Lakehead University Research & Innovation

Lakehead University and Hydro One are teaming up to build a more resilient power system for Ontario.

As Ontario’s largest electricity transmission and distribution service provider, Hydro One manages over 33,000 kilometres of transmission lines provincewide. These lines are located above power corridors—strips of land that must be kept clear of tall-growing trees and vegetation to reduce the risk of power supply disruption and wildfires.

Researchers from ’s Faculty of Natural Resources Management - Lakehead University are working with Hydro One to test new and innovative ways of applying herbicides to ensure low-growing vegetation continues to thrive.

“We need science-backed practices that will enable better vegetation management strategies while supporting a strong, reliable power network,” says Andrew McNeil, manager of Hydro One’s forestry business and innovation group. “This research is giving us invaluable insights and tools to work with.”

Click the link in the comments to learn more about how this first-of-its-kind partnership is driving innovation in the utility sector.

Join us at the CEN-CAN Expo!

Lakehead University will be an exhibitor at the Central Canada Resource Expo, Northern Ontario’s leading event connecting professionals from the mining and energy sectors.

🗓️ Wednesday & Thursday, September 9-10, 2026

This dynamic two-day expo fosters industry networking, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas with live equipment demonstrations, insightful presentations, a job fair, and over 300 exhibits.

Lakehead University students and faculty may register for FREE at www.cencanexpo.ca with the discount code 2375157.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

Ingenuity recently hosted kinesiology students for a weekend of hands-on innovation.

Students worked in teams to develop business ideas from idea to launch with guidance from Ingenuity manager, Alyson MacKay who facilitated workshops on business models, basic financials, and the art of the perfect pitch.

The weekend culminated in a pitch competition before a panel of judges, with the grand prize of candy and ultimate bragging rights on the line. 🍬🏆

The winning team’s standout idea focused on seasonally adjustable mobility aids designed to adapt to winter elements like snow and ice without requiring a full product replacement. Congratulations to the winning team for this practical, innovative, and highly impact-driven idea!

Ingenuity is thrilled to celebrate five years of partnering with Lakehead University's School of Kinesiology to deliver this experiential, for-credit programming.

Lakehead researchers have secured more than $2.7 million in NSERC funding to support groundbreaking research that will help protect our communities and our environment. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

From improving fire safety in mass timber buildings to protecting biodiversity in northwestern Ontario's forests, this research is driving real world solutions while creating opportunities for students to learn alongside leading researchers.

📚 Read more about this year's funded projects here - https://loom.ly/oMj81hA

“As a kid, I was always fascinated by trees,” Dr. Mat Leitch says. “I spent my childhood climbing them and running through the forest.”

Dr. Leitch—a wood sciences professor with the Faculty of Natural Resources Management - Lakehead University—recently wrapped up a series of workshops where his love of trees was on full display.

He organized and hosted the month-long “Workshop in Wood Science and Forest Products.”

The workshop was attended by forestry professionals from Ghana and funded by the Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 (BCDI 2030) program.

The workshop participants were bowled over by northwestern Ontario’s innovative approaches to forestry and keen to apply what they learned.

“They were constantly taking selfies because they were so excited,” Dr. Leitch says.

He also made sure to show them some northwestern Ontario hospitality, including visits to Kakabeka Falls and Ouimet Canyon where they observed unique arctic plant life.

Click the link below to learn how this international partnership is helping make Ghana’s forest industry more profitable and sustainable.

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/news-and-events/news/archive/2026

What if your phone could warn you about an allergy attack before it happens?

That's the future researchers at and the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre are working toward.

With a $248,750 grant from the New Frontiers in Research Fund’s (NFRF) Exploration stream, Computer Science professor Dr. Thiago Eustaquio Alves de Oliveira and an interdisciplinary research team are developing an AI-powered system that can detect, identify and classify airborne allergens in real time—then turn that data into personalized health alerts through an AI-driven mobile app.

This project will help researchers explore how real-time data can support better day-to-day decisions for individuals, while helping healthcare providers in our region anticipate and respond to emerging community health needs.

Read more: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/news-and-events/news/archive/2026/node/349875



Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash

At the Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station (LUARS), seeing is believing!

At LUARS’ annual summer tour, director Dr. Tarlok Sahota battled the rain to showcase over 20 promising new crop varieties, including winter camelina and Hulless Food Barley, and highlight findings from nearly 50 experiments. Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to support local agricultural research.

LUARS is proud to support the resilience of our local farming community and fuel the growth of the agri-food industry in northwestern Ontario. With innovative products and production practices, LUARS is helping farmers boost crop yields, improve quality, and increase profits.

LUARS is funded in part by the Governments of Canada and Ontario under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative administered by Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

For youth in northwestern Ontario, timely access to mental health care is a significant challenge.

To help bridge this gap, researchers at have launched the Help in Hand initiative in partnership with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, Children's Centre Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, School Mental Health Ontario, and McGill University’s Ludic Mind Studio.

Supported by a $2 million investment from Health Canada's Youth Mental Health Fund, the initiative brings digital mental health tools directly into schools and strengthens connections to additional care.

Led by clinical psychologist and Lakehead University Research Chair in Youth Mental Health, Dr. Aislin Mushquash, Help in Hand is part of her broader research program focused on helping young people thrive in an increasingly digitally connected world.

Read more: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/news-and-events/news/archive/2026/node/349891

Congratulations to Dr. Pedram Fatehi, chemical engineering professor and director of Lakehead University’s Biorefining Research Institute, for being elected to the 2026 Class of Distinguished Fellows by the International Engineering and Technology Institute (IETI).

“I am delighted to be chosen as an IETI Distinguished Fellow. This election reflects Lakehead University’s expert teamwork and our success in promoting sustainability and responsible resource management,” Dr. Fatehi says.

Dr. Fatehi was selected through a rigorous evaluation process that recognized his pioneering research in green technologies and his dedication to sustainable engineering.

🔗 Click the link in the comments to learn more.

🎉 Registration is almost here!

Our Palliative Care Conference Booster registration will be opening VERY soon!

Get ready for an inspiring day featuring Dr. Erin Gallagher and her keynote, Dying is Forking Hard, along with practical sessions, networking opportunities, and more.

👀 Watch this space—we'll be announcing registration shortly!

Lakehead University Research & Innovation