Thirteen York University researchers have received infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support projects in artificial intelligence, health equity, nanosatellite manufacturing, muscle health and more.
More than $1.5 million in funding was earmarked for York projects through the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF), which supports innovative research by helping institutions attract top talent and acquire the state-of-the-art tools and equipment.
The researchers whose projects were recognized with funding span a range of expertise from the Faculty of Health, Lassonde School of Engineering, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and Osgoode Hall Law School.
York's JELF recipients
John Douglas Crawford, Faculty of Health
Project: Cortical Networks for Natural Sensorimotor Behaviours
Amount: $200,000
This project will create a research space to study how the brain supports everyday actions like making coffee or doing a puzzle. Using lightweight tools that track movement and brain activity without interference, the team will collect detailed data during natural tasks. The research will reveal how brain regions coordinate and adapt in real time, offering insights into real-life behaviour.
Elham Dolatabadi, Faculty of Health
Project: Establishment of Health Equity and AI Lab (HEAL)
Amount: $96,000
HEAL uses AI to promote health equity and reduce disparities across Canada. With new funding, it will collect diverse health data and develop AI tools to analyze it fairly, uncovering how social and economic factors affect outcomes – especially for racialized and underserved communities – and guiding better health care policies and access.
Stephanie Gora, Lassonde School of Engineering
Project: Research infrastructure to initiate the York University Community Water Hub
Amount: $140,000
Funding will support equipment to study the effects of climate change and pollution on lakes, particularly in northern regions. The project will improve water safety and resilience throughout the water cycle, focusing on small communities. Tools such as advanced microscopes, portable water quality instruments and remote monitoring gear will help analyze contaminants and support the creation of a York University Community Water Hub for collaborative research and solutions.
Manar Jammal, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Project: Futuristic infrastructures for AI framework: Pioneering self-healing cloud and smart cities
Amount: $75,120
This project will support the AI Research Lab, which uses smart technologies to help cities operate more efficiently and safely. The lab will develop systems that detect and fix infrastructure issues, improve transportation, reduce crime risks and ensure reliable services. High-performance computing will enable hands-on research, student training and interdisciplinary collaboration, positioning York as a leader in applied AI for urban life.
Cuiying Jian, Lassonde School of Engineering
Project: Molecular interactions and structures at solid/liquid interfaces for environmental applications
Amount: $149,000
Jian’s research supports Canada’s shift to cleaner energy, which relies on minerals like lithium that produce difficult-to-manage waste. The project will study how particles interact at the microscopic level to improve cleanup and reduce land use for waste storage. Combining sensitive measurement tools with computer models, the research will enable faster pollutant detection and design of surfaces that resist build up.
George Mochizuki, Faculty of Health
Project: Walking while talking: Assessing the interplay between age, distraction and mobility
Amount: $72,422
Falls are the leading cause of injury in older adults in Canada. This project will examine how distraction affects balance and mobility in middle-aged and older adults, with and without a history of falls. The goal is to identify early predictors of fall risk and support strategies to reduce injuries as people age.
Ryan Orszulik, Lassonde School of Engineering
Project: Additive manufacturing for next-generation space systems and robotics
Amount: $144,632
Orszulik’s project will acquire a high-precision 3D printer – the Nanogrande MPL-200 – to create detailed parts from metal, ceramic and plastic. The equipment will support the design and fabrication of small-scale robots and nanosatellites, overcoming challenges of precision and assembly at miniature scales. The research will advance manufacturing methods for space and robotics, contributing to Canada’s leadership in these growing sectors.
Michael Paris, Faculty of Health
Project: A novel laboratory to study sarcopenia and the neuromuscular control of movement across the ageing spectrum
Amount: $80,000
Paris will establish a lab to study sarcopenia – the age-related loss of muscle strength and mass – and how it affects mobility and independence in older adults. The research will explore how exercise influences muscle and nerve function, using new equipment to track disease progression and develop effective rehabilitation strategies.
Devin Phillips, Faculty of Health
Project: A novel laboratory to investigate cardiorespiratory function and perceived dyspnea during physiological stress in humans
Amount: $138,000
This project will create a lab to study why people experience shortness of breath – or dyspnea – during physical activity. By examining how the heart and lungs respond to movement and how breathlessness is perceived, the research will improve understanding and treatment of this common and limiting symptom.
Lara Pierce and Heather Prime, Faculty of Health
Project: Neurodevelopmental-intervention testing suite to identify and prevent transdiagnostic risk for mental health challenges
Amount: $120,000
Pierce and Prime's project will establish a family-friendly testing suite to study how early brain development influences mental health. Using tools like video recording, feedback technology and EEG (electroencephalogram), the research will explore how environmental factors shape development and how early interventions can support children and families. The work integrates biology, psychology and sociology to address real-life mental health challenges.
Sean Rehaag, Osgoode Hall Law School
Project: Refugee Law Lab: Algorithmic justice for people on the move
Amount: $23,963
The Refugee Law Lab, co-hosted by York’s Centre for Refugee Studies and Osgoode Hall Law School, researches legal analytics, AI and border control technologies affecting refugees and non-citizens. New funding will support a secure local server for developing legal analytics using large datasets that can’t be hosted in the cloud. The server will also support open-source legal tech projects that promote access to justice and protect the rights of displaced and marginalized people.
Anthony Scime, Faculty of Health
Project: Integrated platform for high-resolution analyses of stem cells and tissues in response to metabolic pre-conditioning
Amount: $100,000
Scime’s project will develop strategies to restore muscle function in aging Canadians and those with peripheral artery disease. With new equipment, the research will study how muscle stem cells and vascular cells repair skeletal muscle over time, addressing a major health care challenge that currently lacks effective solutions.
Georg Zoidl, Faculty of Health
Project: Interrogating plasticity of electro-chemical synapses using multiphoton imaging microscopy
Amount: $200,000
Zoidl’s project will use a multiphoton imaging microscope to study how brain cells communicate and adapt – key to understanding vision, learning, memory and brain disorders. The technology allows real-time observation of brain activity from single cells to networks, offering insights into how electrical and chemical signals shape brain function. The project also supports interdisciplinary training and health-focused innovation.