��ݮ��Ƶ News - Health Futures

Understanding how our brain works

Sam Charles — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:45:00 +0000

Quantum neurobiology may hold the answer to better understanding how our brains function and uncover treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

How the brain is wired has been understood for a long-time, but how that wiring results in neural activity and cognition remains a mystery. Researchers like Dr. Travis Craddock are using quantum mechanics to gain new insights into the brain and how it works.

Craddock, a Science professor and the Canadian Research Chair in Quantum Neurobiology, bridges the disciplines of biology and physics to map out the physical and molecular processes within the brain.

“A lot of physicists, like me, find biology incredibly fascinating,” Craddock says. “From a physics standpoint it's remarkable how these systems work and how they follow the laws of physics to give rise to a living system. Biology is very complex and so it is challenging to frame all of the interacting parts working together from a physics point of view.”

When Craddock first started out, he was fascinated by the inner workings of the universe from a physics perspective. He soon realized that his passion extended beyond physics into chemistry, biology, computer science and lab work. “Neurobiology brings it all together, because you need to know your fundamental physics, chemistry and biology of neuroscience in addition to the theory and modelling to put it all together.”

Craddock says the advantage of using quantum to better understand the complexities of the brain is that physics and the biology complement one another. “There are unique quantum properties that biology seems to be using to give living matter an evolutionary advantage.”

The goal of Craddock’s Quantum Neurobiology Lab is to better understand the fundamental science behind how the brain works particularly in the context of neuroinflammation and neuroinflammatory diseases. This could lead to treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and new technologies to improve memory or measuring more fine details within the brain. “By gaining insight into the basic science behind how the brain and its neurons work, it provides us with an understanding of what’s unique about living matter compared to non-living matter.”

According to Craddock, he chose to work at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ because of its reputation as an innovator. “��ݮ��Ƶ is primed to expand within the biomedical space because of its strong foundation in physics, biology, quantum and engineering. And I am excited to be a part of that”

In the meantime, he and his team will continue to investigate whether the biology of the brain lends itself to unique quantum properties and principles like super position, tunneling and entanglement and how these may relate to brain function, memory and cognition, or even consciousness.

“The more you answer questions about the brain, you're basically answering, what does it mean to be a human being.”

Technological Futures

Promising new method could treat inherited diseases

Pamela Smyth — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:46:42 +0000

Novel treatment uses bacterial virus already in the body to give new hope for combatting deadly genetic disorders

An innovative method that uses modified versions of a bacterial virus effective at delivering treatments to human cells shows promise as a more inexpensive and efficient way to treat some deadly genetic diseases.

Researchers from the School of Pharmacy at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ use a modified version of a bacterial virus called M13 to target specific human cells while carrying only the genes they want delivered, with no unwanted virus or bacteria. Scientists can fine-tune the modified M13 to deliver different therapeutic genes for the treatment of many different diseases.

About one person in 25 has an inherited disease. Despite the need, many conditions lack accessible treatments and do not have a cure. The ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers expect the method can be used for many different types of genetic disorders, some of which are inherited, but others that may develop, such as cancer.

“There is a real need for customizable gene therapies to address the gap in treatments,” said Dr. Roderick Slavcev, a professor in ��ݮ��Ƶ’s School of Pharmacy and the principal investigator of the study. "What’s exciting about M13 is that it is very simple genetically and structurally, a single-stranded DNA phage. This simplicity allows for a cost-effective, efficient, and controllable approach to gene therapy that may represent a step towards personalized gene therapy.”

Scientists already use gene therapy to successfully treat certain diseases of the eye and immune system. They used modified versions of viruses that are good at delivering treatments to human cells to either replace, turn off, or fix damaged genes to produce functional proteins and restore the cells back to good health.

Although effective, these methods are costly to produce and can trigger toxic side effects, including unintentional immune reactions, limiting them to a single use per patient. And non-viral gene therapy, while generally safer and cheaper to produce, tends to be less efficient at delivering genetic material to target cells.

“At scale, this platform can lead to treatments that could cost as low as one-millionth the cost of current viral gene therapies,” Slavcev said. “Genetic medicine is poised to be the most powerful curative approach for our global future, and we hope this technology is a move in that direction.”

Slavcev is a part of Team iNeuron, currently working on applying the new system as a potential treatment to replace damaged or dead neurons, as in the case of stroke or Alzheimer’s disease.

