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- News (List) | Health Everywhere
Latest News Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants Sep 6, 2023 UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem just received a $20.3-million boost, thanks to Alberta’s Major Innovation Fund (MIF) Read More UCalgary-based program expands province-wide in supporting digital health researchers Sep 11, 2023 SPARK program receives grant from Alberta Innovates, supporting post-secondary innovators across Alberta in transforming ideas into clinical practice Read More Health Everywhere Launch Event Mar 6, 2024 Exploring the Future of Digital Health: The Launch of Health Everywhere Hub Read More
- MyHeartandCKD | Health Everywhere
Bridging Community and Acute Care MyHeartandCKD What if Chronic Kidney Disease Patients had a Decision Tool that Made Risks and Benefits Clear? Lead Matthew James Co-Lead Stephen Wilton Additional Contributors Todd Wilson, Pantea Javaheri, Julie Babione Share this project LinkedIn X (Twitter) Copy link Share this project LinkedIn X (Twitter) Copy link Bridging Community and Acute Care MyHeartandCKD What if Chronic Kidney Disease Patients had a Decision Tool that Made Risks and Benefits Clear? Lead Matthew James Co-Lead Stephen Wilton Additional Contributors Todd Wilson, Pantea Javaheri, Julie Babione Share this project LinkedIn X (Twitter) Copy link Share this project LinkedIn X (Twitter) Copy link THE CHALLENGE Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face complex challenges when undergoing heart disease tests and treatments, which carry unique risks for this population. Many CKD patients lack the information needed to make informed, personalized choices about these procedures, potentially resulting in hospitalizations, reduced quality of life, and decreased survival. Effective communication of individualized risks and benefits is crucial to support decision-making based on each patient’s values and needs. THE CHALLENGE Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face complex challenges when undergoing heart disease tests and treatments, which carry unique risks for this population. Many CKD patients lack the information needed to make informed, personalized choices about these procedures, potentially resulting in hospitalizations, reduced quality of life, and decreased survival. Effective communication of individualized risks and benefits is crucial to support decision-making based on each patient’s values and needs. THE CHALLENGE Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face complex challenges when undergoing heart disease tests and treatments, which carry unique risks for this population. Many CKD patients lack the information needed to make informed, personalized choices about these procedures, potentially resulting in hospitalizations, reduced quality of life, and decreased survival. Effective communication of individualized risks and benefits is crucial to support decision-making based on each patient’s values and needs. THE INNOVATION This tool is a shared decision-making (SDM) aid designed specifically for patients with CKD who are facing choices about heart disease tests and treatments. It delivers personalized information on the potential benefits and risks of each option, helping patients and healthcare providers engage in informed, collaborative conversations that prioritize patient values, preferences, and overall health goals, so decisions are both evidence-based and aligned with what matters most to the patient. THE INNOVATION This tool is a shared decision-making (SDM) aid designed specifically for patients with CKD who are facing choices about heart disease tests and treatments. It delivers personalized information on the potential benefits and risks of each option, helping patients and healthcare providers engage in informed, collaborative conversations that prioritize patient values, preferences, and overall health goals, so decisions are both evidence-based and aligned with what matters most to the patient. HOW IT WORKS The decision aid helps patients compare two treatment options, showing likely outcomes with simple visuals and explanations. Patients rank what matters most to them, so decisions reflect their values and support meaningful shared decision-making with their healthcare providers. HOW IT WORKS The decision aid helps patients compare two treatment options, showing likely outcomes with simple visuals and explanations. Patients rank what matters most to them, so decisions reflect their values and support meaningful shared decision-making with their healthcare providers. THE BENEFITS For Users Enhanced Understanding: The tool helps CKD patients comprehend complex risk-benefit information tailored to their health profile. Increased Confidence: Patients gain confidence in their treatment choices, thanks to clear visuals and data that support understanding and alignment with personal values. Improved Patient-Provider Communication: Facilitates open dialogue, fostering trust and shared goals in the decision-making process. For The System Reduced Hospitalizations and Costs: By avoiding unnecessary procedures, the tool supports better health outcomes and reduces healthcare costs. Enhanced Clinical Practice: Embedding the tool in clinical workflows promotes consistent, patient-centered care and shared decision-making