Reviewing the 2020 Niagara Investment Summit – Day 1: Early Technology Showcase

The 2020 Niagara Investment Summit began with the Early Technology Showcase featuring presentations from Canada’s leading universities and health organizations presenting about the most promising technologies in their research portfolios and early stage health science companies emerging from their institutions and research labs. The following provides highlights of the presentations from our Showcase Partners:

CANet – Dr. Bryce Pickard, Managing Director and COO of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Network of Canada (CANet), presented CANet’s approach to identifying technologies that address the enormous health challenges of Sudden Cardiac Death, Atrial Fibrillation and Syncope and the importance of working with physicians and clinicians as part of this process. Dr. Pickard highlighted CANet’s annual public forum, this year focusing on emerging technologies in arrhythmia care, and highlighted Presenting Companies Aufero Medical and 42 Health Sensors.

CCRM – Robin Quirk, Director, Technology Sourcing and Venture Development, described CCRM’s venture development process. Dr. Quirk highlighted CCRM’s work with Notch Therapeutics, a company working in the field of gene-modified T cell therapy and also spoke about Presenting Companies Kisoji and Triumvira. Additionally, Dr. Quirk spoke about some of the current projects CCRM is incubating, including one focused on cells as drug delivery vehicles.

CHEO Research Institute (RI) –Researcher Dr. Eric LaCasse, presented the research successes and opportunities emerging from CHEO RI. Dr. LaCasse highlighted the work of the Institute’s presenting company PROTAXIS Therapeutics, as well as University of Ottawa presenting companies, HitchHike Therapeutics and MedBiome.

McGill University – Olivia Novac, Associate Director, Technology Transfer, spoke about how McGill works with researchers to support the commercialization of their research and some of the top technologies being developed at the university. Dr. Novac’s presentation also highlighted the work of two McGill presenting companies – INViCARE and ODS Medical.

McMaster University – Gay Yuyitung, Executive Director, MILO, spoke about McMaster’s research successes and some of the most promising research taking place in its labs.  Dr. Yuyitung highlighted the work of presenting companies – Allarta and Elarex as well as several of McMaster’s early technology companies – OptimEyes, TBI Finder, Enhanced Medical Nutrition, Gene Blueprint and Woundnostics.

Stem Cell Network – Cate Murray, Executive Director and COO, spoke about the Canada-wide reach of the Network, which offers the ability to build cross-Canada teams to advance research projects. Canada has an opportunity to be a world leader in this area, Ms. Murray said, with stem cell research being founded and pioneered in Canada and the field continuing to be an area of scientific strength and achievement. Ms. Murray highlighted the work of presenting companies - Aspect Biosystems, ExCellThera, Morphocell, Satellos and Stem Axon.

Following the Showcase presentations was a panel discussion on Emerging Research and Investment Trends in Healthcare. A panel of industry experts, VCs, strategics and CEOs (including two Order of Canada appointees), examined the latest trends in healthcare research that have the potential to transform how we provide patient care and the recent patterns emerging in the health industry.

The day ended with an evening networking reception showcasing Summit sponsors – Business Wire, Carleton University, Innovative Medicines Canada, Norton Rose Fulbright, Prolucid, Silicon Valley Bank and Therapure.