Source: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

FedDev Ontario Invests in Healthcare Innovation

NEWMARKET, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 21, 2016) - Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

Canadians will soon benefit from improved health-care options to support the management of chronic disease as a result of a $15 million investment to York University and its partners, Southlake Regional Health Centre and the University Health Network.

This investment by the Government of Canada was announced today by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), along with. Kyle Peterson, Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora.

The Government's Innovation Agenda aims to make Canada a global centre for innovation – one that creates jobs, drives growth across all industries and improves the lives of all Canadians. This investment is a prime example of that vision in action.

An estimated three out of five Canadians over the age of 20 years old are diagnosed with at least one chronic disease. And the rates of chronic disease diagnosis are rising steadily every year. The treatment of chronic disease is estimated to cost Canadians $39 billion annually.

The investment, through the Investing in Commercialization Partnerships initiative, will be used to develop and commercialize clinical applications as well as medical devices. These technologies make use of the vast amounts of clinical data available to create health solutions that are tailored to the needs of individual patients. Such innovations have the potential to improve outcomes for patients, reduce costs for health-care providers and create nearly 130 highly skilled, well-paying jobs for Canadians working in this emerging field.

The project brings together university- and hospital-based researchers with the business community. The investment will be matched by $19.5 million from 36 partners, resulting in a total budget of $34.5 million, which will help position southern Ontario as a leader in health technology, while providing Canadians with better, more precise ways to manage chronic disease.

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to positioning Canada as a global centre for innovation - one that creates well-paying jobs for Canadians working in this emerging field while also helping to foster a thriving middle class, drives growth across all industries and improves the lives of all Canadians. Today's announcement is a prime example of that policy in action. The most innovative solutions often happen when people from different fields collaborate. That's why it's important for universities, healthcare providers, the business community and government to work together. That's how we will come up with health-care solutions that improve the quality of life for Canadians."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

"This investment will lead to the creation of important resources and services for patients in Canada living with chronic disease. Companies and individuals will benefit from the strategic partnerships, collaborations and new technologies that will develop as a result of this project."

- Kyle Peterson, Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora

"This important investment by the Government of Canada recognizes the critical role of innovation and knowledge mobilization in both health promotion and health care. It will enable York to build on the success of our Connected Health and Wellness Project (CHWP), which demonstrated the power of providing individuals with the technology and tools they need to manage their health. York has collaborated with Southlake for many years, and we anticipate an even closer working relationship as we look forward to our new campus opening in Markham Centre."

- Mamdouh Shoukri, President and Vice-Chancellor,York University

"The federal government's investment will help Southlake to be a model hospital of the future. Fostering the commercialization of healthcare technology is a catalyst to a more sustainable healthcare system, improved quality, and the highest level of patient safety. By working collaboratively with startups and small to medium-sized enterprises, Southlake, through its incubator CreateIT Now, is playing a critical role in fostering the adoption of the healthcare technology to best benefit our patients and the healthcare sector as a whole. In addition to benefits these new technologies will have for our patients, we are also creating opportunities for Canadian companies to attract investment, create jobs, and reduce the innovation gap in Canada."

- Dr. Dave Williams, President & CEO, Southlake Regional Health Centre

"We are excited to be able to continue creating new technologies for patients struggling with the burden of illness. This strong support from the federal government is recognition that there is exquisite talent in our research hospitals and universities. By working together, transformational change is possible in our health system through the creation and use of novel health technologies for patient self-care. We look forward to working with lead partners, York University and Southlake Regional Centre; this collaboration will make life better for all of our patients."

- Dr. Peter Pisters, President and CEO, , University Health Network

Quick Facts

  • FedDev Ontario's non-repayable contribution is expected to create 128 full-time equivalent jobs and result in the commercialization of 37 technologies and 72 new collaborations with businesses and research and healthcare institutions.
  • This funding will support the commercialization of: 11 health apps, five medical devices, 15 technologies that will be used to address clinical problems, and six big data platforms.
  • The funding will go towards total project costs of up to $34.5 million and will leverage up to $19.5 million from 36 organizations, including Cisco Systems, Janssen, TELUS Health, MD Primer, ChipCare Corporation, NexJ Health, University of Toronto and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
  • Today's investment builds on a previous FedDev Ontario non-repayable contribution of $15.5 million to York University to support the successful delivery of the Connected Health and Wellness Project, which resulted in the development of 40 new products, 122 jobs and 27 collaborations.

