7 groundbreaking U of T innovations and ideas

How do we transform AI innovation into safe global solutions?

Nobel laureate and U of T Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton is widely regarded as the ‘godfather of AI’ for laying the groundwork for today’s AI boom, attracting top researchers to Toronto and inspiring startups. In 2023, he caught global attention after issuing dire warnings about the technology’s risks. Today, researchers at U of T’s Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society are working to ensure AI is safe — and reflects human values. Learn more about how U of T is pushing for safe AI.

How do we protect children from hidden toxins?

U of T professor Miriam L. Diamond’s research into chemical contaminants in the environment made international headlines with her scholarship that demonstrated how young children could be breathing in harmful chemicals from their mattresses. Throughout her career, Diamond has identified forever chemicals in many common consumer products, from makeup to school uniforms and takeout containers, and her work has led to policy change, including California’s ban on the substances in fabrics and cosmetics. Learn more about Diamond’s life-saving research.

How can we turn the tide on microplastic pollution?

Microplastics are ubiquitous in our waterways, disrupting ecosystems and food webs and impacting our health in ways scientists are only beginning to understand. U of T professor Chelsea Rochman is leading research into the synthetic particles in Ontario’s Experimental Lakes Area, where scientists can manipulate real lakes to understand what plastics do to freshwater. Her world-leading work is informing policy change and has already led to a multi-country ban on plastic microbeads. Learn more about Rochman’s highly cited work.

How can technology help children cope with chronic pain?

Early exposure to pain can cause long-term changes to children’s bodies and make them more sensitive to it in the future. University of Toronto professor and nurse clinician-scientist Jennifer Stinson uses digital interventions — such as mobile apps, virtual reality and robotics — to help children with sickle cell disease, cancer and other diseases alleviate and cope with chronic pain. Learn more about how Stinson is addressing the health needs of children.

How can we speed up EV charging without overloading the grid?

Traditional fast EV chargers can cause power grid overloading during peak usage times or require significant investments in electricity upgrades. Jule, a startup co-founded by U of T alumnus Carmine Pizzurro, worked with Professor Reza Iravani to develop the world’s first direct current sourced electric vehicle fast charger with an integrated battery energy storage system. Now, drivers can charge their electric vehicles in less than 30 minutes while minimizing the strain on the electrical grid. Learn more about how Jule is advancing EV chargers.

How can we combat pain and the opioid crisis at once?

Opioids have traditionally been the most effective way to reduce pain after surgery, but they’re incredibly addictive and cause a host of unwanted side effects. Renowned U of T professor Molly Shoichet has invented an injectable hydrogel capable of delivering non-opioid painkillers exactly where they’re needed, potentially reducing reliance on the problematic drugs. Her third startup, AmacaThera, is showing promising results in clinical trials. Learn more about AmacaThera, the transformative U of T startup.

How can communities dismantle systemic barriers facing Indigenous women?

As a Mexican who was born and raised in Los Angeles, Jerry Flores brings an outsider’s perspective to a high-profile research project in Canada: an ethnography of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Toronto. Working closely with local organizations, the U of T professor who left the United States after Donald Trump was elected the first time has spent two years speaking to Indigenous women about their challenges. He hopes his work will inspire policy change and community action. Learn more about Flores’s community-based research.