Scott Sanner, University of Toronto

Research

Bayesian updating decision-theoretic planning deep learning graphical models machine learning MDP POMDP uncertainty in AI

Latest papers

Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Medical Question Answering on a Heart Failure Dataset: Performance Analysis.
JMIR formative research · 2026 · senior author
A longitudinal study of topic classification on Twitter.
PeerJ. Computer science · 2022
Evaluation of Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Readmission After Acute Myocardial Infarction Using Routinely Collected Clinical Data.
The Canadian journal of cardiology · 2020 · senior author

All 6 publications

Latest funding

Unifying Recent Advances in Deep Learning with Decision-theoretic Planning for Learned MDPs and POMDPs
NSERC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$165,000
Machine Learning, Sentiment, and Social Media Analysis for Financial Analytics
NSERC · 2018 · Principal investigator
$25,000
Machine learning for residential building HVAC analytics platform
NSERC · 2017 · Principal investigator
$85,336

All 9 grants and awards

6 publications.

01

Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Medical Question Answering on a Heart Failure Dataset: Performance Analysis.

Zhang S, Phan E, Velmovitsky P, Pham Q, Sanner S

JMIR formative research2026Senior author

DOI: 10.2196/84932 PMID: 41747226

02

A longitudinal study of topic classification on Twitter.

Bouadjenek MR, Sanner S, Iman Z, Xie L, Shi DX

PeerJ. Computer science2022

DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.991 PMID: 35721404

03

Evaluation of Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting Readmission After Acute Myocardial Infarction Using Routinely Collected Clinical Data.

Gupta S, Ko DT, Azizi P, Bouadjenek MR, Koh M, Chong A, Austin PC, Sanner S

The Canadian journal of cardiology2020Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2019.10.023 PMID: 32204950

04

Deep learning-based selection of human sperm with high DNA integrity.

McCallum C, Riordon J, Wang Y, Kong T, You JB, Sanner S, Lagunov A, Hannam TG, Jarvi K, Sinton D

Communications biology2019

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0491-6 PMID: 31286067

05

Deep Learning with Microfluidics for Biotechnology.

Riordon J, Sovilj D, Sanner S, Sinton D, Young EWK

Trends in biotechnology2019

DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.08.005 PMID: 30301571

06

Measuring and Mitigating the Costs of Attentional Switches in Active Network Monitoring for Cybersecurity.

Kortschot SW, Sovilj D, Jamieson GA, Sanner S, Carrasco C, Soh H

Human factors2018

DOI: 10.1177/0018720818784107 PMID: 29995449

Unifying Recent Advances in Deep Learning with Decision-theoretic Planning for Learned MDPs and POMDPs

Principal investigatorNSERC2022Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Sanner, Scott

Keywords: mdp; pomdp; decision-theoretic planning; machine learning; deep learning; bayesian updating; graphical models; uncertainty in ai

$165,000

Machine Learning, Sentiment, and Social Media Analysis for Financial Analytics

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Sanner, Scott

$25,000

Machine learning for residential building HVAC analytics platform

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Principal investigators: Sanner, Scott

$85,336

Advanced IT/OT convergence methods for secure power grid control

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Strategic Projects - Group

Principal investigators: Kundur, Deepa

$341,598

Deep Unsupervised Learning for Network Anomaly Detection

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Sanner, Scott

$25,000

Improving Transition of Care and Outcomes of Cardiovascular Disease Using an Innovative Big Data Approach

Co-investigatorCIHR2016Foundation Grant

Principal investigators: Ko, Dennis

Keywords: Big Data; Cardiovascular Disease; Determinants Of Outcomes; Health Services; Knowledge Translation; Quality Improvement; Quality Of Care; Transitional Care

$2,005,020

Continuous Decision Diagrams for Machine Learning and Decision-theoretic AI Planning

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Sanner, Scott

$276,000

Adaptive level of detail displays based on machine reasoning methods

Co-investigatorNSERC2016Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Principal investigators: Jamieson, Gregory

$124,000

Machine learning enabled adaptive user interfaces for enhanced network security

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Sanner, Scott

$25,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Department of Surgery
Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation

Co-authors at University of Toronto, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

David Sinton

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2019

Keith Jarvi

Department of Surgery

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Quynh Pham

Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2022

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Bayesian updating Dear Professor Sanner, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Medical Question Answering on a Heart Failure Dataset: Performance Analysis." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Unifying Recent Advances in Deep Learning with Decision-theoretic Planning for Learned MDPs and POMDPs" (2022), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]