The study appears in Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids.

This work is supported by the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund.

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Health Futures

Pocket-sized device detects E. coli in minutes

David George-Cosh — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ researchers develop inexpensive technology to help prevent deaths, illness caused by contaminated water

A palm-sized device developed by researchers at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ could help save lives and reduce illness by rapidly and inexpensively detecting toxic bacteria in water supplies.

Contamination caused by E. coli, a bacterium commonly found in the gastrointestinal tracts of mammals, causes an estimated 230 deaths and three million acute illnesses globally each year, mostly affecting babies and young children, according to a study from the National Institute of Health.

The research team set out to help reduce those numbers by building on technology it originally developed to detect the COVID-19 virus during the global pandemic.

“We’re confident our technology could have a significant health impact,” said Dr. Carolyn Ren, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, and the Canada Research Chair in Microfluidic Technologies at ��ݮ��Ƶ.

“Testing shows it is very accurate, both in terms of specificity – the ability to differentiate between E. coli and other bacteria – and sensitivity.”

Researchers paired a vector network analyzer (VNA) with a small sensor to create a handheld device that can rapidly detect E. coli bacteria in water.

Costing just $70 to produce, the device includes a gold-plated sensor about the size of a dime paired with a smartphone-size board that contains a small instrument known as a vector network analyzer (VNA).

The sensor is coated with an antibody – a type of protein produced by the immune system – that attracts and binds E. coli to its surface if bacteria are present in a sample of a few drops of water.

When E. coli binds to the antibody, it triggers a shift in the resonance frequency of microwaves emitted by the sensor. That shift is detected and analyzed by the VNA, which determines both the presence and concentration of the bacteria in real time.

The device was tested with only a few drops of water in its reservoir, but Ren said the technology could easily be scaled to meet international E. coli standards that require larger samples.

Current E. coli tests typically involve collecting and transporting water samples to centralized labs, often resulting in delays that can take days and can leave people vulnerable to illness.

Ren said the ��ݮ��Ƶ-built device’s rapid results, low cost and portability make it ideal for on-site testing in homes and water treatment plants, and to regularly monitor water bodies for contamination.

Its potential is especially significant in developing countries where people are more vulnerable to E. coli contamination and access to lab-based testing is limited. In a study in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, 71 per cent of household water samples were found to be contaminated.

“Water regulations are strict and it’s difficult to adopt new technology quickly,” said Ren, who is also a member of the Water Institute and the ��ݮ��Ƶ Institute for Nanotechnology. “We hope our work will inspire the scientific community and the private sector to help make it widely accessible.”

Collaborators included Dr. Emmanuel Ho, a professor of pharmacy, Dr. Philippe Van Cappellen, a professor of earth and environmental sciences, and Dr. Weijia Cui, a postdoctoral researcher.

A paper on their work, A functionalized microwave biosensor for rapid, reagent-free detection of E. coli in water samples, appeared in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

Technological Futures

People disregard advice when making tough decisions

Pamela Smyth — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:24:00 +0000

Insights from investigation of decision-making among people in 12 countries could improve teamwork and cross-cultural relations

An international study surveying people in a dozen countries found that when it comes to making complex decisions, people all over the world tend to reflect on their own, rather than seek advice.

Researchers from the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ led the new study that surveyed more than 3,500 people from megacities to small Indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest to learn how they make decisions. This work is the broadest test of decision-style preferences across cultures to date.

The researchers say understanding that even in interdependent societies most people prefer to go with the decision made by themselves irrespective of what others say can help clarify cross-cultural misunderstandings and show that we all appear to be juggling similar internal debates.

“Realizing that most of us instinctively ‘go it alone’ helps explain why we often ignore good counsel, be it for health tips or financial planning, despite mounting evidence that such counsel may help us make wiser decisions,” said Dr. Igor Grossmann, professor in the Department of Psychology at ��ݮ��Ƶ and first author on the paper. “This knowledge can help us design teamwork better by working with this self-reliant tendency and letting employees reason privately before sharing advice that they might reject.”

The study upends the belief that westerners work things out themselves while the rest of the world leans on others. In fact, intuition and self-reflection beat out advice from friends or crowdsourcing in all countries studied. The amount of that preference varied, depending on the level at which a culture values independence or interdependence.

