Health Innovation Roundup

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.

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Here are some highlights from this week’s Health Innovation Roundup:

Headlines

• CBC took a look at the increased interest in psychedelic therapy for mental health treatment in Alberta. “There is evidence that taking the drugs can leave patients’ brains more malleable and receptive to psychotherapy,” said Dr. Peter Silverstone, a professor of psychiatry and co-founder of Zylorion, a biopharmaceutical company working on integrated treatment programs combining psychedelics and technology-enabled therapy. Alberta Innovates is hosting its first virtual symposium on medical cannabis and psychedelic research on Oct. 26.
• Applications are open for the Startup Pitch Event at Inventures, an Alberta Innovates event happening in Calgary from May 31 to June 2, 2023. Health innovation is one of the streams.
• Social robots have the potential to help people who stutter and can offer more positive outcomes than apps and AI programs, indicates a study co-authored by Torrey Loucks, former research director at the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research at the University of Alberta. “There is a real opportunity for the social robot to make treatment activities more engaging and fun, particularly for younger clients,” Loucks told Folio.
• Researchers at the University of Alberta have found gene mutations in patients with scleroderma, which could lead to new treatments for the incurable skin disorder. “By uncovering some of the mechanisms linking abnormal DNA damage responses with fibrosis and inflammation, we hope to uncover novel mechanisms which we can use to better treat patients in the clinic,” said lead investigator Mohamed Osman, a rheumatologist in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.
• Alberta Impact published interviews with all the Launch Party 13 participants, including Matthew Nickel of Kidney-Chek by sn biomedical and Derek Nolt of Bladeflex.
• The Edmonton International Airport (YEG) has launched the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, which allows passengers to discreetly indicate that they may need extra support or time due to invisible disabilities such as autism, ADHD, dementia, chronic pain, or a number of other conditions.
• Obesity Canada has updated its guidelines for treating adults with obesity for the first time since 2020. The Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) now include up-to-date information on the latest evidence related to medical nutrition therapy and pharmacotherapy. Ireland has become the first country to use Canada’s CPGs for obesity treatment.
• Nate Glubish, the former minister responsible for Service Alberta and now the minister of technology and innovation is travelling to Denmark to learn more about how it manages health data.
• Postmedia columnist Nick Lees has succeeded in raising $250,000 for the University Hospital Foundation in celebration of his 80th birthday.

Events

• Oct. 27, 10am: Entrepreneur Education Series: What Your Financial Statements Say About You from Startup TNT
• Oct. 28, 2:30pm: Expanding Your Startup Legal Knowledge: From A Startup, presented by the Health Innovation Hub
• Nov. 4, 4pm: ASTech Awards 2022 at the NAIT Productivity and Innovation Centre
• Nov. 17, 4:30pm: Startup TNT Investment Summit VI Finale
• Nov. 24: Rainforest Summit at the Edmonton Convention Centre
• Nov. 29-30: Plug and Play Alberta Expo Day in Banff
• Nov. 29-Dec. 2: Leading in Learning Forum, presented by Alberta Innovates

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