Revolutionizing Stroke Treatment: The Ottawa Hospital First To Adopt Vena Medical’s Innovative Device

July 10, 2024 (Toronto, Ontario) – In a significant advancement in stroke care, The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) has successfully adopted Vena Medical's Balloon Distal Access Catheter (BDAC™) into its stroke treatment protocol. This follows a comprehensive evaluation through OBIO's Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), highlighting a leap forward in mechanical thrombectomy effectiveness. 

The Vena BDAC™ combines balloon guide and distal access catheter technologies to significantly improve the First Pass Effect (FPE) in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), a life-threatening and debilitating condition. FPE is the successful removal of a blood clot on the first attempt during thrombectomy, which is vital for reducing brain damage. By enhancing this critical factor, the BDAC™ seeks to decrease the debilitating effects and mortality associated with strokes, thereby improving recovery times and overall patient outcomes. This advancement addresses the pressing health and economic challenges of stroke care, offering a promising improvement for those affected by this serious health issue. 

The recent evaluation at TOH indicated significant improvements in stroke treatment outcomes with Vena Medical's BDAC™. FPE increased to 64%, well above the industry average of 44%. These results suggest notable improvements in patient health at the 90-day mark, particularly in terms of functional independence. The adoption of the BDAC™ at TOH highlights its vital role in enhancing stroke care and improving treatment outcomes.

Michael Phillips, Vena Medical’s Co-founder and CEO, remarked, "It's great to see The Ottawa Hospital putting themselves on the map as an early adopter and champion of innovation in Canada. Through EAHN™, TOH is the first in the world to adopt Vena Medical's latest stroke technology, the Vena Balloon Distal Access Catheter as their device of choice. Canadians continue to be the first to benefit from this cost lowering and outcome improving technology developed right in their backyards before it takes the rest of the world by storm." 

“The Ottawa Hospital is always focused on enhancing patient outcomes through innovative solutions,” said Ellen Odai Alie, Director of Medical Imaging at The Ottawa Hospital. “Integrating Vena Medical’s BDAC into our treatment protocol means that more patients can be treated successfully on the first try – marking a significant advancement in stroke care.” 

"OBIO® is pleased to support the adoption of Vena Medical’s latest stroke technology at The Ottawa Hospital through EAHN™,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. "This project exemplifies how EAHN™ can introduce innovative technologies across the healthcare system to improve treatment outcomes and recovery times for serious conditions, including stroke”. 
 
About Vena Medical 

Vena Medical, an ISO 13485 and MDSAP certified company, is creating a suite of tools to change the way physicians perform minimally invasive neurosurgery, starting with the Vena Balloon Distal Access Catheter™, currently available in Canada. The MicroAngioscope™ is the smallest camera in the world, designed for physicians to view inside veins and arteries for stroke treatment. The need for this new product has been evident in stroke treatment through pre-clinical studies published in the American Journal of NeuroRadiology and the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery.

For more information on Vena Medical visit www.venamed.ca  
 

About The Ottawa Hospital 

The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) is one of Canada’s top learning and research hospitals where we are guided by our vision to provide the world-class and compassionate care we would all want for our loved ones.   

Our multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, is home to the Regional Trauma Centre and Cancer Centre, and to discoveries that are adopted globally.     

Backed by generous support from the community, we are focused on reshaping the future of health care to improve the health of our diverse population of patients from Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Nunavut.     

For more information about The Ottawa Hospital, visit OttawaHospital.on.ca.    
 

About OBIO® 

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X. 

Media contacts: 
Adam Karamath 
Head of Commercial Operations 
Vena Medical 
adam@venamed.ca  

Rebecca Abelson
Media Relations Officer
The Ottawa Hospital
rabelson@toh.ca 

Doriane Rey 
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications 
OBIO® 
dorianerey@obio.ca 

16 Bit’s Novel AI-based screening tool to address care gap in osteoporosis at Canada’s largest research hospital

July 3, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – In Canada, at least 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. Bone mineral density (BMD) declines with age, particularly with menopause, and often the first sign of disease is a fracture. Fractures can lead to reduced quality of life, mobility issues, and loss of independence. Despite clinical guidelines, most adults are not screened for fracture risk; in fact, 80% of patients who experience an osteoporotic fracture have never been screened. Annually, the Canadian healthcare system spends a staggering $4 billion dollars on fracture-related costs, which is only expected to rise as the population ages.

Founded by practicing radiologists Dr. Mark Cicero and Dr. Alexander Bilbily in Toronto, 16 Bit Inc. has developed a novel, AI-powered screening tool that analyzes standard X-rays, and alerts the radiologist if the patient is likely to have low BMD. With their medical device software, Rho™, 16 Bit aims to revolutionize osteoporosis detection by triggering the often-overlooked fracture risk assessment.

16 Bit Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Dr. Cicero, explained the concept behind Rho™: “Most adults will have an X-ray at some point, such as a chest X-ray to rule out pneumonia, or a knee X-ray for pain. Rho™ analyzes these X-rays as they are taken, providing insight about a patient’s bone health from images that are being acquired anyway. When Rho™ detects that a patient is likely to have low BMD, the finding is included in the X-ray report, which can remind the physician to consider a fracture risk assessment.”

Through OBIO’s Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence, 16 Bit and the University Health Network (UHN), Canada’s largest research hospital, are embarking on a study to evaluate Rho™. The evaluation project will build real-world evidence at a multi-site institution that serves a diverse population and gain practical insights from Rho™, which will be critical to scale the tool globally. The evaluation’s outcomes will assess the impact of Rho™ on patient screening, radiology workflow, and costs.

“We are defining a new standard of care for osteoporosis screening. By identifying at-risk patients, earlier than they would have been identified otherwise, and with effective lifestyle modifications and treatment options available, we know we can prevent some of these debilitating fractures,” emphasized Dr. Bilbily.

“We are thrilled to see 16 Bit’s made-in-Ontario AI tool, Rho™, being evaluated at UHN. At OBIO®, we support the seamless integration of ethical AI and other critical technologies into clinical workflows that reduce cost and improve patient outcomes,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “We have been supporting 16 Bit for many years and are delighted to catalyze their commercialization journey through OBIO’s Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence”.

About 16 Bit

16 Bit is a Canadian software medical device company focused on discovering unseen opportunities to improve healthcare by leveraging advances in AI. 16 Bit has been a proud beneficiary of Canada’s thriving healthcare technology ecosystem through support from OBIO®, the CAN Health Network, and INOVAIT. For more information, visit www.16bit.ai.

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation and implementation of new solutions using critical technologies through its Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence, supported by the Government of Ontario. OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X.

Media contacts:

16 Bit
press@16bit.ai

Doriane Rey
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Esprit-ai, Perley Health and OBIO® partner on a ground-breaking project to Support High Quality Dementia Care in long-term care homes

June 27, 2024 (Ottawa, Ontario) – Long-term care homes face urgent challenges in ensuring resident safety and well-being, particularly concerning falls and responsive behaviours, which can include actions such as wandering and aggressive behaviour towards other residents or staff. These behaviours are often seen in residents living with dementia as a way of expressing their needs. Esprit-ai, in collaboration with one of Ontario’s largest long-term care homes, Perley Health, which is part of OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), is embarking on an innovative project to address these pressing issues, with funding support from OBIO’s Life Sciences Critical Technology and Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence.

As part of the collaboration, the project aims to enable staff to prevent negative resident-to-resident interactions and reduce falls among residents. It also seeks to provide useful clinical insights on sleep patterns and medication use while improving efficiencies in the home.

Esprit-ai is introducing Sense™ Monitoring, a non-invasive technology which offers an innovative approach to enhancing resident safety and care without the need for intrusive devices. This cutting-edge solution, discreetly positioned beneath the resident’s mattress and seamlessly integrated with nurse call systems, harnesses advanced AI algorithms and sensor technology. As a result, Esprit-ai’s solution equips care providers with real-time insights, facilitating proactive intervention and tailored care delivery within long-term care settings.

“We are humbled at the market demand we are seeing for our Esprit-ai Sense™ Monitoring solution and proud to be at the center of this amazing collaboration between OBIO® and Perley Health,” says Patrick Tan, CEO of Esprit-ai.

Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®, emphasizes the importance of innovation in addressing pressing healthcare challenges in long-term care settings, “this partnership underscores the significance of leveraging AI technology to improve patient care and optimize resource utilization in long-term care homes. We are delighted to support this project through OBIO’s LSCTC Centre of Excellence.”

“The project’s objectives align with the overarching goal of enhancing the quality of care in long-term care homes while optimizing resource utilization. Through this collaboration, we seek to pioneer innovative solutions that address the complex challenges facing the long-term care sector,” says Akos Hoffer, CEO of Perley Health.

About Esprit-ai:

Esprit-ai™ is a company dedicated to caring. We are passionate about using technology to help seniors live longer, healthier, and safer lives through the continuum of care. Our Esprit-ai Sense™ solution acts as an invisible caregiver, silently observing and protecting your most vulnerable residents. When accidents happen, it promptly and automatically sends messages to the care team for help. Invisible Care™ with no wearables and no cameras.

For more information, visit www.esprit-ai.com.

About Perley Health:

Perley Health is a unique and innovative community that empowers Seniors and Veterans to live life to the fullest. Home to more than 600 Seniors and Veterans in long-term care and in independent apartments, Perley Health provides a number of clinical, therapeutic and recreational services to residents, tenants and people from across the region.  One of the largest and most progressive long-term care homes in Ontario, Perley Health is also a centre for research, education, and clinical innovation. The Perley Health Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care™ conducts and shares the practical research needed to improve care. Future caregivers come here to study and to acquire hands-on skills and experience.  The Perley Health Foundation is the engine powering our mission to achieve excellence in the health, safety, and well-being of Seniors and Veterans. Every donation empowers us to provide exceptional care while pursuing the research needed to deliver transformative advances.