“Our take-home message is that we all look inward first, yet the wisest moves may happen when solo reflections are shared with others,” Grossmann said. “What culture does is controls the volume knob, dialing up that inner voice in highly independent societies and softening it somewhat in more interdependent ones.”

Nearly 40 authors contributed to this work as part of the Geography of Philosophy Project, which is led by Dr. Edouard Machery, from the University of Pittsburgh.

The study, Decision-making preferences for intuition, deliberation, friends or crowds in independent and interdependent societies, appears in Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences.

Soft robots go right to the site of kidney stones

David George-Cosh — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ researchers develop new minimally invasive treatment to rapidly ease kidney stone pain with targeted drug delivery

An international research team led by the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ is developing technology to dissolve painful kidney stones in the urinary tract using tiny robots.

The new technique, tested in a life-size, 3D-printed model, features thin, spaghetti-like strips fitted with magnets that can be moved into place near uric acid kidney stones with a robotic arm operated by doctors (see left image).

The soft, flexible robot strips are about a centimetre long and contain an enzyme called urease. Once in place, the urease reduces the acidity of the surrounding urine, thereby dissolving stones until they are small enough to pass naturally in just a few days.

“There is currently no good treatment method available for this type of kidney stone,” said Dr. Veronika Magdanz, a professor of systems design engineering at ��ݮ��Ƶ who consulted urologists in Spain and Canada during the research project.

“Patients are typically prescribed painkillers and oral dissolving medication that provides slow relief over the course of weeks or months. And in urgent cases, when stones block the urine flow, they must be surgically removed.”

Kidney stones, which are solid deposits that form inside the urinary tract like small rocks, affect roughly 12 per cent of people and frequently recur, resulting in prolonged drug treatment and repeated surgeries that increase patient suffering and tax healthcare systems.

Magdanz said researchers are optimistic their minimally invasive treatment system will be particularly beneficial for people known as recurring stone formers who don’t tolerate oral medication well or can’t undergo surgery due to risk factors such as chronic infections.

“Our goal is to provide an effective alternative to existing treatment methods,” said Magdanz, who is also director of the Medical Microrobotics Lab at ��ݮ��Ƶ. “We hope accelerated stone dissolution will relieve the pain faster and help patients pass stones quicker.”

Next steps in the development process include studies with large animals and refinement of the control system, which includes a motorized magnet on a robotic arm, and real-time ultrasound imaging that enables doctors to precisely manipulate robots into place near stones.

(From L to R) Erica Liu, Afarin Khabbazian, Dr. Veronika Magdanz and Lauren Kwong were part of the ��ݮ��Ƶ team that helped develop new technology to treat kidney stones. (University of ��ݮ��Ƶ)

The research team at ��ݮ��Ƶ also included Dr. Alfred Yu, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Dr. Mir Behrad Khamesee, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering.

Their international collaborators included researchers and doctors at universities and hospitals in Spain and Germany.

A paper on the work, Kidney Stone Dissolution By Tetherless, Enzyme-Loaded, Soft Magnetic Miniature Robots, recently appeared in Advanced Healthcare Materials.

Feature image: Dr. Veronika Magdanz (left) and researcher Afarin Khabbazian use a robotic arm, miniature robots and 3D-printed models of the human urinary tract to develop new technology to dissolve kidney stones. (University of ��ݮ��Ƶ)

Video: University of ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers guide a miniature robot (in pink) through a 3D-printed model of a urinary tract using a revolving magnet on a robotic arm. (University of ��ݮ��Ƶ)

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Technological Futures

��ݮ��Ƶ alum powers global biotech innovation

Darren Mc Almont — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 04:15:00 +0000

Kitchener-based company drives the region’s economic growth with breakthrough technology that helps scientists get to discoveries faster

University of ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers, students and alumni are at the forefront of critical discoveries that unlock solutions for the future of humanity and our planet. Ryan Denomme (BASc ’10, MASc ’12), CEO and founder of Nicoya Lifesciences, is no exception.

While pursuing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering at ��ݮ��Ƶ, Denomme encountered a recurring challenge: researchers in biological characterization were limited by the high cost and complexity of traditional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) systems, slowing the pace of discoveries on human diseases and how to treat them.

Launched with the support Velocity — the University’s flagship startup incubator — Denomme drew from his background in nanotechnology and developed a comprehensive solution to help scientists rapidly advance drug discovery and development.