across healthcare settings. Improved Health Outcomes: By aligning treatments with patient priorities, the tool contributes to improved quality of life and potentially extended survival for CKD patients. THE BENEFITS For Users Enhanced Understanding: The tool helps CKD patients comprehend complex risk-benefit information tailored to their health profile. Increased Confidence: Patients gain confidence in their treatment choices, thanks to clear visuals and data that support understanding and alignment with personal values. Improved Patient-Provider Communication: Facilitates open dialogue, fostering trust and shared goals in the decision-making process. For The System Reduced Hospitalizations and Costs: By avoiding unnecessary procedures, the tool supports better health outcomes and reduces healthcare costs. Enhanced Clinical Practice: Embedding the tool in clinical workflows promotes consistent, patient-centered care and shared decision-making across healthcare settings. Improved Health Outcomes: By aligning treatments with patient priorities, the tool contributes to improved quality of life and potentially extended survival for CKD patients. Explore Further If you’d like to learn more about MyHeartandCKD , explore their tools, or get involved, visit: cansolveckd.ca Get Involved Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent sit amet metus sed lorem tincidunt pretium. Learn More View other projects and explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are transforming care across the province. View Portfolio Explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are solving real-world challenges and shaping the future of care across the province. ABOUT The Health Everywhere Hub portfolio map showcases academic-led projects tackling real healthcare challenges across Alberta. By highlighting shared goals and commonalities, we hope to spark collaboration and amplify impact across the system. It’s more than a list of projects - this evolving collection shows what’s possible when partnerships, bold ideas, and real-world testing come together.
- 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants | Health Everywhere
We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. THEME 1: BRIDGING COMMUNITY AND ACUTE CARE Date Advancing eHealth Innovation to Enable Intelligent Patient Monitoring January 2024 Prevention of pressure injuries (PIs) is a priority for healthcare systems worldwide. Also referred to as pressure ulcers or bedsores, this condition is a skin and soft tissue injury that forms because of constant or prolonged pressure on the skin, typically occurring at bony areas on the body. Most prevalent in healthcare settings where the patient is unable to move frequently enough to relieve the pressure, PIs are painful for the patient and can lead to a deterioration in health, increased hospital stays, and even death. To address this issue, W21C partnered with XSENSOR Technology Corporation, a Calgary-based company that designs, manufactures, and sells advanced pressure-imaging systems for use in medical environments worldwide. With support from W21C’s research team, this led to the creation of a novel pressure sensing device - the ForeSite PT™ System. In late 2007, an opportunity arose for W21C to partner with XSENSOR in the development and testing of a health innovation. The main objectives of this initiative were to better understand the potential of innovative technology to support healthcare providers in caring for patients at risk of pressure injuries. W21C’s initial role was to collect and analyze focus group feedback from physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and pressure mapping experts. Over time this progressed to usability testing of a protype device in a simulated Intensive Care Unit. Each phase of W21C research was followed by a design cycle at XSENSOR that consisted of research on every aspect of the system, including overall architecture, transducer design, sensing electronics, software, mechanical design, and packaging. Through funding provided by Alberta Innovates ‘Accelerating Innovations into Care’ program, XSENSOR once again, approached W21C in 2023 to support the evaluation and impact on workflow of an updated system (referred to as ForeSite IS) in acute and long-term care, and to evaluate the device’s ability to predict skin breakdown of patients at elevated risk of PIs. This study is currently under way at Foothills Medical Centre and throughout several long-term care sites in the Calgary area. To learn more about this project and its commercial capabilities, please visit XSENSOR’s website . Image Sources: Adobe Stock (top), XSENSOR.com (middle) Pamela Hyde, Office of the Vice-President (Research)
- Advance eHealth Innovation to Enable Intelligent Patient Monitoring | Health Everywhere
