The Health Innovation Roundup, sponsored by Health Cities, 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 Last year was “a year of acceleration” for Health Cities, CEO Reg Joseph wrote in the organization’s 2021 annual report. “We have made major strides in data, accessibility to care through innovation, and created a network for companies to grow other companies.” Areas of focus for 2022 include mental health, IoT, the PrairiesCan Health Analytics and Diagnostics cluster, and data sharing in social services. Sara Aghvami, director of Best Buy Health, is among the panellists speaking at the April 28 session of Companies Growing Companies, a series put on by Health Cities and Invest Alberta. Dr. Verna Yiu has been removed from her position as president and CEO of Alberta Health Services less than one year after signing a two-year contract extension. “It’s time to move forward with an ambitious agenda to improve and modernize the health system, and renewed leadership at Alberta Health Services will support delivering those changes,” Health Minister Jason Copping told CBC, but NDP health critic David Shepherd said the move seems motivated by “an attempt to appease the extremists within the UCP.” Mauro Chies will serve as interim CEO. The University of Alberta’s Chandra Breanne Curry has been named the first coordinator of LaserNetUs, a global network of researchers who have access to 10 high-power laser facilities across North America. Among the applications is proton therapy, a precise treatment for cancer tumours. Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API) has announced a partnership with a team of research scientists from Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University in Nova Scotia to advance their research into antiviral drug discovery against SARS-CoV-2 and RNA viruses. Folio shone a light on efforts within the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry to reduce discrimination against trans people in the health care system, citing a couple of recent interviews on the RE:Pro Health Podcast with activist Marni Panas and clinician Julia Chronopoulos. University of Alberta researcher Todd Alexander is aiming to provide better training about the nature and treatment of kidney disease through the second iteration of the Kidney Research Scientist Core Education and National Training Program (KRESCENT), which recently received $2.5 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API) shared a video interview with Hana Marinkovic, its director of corporate affairs, on what motivates her. GlycoNet published a Q&A with Amaani Patel about what she has learned as a trainee in the lab of Dr. Lara Mahal, the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Glycomics. Events April 7, 12pm: Dossetor Centre Health Ethics Seminar — Conscience in Healthcare: Necessary Foundation or Unwelcome Barrier? April 8, 2pm: Library Resources and Research for Entrepreneurs: A Case Study April 19, 12pm: Indigenous Perspectives with Dr. Wayne Clark, PhD April 20, 12:30pm: Pediatric Research Day 2022 — Keynote speaker Nobel Laureate Dr. Michael Houghton April 21, 8:45am: Student Research Day 2022 at MacEwan University April 27, 4pm: Ethical Data and AI – Salon #5 from AI4Society April 27, 12pm: Building a Team for Success – Sandra Spencer (for University of Alberta students, postdocs, faculty, and staff) April 28, 12pm: Companies Growing Companies: Learn with Best Buy Health and Age-Well from Health Cities May 5-6: 8th Annual Undergraduate Research in Science Conference of Alberta at MacEwan University May 17: DiscoveryLab Meeting May 24-27: Amii’s AI Week June 1-3: Inventures conference in Calgary and online 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