For more information, visit www.perleyhealth.ca.

About OBIO®:

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation and implementation of new solutions using critical technologies through its Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence, supported by the Government of Ontario. OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace.

For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X.

Media contacts:

Jasmine Eh
Esprit-ai
jasmineh@esprit-ai.com

Jay Innes
Director of Communications
Perley Health
jinnes@perleyhealth.ca | (613) 608-3497

Doriane Rey
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Bayer partners with Luxsonic and OBIO® for enhanced use of Virtual Imaging Platform in clinical trials

June 25, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – Supported by OBIO’s Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence, Bayer, and its Imaging Core Lab Services team, has partnered with Luxsonic Technologies, Inc. to evaluate and further enhance Luxsonic’s Virtual Imaging Platform (VIP™) as a tool for use in clinical trials. This collaboration between Bayer, Luxsonic and OBIO®, will lead to the development of an enhanced clinical imaging tool for go/no-go decisions, and determination of efficacy, safety, and cost effectiveness of clinical trials.

Bayer’s Imaging Core Lab Services team is a digitally driven, key evidence-generating imaging solution provider for global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to facilitate the increasing role of imaging in drug and digital health product development. Luxsonic is dedicated to improving access to radiology services and creating better workflows through the use of augmented reality solutions. Luxsonic’s VIP™ software leverages ethical AI for image analysis and workflow optimization. The LSCTC Centre of Excellence accelerates the health science industry’s use of critical technologies such as ethical AI and fosters the evaluation and adoption of new health technologies across Ontario. This collaboration with Bayer will evaluate and further improve Luxsonic’s virtual reality technology platform to standardize practices, enhance quality, and increase efficiency in the expert radiology clinical trials workflows for diverse assessment criteria.

“Through further enhancement of an intelligent, collaborative, virtual reality-enabled radiology reading platform, Bayer Imaging Core Lab Services, Luxsonic and OBIO’s LSCTC Centre of Excellence aim to reduce product development cycle-time and increase quality and efficiency while reducing costs in clinical trials and Software as Medical Device development,” said Subrata Bose, Head of Bayer’s Imaging Core Lab Services.

“The partnership with Bayer and OBIO’s LSCTC Centre of Excellence represents an important milestone for our company. It’s a great opportunity to expand the use case of our VIP™ software into clinical trials imaging workflow with the goals of standardizing clinical trials practices, improving quality, and efficiency,” said Mike Wesolowski, Founder and CEO of Luxsonic.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bayer as a delivery partner for OBIO’s LSCTC Centre of Excellence to strengthen our shared commitment to advance health tech solutions from early-stage companies in Ontario,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “This project with Luxsonic is a great example of how ethical AI can be implemented to improve clinical trial workflows and further support wider adoption of the technology in the global market.”

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability, and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to bayer.ca.

About Bayer Imaging Core Lab Services

The Imaging Core Lab Services team at Bayer brings end-to-end imaging services to Bayer’s own clinical trials and those of the company’s arm’s length, including scientific consulting, cloud-based image acquisition, quality control, evaluation and management and real-time operational and quality metrics. The team’s network of over 40 core experts, and more than 100 additional internal and external associated physicians and radiologists, is currently involved in over 44 clinical trials and Software as Medical Device developments.

About Luxsonic

Luxsonic is a Canadian medical technology company that develops immersive, interactive, and intelligent software applications for extended reality devices.  Luxsonic’s flagship product, the Virtual Imaging Platform (VIP™) is a digital twin of the radiology reading room that equips physicians with all the tools they need to do their work in virtual reality. Designed for use with portable, all-in-one head mounted displays, Luxsonic VIP™ addresses the global shortage of medical imaging expertise, streamlining workflows and enhancing accessibility. By enabling better workflow, communication and knowledge sharing Luxsonic is working toward a world in which everyone has access to top tier radiology services and expertise. For more information, please visit luxsonic.ca.

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation and implementation of new solutions using critical technologies through its Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence, supported by the Government of Ontario. OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X.

Media contacts:

Luxsonic Technologies Inc.
info@luxsonic.ca

Communications Department
Bayer Inc.
mediacanada@bayer.com

Doriane Rey
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Digital platform shows promising results in providing accessible, scalable healthcare for patients with complex mental disorders

June 13, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – According to data from 2022, over 5 million Canadians (18%) aged 15 and older met the diagnostic criteria for a mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder in the previous 12 months. Of those with a mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder, more than 1 in 3 reported unmet or only partially met mental health care needs.  

A4i, a leading digital platform for supporting people with complex behavioural and mental health conditions, completed a one-year evaluation project with The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (The Royal), one of Canada’s leading mental health care and research centres. With funding support from OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), A4i and The Royal worked together exploring the feasibility of integrating the A4i app and clinical portal into clinical practice. The team at A4i along with The Royal’s managers, clinicians and clients supported the implementation of the technology platform within the Ozerdinc Grimes Family Regional Psychosis Clinic. 

“With the right support, people with schizophrenia spectrum illnesses can manage their symptoms and live well. Through this collaboration enabled by OBIO®, we have the potential to expand and strengthen the supports available to our clients using A4i. We are demonstrating how a digital therapeutic mobile app and clinical portal can scale virtual care, care-coordination and create system efficiencies,” said Dr. David Attwood, Clinical Director of the Integrated Schizophrenia Recovery Program at The Royal. 

According to Amos Adler, Co-Founder and CEO of A4i, “We were able to see how A4i creates a safe, anonymous virtual community promoting recovery and proactively identifying risk. We’re thrilled with the outcomes.”  

Through this project, the two respective organizations worked together to integrate the technology into clinical practice, positively impacting the quadruple aim of healthcare, which includes: improving patient experience, reducing cost, advancing population health and improving the provider experience. Based upon the successful outcomes of the project, the A4i product is ready for procurement within EAHN’s member hospitals. 

“We are thrilled to act as the catalyst for innovation and a facilitator for technology partnerships to improve the experience of patients with complex mental health conditions,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “With the positive outcomes from this study, EAHN™ can spur the successful adoption of this technology in the Canadian mental healthcare market."   

About A4i 

A4i is a platform for supporting people with complex behavioral and mental health conditions. Currently, A4i is being used to target the recovery processes in psychosis and schizophrenia, and newly in opioid use disorders. For more information, please visit a4i.me. 

The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre  

The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental health care and academic health centres. Our mandate is simple: to get more people living with mental illness into recovery faster. The Royal combines the delivery of specialized mental health care, advocacy, research and education to transform the lives of people living with complex and treatment resistant mental illness. For more information, please visit theroyal.ca.  

About OBIO® 

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X. 

Media contacts: 

Amos Adler, M.Sc. 
CEO   
A4i 
amos@a4i.me 

Andrea Tomkins 
Writer 
The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre 
Andrea.tomkins@theroyal.ca  

Doriane Rey 
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications 
OBIO® 
dorianerey@obio.ca 

Gotcare's program evaluation at Women's College Hospital improves healthcare accessibility for homebound older adults

June 11, 2024 (Toronto, ON) — Currently, care for homebound older adults often involves little overlap and continuity between primary care and community care services. Gotcare’s “In The Community (ITC): Health Ambassador” program was developed as an innovative healthcare solution that aimed to provide support at home to older adults through a combination of in-home visits by a health ambassador, health monitoring, virtual care with a nurse, and ongoing interventions addressing social isolation.

With support from OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), The Centre for Digital Health Evaluation (CDHE) at Women’s College Hospital (WCH) has successfully completed its evaluation of Gotcare’s ITC program. Findings suggest that 87% of the participants reported that the ITC program helped improve their quality of life once at home. Additionally, 93% of them agreed that the ITC program helped them feel less isolated after returning home.

The evaluation offered a range of services, including routine check-ins or other health monitoring measurements (e.g., blood pressure), support in developing an at home care plan, technology training to use the platform, and access to a virtual nurse via a personalized Gotcare tablet. During visits, the health ambassador documents participants’ well-being. Any health deterioration or symptom exacerbation is flagged by Gotcare’s AI-enabled Community Dashboard, which is monitored by a nurse, and prompts a virtual visit. The nurse then compiles those notes, along with their own interactions with the participants during virtual sessions, and sends them to their family doctor, at a frequency requested and agreed upon by the referring physician or case manager.

“Given the healthcare labour shortage across Canada, it’s more important than ever for everyone to operate at the very tippy top of their scope - including home care providers,” said Chenny Xia, CEO and co-founder of Gotcare. “By upskilling providers to become health ambassadors, and incorporating digital health as a part of care delivery, older adults can receive more timely interventions for low acuity care needs - conveniently, in their own home.”

Of the program participants who completed the survey, approximately 60% indicated that the services provided by the program helped them avoid an unnecessary visit to the emergency department, and approximately 63% of them indicated that the program helped them avoid an unnecessary visit with their family doctor.

Everyone agreed (43%) or strongly agreed (57%) that they were happy with the services provided by the health ambassadors. The majority of program participants were satisfied with the support they received for their at home care plan (79%) and for having their health concerns addressed virtually (93%).

"Our evaluation found that Gotcare's In The Community Program provided great value to their clients,” explained Dr. Jennifer Shuldiner, Scientist at Women’s College Hospital. “They reported that their health ambassador provided emotional support and companionship. They also helped with nutrition, transportation, and groceries. Clients appreciated the consistency of having the same person visit, someone who understood their needs and who they felt comfortable with."

