The Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research (CDCR) is accelerating the translation of fundamental cancer research into real-world solutions, including new therapies that target some of the most challenging aspects of the disease.

That impact is exemplified by the launch of Block Biosciences, a McMaster startup co-founded by Professors Sheila Singh (inaugural Director of the CDCR) and Jakob Magolan, alongside student- entrepreneur Agata Kieliszek. The company is advancing a new class of small-molecule drugs designed to prevent lung cancer from spreading to the brain – a form of metastasis associated with poor outcomes.

Building on discoveries made through CDCR-supported research, the team has identified and is targeting a key enzyme that metastatic cancer cells rely on to survive and spread. By disrupting this process, their approach aims to stop metastasis at a critical stage, offering a potential new pathway for treatment where few effective options currently exist.

With proof-of-principle studies already complete, Block Biosciences is now advancing toward first-in-human clinical trials anticipated within the next few years. The company represents a powerful example of how interdisciplinary collaboration – spanning cancer biology, medicinal chemistry and entrepreneurship – can move promising discoveries beyond the lab.

By enabling this kind of translational pipeline, CDCR continues to play a pivotal role in turning scientific insight into tangible health innovations, with the potential to improve outcomes for patients in Canada and around the world.

The McMaster Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI) plays a leading role in advancing Indigenous scholarship at McMaster by fostering spaces for connection, dialogue and community-engaged research.

A cornerstone of this work is Indigenous Research Day, which has become a signature annual gathering at McMaster. Hosted for the first time in 2022, Indigenous Research Day brings together Indigenous faculty, students, Elders and community partners to showcase the depth and breadth of Indigenous research at McMaster. Led by MIRI in collaboration with multiple University and community partners, including the Indigenous Studies Department, Indigenous Student Services, the Indigenous Health Learning Lodge, FEAST, and the Office of Advancement, the event reflects a strong, cross-institutional commitment to supporting Indigenous research.

The event extends beyond showcasing projects. It creates a visible and affirming space where Indigenous methodologies, community-based research, and creative scholarship are centered, fostering meaningful dialogue across disciplines and communities. Presentations span a wide range of topics, from land-based knowledge and health research to community partnerships and knowledge mobilization, highlighting both emerging and established work.

A defining feature of Indigenous Research Day is its Indigenous artisan market, which features local artists and strengthens connections between research, culture and community. Together, these elements reinforce the event’s role as both an academic and cultural gathering.

By strengthening networks, raising the profile of Indigenous scholarship, and fostering collaboration, Indigenous Research Day continues to shape institutional priorities while showcasing the powerful impact of Indigenous research at McMaster and beyond.

The Centre for Human Rights and Restorative Justice (CHRRJ) is advancing critical conversations at the intersection of human rights, democracy and participation – creating space for inclusive, globally engaged dialogue.

In October 2025, CHRRJ hosted “Democratizing Human Rights: Towards an Inclusive & Participatory Human Rights Agenda,” a two-day hybrid conference organized in collaboration with Participedia. Bringing together scholars, practitioners and activists from across Canada and around the world – including participants from Australia, Brazil, Ghana, India, the Philippines and South Africa – the conference created a dynamic forum for interdisciplinary exchange.

Structured around seven thematic panels, the program featured 20 selected papers spanning fields such as political science, constitutional law, children’s rights, anthropology and design research. A keynote address by the Honourable Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji of the Caribbean Court of Justice anchored the event, alongside a panel on human rights, leadership and democratic principles with Bonny Ibhawoh (McMaster University), Melissa Levin (University of Toronto) and Lara Campbell (McMaster’s Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement).

Designed to encourage active participation, the conference incorporated workshop-style sessions, Q&As and networking opportunities, alongside podcast interviews exploring how participatory processes can shape human rights practice. Its hybrid format enabled broad access and engagement, supporting contributions from both early-career and established voices.
Supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Connection Grant led by Bonny Ibhawoh, the conference reflects CHRRJ’s commitment to fostering inclusive, participatory approaches to human rights, and to co-creating new knowledge, tools and perspectives to address evolving global challenges.

The McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind (MIMM) is advancing new ways to study how people experience and respond to music and other shared environments through innovative tools developed at LIVELab.

A major milestone in this work is the creation of SocialEyes, which was featured at the influential
CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Developed by Dr. Lauren Fink and graduate student Shreshth Saxena, the open source system enables researchers to capture and analyze synchronized eye-tracking data from multiple participants at the same time in real world environments.

