Acceleration Consortium

This summer, the AC launched its inaugural Summer Undergraduate Research Program to create pathways for bright young minds from under-represented groups to support SDL research at University of Toronto 🧪🥼 Congratulations to everyone involved on a successful summer of learning and discovery. Let's take a look at what everyone was working on 🚀 • Yijie Wang worked in the AI and Automation SDL under Florian Shkurti and Kourosh Darvish. Yijie’s research explored the integration of a reactive and constrained motion planner based on model predictive control to enable robots to safely perform chemistry experiments. • Éloïse Besnier and Hari Om Chadda contributed to the Inorganic Chemistry SDL. Eloise worked with Jae Hattrick Simpers, Yang Bai and Ali Shayesteh. Eloise’s projects focused on developing a customized automation platform for the synthesis and characterization of inorganic materials for energy storage. Hari worked with Mohamad Moosavi to develop machine learning algorithms that will accelerate the discovery of thermal fluids. • Ethan Elliot Rajkumar and Serene Stoller  worked in the Organic Chemistry SDL, guided by  Sophie Rousseaux, Yang Cao and  Han Hao. Their research focused on developing new tools and capabilities on low-cost experimental platforms that unlock a wider range of automated chemisy tasks for SDL workflows. • Justin Wong  and  Rubaina Farin  were engaged in the Organic Medicinal Chemistry SDL with Robert Batey , Santha Santhakumar and Joseph Brown. Rubaina built a chemical inventory database compatible with automation using SQLite and Python and Justin benchmarked open-source solutions for molecular docking for chemical probe and drug discovery. • Monique Ngan  contributed to research in the Polymer SDL with Helen Tran and Staff Scientist Owen Melville, combining machine learning with robotic workflows to automate the determination of polymer solubility. • Lucia Huang and Phoebe Wang  worked in the Formulations SDL with Dr. Christine Allen, Jeff Watchorn and Frantz Le Dévédec. Their projects centred on developing automated synthesis, characterization, and machine learning tools for self-driving drug formulations development. • Nishka Srivastava  worked in the Human Organ Mimicry SDL, under the guidance Milica Radisic  and Yimu Zhao. Her research focused on establishing macrophage, cancer and vascular co-culture for multimodal image analysis pipeline. • Astrid Hu  conducted research in the Economics SDL under Avi Goldfarb. She studied entrepreneurship and the commercialization of scientific discovery. Learn more about the highlights from the Summer Undergraduate Research Program: https://lnkd.in/gTDuzUsX #SummerResearch #UndergraduateResearch #AccelerationConsortium

When organoids are combined with organ-on-a-chip technology, we get a powerful tool that merges detailed cellular models with precisely controlled environments. Using cells derived from humans, these technologies could significantly transform drug discovery and our understanding of diseases. The recent FDA Modernization Act 3.0 supports using these advanced methods in drug testing instead of relying on animal studies. Organoid-on-a-chip models, in particular, offer great promise for predicting how effective new drugs might be. However, to fully realize this potential, we need to overcome some complex challenges related to maintaining tissue accuracy, scaling up the technology, and ensuring consistent results. Automation and AI can help address these issues by creating more efficient and reliable processes. The Acceleration Consortium is working on self-driving labs that could revolutionize how we develop materials and therapies. These advances aim to speed up research, improve the precision of treatments, and reduce the need for animal testing.  Read the full article by AC staff scientist Yimu Zhao and AC scientific leadership team member Milica Radisic in Nature Reviews: https://lnkd.in/e7GENKeJ  #organoids #organonachip #selfdrivinglab #uoft #AI #aiforhealthcare

One month ago, we kicked off the third annual Accelerate Conference at The University of British Columbia with an extraordinary Women in #STEM Networking Breakfast, sponsored by Telescope Innovations Corp. It was a morning filled with inspiration, as conference participants connected with STEM leaders in a speed networking setting fostering new connections and sharing powerful insights into succeeding in STEM careers. A round of applause for these outstanding leaders who took the time to share their journeys and guidance, creating an environment where emerging leaders could learn, grow, and connect 👏   Dr. Christine Allen, Professor at the University of Toronto  Lilo D. Pozzo, Professor at the University of Washington  Claudiane Ouellet-Plamondon, Professor at École de technologie supérieure  Suzanne Gildert, Founder, Stealth AI Project  Paloma Prieto, VP Operations, Telescope Innovations Corp. Zamyla Chan, Manager, Shared Research Platforms Strategy, The University of British Columbia Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation  Katrin Habel, Manager, Transportation Structures at Associated Engineering  Melodie McCain Christensen, Director, Data Rich Experimentation, Process Research and Development, Merck  Daniela Blanco, CEO of Sunthetics  Lisa Neuner, PhD, MBA, Project Management Lead, Digital Innovation, Merck Group 🔬🧪🥽 This networking breakfast was a huge success! Shout out to Rebekah Greenwood for moderating the morning and to our superstar volunteers Rachel Keunen and Maria Politi for making everyone feel welcome and prepared upon arrival. Here's to continuing to celebrate and uplift women in STEM!👩🔬 #AccelerateConference #WomenInSTEM #Networking #Mentorship #Empowerment #DiversityInSTEM #Accelerate2024