“Nearly all Canadians want to age at home. As people age, it becomes more difficult to make it to their doctor’s office or participate in activities that promote health,” said Dr. Dominik Nowak, Family Physician at Women’s College Hospital. “A health ambassador is simply a flexible prescription for a supportive human — who can help the participant with anything from getting to doctor’s visits, care needs to avoid emergency room visits, all the way to social connection and meaningful activity.”

Following the CDHE’s positive determination of value of the ITC program and a recommendation to proceed with a procurement process, OBIO’s EAHN™ can now provide support to other healthcare organizations interested in the procurement of Gotcare’s ITC program.

“OBIO® is always eager to support the adoption and integration of made-in-Ontario solutions in areas of our healthcare system that have historically been overlooked and have more often than not been neglected,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “The important work that Gotcare and Women’s College Hospital have carried out to coordinate and integrate primary care with community healthcare services will help revolutionize our approach to aging at home.”

About Gotcare

The health care worker shortage has left many older adults and people living with chronic conditions without access to the care they need. By attracting and upskilling community health workers who have previously left the sector, Gotcare is rehumanizing the patient care journey. They provide personalized in-home care, AI-driven health monitoring, and virtual care support to address low-acuity care needs right at home. Gotcare is a social enterprise and a certified living wage employer. For more information: gotcare.ca.

About Women’s College Hospital

For more than 100 years Women’s College Hospital (WCH) has been developing revolutionary advances in healthcare. Today, WCH is a world leader in health equity and Canada’s leading academic ambulatory hospital. It focuses on delivering innovative solutions that address Canada’s most pressing issues related to population health, patient experience and system costs. The Centre for Digital Health Evaluation at WCH offers timely, high-quality evaluations of digital health technologies at various stages of maturity by partnering with leading experts in the health and technology sectors.

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X.

Media Contacts:

Chenny Xia
CEO
Gotcare
chenny@gotcare.ca

Maria Madden
Manager, Public Affairs
Women’s College Hospital
maria.madden@wchospital.ca

Doriane Rey
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca   

MEMOTEXT, CAMH and OBIO® partner to support healthcare workers’ mental health through digital engagement

May 27, 2024 (Toronto, ON)  – MEMOTEXT Corp., a leading digital platform provider for patient engagement in North America, is thrilled to announce the successful completion of an evaluation project through OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™) of its MTxBeWell program with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). This ground-breaking initiative represents a significant advancement in mental health support and paves the way for pre-procurement activities and reimbursement across Ontario.

With the support from EAHN™, CAMH has been able to offer the MTxBeWell program to its social workers and occupational therapists.

The MTxBeWell program is a validated, just-in-time adaptive intervention designed to engage individuals in their mental health journey. Co-created by Dr. Gillian Strudwick and Dr. Tracie Risling, this innovative SMS-based tool checks in with users and provides relevant mental health and resilience support based on individual needs. By leveraging personalized messaging, the program aims to enhance well-being and foster mental health awareness.

“Bringing accessibility-focused, real-time mental health supports to employees proactively is part of the MTxBeWell mission and we’ve been fortunate that this has shown such meaningful engagement,” said Amos Adler, CEO of MEMOTEXT.

Through this collaboration, over 160 CAMH clinical staff were provided access to the co-designed MTxBeWell program. Over a 12-week cycle, the SMS-based program delivered psychoeducation resources, curated digital mental health tools, wellness supports, mindfulness tips, and information about eligible mental health resources. By providing timely and relevant support, CAMH aimed to alleviate stress and burnout among its dedicated staff.

The majority of the clinical staff who reported one or more symptoms of burnout responded positively to and actively engaged with the program. The respondents were satisfied with the regular self-care reminders and the resources provided while being able to incorporate these activities in their workday. Overall, the program successfully achieved its goals using a simple, yet well designed implementation, leading to a positive recommendation from the users and the clinical team.

Dr. Gillian Strudwick emphasized the importance of engagement at the right time and in the right context. “We’re excited to bring this program to the employees of CAMH,” she said. “Supporting their mental health and well-being is crucial, especially given the challenges faced by healthcare workers.”

Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®, recognizes the urgency of addressing healthcare worker burnout: “In the past three years, burnout among healthcare workers has reached an all-time high,” she noted. “OBIO® is proud to support the collaboration between MEMOTEXT and CAMH to deploy a made-in-Canada solution, improving the well-being of those who tirelessly care for patients in need.”

About MEMOTEXT Corp.

MEMOTEXT Corp. is a digital health company committed to improving patient outcomes through personalized engagement. Their innovative solutions empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to make informed decisions and manage health conditions effectively. For more information about the MEMOTEXT BeWell program, visit MEMOTEXT’s website.

About the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

CAMH is Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and a world leading research centre in this field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental illness and addiction. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please visit camh.ca.

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X.

Contacts:

Amos Adler, M.Sc.
CEO
MEMOTEXT Corp.
amos@memotext.com

Hayley Clark
Manager, Media Strategy, Issues Management and CEO Communications
CAMH
media@camh.ca

Doriane Rey
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Humber River Health, TeleVU and OBIO® partner to support revolutionary cardiac monitoring platform

Revolutionary AR/AI TelePresence and Remote Patient Monitoring platform improves patient care, streamlines processes, and enhances hospital efficiency

May 22, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – Humber River Health, in collaboration with TeleVU and OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), is proud to announce the successful completion of an innovative project that leverages two platforms working in synergy: TeleVU’s augmented reality (AR)/artificial intelligence (AI) TelePresence and BioVU Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). This groundbreaking initiative has revolutionized cardiac care, significantly improving patient outcomes, streamlining hospital workflows and optimizing healthcare resource allocation.

The Telepresence platform, equipped with smart glasses and connected devices, facilitates real-time and interactive communication between cardiac technologists and cardiologists.

The BioVU RPM platform has become an invaluable tool for cardiac technologists and cardiologists at Humber River Health, allowing them to monitor vital signs remotely, especially heart rate, for a comprehensive assessment of the functionality of cardiac devices implanted in patients.

“TeleVU was thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that showcased the transformative power of our digital ecosystem in reshaping the future of healthcare. Our TelePresence AR and Home Health Monitoring platforms are not just innovations; they represent a commitment to advancing health access, enhancing efficiency, and promoting collaboration in the medical field,” said Ryan De’Larami, Founder & CEO of TeleVU.

BioVU’s remote assessments reduced unnecessary in-person visits, improving patient satisfaction and clinic efficiency. With 86% of patients reporting satisfaction and 93% recommending the technology, BioVU also played a crucial role in early complication detection, leading to fewer ER visits and lower healthcare costs.

TeleVU’s TelePresence platform further streamlined workflows by enabling remote procedural assistance, optimizing time and expanding patient capacity for healthcare professionals. This collaborative effort not only empowered patients with a sense of security through continuous monitoring, but also promoted proactive health management to reduce ER visits and improve overall cardiac patient health.

“Integrating TeleVU’s telepresence technology into our workflow will propel us to new heights in delivering efficient, high-quality care,” said Dr. Irving Tiong, Humber River Health. “Innovations like BioVu place the patient at the centre of their care, empowering them with the tools to manage their health effectively. With BioVu, we can offer continuous monitoring and support for higher-risk patients, which not only enhances the quality of care but also instills confidence in both patients and physicians, as they know that monitoring and intervention are readily available even beyond the walls of the hospital.”

“The collaboration with TeleVU and OBIO®, and leveraging these innovative AR and AI technologies has enabled us to further enhance our cardiac care model,” said Dr. Douglas Ng, Humber River Health. “This partnership aligns seamlessly with Humber River Health’s commitment to driving innovation for improved patient experiences and outcomes.”

“OBIO® is thrilled to support this type of collaboration where cutting-edge technologies can improve both patient outcomes and hospital workflows, creating a more streamlined process for patients and providers,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “It’s exciting to see Canadian companies at the forefront of integrating innovations such as augmented reality into our healthcare system.”

The project’s success paved the way for a broader adoption of these technologies, which leads to enhanced patient care, streamlined workflows, and optimal allocation of healthcare resources.

About Humber River Health

Humber River Health is one of Canada’s largest community acute care hospitals, serving a population of more than 850,000 people in the northwest Greater Toronto Area. The multi-site hospital currently operates out of its Wilson Avenue acute care site, Finch, and Church Campus’ with over 4,000 employees, approximately 700 physicians, and over 500 volunteers. Humber River Health uses a custom combination of technology and clinical expertise to rebuild elements of care, making technology work for staff and physicians, giving them more time to spend with patients. With the support of its incredible teams, a strong will, and determination, Humber River Health is committed to Lighting New Ways in Healthcare. For more information, please visit hrh.ca.

About TeleVU™

TeleVU revolutionizes healthcare with AR and AI, creating a connected ecosystem for easy access to specialized care and top-notch medical education. In clinics, our smart glasses and IoT devices connect medical professionals, offering a hands-free and immersive experience. At home, our advanced handheld vital signs monitor empowers patients to measure, monitor, and share vital signs with their care team. This interconnected system breaks down geographical barriers, empowering frontline providers to deliver superior care and allowing specialists to reach more patients without travel. Welcome to a future of accessible and enhanced healthcare. For more information, please visit TeleVU.ca.

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X.

Contacts:

Joe Gorman
Director, Public Affairs
Humber River Health
JGorman@hrh.ca

Ryan De’Larami
Founder and CEO
TeleVU™
CEO@TeleVU.ca

Doriane Rey
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Mobio Interactive’s mobile health platform shows positive potential to support youth mental health

May 16, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – A mobile app developed by Mobio Interactive to deliver digital mental health support is showing promise in supporting youth mental health. A study conducted by the CHEO Research Institute and funded in part by OBIO® through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™) program, found that the app assists patients who are waiting for care and provides early intervention-related support, leading to an overall improvement in psychological well-being.

Mobio Interactive’s platform is designed to provide and objectively measure clinically validated psychotherapy, including mindfulness training and music therapy. The impact of this scalable therapy on mental well-being is quantified using the participant’s mobile device camera and artificial intelligence, leading to personalization of therapy sessions and personal insights not previously possible.

The early-stage study demonstrated overall satisfaction with the platform, suggesting that it could provide support for youth waiting for mental health care. Patients reported trends toward improved mindfulness and emotional regulation, decreased depression and stress symptoms, and improved well-being, after engaging with Mobio’s platform.

Dr. Bechara Saab, CEO & Chief Scientist at Mobio Interactive, emphasized the global accessibility, stating, “Our technology means patients can use the platform to access important support while waiting for care – setting the stage for more successful outcomes.”

Dr. Gary Goldfield, Senior Scientist and clinical psychologist at the CHEO Research Institute, recognizes the potential impact of digital apps in providing mental health support: “While our sample size was small, our study suggests the potential digital support tools can have to offer early mental health intervention services for youth in need in a format they are accustomed to.”

Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®, commented on the significance of Mobio’s technology in revolutionising the patient journey, stating, “The promising outcomes from this evaluation underscore the app’s impact in supporting adolescents navigating extended wait times for mental health services. The success of the partnership between Mobio Interactive and CHEO is a testament to the ongoing support provided by the EAHN™ program, offering young Canadians a valuable resource in supporting their mental health needs when they need it most.”

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace.

For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

About Mobio Interactive

Mobio Interactive is a digital health company that is meeting the exploding demand for efficacious mental healthcare with artificial intelligence-powered digital theragnostics.

For more information, please visit mobiointeractive.com.

About the CHEO Research Institute

The CHEO Research Institute is a global centre of excellence in pediatric research that connects talent and technology in pursuit of life-changing research for every child, youth and family in the CHEO community and beyond. The CHEO Research Institute coordinates the research activities of CHEO and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa. At the CHEO Research Institute, discoveries inspire the best life for every child and youth. For more information, visit cheoresearch.ca.

Media Contacts:

Michelle Tija
Chief of Staff
Mobio Interactive
michelle@mobiointeractive.com

Jennifer Ruff
Director of Communications
CHEO Research Institute
jruff@cheo.on.ca

Doriane Rey
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Efficiency Unleashed: AI-enabled Patient Scheduling Platform Transforms Medical Imaging

May 9, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – Patient scheduling can be a manual, time-consuming process for healthcare providers. The process can create a backlog of orders for booking staff to schedule appointments, resulting in patients and physicians waiting weeks or even months for an appointment. The wait time challenge is further impacted by an increasing demand for medical imaging services over time, and by a shortage of health human resources in the healthcare system.

With support from OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (‘Sunnybrook’) successfully completed a 12-month evaluation of NextUp Care’s AI-enabled Intelligent Patient Scheduling Platform (‘Platform’) for booking ultrasound exams.

NextUp Care’s Platform was integrated as a project into the hospital’s radiology information system to ensure seamless connectivity. The evaluation showed that the Platform’s scheduling and optimization algorithms eliminated manual workflows and proactively scheduled the earliest available appointments for patients. Within the first four days of deployment, 526 appointments were booked using the automated system and to date, over 5,000 appointments have been booked on the Platform.

This automation allowed booking staff to shift their focus to other activities, such as managing urgent appointments with multiple dependencies and responding to patient enquiries with a 50% reduction in the response times for incoming calls. Staff reported very positive feedback, indicating the effectiveness of algorithmic scheduling for booking ultrasound exams.

Sunnybrook and NextUp Care are exploring a continued partnership to potentially deploy the Platform for other modalities (e.g., MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine) and to enable e-messaging  for patients and physicians in 2024-2025.

Wayne Li, NextUp Care’s CEO noted that, “by facilitating this collaboration with Sunnybrook, EAHN™ made it possible for us to implement and integrate our Platform in a world-class healthcare facility. Sunnybrook has been a fantastic partner and we look forward to working with them to advance algorithmic scheduling within the health system.”

“We’re excited about the potential this innovative tool has to improve booking efficiencies within Medical Imaging, saving teams’ time and improving patient satisfaction,” said Lisa Merkley, Co-Director of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “The partnership with OBIO’s EAHN™ and NextUp Care has provided Sunnybrook with support and expertise as we evaluate the technology.”

“Accessing medical imaging services is a known pain point in the Canadian healthcare system, leaving patients with long wait times and healthcare workers overburdened,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “This collaboration between Sunnybrook and NextUp Care exemplifies the kind of impactful work the EAHN™ program aims to support; innovations that can provide value to the system and to those it supports”

About NextUp Care

NextUp Care is automating healthcare – one appointment at a time. Our Intelligent Patient Scheduling Platform (‘Platform’) is an AI-enabled software solution that enables healthcare providers to automate and optimize scheduling for advanced medical imaging services (MRI, CT, Ultrasound). The Platform can algorithmically schedule patients without manual intervention and instantly send e-notifications to physicians and patients. NextUp Care is committed to improving access to care in the healthcare system.

About Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the 1.1 million patient visits the hospital sees each year, through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada’s premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook, through its 10 programs, specializes in caring for high-risk obstetrics, critically ill newborns and adults, offering specialized rehabilitation and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions, and traumatic injuries. The hospital also has a unique and national leading program for the care of Canada’s war veterans.

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO® and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X.

Contacts

For more information, please contact:

Wayne Li
CEO
NextUp Care
wli@nextupcare.com

Danette Beechinor and Lisa Merkley
Co-Directors of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
danette.beechinor@sunnybrook.ca
lisa.merkley@sunnybrook.ca

Lisa Di Prospero
Director, Practice-based Research and Innovation
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
lisa.diprospero@sunnybrook.ca

Doriane Rey
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Voyce, Hamilton Health Sciences and OBIO® Showcase Breakthrough in Patient Care Through Language Access Technology

Partnership exemplifies the power of technology-enabled accessible language services in healthcare, ensuring patients receive care in their language of choice.

April 23, 2024 (Hamilton, ON) – In a significant advancement for patient care, Voyce, a leading provider of real-time medical interpretation services, together with Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), is proud to announce their successful collaboration in enhancing communication for non-English speaking patients.

Voyce was adopted with the support of OBIO’s Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Centre of Excellence after a successful evaluation was completed through the Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™) program. These interpretation services ensure that every patient, regardless of their native language, receives the care and understanding they deserve.

OBIO® evaluates new technologies through EAHN™ and implements successful solutions using critical technologies through the LSCTC Centre of Excellence. EAHN™ is supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), and LSCTC is supported by the Government of Ontario.

“OBIO® continues to provide vital supports for our health tech leaders that enable innovators to advance new and groundbreaking healthcare technologies. Strengthening our healthcare institutions and healthcare technologies will lead to better outcomes and care for Canadians,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

“Our government is proud to support the development and commercialization of critical technologies in our growing life sciences sector,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Thank you, Voyce and Hamilton Health Sciences, for your leadership in implementing cutting-edge medical technology to enhance patient care and for producing life-saving solutions celebrated across the world.”

Through Voyce’s state-of-the-art platform that integrates 5G technology, HHS will be able to offer remote video and audio interpretation services in over 240 languages, including sign language, to support effective communication between patients and their care providers.

“The availability of Voyce’s platform is a huge step forward in helping Hamilton Health Sciences provide better access to healthcare for all patients. The ease of access to hundreds of languages and sign language in near real-time is a major enabler for the exchange of vital health information between patients and their care providers,” shared Ted Scott, Vice President of Innovation and Partnerships at Hamilton Health Sciences. “Voyce ensures that everyone in the room is on the same page when it comes to understanding a patient’s needs and plan of care. The platform is also being extended into the hospital’s research and education activities so that we can better understand the healthcare needs of our non-English speaking community. We are thankful to OBIO® for helping us accelerate the adoption and implementation of this technology at HHS.”

This partnership, facilitated by the EAHN™ and LSCTC programs, fosters the adoption and evaluation of new health technologies across Canada, and marks a pivotal step in deploying technology solutions that cater to Canada’s diverse linguistic landscape.

“The adoption of the Voyce platform exemplifies the power of innovation in bridging language barriers and ensuring equitable access to healthcare for everyone,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “By supporting the integration of Voyce’s real-time interpretation services at Hamilton Health Sciences, we are fostering a more inclusive healthcare system in Ontario.”

The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated; it offers profound benefits including improved patient comprehension, satisfaction, and outcomes. At the click of a button, patients, nurses, and doctors can access a medically qualified human interpreter through Voyce devices within HHS’ facilities.

“By prioritizing patient-centered language and cultural competence, our interpreters play an integral role in upholding our partners’ commitment to providing equitable and inclusive healthcare services,” said Andrew Royce, CEO of Voyce. “Our commitment to quality education supports our partnership with Hamilton Health Sciences on our mutual goal of enhancing patient care and serving as a model for excellence in healthcare interpretation across Ontario.”

By enabling language-accessible care, this initiative not only respects but also embraces the Hamilton region’s diverse patient population of 2.3 million, ensuring that every patient feels heard, understood, and valued.