Traditionally, eye-tracking research has focused on one participant at a time in highly controlled lab settings. SocialEyes extends this capability to group contexts, allowing gaze data to be recorded simultaneously from many individuals and aligned over shared experiences such as concerts, film screenings and lectures.

Pilot testing in LIVELab demonstrated the system’s ability to capture and synchronize data across participants, enabling researchers to examine how attention shifts within groups and how individuals collectively engage with dynamic real-world events. By projecting gaze data into a shared analytical space, the system makes it possible to study patterns of collective attention that are not visible through single-user approaches.

Developed as an open-source platform, SocialEyes reflects a broader commitment within MIMM and LIVELab to making advanced research tools more widely accessible, while opening new possibilities for studying perception, attention and social interaction in everyday settings.

The Biointerfaces Institute (BI) is supporting innovation in Canada’s growing biomanufacturing sector through advanced infrastructure and industry collaboration. At the centre of this work is the Sartorius Bioprocess Automation Lab, a 1,600-square-foot facility located within the Institute. As the first lab of its kind in Canada dedicated exclusively to automating continuous biomanufacturing processes, it plays a key role in advancing the biologics value chain. The lab was also the first facility launched with support from Stage Two of the Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF), part of a $2.2 billion national initiative to strengthen Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sector.

Within months of opening in 2025, McMaster students, working in collaboration with scientists from Sartorius, completed their first perfusion run – a continuous way of growing and maintaining cells to produce biologic therapies. Using automated systems that monitor and adjust conditions in real time, the team was able to improve how efficiently
these processes run. Their results showed approximately 70 per cent higher productivity,
consistent performance across multiple stages of production, and cell viability above
95 per cent throughout, demonstrating how automation can help make biomanufacturing
more stable, efficient and scalable.

Through partnerships like this, McMaster is helping to train highly qualified personnel with skills in automated control and advanced data analytics. Students also gain hands-on experience through training opportunities at Sartorius research facilities in Germany and the United States, working alongside industry experts. Together, these efforts are helping to address skills gaps and support the development of Canada’s biomanufacturing sector.

The McMaster Digital Transformation Research Centre (MDTRC) is advancing research to better understand and address barriers to digital participation among older adults, with a focus on real-world impact and community collaboration.

Through the MIRA-funded EMPOWrD Major Program of Research, MDTRC is examining key factors that shape digital inclusion, including mobility, health, misinformation resilience and social connection. This work spans six integrated research dimensions, enabling a comprehensive approach to understanding how older adults engage with digital technologies in everyday life.

A defining feature of the EMPOWrD program is its commitment to co-design. Older adults, care partners, and community organizations – including more than 100 stakeholders and end users to date – are actively involved in shaping research questions, technologies and interventions, ensuring that outcomes reflect lived experience and practical needs. This collaborative model supports the development of more accessible and relevant digital solutions.

One of the program’s early projects brought together partners including the Hamilton Public Library and City Housing Hamilton, using the McMaster User Experience Lab (MUXL) to examine digital literacy training among older adults living in community housing. The project explored how targeted training can support greater confidence and engagement with digital tools.

By combining interdisciplinary research with community partnership and co-design, MDTRC is contributing to new approaches that support digital inclusion and participation, helping to ensure that older adults are not left behind in an increasingly digital world.

The Digital Society Lab is advancing interdisciplinary research to better understand and respond to the societal transformations of the digital age.

In 2025, the Lab marked a key milestone with the launch of its inaugural Social Impact Hackathon – a free, beginner-friendly competition designed to support students and alumni as they develop digital tools that can be used to address real-world challenges.

Throughout the weeklong event, participants attended a series of workshops about design thinking, wireframing, and product discovery, and participated in mentorship sessions with members of the Digital Society Lab team. The hackathon culminated in a final pitch competition at LR Wilson Hall, where projects were evaluated based on their creativity, scalability, and potential for social impact by a 3-member panel of external experts from the digital technology and social innovation sectors.

The first-place $1,000 prize went to the “Hackstreet Boys,” a team of McMaster Engineering students, for their app idea that helps users track their personal carbon footprint. As part of their prize, the team worked closely with the Digital Society Lab during the summer semester to build and evaluate a prototype based on their winning idea.

By creating opportunities for students and alumni to develop and share ideas, the hackathon reflects the Lab’s commitment to connecting research with practice. Through initiatives like this, the Digital Society Lab is supporting the development of evidence based digital applications that respond to complex societal needs.