🌐🔬 We are excited to announce that six projects have received funding as part of our #EDI Initiate Grant program! This initiative, partly supported by our #CFREF grant, is aimed at breaking down barriers and increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in autonomous research. The EDI Initiate Grants are designed to help University of Toronto students and faculty launch new projects that address EDI barriers and foster positive cultural change in research. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gHdjKZVj Recipients include: Abigail Clapperton from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto in the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science Zahra Azimi Dijvejin from Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto Christine Hood from Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto Thisha Ravindran from Life Sciences in the Faculty of Arts and Science Sophie Rousseaux from the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Arts and Science Meghan Rothenbroker, BHSc, MSc. from Institute of Biomedical Engineering from University of Toronto Engineering #UofT #research #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion #STEM #Research #Innovation #Chemistry #Education #Community #Engineering

Did you know we operate a dedicated co-working space open exclusively to University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science students, alumni, staff and faculty? Collaborate, connect, and create with a CfE Co-Working membership. Benefits: - 24/7 access to a dynamic workspace - Meeting rooms for collaboration - Networking events - Discounted access to prototyping labs & makerspace - And more! 2024-25 Fall/Winter membership applications are now open. Deadline: September 16th, 2024 Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/gHNrB7Kp - University of Toronto #UofTArtSci #UofT #CfE #Entrepreneurship #CoWorking

The University of Toronto's Acceleration Consortium and Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT) are hosting a virtual open house for their new Organ-on-Chip Collaborative facilities. Get a virtual tour & meet with experts! Register here to join on September 30 at noon ET. https://lnkd.in/grArg9AC #openhouse #microfluidics #organchip #organonachip #NAMs  

🚀 Pioneering AI-Driven Chemical Discovery: A Collaborative Breakthrough Published in Nature Magazine, this new paper highlights a groundbreaking approach to chemical discovery through AI, thanks to a joint effort between the University of Toronto and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The study introduces Closed-Loop Transfer (CLT), which combines AI with hands-on experimentation to reveal new insights into chemical space. This collaboration showcases the power of interdisciplinary research and AI in advancing our understanding of materials chemistry. Read more about the collaboration: https://lnkd.in/gY5VWe8b Read the full paper in Nature: https://lnkd.in/gEkyx7Py #AI #ChemicalDiscovery #Innovation #Collaboration #Research #UofT #UniversityOfIllinois #ClosedLoopTransfer #MaterialsScience

📢 We are excited to announce our new collaborative research agreements to build capacity for self-driving labs in #Canada! We will be working with the National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada to increase SDL adoption across the country and to grow the Canadian SDL talent pool through #training and #upskilling programs. Read the full story below ⬇ https://lnkd.in/d37M5inQ #selfdrivinglabs #research #capacitybuilding #uoft #NRC #mississauga

🚀 Still buzzing from the excitement of the 2024 Accelerate Conference at The University of British Columbia! We welcomed 350+ attendees from 20 countries, spanning the globe from Argentina to Singapore and Australia to Germany, highlighting the truly global reach of our community. We were proud to host 75 speakers from #academic and #industry alongside 100+ poster presenters during 4 jam-packed days that also included workshops, lab tours, and networking opportunities keyed to #ai and #automation. 🏆 The energy was palpable, with groundbreaking research, innovative ideas, and inspiring conversations filling the air. Accelerate 2024, you were our best conference yet! Thanks to everyone who attended and helped make this year unforgettable. A shoutout to this year's Scientific Organizing Committee members Jason Hein Alán Aspuru-Guzik Brandon R. Sutherland Sterling G. Baird Dr. Christine Allen Han Hao Ekaterina Trushina Lilo D. Pozzo Claudiane Ouellet-Plamondon Anat Milo and Yousung Jung. We’re also incredibly grateful to our sponsors: University of British Columbia Chemistry Department, Telescope Innovations Corp. Unchained Labs Bristol Myers Squibb VSPARTICLE Digital Discovery #RSCDigital Institut Courtois KUKA Bruker. Thank you for helping us accelerate the future of science and innovation! 🌟 Looking forward to seeing everyone again next year August 11th – 14th, 2025 at University of Toronto! #Accelerate2024 #AccelerationConsortium #ScienceConference #Innovation #Vancouver #UBC #Chemistry #AI #SDL

We are proud to share this new tool created by AC Director of Training and Programs Sterling G. Baird and AC member Taylor Sparks called matbench-genmetrics. A Python library that helps researchers benchmark generative models for crystal structures, matbench-genmetrics makes it easier to discover new materials. By using four key metrics—validity, coverage, novelty, and uniqueness—it provides a standardized way to evaluate models. It aims to enhance collaboration and innovation in materials science. 🔗 Read the full paper in The Journal of Open Science: https://lnkd.in/gMhAgBp4 #UniversityOfUtah #UofT #MaterialsScience #MachineLearning #OpenSource #Research #Innovation #CrystalStructures #Benchmarking #GenerativeModels #matbenchgenmetrics #WednesdayWisdom