“We aim to have Voyce in all patient-facing areas across HHS,” said Tim Dietrich, Vice President, Quality and Performance at Hamilton Health Sciences. “It is currently available in all in-patient, emergency and diagnostic imaging areas, and we are planning for implementation in all ambulatory settings. So far, our teams and patients have utilized Voyce more than 9,000 times accessing 85 distinct languages and dialects.”

This partnership between Voyce and HHS, championed by OBIO’s EAHN™ and LSCTC programs, represents a step forward for healthcare inclusivity in Canada. By prioritizing effective communication, this initiative ensures that everyone, regardless of language, receives the quality care they need and deserve.

About Hamilton Health Sciences

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is a community of 18,000 staff, physicians, researchers and volunteers that proudly serves southwestern Ontario residents. HHS also provides specialized, advanced care to people from across the province.

It is the only hospital in Ontario that cares for all ages, from pre-birth to end-of-life. HHS offers world-leading expertise in many areas, including cardiac and stroke care, cancer care, palliative care and pediatrics.

About OBIO® 

Founded in 2009, OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace.

For more information, please visit obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X.

About Voyce

Voyce is a technology-driven company deeply committed to helping people in need facing language barriers, enabling them to communicate and get help when they need it the most. Voyce’s professional and qualified language interpreters provide medical interpretation across a variety of technology and telehealth platforms in 240+ languages and dialects, including American Sign Language. Across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and globally, Voyce supports millions of conversations each year, giving patients and providers the confidence to communicate effectively.

For more information visit www.voyceglobal.com and follow Voyce on LinkedIn.

Contacts:

Wendy Stewart
Communications Advisor
Hamilton Health Sciences
stewartwen@hhsc.ca

Liam Afonso
Creative Director
Voyce
liam.afonso@voyceglobal.com 

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing & Events
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

CHEO selects PolyUnity for 3D Printing Solution

April 11, 2024 (Ottawa, ON) – Following a successful evaluation held in 2022-2023 on how a digital inventory and 3D printing solution could help solve supply chain issues, CHEO is committing to a five-year agreement with PolyUnity Tech to bring Additive Manufacturing capabilities – otherwise known as 3D printing solutions – to pediatric healthcare in Ontario. The evaluation was supported through OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™) and resulted in more than 200 new innovations, 1,281 products delivered, and 460 pieces of equipment repaired and returned to service, leading to a successful adoption of the solution. OBIO’s EAHN™ program is supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

With supply chain shortages, delays or difficulty in obtaining unique replacement parts, CHEO is exploring new services to expand access to innovative and specialized products. Over the past few years, the CHEO Research Institute collaborated with PolyUnity to better understand how 3D printing could be used in a healthcare setting, with the goal of reducing costs and downtime of equipment.

PolyUnity is at the forefront of bringing Additive Manufacturing as a Service (AMaaS) solutions and its associated benefits to the healthcare sector. Additive manufacturing utilizes a computer-controlled process to create 3D objects by depositing materials, typically layer by layer. By harnessing AMaaS, healthcare organizations can leverage rapid and innovative product solutions to drive operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and enhance overall patient outcomes. AMaaS empowers healthcare professionals such as clinical engineers, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and researchers to swiftly transform problems into prototypes and useful products.

Through this agreement, CHEO will continue to work with PolyUnity to leverage its technology, saving costs and creating operational efficiencies while avoiding complex procurement processes along the way.

QUOTES:

“OBIO® is growing the Canadian-made health technologies that are making a difference across Canada. OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™) is supporting innovators as they find solutions to the challenges facing our health care system to ensure Canadians are getting the best quality care available.” —The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

“At CHEO, we know that innovation is part of how we constantly improve outcomes of care for children, youth and families. This new agreement with PolyUnity highlights how by working collaboratively with the business and investment communities to explore and validate new technologies can help us bring promising new solutions into healthcare.” —Dr. Jason Berman, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, CHEO Research Institute, and Vice-President Research, CHEO.

“It is the impact of the great collaborative work we do with our healthcare partners that matters most. Creating innovative solutions for supply chain issues and delivering replacement parts quickly for organizations like CHEO has a direct impact on patients. And this work is especially meaningful to us at PolyUnity.” —Mark Gillingham, President, PolyUnity Tech Inc.

“Our healthcare organizations are continuously asked do more with less. And this is why innovation becomes critical to delivering value-based healthcare services. We’re so proud of the 200+ innovative products created in collaboration with CHEO’s team members and are excited to continue creating more solutions together.” —Jacqueline Lee, CEO, PolyUnity Tech Inc.

“Our goal is to help innovative companies like PolyUnity get into new markets and this is exactly what our EAHN™ program was designed to do. We are thrilled to be the first to support the adoption of PolyUnity’s game-changing technology by Ontario healthcare organizations.” —Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®.

About CHEO

Dedicated to the best life for every child and youth, CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research. Based in Ottawa, CHEO includes a hospital, children’s treatment centre, school and research institute, with satellite services located throughout Eastern Ontario. CHEO provides excellence in complex pediatric care, research and education. We are committed to partnering with families and the community to provide exceptional care — where, when and how it is needed. Every year, CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

About PolyUnity Tech Inc.

PolyUnity is a Canadian healthcare technology company with a driving purpose to “Improve Healthcare.” Its mission is to work with healthcare organizations and provide 3D printing applications to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve patient experiences. PolyUnity provides a fully managed Additive Manufacturing as a Service (AMaaS) solution that includes a digital marketplace platform to efficiently access digital design services and a growing library of 3D printable products and applications that are specific to healthcare organizations. All print production and delivery logistics are also managed by PolyUnity. The solution significantly reduces the cost and complexity of traditional healthcare procurement, builds supply chain resiliency, and reduces its carbon footprint. It enables healthcare providers and their networks to design, access, and produce what they need on demand.

Learn more at www.polyunity.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, & Instagram.

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO® is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace.

For more information, please visit OBIO.ca and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

About FedDev Ontario

For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Ruff
Director of Communications
CHEO Research Institute
jruff@cheo.on.ca

Mark Gillingham
President
PolyUnity Tech Inc.‍
mark@polyunity.com

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing & Events
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

Through OBIO’s EAHN™, Trexo Plus Robotic Walker Enables Children with Physical Disabilities to Achieve Personalized Rehabilitation

March 26, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – An effective physical therapy for children with injuries or disabilities affecting their motor skills requires an innovative solution that can build muscle memory and stimulate neuroplasticity. There are currently no effective interventions known to improve motor function for children with severe disabilities. To address this challenge, Ontario-based health technology company Trexo Robotics developed Trexo Plus, a robotic walking device for injured or disabled children’s rehabilitation. Last year, Trexo joined forces with OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™) and the Innovation and Business Intelligence team at Alberta Health Services (AHS) to assess the viability of Trexo Plus in a clinical setting.

The EAHN™ program was a catalyst behind this evaluation, with the goal of expanding the reach of health tech companies in Ontario and supporting the positioning of Canada as a leader in innovative health tech.

Final findings indicated that children with disabilities who used Trexo Plus met their rehabilitation goals. They had high performance and satisfaction scores, achieved their health-related objectives and were able to access the best available care, leading their families to express a keen interest in the technology.

“This device was created through an iterative process with therapists, other healthcare professionals and families,” said Manmeet Maggu, co-founder and CEO of Trexo Robotics. “The device has evolved, offering more features and benefits. Our mission from day one has been to reach and benefit as many children as possible.”

“This study enabled us to explore implementation of a cutting-edge intervention and provide equitable access to robotic walking for children with severe mobility impairments,” said Dr. Elizabeth Condliffe, University of Calgary and Alberta Children’s Hospital, and the evaluation’s Lead Study Investigator. “It has generated overwhelming interest in Calgary.”

“This study highlighted how the transformative potential of health technologies can improve the quality of life for children with disabilities,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “Through the EAHN™ program, we continue to accelerate the adoption of innovative health technologies by providing Ontario start-ups access to the Canadian healthcare market.”

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

Contact:
Bibaswan Ghoshal
Senior Director, Technology Adoption
bibaswanghoshal@obio.ca
416-848-6839 x 125

About Trexo Robotics

Trexo Robotics is a leading innovator in robotic gait trainers, dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with physical challenges. Founded on the principle that everyone deserves the opportunity to walk, Trexo develops robotic gait trainers to empower children to experience the benefits of walking.

Contact:
Jennifer Horowitz
Head of Marketing
jh@trexorobotics.com
562-784-7711

OBIO® Celebrates International Women’s Day with Investment in Three Women-Led Companies and a Successful Graduation of First Seed Funding Cohort

March 14, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – In honour of International Women’s Day on March 8, the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) hosted an impactful networking event and pitch competition to celebrate the achievements of women in the health science sector. The event, supported by EY Canada, Cozen O’Connor and Stem Cell Network, featured video remarks by the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), remarks by the Honourable Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, and a fireside chat with Sophie Park, Managing Director of Bayer G4A Investments & Partnerships, and showcased 11 women-led companies from the OBIO® Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) Seed Program.

Launched in July 2022 with Government of Canada’s support through FedDev Ontario, the OBIO® WiHI aims to bridge the gender disparity in the health science industry, particularly in senior management roles and leadership positions. The program offers comprehensive training, support and networking opportunities, empowering women with the skills and knowledge required to excel in leadership positions. The OBIO® WiHI has supported more than 325 women in the health science industry through a combination of experiential learning and financial support.

