pilot Project as a case study, we will identify key barriers and facilitators to Pilot Project implementation. Based on these findings, we will develop a Process Model to help guide the process of translating research into practice.
Background
In April 2023, the SUPPORT-Dialysis pilot study was launched at Toronto General Hospital. The study aims to determine the feasibility of using an electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) assessment and response toolkit to improve symptom and distress screening and management support for patients on dialysis.
One month after the launch of the SUPPORT-Dialysis pilot study, it was found that several patients flagged as needing symptom management support were not referred for additional symptom care support by their nephrology clinicians. When translating research from the lab to the bedside or across different patient populations, many issues arise during the initial implementation of clinical trials or pilot projects.
The capstone project aims to use the SUPPORT-Dialysis pilot as a case study to determine and address the barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of pilot projects.
Project team
- Owen Jones
- Sara Macanovic
TRP supervisors
Project advisory committee
- Dr. Karen Born, Assistant Professor (teaching stream) and program director of the MHSc in Health Administration in The Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME)
- Dr. Sonia Rodriguez-Ramirez, Transplant nephrologist, UHN
- Dr. Katherine Rud, SSHRC-funded Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Social Work, University of Windsor
See our community directory for more on committee members
PrEP Access Navigator (PAN): Creating a Comprehensive ‘Application Cheat Sheet’ for the Trillium Drug Program
The PrEP Access Navigator (PAN) seeks to address the significant barriers uninsured individuals aged 23-64 face when applying to Ontario’s Trillium Drug Program (TDP). By simplifying the complex application process, PAN aims to make Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) more accessible, reducing financial, procedural, and digital obstacles. This innovative, patient-centric digital tool provides tailored guidance, empowering vulnerable populations to navigate the system with ease and efficiency, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing HIV transmission rates.
Background
Accessing life-saving medications like PrEP is a challenge for many uninsured individuals in Ontario due to barriers associated with the Trillium Drug Program (TDP). Financial constraints, complicated paperwork, and a lack of digital support deter individuals from completing the application, leaving vulnerable populations at heightened risk of HIV transmission. The PrEP Access Navigator (PAN) seeks to address these challenges by functioning as a virtual "cheat sheet" that simplifies and personalizes the application process. By guiding users step-by-step, PAN ensures they receive the support they need to overcome application hurdles.
PAN’s development follows the Translational Research Framework from the University of Toronto, progressing through two phases: 'Understand' and 'Act.' During the 'Understand' phase, informal research and consultations with academic literature identified accessibility barriers. The 'Act' phase focuses on iterative development and usability testing, where 20 participants will provide feedback on PAN’s initial version during secure, Zoom-based prototyping interviews. This feedback will inform thematic analysis and guide improvements for subsequent versions.
Integration with existing networks, such as the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) and pharmacies, is expected to enhance service efficiency and patient experience. PAN’s streamlined approach aims to increase PrEP uptake and reduce HIV transmission rates, demonstrating how digital tools can bridge healthcare accessibility gaps. Beyond addressing immediate barriers, PAN provides a replicable model for improving access to other healthcare services, setting a precedent for equitable, patient-focused digital interventions. Partnerships and further pilot testing will ensure PAN’s impact continues to grow.
Project team
TRP supervisors
See our community directory for more on committee members.
Project POTS
POTS patients in Canada are often misdiagnosed, dismissed or poorly managed. Physicians often refer these patients to other specialists rather than initiating care themselves. There is a need to equip physicians - particularly in primary care - to recognize, diagnose & manage POTS.
Background
POTS or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a chronic & disabling condition caused by a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. It primarily affects women of reproductive age and is underdiagnosed and under-recognized. It takes a POTS patient 2-12 years to get a diagnosis. Our study focuses on identifying and addressing the barriers to POTS diagnosis & care at the primary care level. We will engage primary care physicians to understand their experiences and co-create an intervention that improves the patient journey for POTS patients in Canada.
Project team
- Asnia Shah
- Mikhail Lobo
- Linette Penney
- Vedant Shukla
TRP supervisors
Prospective Assessment of Translation in Healthcare
Application and review processes for Disease Team grants were misaligned with the needs of applicants and reviewers.
