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.
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.
Transitioning Cancer Follow-Up Care from Specialized Oncology Teams to Primary Care Providers
Oncology units at Princess Margaret are overburdened, and the integration of PCPs could ease the burden on the hospital. There is a need to test the validity and usability of an End-of-Treatment letter prototype, which aims to improve the communication barriers faced by oncology teams and PCPs. This project involves the iterative refinement of a tool for clinics at PM by embedding specific PCP feedback. In doing so, this project builds on existing literature to gather first-hand experiences, translated into a refined communication tool for use by PM to effectively optimize the communication between providers during this transition.
Background
Integrating cancer survivorship care with primary care providers (PCPs), specifically family physicians, may ease the burden on hospitals and allow cancer care specialists to focus on patients receiving primary treatment. This project aimed to examine the overall views of PCPs regarding their role in cancer survivorship care and identify the resources they require to effectively manage this responsibility.
The Toronto Translational Framework was used to guide the approach, identify the problem and need, verify the need, and test a prototype. This project employed a multi-method approach, including a survey distributed to family physicians for general perspectives on providing cancer survivorship care and semi-structured interviews to gather feedback on the end-of-treatment letter. Overall, 28 surveys and 9 interviews were conducted with family physicians. Findings from the surveys and interviews indicated a clear disparity in the communications between family physicians and oncology teams, with a need for a better definition of roles and improved information formatting of the end-of-treatment letter. A primary barrier towards optimizing the transition of patients is the lack of clinician buy-in and clinical support (e.g. human resources) to facilitate projects that address the communication barriers. To better understand the specific communication barriers, updating and validating a tool that could facilitate better communication, such as the end-of-treatment letter, could help optimize the transition of patients from specialized care teams back to their primary care providers and support better coordination of care.
Project team
TRP supervisors
See our community directory for more on committee members.
Voices in Transition
Criminalized women in Canada face significant health disparities, particularly in oral care. Many enter prison with pre-existing dental issues linked to poverty, homelessness, and substance use. In custody, care is limited to emergency treatments, leaving chronic conditions unaddressed. Upon release, women encounter barriers such as missing ID, stigma, low employment, and limited healthcare access. These challenges worsen oral health and hinder reintegration. Addressing these gaps requires leveraging existing community resources to build sustainable pathways to dental care. A community-based, equity-focused approach is essential to improving health outcomes and supporting successful reintegration for formerly incarcerated women.
Background
Formerly incarcerated women in Ontario face significant barriers to dental care, including lack of insurance, low income, no valid ID, and stigma. In prison, oral health is often neglected, leading to worsening conditions. Post-release, basic needs take priority, pushing dental care aside and resulting in chronic pain, poor nutrition, and mental health issues—obstacles to employment and reintegration. This project aims to assess and implement a sustainable dental care initiative, starting with a needs assessment. A model will connect community clinics and nonprofits to offer free or subsidized care. Outcomes will be evaluated to ensure effectiveness, scalability, and long-term impact.
Project team
TRP supervisors
See our community directory for more on committee members.