We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. UCalgary-based program expands province-wide in supporting digital health researchers NEWS Date Alex Baron, W21C Research and Innovation Centre | Sept 11, 2023 Project Contact: Image Source: iStock SPARK program receives grant from Alberta Innovates, supporting post-secondary innovators across Alberta in transforming ideas into clinical practice For the first time, researchers in digital health from Alberta post-secondary institutions will all share access to expert support in translating research innovation into improved care for citizens through an expansion of the newly renamed SPARK Alberta program. The boost is thanks to a new grant from Alberta Innovates . Launched in 2020 as SPARK Calgary, the program has been providing expert advice, education and ecosystem connections for evidence-based digital health innovations in Calgary for the last three years. Based out of the University of Calgary’s W21C Research and Innovation Centre , the program recruited its fourth cohort in spring 2023 and has worked with more than 70 faculty and researchers supporting 14 projects. The SPARK model originated from Stanford University in 2006 with the aim of advancing research discoveries from academia to the health-care system. Now a global network of more than 60 academic institutions across six continents, SPARK Alberta represents the only active SPARK site in Canada. Earlier this year, SPARK Alberta was awarded a grant by Alberta Innovates’ Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program . With this grant, SPARK will leverage its previous success in Calgary and expand the program provincially, further establishing Alberta’s reputation as a province with strong digital health innovation. “This grant will allow us to offer our resources and expertise to faculty and researchers developing innovations from post-secondary institutions from across the province,” says Dr. Scott Kraft, MD, director of SPARK Alberta and clinical associate professor in the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). “Our aim is to form a central network, linking and co-ordinating digital health innovation across Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.” BCI4Kids and Possibility Neurotechnologies team members, from left: Erica Floreani, Eli Kinney-Lang and Dion Kelly, present the Think2Switch. Dion Kelly is a clinical neuroscientist in the BCI4Kids Research Program. Credit: Dion Kelly SPARK graduates have impact The Calgary Pediatric Brain-Computer Interface Program (BCI4Kids) plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenges currently faced by thousands of Canadian children with neurological disabilities. These disabilities often hinder their ability to fully engage in daily life and exercise their fundamental rights to interact with the world. Operating out of the Alberta Children’s Hospital and affiliated with the CSM, the BCI4Kids program is led by Dr. Adam Kirton, MSc’96, MD, a CSM professor and technology solutions research lead for One Child Every Child , a UCalgary research initiative with a vision for all children to be healthy, empowered and thriving. BCI4Kids focuses on cutting-edge brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to provide children suffering from severe neurological disabilities with an avenue to achieve greater independence and an improved quality of life. From the BCI4Kids program came a commercial venture called Possibility Neurotechnologies . Incorporated in October 2022, Possibility Neurotechnologies is dedicated to integrating BCI technology into everyday life, enabling those with severe physical disabilities to interact and communicate in transformative ways. In March 2023, the research team successfully graduated from the SPARK program. Its flagship product, Think2Switch, allows individuals to control household electronic devices using only their thoughts. By creating user-friendly and accessible technology, the team aims to enhance independence and quality of life, making previously unimaginable interactions possible for those in need. “Participating in the SPARK program has been an invaluable experience for Possibility Neurotechnologies, ” says Dr. Dion Kelly, MBT’18, PhD’23, co-founder and CEO of Possibility Neurotechnologies and clinical neuroscientist at BCI4Kids. “The monthly check-ins served as crucial touchpoints, compelling us to regularly evaluate our progress and address setbacks head-on .” Since joining the SPARK program, Possibility Neurotechnologies has achieved significant growth, including being accepted into the Remarkable Accelerator Program, receiving an equity investment from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and showcasing its Think2Switch technology at international events. With a growing mailing list and a lineup of prospective customers, the team is preparing for a limited market release in Q1 2024. The SPARK Alberta program is managed by Nicola Quiggin and directed by Scott Kraft. Scott Kraft is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and director of SPARK Alberta. Credit: Nicola Quiggin Next steps for SPARK Alberta One of the goals of the SPARK Alberta program is to create a community focused on supporting Alberta-made digital health innovations. By joining SPARK, participating teams are making meaningful connections with others in this community. “The in-person presentations and events fostered a dynamic network with other startups in the digital health ecosystem ,” says Dion. “Engaging with peers at various stages of development has enriched our journey, providing insights and camaraderie as we navigate the multifaceted process of growth and innovation. ” Applications for the next cohort are open until Sept. 13. If you are a faculty member or researcher developing an evidence-based digital health innovation, visit the SPARK Alberta webpage to learn more about the program and to apply.