Denomme explains that Nicoya, a Kitchener-based biotechnology company, was founded after recognizing that biologics-mediated therapies account for more than 40 per cent of the therapeutic pipeline. Yet, researchers face significant hurdles in assessing their safety and efficacy.

“Nicoya’s product portfolio and platform provide researchers and drug developers with a suite of automated, high-throughput and integrated tools to characterize the three most critical aspects of biologics: stability, structure and function — all without relying on disparate technologies and datasets,” he says.

Simply put, the company is improving human life by helping scientists get to critical discoveries faster.

From academic spin-off to global impact

What began as an academic spin-off in 2012 has grown into a globally adopted provider of accessible, high-throughput SPR instrumentation. Today, Nicoya employs close to 100 engineers, scientists, technicians and designers that work at the intersection of nanotechnology, microfluidics, biochemistry and optical sensors — helping to advance discoveries in more than 40 countries.

This growth has also made Nicoya a key economic contributor in the ��ݮ��Ƶ region, offering co-op placements and full-time employment to ��ݮ��Ƶ students, alumni and local residents.

“��ݮ��Ƶ talent has been core to Nicoya from the beginning and many of our top contributors are alumni or former co-op students,” Denomme shares. “Almost 50 per cent of our executive team are ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni and 80 per cent are alumni of the region.”

From developing OpenSPR flowcells with the R&D team to supporting application development, co-op students have played a vital role in Nicoya’s commercial success. The company is part of a global network of more than 8,000 employers connected to ��ݮ��Ƶ that help students build work-ready skills and secure meaningful employment — with some becoming essential members of the team.

Terese Dimeck (BASc ’23) is one such example. After working with Nicoya through co-op terms and part-time contracts, she made significant contributions to the company’s flagship product development. “I was happy to contribute to Nicoya’s Alto instrument through the development of a new sensor chemistry, digital microfluidic protocol design for new features and redesign for improved reliability,” she says. Now a graduate, Dimeck is a full-time member of the company.

“We keep hiring from ��ݮ��Ƶ because students and grads bring strong technical skills, a problem-solving mindset and a drive to innovate that aligns perfectly with our mission in life sciences.”

Pioneering the future of drug discovery

Over the past decade, Nicoya has launched several groundbreaking products, including OpenSPR-XT — the first automated benchtop SPR instrument — and Alto™, the world’s first digital microfluidics–based SPR system. Most recently, Nicoya announced the acquisition of Applied Photophysics, expanding its portfolio of analysis tools for drug development and global reach.

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its global footprint, invest in AI-powered data analysis, and collaborate with leading researchers to bring label-free interaction analysis to the forefront of therapeutic development.

With more than 70 per cent of ��ݮ��Ƶ students gaining up to two years of work experience during their studies, the talent developed here continues to drive economic impact — both locally and around the world.

Hire ��ݮ��Ƶ talent today.

Engineering

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Technological Futures

��ݮ��Ƶ researchers awarded more than $1 million for dementia research

Darren Mc Almont — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 04:15:00 +0000

The Faculty of Health study aims to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia in ethno-racial communities

University of ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers are tackling some of Canada’s most complex health challenges, leading to solutions for the most vulnerable, while shaping a healthier future for individuals and communities.

Recently, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced that two ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers were awarded more than $1 million to advance research to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families through a Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) Team Grant.

Dr. Laura Middleton and Dr. Carrie McAiney | Faculty of Health

$1,074,900

Dr. Laura Middleton, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and Dr. Carrie McAiney, professor in the School of Public Health Sciences, will work to identify effective strategies to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and their caregivers in ethno-racial communities.

Both are also Schlegel Research Chairs in Dementia and Active Living and Dementia, respectively.

Dr. Laura Middleton (left), Dr. Carrie McAiney (right)

“People living with dementia and their families still struggle to find support for living well in their communities. The need for support is even greater among people from ethno-racial communities who face additional challenges including language barriers, racism, and differing cultural views and stigma of dementia,” Middleton shares.

With a focus on Chinese, South Asian and Black communities, the four-year initiative will use a participatory approach to address the unique challenges these groups face.

