From lab benches to local watersheds, McGill researchers are investigating some of today's most pressing water challenges. The Brace Water Innovation Seed Grants recipients are leading new initiatives that tackle everything from clean water access and sustainable farming to plastic pollution and emerging health risks.
Backed by the Brace Water Centre, these interdisciplinary teams are launching early-stage projects designed to spark collaboration, generate preliminary results, and build the foundation for larger, externally funded research. Each project reflects the Centre's mission to advance science that supports sustainable water futures—where innovation meets impact at the crossroads of environment, public health, and society.
Meet the teams behind this year's new water research initiatives:
From Lab to Leaf: Next-Gen Biopesticides for Eco-Friendly Farming
Project: Mesoporous silica nanoparticle-encapsulated biopesticides for efficient control of pathogens in crops and reduced pesticide contamination in crop fields
Lead researchers: Prof. Subhasis Ghoshal (PI), Prof. Codruta Ignea (co-I), Prof. Martin Filion (co-I)
As synthetic pesticides increasingly raise concerns for environmental safety, human health, and water contamination, new solutions are urgently needed to protect crops without harming ecosystems. This project will explore the development of next generation biopesticides using synthetic biology and nanotechnology to meet this challenge.
Researchers will engineer yeast to produce natural pesticide compounds, which will be packaged in biodegradable particles for slow-release application on crops. This innovative formulation aims to enhance crop protection, reduce chemical runoff into water systems, and lower farmers' costs. If successful, the project could help advance sustainable agriculture and organic food production in Quebec and around the world.
Addressing Plastic Pollution Through Indigenous Knowledge and Global Engagement
Project: Honouring the Waters: Indigenous Science in the Global Plastic Pollution Crisis
Lead researchers: Prof. Niladri (Nil) Basu (PI), Prof. Nathalie Tufenkji (co-I), Prof. Colin Scott (co-I)
Despite being on the front lines of the plastic pollution crisis, Indigenous communities continue to face systemic barriers to having their rights, knowledge systems, and leadership fully recognized in global environmental efforts. A new research initiative, to be developed in partnership with the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory, will aim to help shift that narrative.
The project will co-develop a culturally grounded, community-led microplastic monitoring program by bringing together experts in Indigenous science, natural resource science, anthropology, and chemical engineering. Designed to reflect local priorities and exposure risks, the program will generate critical baseline data to inform upcoming UN-led global plastic assessments.
In parallel, the team will work to identify and address the structural barriers that have historically limited Indigenous participation in international environmental decision-making—laying the groundwork for more equitable, inclusive, and impactful solutions on the global stage.
Tracking the Invisible: Mapping Chemical Contaminants in Canada's Waterways
Project: Assessment of the risk of Canadian and global surface water pollution by emerging contaminants from municipal, industrial, and livestock sources
Lead researchers: Prof. Bernhard Lehner (PI), Prof. Jim Nicell (co-PI)
Canada’s rivers and lakes face growing threats from invisible chemical pollutants—substances that can harm ecosystems, wildlife, and human health but often go undetected by traditional monitoring methods. This project will advance HydroFATE, a global model for tracking chemical pollutants in freshwater, to better understand risks in Canada's rivers and lakes.
The updated model will integrate high-resolution data on population and wastewater infrastructure to identify contamination hotspots and assess how pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, and other emerging contaminants accumulate. The research will also evaluate human and ecosystem health risks, informing smarter, data-driven environmental policies across Canada and internationally.
Weather, Waste, and Viruses: A New Model for Water Quality
Project: Recreational Water Quality Monitoring and Safety Prediction in the St. Lawrence River Watershed
Lead researchers: Prof. Stephanie Loeb (PI), Prof. Genevieve Ali (co-I)
When you head out for a swim, you expect the water to be safe—but rising pollution and slow, inadequate testing methods threaten that trust. This project will aim to transform how we monitor the safety of recreational waters—moving beyond indicators like E. coli toward more accurate, responsive tools.
Using molecular techniques such as qPCR to detect viral markers specific to humans, researchers will build predictive models that incorporate real-time weather and hydrological data to better inform public health decision-making—particularly during heavy rainfalls intensified by climate change.
Focusing on the St. Lawrence River watershed, the project will address rising concerns about waterborne illness while supporting the long-term stewardship of Quebec's ecologically and culturally significant waterways.
Rethinking Copper Safety: From Plumbing to Public Health
Project: Copper in drinking water – an under-assessed health risk
Lead researchers: Prof. Susan Gaskin (PI), Prof. Kim Berlo (co-I), Prof. Sidney Omelon (co-I)
Copper is a micronutrient and commonly found in drinking water. However, the partition of copper, i.e. whether the copper is dissolved, bound to small particles, bound to organic matter or bound to sediments, affects its bioavailability.
In this project, the team will study the complex chemistry of copper to determine how water infrastructure, water use, and water quality parameters affect copper speciation and bioavailability in drinking water at point-of-use in a range of building types and sizes. The findings will be used to assess current water quality guidelines and may inform recommendations for their revision.
