COLUMNS

Engineering our way through a pandemic

By Mary Wells and Abbey Israel

As the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic abates, we have a chance to catch our breath and reflect on the rapid changes our lives have experienced over the past six months. This includes both our work and social lives, and our dependence on science and technology to help us cope in a world where we must remain vigilant as we reopen our shuttered economies and control a second wave.

Understandably, most of the attention on innovation so far has been focused on the important work coming out of the health sciences – the hunt for a vaccine or an effective antiviral medication. But many other disciplines have been working toward important ideas and solutions as well. Canadians may be unaware of the many critical projects that rely on work in collaboration with various branches of engineering and science.

To understand how Canadian engineers are contributing to the fight against COVID-19, Engineering Deans Canada conducted a national survey on engineering research activities specific to addressing this pandemic and in preparation for future pandemics.

The survey confirms that Canadian engineering professors and their students have rapidly adapted their research to develop COVID-specific diagnostic, treatment and tracking solutions, as well as exploring the best way to restart a shuttered economy safely.

The survey results show close to 300 engineering research projects underway across Canadian Universities –many of which have leveraged existing research projects but adapted them to focus on this health crisis.

Electrical and computer engineers are applying models and computational methods to understand how the infectious disease is spreading, optimizing the curve and learning from the data to make predictions on the pandemic status. In some cases, these models can be detailed enough to take into account the unique transmission and susceptibility rates for every individual based on age, transportation habits (cars or public transit), shopping patterns and health status.

Mechanical and mechatronics engineers are examining the development of anti-viral surface coatings but also the use of the 3D printers to cover the ever-increasing need for personal protective gear and other equipment, such as N95 masks, face shields, hands-free door openers and ventilator components.

Chemical Engineers are creating self-cleaning surfaces from advanced polymer coatings and composites. They are exploring nanotechnology to make antimicrobial coatings that can kill bacteria, fungi and viruses, and superhydrophobic self-cleaning surfaces that can repel liquid droplets – even those troublesome ones that become airborne when someone sneezes.

Biomedical engineers are accelerating and scaling up the production of vaccines and the way they are delivered. They are also involved in formulating a better understanding of the interactions between our bodies and the molecular entities that exert the therapeutic effects of medicines. A significant challenge for any vaccine will be the scalability of production to generate sufficient doses. An example of this is the development of a dual-modality DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine that could be delivered through a nasal spray. And they are working to prepare the production and supply-chain delivery process that will efficiently manufacture and dispense the billions of doses needed to ensure populations are quickly protected. Continued on page 5

UPCOMING DEADLINES NOVEMBER 2020 ISSUE DECEMBER 2020 ISSUE EDITORIAL: October 9 EDITORIAL: November 6 ADVERTISING: ADVERTISING: Display – October 23 | Careers – October 27 Display – November 20 | Careers – November 24 Monthly Focus: Technology and Innovation Monthly Focus: Year in Review/Future of in Healthcare / Research /Patient Experience/ Healthcare/Accreditation/Hospital Performance Health Promotion: Digital health advancements Indicators: Overview of advancements and trends and new technology in healthcare. An overview in healthcare in 2020 and a look ahead at trends of current research initiatives. Programs and and advancements in healthcare for 2020. An initiatives focused on enhancing the patient examination of how hospitals are improving the experience. Programs designed to promote quality of services through accreditation. Overview wellness and prevent disease including public of health system performance based on hospitals health initiatives, screening and hospital initiatives. performance indicators and successful initiatives + SPECIAL MEDTECH 2020 SUPPLEMENT + CSHP SUPPLEMENT hospitals have undertaken to measure and improve performance. THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS Hospital News is provided at no cost in hospitals. When you visit our advertisers, please mention you saw their ads in Hospital News.

610 Applewood Crescent, Suite 401 Vaughan Ontario L4K 0E3 TEL. 905.532.2600|FAX 1.888.546.6189 www.hospitalnews.com

Editor Kristie Jones editor@hospitalnews.com Advertising Representatives Denise Hodgson denise@hospitalnews.com Publisher Stefan Dreesen stefan@hospitalnews.com Accounting Inquiries accountingteam@mediaclassified.ca Circulation Inquiries info@hospitalnews.com Director of Print Media Lauren Reid-Sachs Senior Graphic Designer Johannah Lorenzo

ADVISORY BOARD

Barb Mildon, RN, PHD, CHE VP Professional Practice & Research & CNE, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences Helen Reilly, Publicist Health-Care Communications Jane Adams, President Brainstorm Communications & Creations Bobbi Greenberg, Health care communications Sarah Quadri Magnotta, Health care communications Dr. Cory Ross, B.A., MS.C., DC, CSM (OXON), MBA, CHE Vice President, Academic George Brown College, Toronto, ON

ASSOCIATE PARTNERS:

Hospital News is published for hospital health-care professionals, patients, visitors and students. It is available free of charge from distribution racks in hospitals in Ontario. Bulk subscriptions are available for hospitals outside Ontario. The statements, opinions and viewpoints made or expressed by the writers do not necessarily represent the opinions and views of Hospital News, or the publishers. Hospital News and Members of the Advisory Board assume no responsibility or liability for claims, statements, opinions or views, written or reported by its contributing writers, including product or service information that is advertised. Changes of address, notices, subscriptions orders and undeliverable address notifications. Subscription rate in Canada for single copies is $29.40 per year. Send enquiries to: subscriptions@ hospitalnews.com Canadian Publications mail sales product agreement number 42578518. www.hospitalnews.com

NEWS Words matter: Taking action to end Continued from page 4 Engineering our way the stigma around substance abuse Civil engineers are using their knowledge around transportation, city planning and risk management to help us R yan knew he had a problem. As a teen he had experimented with drugs. That experimenting had things we can do as a community is to consider the words we are using when talking about substance use.” This is why Interior Health is joinunderstand the impact on disruptions of supply chains on the everyday lives of people as well as our heath care systems. Network science, machine learning, quickly escalated into an addiction, ing the Addiction Matters coalition systems analysis, and multi-objective and he needed help. in inviting people everywhere to come optimization linked to our physical

But as a popular boy growing up in a together in an effort to use language and infrastructure and the ways people tight-knit community, he was worried that is compassionate and non-stigmainteract in these spaces are being deabout what people would think. Like tizing. veloped to help guide decision makers most of us, Ryan had been exposed to Staff and physicians across the around re-opening of our facilities. negative stereotypes about addiction, health authority have been taking the Environmental engineers are examcompounded by language like “junkie” pledge. The team at Southhills Tertiaining the persistence of coronavirus and “crackhead”. ry Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre in in our environment and the efficacy

“In trying to get support and help in Kamloops was among those to quickly of measuring its presence in our water the community, he was very concerned jump on board, challenging colleagues systems as a marker for coronavirus that people would know his secret and to do the same. in our communities. Wastewater can treat him badly. He’d grown up hearSandra Tully, co-chair of Addiction Take the online pledge to choose reveal the presence of the virus even ing those words. He had friends whose Matters Kamloops. person-first language and language before cases are confirmed in a comparents worked in health care and he that reflects the medical nature of munity, since those who haven’t been was terrified that they would find out,” substance use. Instead of “addict” or tested, with mild or no symptoms, still says Ryan’s mother Sandra Tully, codeclared the ongoing overdose crisis a “abuser” consider using “person with a shed the virus through urine and feces. chair of Addiction Matters Kamloops. public health emergency. Since then substance use disorder.” Avoid slang This knowledge can be translated into

“I was desperate. I finally convinced in B.C. more than 4,500 lives have or idioms like “dirty” or “clean” test the use of early warning systems that him to go to into treatment. I got in been lost. results and use “positive” or “negative” will alert public health authorities about touch with the intake nurse and, sure Ending the stigma around substance test results instead. And use language an outbreak before people start to show enough, it was someone we knew. use and drug-related deaths is a major that promotes recovery. Instead of symptoms. I started to cry. I was so happy he focus of Interior Health and its Mental referring to someone as “clean”, use Engineers are our “scientists in accould get in and get help, but at the Health and Substance Use Network. “maintained recovery” instead. tion” who have responded swiftly to same time I was terrified to tell him “We know that the stigma associ “Words matter. When you say the help fight COVID-19. Let’s not forget she would be there, because I thought ated with substance use continues to word ‘addict’, what is the image that them when we examine the many inithen he wouldn’t go. He would be too impact individuals and families, precomes to mind?” Sandra says. “Subtiatives Canadians are undertaking to embarrassed.” venting them from reaching out for stance use can impact anyone. Your make our country function in this new

“He went and was so relieved when help and accessing life-saving services best friend could be using substances.” reality. she just gave him a big hug and told and treatment. We also know that lanVisit www.AddictionMatters.ca to We all have a role to play and Canahim it was going to be ok. That is what guage can play a significant role in eilearn more and take the pledge. Downdians are rising to the challenge. ■ H we need,” says Sandra. ther perpetuating stigma or ending it,” load a selfie card to post and share on

Sadly Ryan’s battle was short-lived. says Interior Health Practice Lead and social media. Invite your colleagues, Mary Wells is Dean at the Faculty of He died of an opioid overdose at just Addiction Matters Kamloops co-chair friends and families to join. Together Engineering, University of Waterloo. 22 years old. It was 2016, the year B.C. Jessica Mensinger. “One of the easiest we can end stigma. ■ H Abbey Israel is a first-year biomedical engineering student at F RE E O Erin Toews is a Communications Consultant at Interior Health. the University of Waterloo.