The research team includes advisories teams composed of researchers, individuals living with dementia, family care partners, and community organizations from each community to achieve four main goals: to understand what quality of life means within each community; to co-design culturally relevant supports for quality of life and pilot test them in each community; to share findings with partners including community members and policymakers; and to build research capacity among community members and trainees.

The expected impact is twofold: the development of new, community-driven interventions ready for larger testing, and a new generation of researchers and trainees equipped to engage meaningfully with ethno-racial communities in dementia research.

“We are grateful to CIHR for supporting our research and look forward to working with the respective communities as well as with CCNA. This marks a significant step toward health equity, ensuring that dementia care in Canada reflects the diversity of its population and empowers those most affected to shape the solutions,” McAiney says.

This research project is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA).

��ݮ��Ƶ researchers awarded more than $4.5 million

Darren Mc Almont — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:15:00 +0000

From advancing the government’s “tobacco endgame” to improving life experiences for older adults, ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers are improving health futures

University of ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers are at the forefront of tackling some of our nation’s most complex health challenges. Recently, two research projects were awarded more than $4.5 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to advance national research that will aid in shaping a healthier future for individuals and communities.

The CIHR is a federal funding agency comprised of 13 research institutes that support world-class research and innovations to improve human health and strengthen the health care system.

Learn more about the ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers and their research projects:

Dr. Geoffrey Fong | Faculty of Arts and Dr. David Hammond | Faculty of Health

$3,656,700

Although smoking rates have decreased in Canada, 3.8 million people in this country still smoke commercial cigarettes. Smoking also remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, killing 48,000 Canadians each year.

Dr. Geoffrey Fong, professor in the Department of Psychology, Dr. David Hammond in the School of Public Health Sciences and the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation (ITC) Project team at ��ݮ��Ƶ will conduct critical research to help advance the Canadian government’s ambitious “tobacco endgame” — to reduce tobacco use to less than five per cent of the population by 2035.

“A key challenge in achieving this objective is the rise of new nicotine product use,” says Fong, founder of the ITC Project. “Products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches have complicated tobacco control efforts because of conflict between their potential harm for youth, due to their high addictiveness, versus potential benefit for adults who may use them to help them quit smoking commercial cigarettes.”

As the nicotine market rapidly evolves in Canada, there is an urgent need for measuring and understanding the use of all these products among both youth and adults.

The study is led by Fong and ITC colleagues Hammond and Dr. Mary Thompson, distinguished professor emerita in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences. The five-year project will extend Canadian national surveys of tobacco/nicotine use by youth and adults that the ITC Project has conducted since 2016.

For more than two decades, evidence from ITC surveys in 31 countries has been used to strengthen tobacco control efforts in Canada and globally. The ITC surveys will provide insight on trends in use of nicotine products and the impact of current and future policies on cigarettes, such as health warnings, taxation and flavour bans. The researchers will also assess how policies and products may impact individuals of key study groups that include low-income and racialized peoples.

The project grant of $3,656,700 is the third largest of the 421 projects funded by CIHR.

“We are grateful to CIHR for supporting our research on the number one preventable cause of death and disease in Canada and the world,” Fong says.

Dr. Heather Keller | Faculty of Health

$986,849

Dr. Heather Keller, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences conducts research focused on improving the health and quality of life of older adults through food and nutrition. Previously conducted research found the mealtime experience of people living in long-term care (LTC) can be improved.

Her latest initiative, CHOICE+, is an eLearning program designed to empower LTC staff to create more enjoyable, resident-centered mealtimes. Grounded in relationship-centered care, CHOICE+ trains designated staff to lead improvements in their homes, supported by virtual training and mentorship. The designated staff will collaborate with residents, families and staff to implement changes such as reducing rushed meals to promote dignity and satisfaction.

The study will be implemented at 18 randomly selected LTC homes to evaluate the program’s impact on resident nutrition, satisfaction and staff well-being. By tracking outcomes like food intake, body weight and care satisfaction, the research aims to build sustainable improvements and scale CHOICE+ across the LTC sector.

These research projects are supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Made by ��ݮ��Ƶ: Portable stroke detection using AI and electromagnetic imaging

Angelica Sanchez — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 11:15:00 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ startup AiimSense pioneers a portable brain scanner for brain injuries and stroke detection, enabling early diagnosis and faster treatment

In a stroke emergency, every second counts — early detection and rapid intervention can save lives even before a patient reaches the hospital.

“Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are the current standard, but they are expensive, stationary and require special infrastructure,” says Dr. Atefeh Zarabadi (PhD '15), CEO and co-founder of AiimSense. “[These technologies] limit timely access to care, especially in medical emergencies like stroke or traumatic brain injuries.”

To address this critical gap, Zarabadi and her team have developed a scalable, portable imaging system that uses electromagnetic imaging (EMI) and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes faster and more affordably than traditional methods.

The AiimSense solutions include BrainScreen, a lightweight, a helmet-like device that fits in a backpack and can be deployed in the field — ideal for mobile stroke units or remote clinics. Its companion software, Neural Map Pro, combines AI-powered 3D analytics with Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) integration to provide real-time image visualization of brain conductivity changes, such as bleeding or clots.

“Imagine having [this technology] available in many clinics where it is needed — that is very transformative,” Zarabadi says. “It can enhance brain health in general, which is not possible today.”

By enabling earlier diagnosis, AiimSense supports faster treatment decisions — such as administering clot-busting drugs within the critical time window — and ensures patients are directed to the right care centers. AiimSense’s mission is to democratize access to advanced brain imaging and improve outcomes across both urban and underserved communities.

Powering the “brain economy” with imaging technology

Zarabadi’s vision extends beyond health care. At the G7 Canada Brain Economy Summit in Calgary, she joined global leaders in developing the “Brain Economy Declaration” — a policy initiative that recognizes brain health and cognitive capacity as essential to national prosperity.

AiimSense’s portable brain scanner exemplifies this vision. By reducing reliance on costly, stationary imaging systems and enabling earlier intervention, it has the potential to lower health-care costs, improve patient outcomes and enhance workforce productivity — all key pillars of what global leaders are calling the “brain economy.”

“Achieving global brain health equity starts with making diagnostics accessible everywhere,” Zarabadi says. She sees AiimSense contributing in two ways: through its scientific and technological innovation, and by introducing a new imaging modality that makes brain diagnostics more accessible and impactful.

“Early diagnosis and accessible brain imaging are a game changer. The sooner we can diagnose, the more preventative measures we can take into account. By lowering the disability rates and saving lives, this technology can contribute to the global economy.”

AiimSense BrainScreen, a lightweight, helmet-like portable imaging system that uses electromagnetic imaging (EMI) and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes faster. Photo credit: Suleyman Begenjov/Velocity and AiimSense.

A multidisciplinary team rooted in ��ݮ��Ƶ

Founded in 2019, AiimSense has successfully built its BrainScreen and Neural Map Pro through a multidisciplinary team with deep roots in Ontario’s research network, including McMaster University, University of Toronto and Western University.

More than 10 senior team members are ��ݮ��Ƶ graduates with decades of industry experience, including their co-founder, Mohammad Chavoshi (MEng ’16), a trained senior electrical and computer engineer. AiimSense has also benefited from working with co-op students, research partnerships and support from the ��ݮ��Ƶ innovation ecosystem, including the Velocity incubator.

“Coming from academia into entrepreneurship means coming out of your comfort zone,” Zarabadi says. “There are certain skills that we need to develop and focus on that are more business related than science. There are good programs like Velocity that help you learn the business side — finding the product-market fit and turning research into real-world impact.”

At the 2024 International Conference on Aging, Innovation and Rehabilitation (ICAIR), hosted by The KITE Research Institute at University Health Network (UHN), AiimSense was awarded first place in the Innovative Startup category of the ICAIR Power Play Pitch Competition, receiving a prize of $25,000.

AiimSense also received the Most Innovative Solution Award during the Brain Health Challenge Pitch competition at the Inventures 2025 conference in Alberta, earning $20,000 in funding and the opportunity to showcase their breakthrough brain imaging technology at the Life Science Intelligence USA 2025 Emerging Medtech Summit, where they gained further recognition among global medtech innovators and investors.

Advancing towards brain health for all

Despite the promise, Zarabadi notes that deep tech startups face unique challenges.

“While there are many resources available, meaningful early-stage support that matches the scale and timeline of transformative innovation is still lacking,” Zarabadi adds. “If we want these companies to thrive and stay focused on what they do best, we need to bridge that gap with more significant and sustained investment.”

She remains confident in AiimSense’s potential to reshape brain health diagnostics. Zarabadi envisions the platform evolving into an accessible, routine brain health monitoring tool, which is especially important for aging populations and pediatric care.

