Groups combine efforts to bring more homegrown tech to Canada’s health-care sector

The Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network is partnering with the University of Calgary’s W21C Research and Innovation Centre (W21C) to reach their shared goal of introducing more homegrown technology solutions into Canada’s health-care sector, while assisting an even greater number of companies on their journeys to scale.

W21C is a health-care research and innovation initiative based in the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the Cumming School of Medicine. Like the CAN Health Network, W21C works directly with academia, government, and industry partners to bring pivotal ideas into Canada’s health-care industry through helping companies navigate product development, market fit and scalability.

“We’re both after the same goal and the same future for Canada,” says Dr. Dante Morra, MD, chair, CAN Health Network. “Joining forces and combining our resources means that we’ll reach this goal more rapidly than before.”

“W21C is doing incredible work that is not only changing the lives of patients, but is also helping our entrepreneurs develop and scale first-class solutions here at home.”

What makes the W21C so unique is its simulation capabilities and access to the Living Laboratory, located in the Foothills Medical Centre. The Living Laboratory is a beta-test site exploring novel approaches to health-care delivery, and the use of new and innovative medical technologies.

Currently, W21C is working on 69 projects to improve patient safety and quality of care. W21C provides technology evaluations and clinical trials support for digital health applications, personal protective equipment (PPE), therapeutics, medical devices, and much more.

“A primary aim for the University of Calgary through the Growth through Focus plan is to increase innovation to tackle challenging problems, and the CAN Health Network will help us do this,” says Dr. Tom Stelfox, MD, PhD, scientific director of the O’Brien Institute.

“This new partnership with W21C will bring in additional support needed to address the challenges facing our health systems.”

“We are excited to be part of a network that is driving changes to our health systems with tangible outcomes,” says Jill de Grood, director of development and partnerships, W21C. “We look forward to creating new connections and collaborations with innovators across Canada to make care better for our communities."