The Health Innovation Roundup, sponsored by Health City, is written and published weekly by Taproot Edmonton to bring you the latest news and events in research, technology, companies and people changing health for the better in Edmonton. Sign up to get the full edition delivered directly to your inbox. Use the code HEALTHCITY & you’ll get 10% off the first year. Here are some highlights from this week’s Health Innovation Roundup: Headlines A new study by University of Alberta researchers is looking into ways to prevent or slow a muscle-wasting syndrome that causes death, especially in patients with cancer. Another new U of A study showed a causal link between food allergies and changes to infant gut bacteria due to the method of childbirth and the mother’s ethnicity. A new tool, which was developed in collaboration with U of A researchers, now allows women to easily determine whether they should be exercising during pregnancy. U of A cardiologists and computing scientists are working to build a video game-based MedBIKE fitness program for pediatric heart patients. The University Hospital Foundation has launched the 2021 Alberta Boehringer Ingelheim Collaboration (ABIC), in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Canada. The competition invites proposals from Alberta-based investigators for funding to address the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related co-morbidities and keeping patients in their communities. Nanospeed Diagnostics is moving into a new research and development manufacturing facility in Edmonton Research Park. The 11,000 square-foot two-storey site is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2021. U.K. biotech company Alchemab Therapeutics has raised US$82 million in a financing round to advance its novel products for patients with hard-to-treat diseases. Alchemab has a presence in Edmonton through its partnership with Amii to enhance the company’s machine learning capabilities. Edmonton’s Whole Family Health is partnering with the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM) to offer combined integrated fertility care for Infertility Awareness Week between April 18-24. An Edmonton fertility doctor said in a letter he sent to his patients that he made a deal with pharmaceutical companies to get rebates on certain fertility drugs. The doctor said his actions “contravened” his professional obligations. Events April 21, 12pm: Precision Health Research Seminar Series: The Translational Genomics Hub April 22, 12pm: Chief Executive Forum Spring Symposium April 22-May 27 (Thursdays): DNA testing in pregnancy April 23, 8am: Provincial Post COVID-19 Rehabilitation Response Framework April 23, 12pm: The Evolution of Ethics in AI April 25, 2pm: Infertility During a Pandemic April 27-June 1: Celebrating 100 Years of Insulin Seminar Series April 28, 12:30pm: Pediatric Research Day April 29, 11am: AI Enabled Care April 30, 8:30am: Alberta Respiratory Centre’s First Annual Education Update May 6, 9am: ML Foundations by Amii May 12-June 2 (Wednesdays): Diabetes Updates – From Guidelines to Practice May 18-19: Promoting Healthy Brain Aging and Preventing Dementia International Symposium May 18 & June 15, 11am: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Grand Rounds June 22-24: Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology/Gairdner Virtual Virology Symposium Sept. 22-24: Inventures 2021 Startup Pitch Event Have a suggestion for a future edition? Send it to hello@taprootedmonton.ca for consideration. Become a “Roundup Cultivator” and sponsor Taproot Edmonton to help them chronicle health innovation in Edmonton. Learn more