- Maryam Ali | Health Everywhere
Maryam has a Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation degree and a Master of Management degree, both from the University of Calgary. Specializing in strategy, project management, and stakeholder relations, Maryam has successfully led teams, managed projects, and executed plans within diverse business domains. Her expertise includes strategic analysis, client communication, and a detail-oriented approach to data management. Maryam brings a unique blend of academic excellence, professional acumen, and a passion for community service to every project, making her a dynamic and versatile contributor to the W21C team. Operations Coordinator (University of Calgary) Maryam Ali maryam.ali1@ucalgary.ca NEXT OPERATIONS MEMBER PREVIOUS OPERATIONS MEMBER
- Health Everywhere Launch Event | Health Everywhere
News Health Everywhere Launch Event Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. March 6, 2024 | Alex Baron On January 23, 2024, over 100 guests joined us as we held the Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe Lectureship on Digital Health Today and Tomorrow. Hosted by the W21C Research and Innovation Centre, this event formally introduced and showcased "Health Everywhere", a new eHealth and mHealth hub created from a $6.3M Major Innovation Fund award from the Government of Alberta. This lectureship series honours the contributions of Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe. Joining the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine (now named Cumming School of Medicine) to serve as professor and head of internal medicine in 1974, Dr. Watanabe served as dean of the Faculty of Medicine from July 1982 until June 1992, and is believed to be the first Japanese Canadian dean of a Canadian medical school. He passed away July 5, 2023, at the age of 90. Opening remarks were provided by Dr. Mary Brindle, W21C Academic Director, and Dr. William Ghali, Vice-President (Research) at the University of Calgary. Dr. Ghali shared with the audience his memories of working with Dr. Watanabe and his legacy in digital health. The event was then led in a keynote address by Dr. James A. Makokis, speaking on the negative role colonialism continues to play in healthcare for Indigenous Canadians. This was followed by a lecture from Dr. Christy Cauley on the integration of mobile health to optimize recovery in patients. After a quick intermission the audience was introduced to Health Everywhere by five of its lead researchers. This included presentations from Dr. Chad Saunders, Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell, Dr. Mary Brindle, Dr. Matt James, and Dr. Tyler Williamson. These presentations were followed by a Q&A with all the leads participating at once. Overall, the three-hour event proved to be a wonderful opportunity for the Health Everywhere team to introduce this initiative to the public while also making great connections between industry and academic leaders. Image Source: Brittany DeAngelis, O’Brien Institute for Public Health Project Contact- Alex Baron
- Evaluation of GAITS platform in SPARK program | Health Everywhere
Theme 4: Ecosystem Supports Evaluation of GAITS platform in SPARK program . Lead: Jo-Louise Huq Co-Lead: Kathryn Arnold . INNOVATION STAGE Exploration Health Innovation Focus Health Technology Innovation & Commercialization Population and Setting Academic Innovators; Supporting Organizations (e.g., W21C); End-users and adopting organizations Technology and Intervention — BENEFITS For Users Platforms and tools such as GAITS could support a more integrated health innovation ecosystem by standardizing the innovation journey. The structured approach has the potential to accelerate the development, validation (testing) and potentially the adoption of new health technologies, ultimately benefiting healthcare providers and patients across Canada. By encouraging engagement and collaboration and providing a common language, the platform has the potential to help innovators and potential end-users and adopters engage early and often to provide feedback to accelerate the development, validation, and integration of new healthcare solutions. For The System — Project Theme Information Current State requires several challenging steps: identifying the resources available, determining what each innovator Other Known Use Cases Partnerships with Xsensor and Baxter are undergoing to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on patient outcomes. The specific focus will be on two products: 1) Xsensor’s ForeSite® Intelligent Surface, an artificial intelligence-powered continuous skin monitoring... What is the Innovation The GAITS (Guidance and Impact Tracking System) Platform is a secure, web-based project milestone and portfolio management platform. It takes a structured approach for tracking and advancing medical technology innovations. Developed in the US by CIMIT, GAITS provides a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap for innovators to follow throughout their journey from concept to commercialization. How it Works GAITS offers innovators a clear and comprehensive roadmap, empowering them with a structured path that enhances autonomy and reduces the guesswork involved in med-tech innovation. It allows them to independently progress their