The first seven Ontario research initiatives to be spawned from an IBM Canada Inc.-led public/private research network were unveiled today, and they take aim at some of the biggest challenges in healthcare and sustainability:
* Western University will study the human brain to find faster, less expensive and better diagnostics for conditions including autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimers and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
* University of Ontario Institute of Technology is establishing how to use cloud computing so physicians treating critical patients in remote areas can have access to advanced decision support tools
* McMaster University is developing software to certify the safety of insulin pumps
* University of Ottawa is working to set up a way patients’ confidential medical information can be anonymized and studied by researchers to improve treatment
* Queen’s University is exploring techniques for the creation of analytics-as-a-service for health/medical researchers
* University of Waterloo will study how to create better weather and wind power forecasts, to help utility companies plan and maintain service
* University of Toronto is analyzing data collected in the Grand River Watershed to understand the impact of global warming on the region
All of the research relies on hardware and software technologies from IBM. In April 2012, IBM invested $175 million to form the "IBM Canada Research and Development Centre" as a foundation for a collaborative research network. Other partners in the network include the governments of Canada and Ontario, and the seven universities.