Velocity health companies are funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Photo credit for banner image: Suleyman Begenjov/Velocity and AiimSense.

The "Made by ��ݮ��Ƶ:" series showcases innovative startups founded by University of ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni and researchers that are driving Canada's economy forward. These companies, nurtured within the region's vibrant tech ecosystem, are making significant local and global impacts. Through this series, we highlight how ��ݮ��Ƶ and these home-grown businesses are fostering prosperity by attracting, developing and retaining the talent essential for fueling Canada's economic growth.

Technological Futures

Tiny camera revolutionizes hip and knee surgery

Darren Mc Almont — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 04:15:00 +0000

Local ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni have developed a global medical breakthrough that significantly improves patient outcomes in total joint replacement surgeries

What do University of ��ݮ��Ƶ researchers, students and alumni have in common? A drive for finding solutions that improve the quality of life for humanity.

Thanks to a groundbreaking innovation developed by ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni, orthopedic surgeons no longer need to rely on guesswork when performing hip or knee surgeries — leading to better outcomes for patients around the world.

Intellijoint Surgical Inc. — a Kitchener-based medical technology company founded by ��ݮ��Ƶ engineering graduates — is revolutionizing joint replacement surgery. Armen Bakirtzian (BASc ’08), CEO and co-founder, was inspired by stories of his father’s work as an orthopedic surgeon and saw an opportunity to improve surgical outcomes in total hip replacement and total knee arthroplasty surgeries. Alongside his co-founders Andre Hladio (BASc ’08) and Richard Fanson (BASc ’08), he turned a fourth-year engineering design project into a global medical technology success story.

Watch video on YouTube

From student project to a global medical breakthrough

Since its founding in 2010, Intellijoint has developed a computer-assisted navigation system that helps surgeons accurately position implants during hip and knee replacement procedures. The system uses a miniature optical camera to deliver real-time, precise measurements and even accounts for patient movement during surgery. This innovation not only enhances surgical accuracy but also reduces the need for costly and invasive revision surgeries. Some patients are also able to walk within 30 minutes, climb stairs in an hour and head home just two hours later.

To date, the company’s technology has been used in more than 70,000 surgeries across multiple countries. Closer to home, Intellijoint has partnered with the ��ݮ��Ƶ Regional Health Network to bring advanced surgical care to local patients.

A foundation for future innovations

“We're based in Kitchener-��ݮ��Ƶ and having our local hospital be adopters of our technology is pretty important,” Bakirtzian says. There are lot of innovators in Canada, but many of our innovations are not adopted by our local healthcare system, so this as a partnership we’re proud of.”

The company’s close collaboration with clinicians is key to its continued innovation, allowing Intellijoint to identify new challenges and develop solutions that improve outcomes for patients, surgeons and other healthcare staff.

Armen Bakirtzian (right) and Andre Hladio (left) demonstrating how the Intellijoint HIP^®works in the operating room.

“We’re a problem-solving organization. Our goal from the beginning was to create technology that integrates seamlessly into surgical workflows,” Bakirtzian says. “The more access and exposure we have to problems that clinicians are dealing with will give us more information on solutions to those problems, ultimately improving patient care.”

From co-op student to co-op employer

As a former ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op student who had an interest in medicine and engineering, Bakirtzian explains that it was sometimes challenging finding jobs that blended his interests. To eliminate that barrier for other like-minded students, his company now hires more than 50 co-op students each year. One such person was Joseph Schipper (BASc ’15) who has been with Intellijoint for 10 years and moved his way up from co-op student to the company’s algorithms and research manager.

“We're quite proud to be an employer in the region that provides opportunity for folks and their families to have a good professional and personal life. We’re also proud of extending that same reality to students.” — Bakirtzian

Intellijoint is part of a network of more than 8,000 employers connected to ��ݮ��Ƶ that help students develop work-ready skills and secure meaningful employment after graduation.

“I know first-hand how hard it is to get into the medical devices industry, and because there is biomedical engineering in town, everybody wants a job at a medical device company,” Bakirtzian says. “We're very fortunate to be able to provide that opportunity for many ��ݮ��Ƶ students each term because they deliver tremendous technical solutions and are fantastic to work with.”

Engineering

Health Futures

Technological Futures