Dynamic Partnership iBEST Faculty of Science Department of Physics 34 iBEST is the culmination of successful collaboration between Ryerson and St. Michael's Hospital researchers Partnering with St. Mike's to Conduct Cutting-Edge Research ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL and Ryerson University have launched a 20-year partnership to research and develop innovative health-care solutions and to support startup biomedical companies seeking to improve patient care. The partnership brings together Ryerson's engineering and science strengths with St. Michael's research and clinical expertise in the state-of-the-art laboratory that supports activities within iBEST (the Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science Technology). Drs. Alexandre (Sasha) Douplik, Raffi Karshafian, Michael Kolios, Jahan Tavakkoli, and Vladislav Toronov from the Department of Physics are researchers in iBEST, and will conduct cutting-edge research in biomedical imaging and therapy and biomedical delivery systems alongside St. Michael's researchers and clinician-scientists. iBEST is focusing its research in four areas: * Advanced systems of delivering medications to maximize their effectiveness and minimize side effects (including nanotechnology). * New biomaterials and cell-based therapies to restore the structure and function of damaged tissues and organs. * Biomedical imaging at the cellular and tissue level. * New tools to improve our understanding of massive amounts of health-care data.