The WiHI Seed Program addresses the significant barriers that women-led health science companies face in accessing financing. The inaugural program cohort, A.I. VALI, Atorvia Health Technologies, Cove Neurosciences, HDAX Therapeutics, ImaginAble Solutions, mDETECT, MoxyPatch, Noa Therapeutics, Paradox Immunotherapeutics, Tenomix, and Vessl Prosthetics, benefited from six months of advisory support, access to expert networks, essential industry resources and trainings, and non-dilutive funding of up to $20,000.

To mark International Women’s Day, the cohort presented their business opportunities in a pitch competition, culminating with the announcement of HDAX Therapeutics, Paradox Immunotherapeutics and Tenomix Inc. receiving investments of $100,000 each from the OBIO® WiHI. The audience also voted ImaginAble Solutions the recipient of a $15,000 non-dilutive Audience Choice Award.

WiHI Seed cohort companies also made several announcements during the March 8 event, including the successful closing of their first financing rounds for Noa Therapeutics and Tenomix. The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) through its Life Sciences Innovation Fund (LSIF), FACIT and Phoenix Fire (part of the Archangel Network of Funds) all invested in Tenomix. OCI LSIF and Phoenix Fire invested in Noa Therapeutics. Representatives from OCI, FACIT and Phoenix Fire were in attendance to celebrate these announcements.

“I am profoundly grateful for the support and recognition from OBIO®, right from our inception. Their backing through various programs and the recent investment via the WiHI Seed Program underscores their commitment to empowering women-led initiatives in health. This support has been instrumental in our journey to revolutionize pathology workflows and make a meaningful impact on cancer care,” said Eveline Pasman, Co-Founder & COO of Tenomix, an emerging company developing innovative technologies that streamline pathology workflows, drive down healthcare costs, and enhance patient care by improving treatment decisions.

“The combination of financial and wraparound supports delivered through the WiHI Seed Program enables women entrepreneurs to achieve critical milestones in their businesses,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President & CEO of OBIO®. “We are pleased to support these women-led companies alongside our ecosystem partners at OCI, FACIT, and The Firehood. Access to early-stage capital is a critical barrier for women entrepreneurs, especially in the life sciences sector. These contributions are key to creating a more inclusive industry in Ontario.”

“Supporting organizations, like OBIO®, that increase the participation of women in our health sector is vital for our healthcare system,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “The Government of Canada is pleased to continue to support OBIO® as they drive positive change for the future of women through the Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) Seed Program and in the life sciences sector across Canada and the world.”

Earlier this month, OBIO® and FACIT announced a new partnership to address the barriers faced by women-identifying entrepreneurs in the health science sector. Building on both organizations’ commitments to support women-led companies and advancement of made-in-Ontario intellectual property, the new partnership will advance Ontario’s women-led companies towards commercialization.

"OBIO's dedication to championing women in the health sciences sector, demonstrated through the Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) Seed Program, aligns with our shared goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable industry,” said Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO, Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). “By collaborating with partners such as OBIO®, FACIT and The Firehood, we can help women entrepreneurs reach key milestones in their ventures, increasing our impact significantly and making strides toward a future where entrepreneurship is accessible and inclusive for everyone.”

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO® is a not-for-profit membership-based innovation organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies that position Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health care system and government. For more information, please visit www.obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

About FedDev Ontario
For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing and Events
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca    

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

FACIT and OBIO® partner on women-focused seed capital and entrepreneurship program

Synergies combine financing and entrepreneurial development resources to life sciences start-ups

March 8, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – On International Women’s Day, FACIT and OBIO® are pleased to announce a new partnership in the Ontario life sciences ecosystem, built on their common goal to drive entrepreneurial and commercialization mandates to address the unmet needs and barriers faced by female entrepreneurial leaders in STEM.

The partnership arises from OBIO’s and FACIT’s successes in creating value through supporting female entrepreneurs in life science who are driving the advancement of innovations and healthcare communities. Across all sectors, women-led companies face significant challenges when it comes to accessing financing and support systems, receiving only about 2% of venture capital funding. Further, only 16% of Canadian small-to-medium enterprises are majority-owned by women. 

Both organizations have established track records co-investing and working closely with different commercialization groups across Ontario and beyond, striving to increase value for life sciences intellectual property and driving economic impact by providing access to entrepreneurship and business tools as well as domestic capital. Through its Women in Health Initiative, OBIO® has supported more than 325 women in the life sciences industry through experiential learning and financial support. The inaugural cohort of the WiHI Seed Program provided a combination of financial and advisory supports to 11 women-led early-stage companies. Independently, FACIT has been roughly doubling the industry average by investing more than 30% of total investment capital in women-led companies, comprising a third of all FACIT’s portfolio of Ontario start-ups.

OBIO® and FACIT’s independent programs have supported and provided financing to Ontario start-ups founded or led by women, including Hyivy Health, HDAX Therapeutics and Tenomix Inc. The partnership announced today will allow the organizations to leverage their complementary resources and expertise, creating synergies to provide a seamless continuum of support and lower barriers faced by female entrepreneurs in accessing resources, training, connections and venture funding. Capitalizing on these synergies will help position and propel women-founded start-ups and innovations to achieve value inflection and secure next-stage financing for development, sustainability and scale in the province. In doing so, the novel program addresses the governments of Canada and Ontario strong interests to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women-led businesses. While diverse and independent seed stage programs and investors are key to addressing the unique needs of early-stage life sciences entrepreneurs, partnerships are critical to driving innovation and making an impact for patients with cancer.

Quotes:

Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO® – “We are delighted to partner with FACIT in the important work of backing female founders. FACIT specializes in venture building whereas OBIO® provides wraparound supports to established companies. We are very proud of what we have achieved through our Women in Health Initiative over the past two years and this new partnership is a good marriage of the expertise of both organizations and gives us a collective opportunity to strengthen support for women entrepreneurs in oncology.”

Dr. Connie Chen, Senior Director of Strategy and Corporate Development, FACIT – “The synergies of combining entrepreneurial development resources with FACIT’s commercialization expertise and seed capital reflects a novel and inclusive public-private partnership model for Ontario’s early-stage life sciences innovations. Through this collaboration, OBIO® and FACIT will together elevate and increase the equity, representation, and positioning of women-led start-ups.”     

Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities – “Our government is proud to support Ontario-funded commercialization groups like FACIT that have the expertise and resources to create an ecosystem that supports women entrepreneurs and the significant contributions they make to Ontario.”

Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade – “Through our Life Sciences Strategy, our government is supporting organizations that are excelling in promoting innovation in the life sciences sector. Congratulations to OBIO® and FACIT on their new partnership that will promote female entrepreneurship and help to break down barriers for women in STEM.”

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO® is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government. For more information, please visit www.obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

Contact

Doriane Rey | Manager, Marketing & Events, OBIO® | dorianerey@obio.ca

About FACIT       
FACIT is an award-winning commercialization venture firm that builds companies with entrepreneurs to accelerate oncology innovation, with a portfolio that has attracted more than $1.6 billion in investment to Ontario. Blending industry experience, capital and the unsurpassed clinician-scientist network of its strategic partner the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), FACIT capitalizes on the province’s investment in research and healthcare to the benefit of the local economy and patients worldwide. Cancer Breakthroughs. Realized. facit.ca.

Contact

Connie Chen, PhD | Senior Director, Strategy and Corporate Development, FACIT | connie.chen@facit.ca

A Light at the End of the Toenail

A new medical device uses light to treat difficult infections safely and effectively

March 5, 2024 (Hamilton, ON) – Nail fungus (onychomycosis) affects some 50% of seniors across the world. It becomes more prevalent in aging populations because the nails, and especially toenails, tend to become drier and more fragile, and it can also be more difficult to take care of feet properly when circulation or mobility issues get in the way. In long-term care homes, where many seniors reside, fungal nail infections are not only an esthetic issue, but are often very painful, making it difficult to wear shoes and impeding mobility, ultimately reducing the quality of life.

Ontario-based ToeFX Inc., with support from OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), launched a safe and effective, portable device to treat onychomycosis with light therapy at Banwell Gardens Care Centre.

This was a highly successful evaluation. ToeFx’s ClearToe Therapy Light has been authorized by Health Canada as a Class II Medical Device and is a clinically proven treatment to promote clearance of nail fungus on toenails in 10-12 treatments. All the patients at Banwell Gardens Care Centre who underwent this therapy were very satisfied with the outcomes, and reported an improvement in their nails, stating they looked brighter and clearer.

“Banwell Gardens Care Centre was delighted to offer residents and their caregivers a safe, effective therapy for fungal nails,” said Sara Fox, Executive Director of Banwell Gardens Care Centre. “Healthy feet are fundamental for seniors’ mobility and their quality of life.”

“We are so grateful to the EAHN™ program for supporting an evaluation which demonstrated how our product can bring safe and accessible treatment to those who need it, and cost-effectively,” said Monika Yazdanian, CEO of ToeFx Inc. “We are confident that these results will lead to better integration of this easy-to-deliver therapy across institutional settings, and the technology has already been procured for use at other long-term care homes.”

“OBIO® is proud of this valuable collaboration through the EAHN™ program, the first in a long-term care facility”, said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “Banwell Gardens Care Centre and ToeFx Inc. evaluated a made-in-Canada therapy that meets a real clinical need, laying the groundwork for future EAHN™ partnerships in the long-term care sector.”

ClearToe Therapy Light is a painless, easy to use treatment and unlike topical applications and oral therapies does not require daily commitment and has no side effects. It is an ideal method to treat nail fungus, particularly in seniors, and is also effective in very severe cases.

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace.

For more information, please visit OBIO.ca.

