September 21, 2022 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: HeadlinesThe Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii)‘s impact report for 2021-22 includes sections on the acquisition of Medo.AI and Ross Mitchell’s efforts to accelerate advancements in precision medicine. It also lists the outcomes of the organization’s first AI Week, which brought more than 2,100 guests together in Edmonton in May, including 515 early-career researchers and technical professionals who received bursaries to attend.Umay founders Ali Habib and Sharmin Habib were offered the deal they sought on Dragons’ Den when they pitched their tool to soothe eyes and encourage relaxation on the season premiere of the CBC show.Future Fields has been accepted as a member of 1% for the Planet and will donate 1% of its annual sales directly to nonprofit environmental organizations.A University of Alberta lab led by virologist Matthias Götte is working with three new centres funded by the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. to identify drugs to fight viruses that could cause global pandemics. The projects will bring about $6 million in research funding to the U of A over the next five years, Folio reports.A new lab at the University of Alberta will focus on understanding how altered microbiota — fungi, bacteria, and viruses in the gut and lungs — may be linked to disorders such as depression or asthma. “We know that the microbiome in early life is an important determinant of long-term health, but we don’t really understand the mechanisms going on there,” said associate professor Paul Forsythe, whose research will be funded by AstraZeneca Canada. “If we really want to be able to intervene therapeutically, we need to understand more. That’s what we’re doing in our lab.”Women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome often lack information about the condition, indicates a survey conducted by nutritional scientist Donna Vine. “There seems to be a lack of patient and clinical education about the long-term medical risks associated with this disease, and as a result, these women may just be treated for their reproductive and fertility issues, and not treated for other health risks, like cardiovascular risk,” said Vine, who runs PCOS Together, which seeks to improve women’s health care.DiveThru has made the top 15 at the Women-led Impact Investor Challenge, put on by Spring Activator in collaboration with the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good. Founder Sophie Gray will have a chance to pitch for $100,000+ in investment, starting with an event on Oct. 11.PulseMedica is looking to hire a senior software developer, a full-stack software developer, and an FPGA engineer.The Edmonton Protocol has been life-changing for Type 1 diabetics such as Innisfail’s Colleen Preston, but more work is needed to get the therapy to the point that it is a cure, Dr. James Shapiro told RD News Now. “The challenge has been that organ donors are scarce while diabetes is very common,” he said of the treatment, which transplants islet cells into the patient’s liver. “Also, we must give powerful and risky anti-rejection drugs. This is why we only offer this to patients (who are) really struggling.”Natural Rf Life Sciences, a subsidiary of PBG BioPharma, announced the launch of a new line of natural health products, one to boost immunity, another to improve focus and learning, and a third to relieve stress and improve stamina. “This last year has been one of great growth for the company, allowing us to diversify and scale our service offerings for the natural health and medicinal markets,” CEO Jacqueline Shan said in a news release.Jenny “Lyle” Ison, general manager of Garneau Hall, was named Care Provider of the Year at the Alberta Continuing Care Association Awards of Excellence. Calgary’s Bethany Care Society was named Innovator of the Year, and Dijana Vidra of the Father Lacombe Care Society won the Lifetime Achievement Award.CPA Alberta’s Pivot Magazine noted the growing number of mental-health startups, including Edmonton’s Neuromed Clinic, which offers transcranial magnetic stimulation as a treatment for clinical depression.Justin Riemer, CEO of Emissions Reduction Alberta, has joined the board of trustees of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation.EventsSept. 21, 12pm: How to File a Patent That Will Bring Value to Your Business with Trevor Prentice of The IP LinkSept. 21, 12:30pm: Alberta Innovates Revenue Accelerator info sessionSept. 22, 4pm: Virtual Expedition: To Walk Again, featuring Dr. Vivian MushahwarSept. 22, 4pm: Companies Growing Companies Live in CalgarySept. 23, 7pm: Science Talks featuring Dan Riskin during U of A DaysSept. 24, 10am: College of Health Sciences Alumni BrunchSept. 24, 1pm: Nursing Simulation Centre Tour: Innovations for Learning in Nursing Practice and Patient CareSept. 27, 12:30pm: Health and Life Sciences Showcase and Awards Dinner 2022 from BioAlberta in CalgarySept. 28: forward/slash Economic Summit at the Edmonton Convention CentreOct. 6, 6pm: Startup TNT Investment Summit VI – Top 20 Pitch NightOct. 13-14: Glycomics Institute of Alberta Inaugural SymposiumOct. 17-22: Edmonton Startup WeekHave a suggestion for a future edition? 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