solutions within the SPARK program and beyond, fostering a lifelong resource for managing and navigating the commercialization process. Benefit of the Platform to the Buyer Organization For Alberta Health Services (AHS), the platform provides a consistent framework that helps assess an innovation's readiness for real-world testing, supporting informed decision-making on which innovations to advance within AHS resources. By utilizing GAITS, AHS can streamline evaluations and focus on innovations that are mature enough for implementation in clinical settings. Get Involved Contact to Collaborate Contact Jo-Louise Huq to collaborate Get in touch jolouise.huq@ucalgary.ca . View other projects and explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are transforming care across the province. Explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are solving real-world challenges and shaping the future of care across the province. View The Portfolio ABOUT The Health Everywhere Hub portfolio map showcases academic-led projects tackling real healthcare challenges across Alberta. By highlighting shared goals and commonalities, we hope to spark collaboration and amplify impact across the system. It’s more than a list of projects - this evolving collection shows what’s possible when partnerships, bold ideas, and real-world testing come together. Previous Item Next Item
- IMPROVE CV Care | Health Everywhere
Theme 1: Bridging Community and Acute Care IMPROVE CV Care Individualized Monitoring of Patient Reported Outcome measures for Value and Effectiveness in CardioVasular Care Lead: Matthew James (Co-Lead ) Co-Lead: Stephen Wilton Project Coordinator: Maria Dalton INNOVATION STAGE Proof of Concept Health Innovation Focus Chronic Disease, Heart Disease Population and Setting Adult Technology and Intervention Data Modelling, Platform and Dashboard Visualization BENEFITS For Users For Patients: This tool encourages open dialogue about mental health and other non-physiological factors without stigma, helping patients feel heard and understood. For Physicians: It optimizes appointment time by collecting data in advance, allowing appointments to focus on actionable insights and personalized care. For The System Enhanced Personalization of Care: Physicians can address red flags more effectively, improving patient outcomes by targeting what matters most to each patient. Increased Efficiency: The tool reduces the need for lengthy discussions on background factors, streamlining clinical timelines and enabling more focused, impactful care. Project Theme Information Current State Patients and physicians face challenges in addressing non-physiological factors impacting cardiovascular health—such as mental health, social support, and medication affordability—within the limited time of an appointment. This often results in a narrow focus on immediate physiological symptoms, leaving other important aspects of health unaddressed. Other Known Use Cases Partnerships with Xsensor and Baxter are undergoing to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on patient outcomes. The specific focus will be on two products: 1) Xsensor’s ForeSite® Intelligent Surface, an artificial intelligence-powered continuous skin monitoring... What is the Innovation The intervention is a streamlined survey and reporting tool designed to improve communication between cardiovascular patients and physicians. It collects and summarizes relevant health factors, promoting personalized, patient-centered care that considers a fuller picture of the patient’s well-being. How it Works Before an appointment, patients complete a survey that includes mental health, social support, and self-care information, using validated instruments. This data is then used to generate a report for physicians, which flags significant changes and provides actionable insights. Physicians can review the report prior to or during appointments, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the patient’s health beyond immediate symptoms. Get Involved To Learn More To collaborate or learn more about the APPROACH project . Take a Closer Look Learn More View other projects and explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are transforming care across the province. Explore the Health Everywhere Portfolio to see how local innovations are solving real-world challenges and shaping the future of care across the province. View The Portfolio ABOUT The Health Everywhere Hub portfolio map showcases academic-led projects tackling real healthcare challenges across Alberta. By highlighting shared goals and commonalities, we hope to spark collaboration and amplify impact across the system. It’s more than a list of projects - this evolving collection shows what’s possible when partnerships, bold ideas, and real-world testing come together. Previous Item Next Item
- Health Everywhere