About ToeFx

ToeFX is driven by innovation. Created by scientists, our vision is to create the world’s most effective foot care treatments. We understand that toenail fungus can be embarrassing, hard to treat, and hard to talk about. We want to help the millions of people hiding their feet to “show off their toenails” with confidence. Our commitment to our partner clinicians and their patients is to provide innovative, high-quality products that really work.  Visit ToeFx Inc. for more information.

About Banwell Gardens Care Centre

With 142 long-term care residents, Banwell Gardens Care Centre maintains a warm, inviting atmosphere in the neighbourhood of Tecumseh. We pride ourselves on providing outstanding, compassionate care to our residents and paying close attention to their individual needs. We are pleased to offer French Language Services and strive to meet the needs of our bilingual community. Well-established programs such as pet and music therapy, restorative care and physiotherapy enhance residents physically, mentally and emotionally. Our landscaped courtyard features seating and a walking path for exercise and the enjoyment of all.  Visit Banwell Gardens Care Centre for more information.

The OBIO® Investment Summit reaches new heights, drawing the attention of international capital to Canadian healthcare innovations

Toronto, ON – February 21, 2024 – The OBIO® Investment Summit brings together global investors with emerging Canadian life sciences and health tech companies, technology innovators and ecosystem partners. This year, the Summit was held from February 14-16 at our new home, the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre in downtown Toronto. The Summit showcased over 90 of Canada's most promising early-stage companies, top universities and research institutions, giving them the opportunity to convene with international investors, multinational pharmaceutical companies and medtech corporations.

In the words of Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®, “The Summit enables Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A life science companies to share their innovative technologies with international investors, highlighting the strength of our industry and investment opportunities across Canada. We are proud of our efforts to support companies in securing investment to develop and commercialize their leading-edge technologies domestically, and we will continue to amplify the success of the Canadian ecosystem through our Summit."

The OBIO® Investment Summit is a catalyst that keeps attracting investors and investment to Ontario and to Canada. Companies that have presented at the Summit have raised over CAD $1.6 billion since 2018. Dr. Campbell continued, "Every year, we build on our past success. The 2024 Summit featured an expanded Business Development Forum, connecting international medtech and pharmaceutical companies with early-stage Canadian companies to explore research collaborations and licensing opportunities for their technologies."

OBIO® is supported by a Government of Canada investment of $10 million, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to help scale up healthcare innovation and create inclusive economic growth in southern Ontario. To date this investment has led to the creation/maintenance of 270 jobs, 159 new intellectual properties have been created or licensed, and over 625 people have received training or mentorship.

“The OBIO® Investment Summit is an important networking opportunity for our healthcare institutions, investors and health science companies to connect and share ideas,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “Supporting organizations, like OBIO®, that encourage the participation of women in leadership roles in the health sector is critical for the long-term success of our healthcare system. This work is instrumental in ensuring better health care for Canadians now, and into the future.”

The Government of Ontario is also supporting OBIO® with up to $9.7 million to help Ontario companies in the life sciences sector to adopt, develop and bring to market critical technologies, such as 5G and advanced networks, ethical artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, quantum and robotics.

“Ontario is home to the largest life sciences sector in Canada, with 1,900 firms employing over 70,000 highly-skilled professionals,” said the Honourable Victor Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Through the Investment Summit, OBIO® is driving innovation in our life sciences ecosystem and supporting innovators as they develop and commercialize their cutting-edge technologies.”

"The early-stage life sciences companies at the 2024 OBIO® Investment Summit highlighted the vibrant nature and talent present in the Canadian community. With representation across the broader Bayer Radiology and Pharmaceuticals business, the Bayer team was able to connect with current partners, identify new opportunities and also network with a number of public entities,” said Jerry Orban, Country Head, Bayer Radiology Canada. “We could feel the collaboration emanating from the walls of the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre. The forum was exceptional with many companies aligned with our strategic offerings and several that brought what we consider to be industry-changing technology. What we have in the Canadian life sciences market is a true gem built on incredible talent, science, public funding and private partnerships, and Bayer is proud to be part of that ecosystem. We look forward to attending again in 2025. Thank you to the entire OBIO® team.”

“OBIO® is an important advocate for the Ontario healthcare technology sector and has been a true friend to AmacaThera since our spinout from the University of Toronto in 2016,” said Mike Foorer, VP Business Development & General Manager, AmacaThera. “AmacaThera has been fortunate to present at the Summit during our initial growth phase and are thrilled to see the next wave of startups doing the same.”

OBIO® will continue to collaborate with its partners, including incubators and accelerators, to foster investment in Canada. The life sciences sector and the OBIO® Investment Summit can only succeed with the backing of a robust, supportive ecosystem with a shared vision of the future.

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO® is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.

For more information, please visit www.obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

About FedDev Ontario

For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media contacts:

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing & Events
OBIO®
dorianerey@obio.ca

Rostrum, Southlake and OBIO® team up to evaluate a non-invasive, real time, bedside monitoring system to manage mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU

January 31, 2024 (Vancouver, B.C.) – Over 350,000 patients in Canada are admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) annually, with 40% of those patients needing invasive mechanical ventilation. Managing mechanically ventilated patients can be complex due to providers having to simultaneously treat the underlying condition and the potential impacts a ventilator may have on the patient, which can lead to costly complications. The most common ventilator related complications or injuries are to a patient’s heart or lungs. In fact, up to 50% of mechanically ventilated patients experience complications, contributing in part to the ICU’s usage of 20 percent of hospital resources.

Currently, there is no real time, single solution to evaluate the impact on a patient’s cardio-pulmonary health from mechanical ventilation. Current methods are often invasive and time consuming, require extensive training and only provide partial information by focusing on one organ and ignoring the impacts of any intervention on the other.

Through OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), Rostrum Medical Innovations, a British Columbia-based medical device start-up, secured a partnership with Southlake Regional Health Centre to evaluate Pulmonary Blood Flow (PBF) when measured by their novel VQm® System as compared to the reference standard in the ICU.

Rostrum Medical Innovation’s VQm® System is a bedside cardio-pulmonary health monitoring system that addresses the gap in clinical monitoring solutions of the heart and lungs for invasively mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. The VQm® System consists of a standalone monitor, a proprietary sensor and a per patient that connects the monitor to any standard ventilator breathing circuit. Rostrum’s VQm® System also measures dead space, shunt fraction and functional residual capacity, giving providers the information they need to streamline ICU clinical workflows and reduce costs for mechanically ventilated patients.

This evaluation which is the product’s first clinical application in an ICU setting has demonstrated VQm® System’s ability to detect changes in PBF. Compared to the reference standard, the VQm® System showed a concordance of 83% to the standard of care. The VQm® System can also assess the impact of intravenous (IV) fluid on a patient’s heart and lung function allowing point of care adjustments which may reduce the rate of complications. Current ICU methods to generate the same type of data would cost upwards of $43,000 per patient per day, whereas the VQm® System can provide it daily for approximately $250 per patient for the duration of ICU care. Ultimately this solution has the potential to empower the healthcare team by giving them non-invasive, bedside access to valuable clinical measurements.

“We are very grateful to have worked with an amazing team from Southlake and we are proud with what the results are showing,” said Nathan Ayoubi, COO, Rostrum Medical Innovation. “We are committed to continuing our efforts to bring the VQm® System into other sites across the country.”

“The ability of this technology to generate physiological measurements non-invasively and in a semi-continuous manner could prove highly valuable within the ICU setting,” said Dr. Bryn Fell, Critical Care Medicine and Internal Medicine Specialist, Southlake Regional Health Centre. “We need to study this device in the ICU to see if any single or a combination of its four outputs could be used to tailor patient care, whether that be through more effective oxygenation and ventilation titration, fluid and pressor optimization, or another outcome. More study is needed, but preliminary results are promising.”

“We are pleased to provide an opportunity to a B.C.-based company to access the Ontario healthcare market and in turn potentially improve cost efficiencies in our healthcare system,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO, OBIO®. “The success of this project truly exemplifies the pan-Canadian nature of EAHN™, which has partnered with companies and healthcare organizations in five provinces.”

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. For more information, please visit OBIO.ca.

About Rostrum Medical Innovations

Rostrum Medical Innovations is dedicated to empowering medical practitioners with new and useful solutions to help solve everyday challenges that medical professionals face. Rostrum was established with a goal to deliver novel solutions to problematic uncertainties in modern day practice. With a team of some of the world’s most progressive clinicians, combined with engineering and business expertise with a history of commercial success, Rostrum is driven by one mission – to address clinical needs in healthcare. For more information, please visit www.rostrummedical.com.

About Southlake Regional Health Centre

Southlake is building healthy communities through outstanding care, innovative partnerships, and amazing people. We deliver a wide range of healthcare services to the communities of northern York Region and southern Simcoe County. Our advanced regional programs include Cancer Care and Cardiac Care and serve a broader population across the northern GTA and into Simcoe-Muskoka.

Our team of 6,000 staff, physicians, volunteers, students and Patient and Family Advisors are committed to creating an environment where the best experiences happen. As a recognition of our commitment to quality and patient safety, we have received the highest distinction of Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada.

With an annual operating budget of over $550 million, we are for one of Ontario’s most rapidly growing and aging populations and have developed an exciting plan for new facilities to serve our communities into the future. A member of the Southlake Community Ontario Health Team, we are working with our partners to deliver connected care to northern York Region and southern Simcoe County. For more information, please visit southlake.ca.