Background
Our project addresses a problem in the Ontario Institute of Regenerative Medicine’s (OIRM’s) evaluation of Disease Team grant proposals. Applicants preparing for clinical trials were often unaware of their project’s place in the Disease Team funding spectrum. Further, reviewers found it challenging to convey their feedback in a succinct, tailored manner, given the wide variety of proposals they receive.
Project team
- Vaishnavi Batmanabane
- Meghan Lofft
TRP supervisors
See our community directory for more on committee members.
Re-Imagining Occupational Smoke Mitigation Strategies for Canadian Wildland Firefighters: A Participatory Study
Our team united with a common passion for tackling the problem of air pollution exposure and our current mission is to improve health and safety for wildland firefighters in Canada who are exposed to smoke for many months.
Focused on enhancing respiratory protective equipment tailored to the unique challenges of wildland fire contexts, our interdisciplinary team aims to empower and engage with those on the front lines. Our overarching goal is to develop innovative solutions that effectively mitigate risks, ensuring the well-being of wildland firefighters, and bridging the gap between evidence and impact to protect our protectors during wildfire season.
Background
Our project emerged from a shared concern for the health and safety of wildland firefighters facing increasingly challenging conditions.
Recognizing the critical role respiratory protective equipment plays in their well-being, we assembled a diverse team of engineers, researchers, and experienced wildland firefighters. Through collaborative efforts and a human-centered design approach, we aim to improve and innovate existing equipment to better align the demands of wildland firefighting.
By combining technical expertise with on-the-ground insights, we aspire to contribute meaningful advancements to the field, ultimately enhancing the protection and resilience of those who safeguard our wildlands during fire seasons.
Through iterative collaboration and a deep understanding of on-the-ground realities, our project aspires to make meaningful advancements in the field, ultimately contributing to the heightened protection and resilience of those who tirelessly safeguard our wildlands.
Project team
- Sumegha Jain
- Janna Mohamed
- Arani Ravichandra
TRP supervisors
Revitalizing Tenant Wellness: Piloting the Implementation of a Wellness Hub at 100 High Park Avenue for Greater Access to Long-Term Mental Health Services for Tenants
The Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCH) provides affordable social housing to a community of residents. In these community housing buildings, residents face various challenges such as mental health, safety and security, addiction, and economic challenges.
In partnership with the West Toronto Ontario Health Team (WTOHT) and TCH, we aim to implement a Wellness Hub to increase access to key resources, namely mental Health Resources.
Background
Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) is a non-profit group and stands as the largest social housing provider in Canada (About Us | Toronto Community Housing, 2023). The organization plays a pivotal role in addressing housing needs, by providing subsidized or rent-geared-to-income shelter to over 43,000 people across 106 of Toronto’s 158 neighborhoods (About Us | Toronto Community Housing, 2023). The 89,000 residents under TCHC’s care are a diverse tapestry, representing a wide spectrum of backgrounds encompassing age, education, language, mental and physical abilities, religion, ethnicity, and race (About Us | Toronto Community Housing, 2023).
The TCHC location of focus in this pilot project is 100 High Park Avenue in West Toronto. There are 619 residents residing in this building, 80% of which are older than 25 (Refer to Appendix A for additional demographic data). 100 High Park Avenue is a medical desert with inadequate access to primary healthcare services, substantially less for the population density compared to other locations across the city. Challenges include increased mental health issues, poverty, and other circumstances that render residents vulnerable. As a result, residents face a multitude of concerns, including personal drug abuse or overuse, feelings of unsafety within the community, and instances of intimidation and attacks directed towards elderly residents, among others. Accessible routine primary health care services such as psychosocial services, health promotion and disease prevention are crucial to the long-term well-being of tenants and the surrounding community.
The West Toronto Ontario Health Team (WTOHT), comprising 35 organizations in the West Toronto area, plays a vital role in coordinating care between hospitals, primary care, home and community care services, long-term care homes, congregate settings, and various other healthcare services (About Us | West Toronto Ontario Health Team, 2023). Their goal is to deliver an improved and seamless healthcare experience for those receiving care in West Toronto.