THEME # The Title Goes Here Here is two lines for your subtitle if you have one on your file Lead Co-lead Name Surname Team Member INNOVATION STAGE Name of the stage Health Innovation Focus What is it What is it Population and Setting What is it Technology and Intervention What is it What is it BENEFITS For Users For parents, NeoApp offers personalized guidance and support, increasing confidence and reducing anxiety. The app empowers parents with knowledge specific to their baby’s needs, helping them monitor recovery, track milestones, and recognize signs of concern without relying on generic information or internet searches. By connecting with a community of parents facing similar challenges, they feel less isolated. The clear recovery pathway and milestones NeoApp offers make the transition from hospital to home smoother, providing peace of mind. For The System For parents, NeoApp offers personalized guidance and support, increasing confidence and reducing anxiety. The app empowers parents with knowledge specific to their baby’s needs, helping them monitor recovery, track milestones, and recognize signs of concern without relying on generic information or internet searches. By connecting with a community of parents facing similar challenges, they feel less isolated. The clear recovery pathway and milestones NeoApp offers make the transition from hospital to home smoother, providing peace of mind. Project Theme Information Current State OVERVIEW What Is The Innovation OVERVIEW NeoApp is an innovative digital health solution, grounded in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles, created to guide parents through the complex journey of post-surgical recovery for NICU infants. It is the first ERAS-focused platform designed for neonatal populations and their parents at home, providing personalized support and education tailored to each baby’s surgical background, development stage, and ongoing health needs. INTENDED USERS How It Works OVERVIEW Other Known Use Cases OVERVIEW Project Theme Information Current State Partnerships with Xsensor and Baxter are undergoing to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on patient outcomes. The specific focus will be on two products: 1) Xsensor’s ForeSite® Intelligent Surface, an artificial intelligence-powered continuous skin monitoring... What is the Innovation Partnerships with Xsensor and Baxter are undergoing to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on patient outcomes. The specific focus will be on two products: 1) Xsensor’s ForeSite® Intelligent Surface, an artificial intelligence-powered continuous skin monitoring... Other Known Use Cases Partnerships with Xsensor and Baxter are undergoing to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on patient outcomes. The specific focus will be on two products: 1) Xsensor’s ForeSite® Intelligent Surface, an artificial intelligence-powered continuous skin monitoring... How it Works Partnerships with Xsensor and Baxter are undergoing to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on patient outcomes. The specific focus will be on two products: 1) Xsensor’s ForeSite® Intelligent Surface, an artificial intelligence-powered continuous skin monitoring... Get Involved Add a Title Add a Title Connect via email: Email: Discover More: here Previous Item Next Item
- UCalgary-based program expands province-wide in supporting digital health researchers | Health Everywhere
UCalgary-based program expands province-wide in supporting digital health researchers UCalgary-based program expands province-wide in supporting digital health researchers 23-09-11, 9:00 p.m. SPARK program receives grant from Alberta Innovates, supporting post-secondary innovators across Alberta in transforming ideas into clinical practice For the first time, researchers in digital health from Alberta post-secondary institutions will all share access to expert support in translating research innovation into improved care for citizens through an expansion of the newly renamed SPARK Alberta program. The boost is thanks to a new grant from Alberta Innovates. Launched in 2020 as SPARK Calgary, the program has been providing expert advice, education and ecosystem connections for evidence-based digital health innovations in Calgary for the last three years. Based out of the University of Calgary’s W21C Research and Innovation Centre, the program recruited its fourth cohort in spring 2023 and has worked with more than 70 faculty and researchers supporting 14 projects. The SPARK model originated from Stanford University in 2006 with the aim of advancing research discoveries from academia to the health-care system. Now a global network of more than 60 academic institutions across six continents, SPARK Alberta represents the only active SPARK site in Canada. Earlier this year, SPARK Alberta was awarded a grant by Alberta Innovates’ Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program. With this grant, SPARK will leverage its previous success in Calgary and expand the program provincially, further establishing Alberta’s reputation as a province with strong digital health innovation. “This grant will allow us to offer our resources and expertise to faculty and researchers developing innovations from post-secondary institutions from across the province,” says Dr. Scott Kraft, MD, director of SPARK Alberta and clinical associate professor in the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). “Our aim is to form a central network, linking and co-ordinating digital health innovation across Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.” Previous Next
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Land Acknowledgement
The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).