Media Contacts:

For more information, please contact:

Bibaswan Ghoshal
Senior Director, Technology Adoption
Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®)

Nathan Ayoubi
Chief Operating Officer
Rostrum Medical Innovation

Lindsey Furlanic
Communications Strategist, Corporate Communications
Southlake Regional Health Centre

OBIO® Celebrates the Advancement of Women in Health Science with WiHI Seed Program and Leadership Awards

January 4, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) is proud to announce significant milestones for its Women in Health Initiative (WiHI). Launched in July 2022 with support from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the OBIO® WiHI aims to bridge the gender disparity in the health science industry, particularly in senior management roles and leadership positions. The program offers comprehensive training, support and networking opportunities, empowering women with the skills and knowledge required to excel in leadership positions.

“Investing in the Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) is a crucial step in providing necessary supports and training so women can enter and flourish in the health and life sciences sector,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “Southern Ontario is home to an abundance of healthcare-focused businesses—many more of which are women-led thanks to the committed efforts of WiHI. Our government is pleased to support the WiHI program as it works to increase the representation of women in this exciting field.”

In its first year, WiHI has made remarkable strides, supporting more than 325 women in the industry through experiential learning and financial support. This year, 11 women-led companies have been selected for the WiHI Seed Program, a key component of the initiative, which addresses the significant barriers that women-led companies face in accessing financing and support, especially in the health science sector where venture capital investment is at a historic low. The participating companies will benefit from this comprehensive six-month program and have access to expert networks, essential industry resources and skills, non-dilutive funding of up to $20,000 and potential equity investment.

“By providing a combination of early-stage capital and advisory support to women-led companies, the program addresses critical barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in the life science and health technology sectors,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President & CEO of OBIO®. “The WiHI Seed Program is a critical step towards creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive health science industry, empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive and be successful leaders.”

The selected companies for the WiHI Seed Program 2023 are A.I. VALI, Atorvia, Cove Neurosciences, HDAX Therapeutics, ImaginAble Solutions, mDETECT, MoxyPatch, Noa Therapeutics, Paradox Immunotherapeutics, Tenomix, and Vessl Prosthetics. These companies will receive comprehensive support, including non-dilutive funding, tailored advisory and coaching assistance, and opportunities to pitch for equity seed investment.

Other exciting WiHI highlights

We are delighted to welcome Monika Yazdanian (CEO and Co-founder of ToeFX Inc.) and Mai Elfarnawany (VP Engineering at Flosonics Medical) as recipients of the Women in Health Initiative Business Leadership Program, joining our previous eight awardees. The program celebrates women that are exemplary leaders, role models and mentors to other women in the industry. The awardees (who each receive a $50K wage subsidy) will participate in OBIO’s networking events and contribute as mentor leaders to a women’s professional development community to support workforce development in a sector where women are underrepresented.

“As a recipient of the WiHI Seed and Women in Health Initiative Business Leadership programs, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and support OBIO® has provided to us. It is encouraging to see a focused effort to challenge systemic biases and create a level-playing field for women entrepreneurs,” said Natalie Galant, CEO of Paradox Immunotherapeutics. “The WiHI Seed Program symbolizes a transformative shift, empowering women entrepreneurs to excel and innovate. It's about creating a more inclusive future in health science, and I'm proud to be part of this change."

We are also excited to share that OBIO® WiHI has received the first ever honourable mention ACE (Advancement, Commitment, Engagement) award from the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (known as HBA), a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the advancement and impact of women in the business of healthcare. Represented in countries across the globe, the HBA serves a community of more than 75,000 individuals and 180 corporate partners. 

The ACE award recognizes results-oriented initiatives fostered by organizations committed to ensuring that gender equity and leadership opportunities for women are part of their organizational DNA. A panel of healthcare leaders selects recipients for their excellence in advancing their female talent and removing the systemic barriers preventing timely progress to parity. Award criteria include measurable results, business performance, stewardship, execution, and sustainability. Read more.

Furthermore, WiHI was nominated for the Women Leaders in Pharma Awards for The Women Support Network award. This award recognizes companies that have supported the women’s network through networking, coaching, and mentoring.

About OBIO®

Founded in 2009, OBIO® is a not-for-profit membership-based innovation organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies that position Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health care system and government. For more information, please visit obio.ca and follow OBIO® on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About FedDev Ontario
For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing & Events
Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®)
dorianerey@obio.ca

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

Phyxable Partners with Right at Home and OBIO® to Revolutionize Senior Healthcare with Falls Prevention Program

December 19, 2023 (Markham, ON) – Each year in Canada, up to one third of seniors are at risk of falling due to physiological factors associated with aging. Once a fall has occurred, there is very limited traditional, in-person rehabilitation programs for seniors with reduced mobility, and especially for those living in rural areas. To address this issue, OBIO® has partnered with Phyxable and Right at Home Canada in a collaborative effort to provide equitable access to effective falls prevention. Through OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), Phyxable and Right at Home Canada have revolutionized falls prevention rehabilitation with AgeWell, a digitally guided exercise program.

"Following a successful evaluation of AgeWell, Phyxable is thrilled to see the positive impact our digitally guided falls prevention exercise program has had on the lives of community-dwelling Canadian seniors. The collaboration with Right at Home Canada and the support from OBIO® has allowed us to address a critical need for accessible and effective falls prevention rehabilitation. The results of the study demonstrate not only significant improvements in strength and balance, but also a high level of satisfaction among participants,” said Dr. Jim Feng, CEO of Phyxable. “We are committed to continuing our mission of transforming healthcare and empowering individuals to take charge of their well-being from the comfort of their homes. We extend our sincere gratitude to OBIO® for their unwavering commitment to supporting the commercialization of Ontario-made biosciences companies like Phyxable."

The AgeWell program, delivered through the Phyxable app, combines live video-based care sessions with licensed healthcare providers and self-paced exercises. Accessible from any internet-connected device, the exercises cater to individual preferences, enabling seniors to enhance their lower extremity strength and balance.

“It was a great experience collaborating with Phyxable and creating the Fall Prevention Program. Our community clients thoroughly enjoyed the support and expertise from our collaboration with Phyxable and OBIO® ,” said Sharlene Hogeterp Louden, Registered Kinesiologist at Right at Home Canada. “The feedback from the users was very positive and they all improved their knowledge of fall prevention - to be proactive instead of reactive.”

“Phyxable partnered with Right at Home Canada to address the high incidence of falls among community-dwelling seniors. We created an engaging and dynamic falls prevention program which included twenty-five sessions of progressive strength and balance exercises, as well as six live virtual coaching calls with registered healthcare providers. Clients successfully adopted this digitally guided program and reported a high level of satisfaction with the hybrid model of virtual coaching and in-home assistance from Right at Home Canada caregivers,” said Anna Michalski, Registered Physiotherapist. “We were able to objectively measure balance, leg power, and fear of falling at the start and end of the program and are very excited to report improvements across all metrics. We hope the Falls Prevention Program empowers seniors to improve their mobility and allows them to maintain a high level of independence in their homes.”

This EAHN™ evaluation study revealed positive changes in key health measures in participants following the program:

• The 30-second chair stand test showed an improvement of approximately 11.52%

• Handgrip strength increased by about 7.24%

• The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) score decreased by roughly 4.85%

• Average balance scores increased by around 1.40%

Participants gave a high rating of 9/10, indicating the effectiveness of the program and their satisfaction with it.

Furthermore, feedback from app users indicated a high level of satisfaction with the app:  

• Users found the Phyxable app easy to follow (89%),

• Users rated the quality of the video as good or very good (89%)

• Users were satisfied with the length of the sessions (84%)

Most importantly, all app users felt comfortable with the virtual coaching calls, valued the presence of a caregiver to set up the program and would recommend the program to others.

The data from this study strongly supports the effectiveness of the falls prevention exercise program in improving strength, balance and reducing the perception of falls risk among community-dwelling Canadian seniors. The high satisfaction levels and positive outcomes indicate the successful adoption of this innovative approach, marking a significant stride in advancing senior community-based healthcare and well-being.

“OBIO® is proud to be partnered with Phyxable and Right at Home Canada to address the issue of falls prevention for seniors in the community,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, President and CEO of OBIO®. “The results of the AgeWell app’s evaluation reflect the profound impact that simple, easy-to-use technology can have on the lives of seniors. We are eager to continue supporting Phyxable in the next steps of procurement and wider adoption of their product across Canada’s healthcare systems.”

About OBIO®

OBIO®, a not-for-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™). OBIO® is engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies, positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace.

For more information, please visit OBIO.ca or contact Bibaswan Ghoshal, Senior Director, Technology Adoption, OBIO®.

About Phyxable

Phyxable is a pioneering virtual rehabilitation platform committed to transforming the healthcare landscape. Born and bred in Markham, Ontario, Phyxable combines telemedicine, machine vision, and video content to redefine how physical pain and injury are managed and prevented. Our mission is to empower individuals to receive high-quality care from the comfort of their homes, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all. With virtual 1-on-1 video calls, asynchronous chat systems, self-help exercise prescriptions, and augmented reality motion detection, Phyxable is at the forefront of innovative healthcare solutions.

For more information, please visit Phyxable's website or contact Jeannie Allen, Patient Success Advisor, Phyxable.

About Right at Home Canada

Right at Home is one of the largest providers of in-home supportive care services, staffing and employer solutions, globally. With over 600 Care Offices in 8 countries around the world, and 55 offices in Canada, they are a trusted resource for tens of thousands of families, clients, residential living organizations, employers and government agencies in the delivery of a wide variety of highly personalized, quality suppor

For more information, please visit Right at Home's website or contact Rica Esguerra, National Director of Community Engagement, Right at Home Canada