In a collaborative effort TCHC, WTOHT, and our capstone team seek to address the multifaceted challenges faced by 100 High Park Avenue residents. Our team will facilitate an ideation process to effectively engage key community stakeholders and co-create a wellness hub tailored to the unique needs of TCHC residents at 100 High Park Avenue. This endeavor will not only seek to provide immediate support but also ensure the sustainability of these interventions, making a positive, lasting impact on the communities we serve. By bringing together the resources and expertise of both organizations, we aim to create a model that fosters well-being and resilience among TCHC residents, ultimately enhancing their overall quality of life and community cohesion.
- Problem Statement: Tenants experiencing mental health challenges in the TCH 100 High Park Avenue location, a known medical desert, have inadequate access to necessary mental health services, further exacerbating residents’ substance use and safety concerns.
- Need Statement: The need is to increase the accessibility and long-term use of mental health care services through the community Wellness Hub for tenants residing in the TCH 100 High Park Avenue location.
- Research Question: How might we develop and integrate accessible mental health services through the wellness hubs for all tenants at 100 High Park Avenue to improve the long-term follow-through of their care, overall health and safety?
Project team
- Sumaya Bhatti
- Anabela Cotovio
- Julia Kulczyski
- Osaru Omoruna
TRP supervisors
The MEND (Meaningfully Empowering the Neurodiverse) Initiative: Helping Autistic Adults in the GTA Express their Mental Health Needs
The MEND Initiative is a student-led Capstone project within the TRP. Our goal is to collaborate with autistic adults (18 years of age and older) in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to develop an intervention that empowers them to express their mental health needs to their chosen healthcare provider(s).
Project team
- Katie Boddison
- Alena Moya
- Abitha Suthakaran
- Mouzhan Varshoueitabrizi
TRP supervisors
TransCoRe: Translational Success in Corneal Regenerative Medicine
Globally, 12.7 million people await corneal transplantation. Since only 1 in 70 are treated due donor tissue shortage, researchers have turned to regenerative cell-, tissue-engineering-, gene- and drug-based alternatives. However, despite decades of research, few have crossed the “valley of death” of translation to assume a well-defined role in the corneal blindness treatment paradigm. Today, corneal transplantation remains the gold standard therapy. The need to accelerate the translation of emerging regenerative therapies to overcome the burden of corneal blindness is clear. The problems is that there is no objective way to determine the translational potential of emerging therapies.
Background
Determining the translational potential of emerging therapies is essential both for deciding whether their development is worth pursuing and for building customized strategies to accelerate their translational progress. Our aim is therefore to develop a translational potential assessment tool for emerging cornea regenerative therapies. In this project, we will:
- Map the current rate of translation of corneal regenerative therapies, process bottlenecks, and factors predictive of translational success.
- Design a low-fidelity prototype of a translational potential assessment tool.
- And test the prototype to collect feedback from cornea researchers on concept, content, design and utility.
This tool would be the first of its kind and would directly impact cornea researchers, funding entities, and industry who must make resource allocation and directional decisions early in technology development. The ambition is to make safe and effective alternatives available to cornea-blind patients faster.
Project video
Watch Cristina's video about her Capstone Project:
Watch Christina's video on YouTube
Project team
- Cristina Bostan
TRP supervisors
See our community directory for more on committee members.
Transforming mental health in anesthesia education
Anesthesia residents have been reported to be at very high risk for developing mental health problems. There is a need to address mental health concerns in anesthesia residents.
Background
Anesthesia trainees are unique in that they work with a faculty member intimately one-to-one on a daily basis and this makes faculty key persons that can recognize those trainees in trouble. With the implementation of the new competency-based curriculum in 2017, this will entail a greater number of one-to-one assessments placing even more emphasis on the importance of faculty in maintaining resident wellness.
Project team
- Fahad Alam
- Clyde Matava
TRP supervisors
Project advisory committee
- Dr. Lisa Bahrey, Education Director, Department of Anesthesiology UHN-SHS
See our community directory for more on committee members.