Related Products

Backgrounder - FedDev Ontario Invests in Innovative Healthcare support

Associated Links

Investing in Commercialization Partnerships Initiative

York University, Faculty of Health

Southlake Regional Health Centre

Centre for Global eHealth Innovation

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BACKGROUNDER

FedDev Ontario Invests in Health Innovations to Support Canadians Living with Chronic Disease

The Government of Canada supports the development of new health technologies to address the rising rates of chronic disease. As part of this program, York University, Southlake Regional Healthcare Centre and the University Health Network will receive an investment of up to $15 million.

This non-repayable contribution, through FedDev Ontario's Investing in Commercialization Partnerships (ICP), will bring together university- and hospital-based researchers as well as front-line health-service providers to develop and commercialize new technologies. These technologies will have the potential to manage chronic disease and provide Canadians with better, more precise health services delivered at a lower cost.

The Government's Innovation Agenda aims to make Canada a global centre for innovation – one that creates jobs, drives growth across all industries and improves the lives of all Canadians. This investment is a prime example of that vision in action.

This project will create 128 full-time equivalent jobs, while supporting 72 collaborations in health technology, resulting in the commercialization of 37 new technologies. These technologies will include health apps, medical devices and secure, big-data platforms. Together, such new technologies will drive the development of personalized medicine, which aims to provide services tailored to the individual needs of patients.

For example, FedDev Ontario funding will contribute to:

  • NexJ Connected Wellness – A cloud-based platform that delivers tools to help patients and their caregivers manage chronic disease.
  • Artemis – A big-data analytics platform to support advanced clinical decision making for newborns with sepsis.
  • Ned – A personalized app for survivors of prostate cancer. It promotes self-care by providing patients with their lab and health results and supports providers with timely information about their patients' health.

In 2011, FedDev Ontario provided York University with a $15.5-million investment to support the development and delivery of the Connected Health and Wellness Project. This project included collaborative partnerships among small- and medium- sized businesses and major health-care institutions. The funding resulted in the development of 40 new products. It also created 122 jobs and supported 27 collaborations.

About York University

York University is Canada's third largest university. It houses one of the largest health faculties in Canada. York is a leading educator and research institution in personalized health coaching as a method of affecting behavioural change in patients. It is the only university to deliver a certificate in personalized health coaching. In 2011, York University partnered with academic, health-care and industry players to support the delivery of the Connected Health and Wellness Project.

About the Southlake Regional Healthcare Centre

The Southlake Regional Health Centre (SRHC) is a full-service hospital with a regional, clinically advanced focus. The hospital is a past recipient of the Innovation in the Adoption of Health Informatics Award. Southlake Regional Health Centre was a part of the Connected Health and Wellness Project funded in 2011.

About the University Health Network

The University Health Network (UHN) is Canada's leading research and academic institution and was ranked the top research hospital in Canada in 2014. The Centre for Global eHealth Innovation at UHN supports the commercialization of healthcare applications and medical devices addressing chronic diseases. UHN was a part of the Connected Health and Wellness Project funded in 2011.

FedDev Ontario's Investing in Commercialization Partnerships

Investing in Commercialization Partnerships supports business-led partnerships with a focus on developing globally-competitive products and services, or innovation platforms that can demonstrate commercial value.

Publicly funded universities and colleges as well as incorporated not-for-profit organizations, research institutions, and industry associations located in southern Ontario are eligible to apply under this initiative for projects that are business-led and focused on new technologies with demonstrated commercial value.

For more information, visit Investing in Commercialization Partnerships.

Related Products

News release: FedDev Ontario Invests in Healthcare Innovation

Contact Information:

Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
416-954-6652
fdo.mediarel-relmedias.fdo@canada.ca

Toll Free: 1-866-593-5505
Website: www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca