Innovative approaches using biological systems and processes for mitigating the challenges in biotechnology and the environment

人类在21世纪面临着新的挑战，其中包括“碳捕获”、“氮循环和营养管理”、“清洁和安全的水”以及“设计更好的药物和技术”等重大问题。除了环境和社会效益外，对这些具体挑战采取更好和新颖的解决办法，可以在短期和长期内产生新的产业、附带利益、就业机会和其他活动。在这项拟议的研究计划中，它建立在现有的研究优势，以及生物化学和生物环境工程的原则，提出了在健康，营养管理和清洁水领域的创新方法。提出了三个具体项目。第一个项目利用流化离子交换技术作为替代方法，以克服与重组蛋白质重折叠相关的挑战。第二个项目的重点是利用离子交换和嗜盐微藻去除营养物（铵、硝酸盐和磷酸盐）。第三个项目涉及从含盐废水沃茨中去除金属的重要和困难领域，并建议在UWO启动一个新的研究方向，具有解决“清洁和安全水”问题的巨大潜力。拟议的研究将在本研究期间培训6名HQP（4名博士和2名MESc）。拟议的研究有可能吸引新的资金和合作，从行业和其他政府机构在国内和国际。

New challenges have emerged for humanity in the 21st century which include "carbon capture", "nitrogen cycle and nutrient management", "clean and safe water" and "engineering better medicines and technology" as some of the significant issues of concern. In addition to the environmental and societal benefits, better and novel solutions to these specific challenges can lead to the generation of new industry, spin-offs, jobs and other activities over both the short and long term. In this proposed research program, which builds on existing research strengths, and the principles of biochemical and bio-environmental engineering, innovative approaches are proposed in the areas of health, nutrient management and clean water. Three specific projects are proposed. The first project utilizes a fluidized ion exchange technology as an alternative approach to overcome challenges related to the refolding of recombinant proteins. The second project focuses on removal of nutrients (ammonium, nitrates and phosphates) using a combination of ion exchange and halophilic microalgae. The third project addresses the important and difficult area of metal removal from saline waste waters and proposes to initiate a new direction of research at UWO with significant potential to address the issues of "clean and safe water". The proposed research will train 6 HQP (4 PhD and 2 MESc) over the duration of this study. The proposed research has potential to attract new funding and collaborations from Industry and other government agencies both nationally and Internationally.