We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants NEWS Date Pamela Hyde, Office of the Vice-President (Research) | Sept 6, 2023 Project Contact: Image Source: iStock UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem just received a $20.3-million boost, thanks to Alberta’s Major Innovation Fund (MIF). On Sept. 5, Nate Glubish, minister of technology and innovation, announced that three UCalgary projects have received four years of funding to lead province-wide strategic initiatives to accelerate research and commercialization in the areas of medical devices, electronic and mobile health, and space and defence technologies. ​ “Provincial support for high-tech research and innovation will help our post-secondary scholars move from groundbreaking technological ideas to entrepreneurial realities, fuelling a more diverse economy and making a positive impact in the wider community ,” says Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Calgary. ​ Major Innovation Fund projects are highly collaborative, requiring the engagement of scholars from institutions across Alberta, industry partners, and the communities that the projects intend to serve. It is an outcomes-focused program, funding projects that will attract and retain top talent, diversify Alberta’s economy, support industries and local businesses, and leverage additional investments. ​ “UCalgary’s innovation ecosystem is growing thanks to the drive of our research community and investments like the Major Innovation Fund ,” says Dr. William Ghali, vice-president (research). “These three projects will streamline the research-to-commercialization pipeline for their sector and create opportunities for both innovative research and widespread of adoption of novel, made-in-Alberta solutions .” UCalgary’s projects are the Alberta Medical Device Innovation Consortium, Health Everywhere, and Space and Defence Technologies Alberta. ​ ​ Health Everywhere ​ Lead investigator: Dr. Mary Brindle , MD, professor, Cumming School of Medicine ​ Alberta has pockets of excellence in eHealth (digital health technologies) and mHealth (mobile health technologies), which include novel programs and innovations. However, much of this excellence is disconnected and has tremendous untapped potential for collaboration and commercialization, and widespread adoption. ​ The vision of Health Everywhere is a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem in Alberta that builds on a foundation of strength in innovation to drive economic and technological growth. ​ “The rapid evolution of technology, the increasing complexity of medicine and the limitations of our current systems of patient care underscore the need for a human-centered approach to digital health ,” says Brindle. ​ “Health Everywhere will use digital-health technologies to allow patients to receive the best possible medical treatment whether it is in the hospital or in their own homes, and strengthen connections between care in the hospital and care in communities .” ​ Co-developed with community, industry, and academic stakeholders, Health Everywhere will be a provincial hub of digital health excellence that brings together integrated programs, leading experts, and resources to enable efficient and effective commercialization, spread, and scale of eHealth and mHealth technologies. ​ “The Health Everywhere program will create an ecosystem that puts exciting and impactful innovations in technology, computer science, and data analytics into the hands of teams who can use them to benefit the patients of today and tomorrow ,” says Brindle. ​ Health Everywhere is a UCalgary-led project, in partnership with the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Lethbridge College, MacEwan University, Mount Royal University, NAIT, Red Deer Polytechnic and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

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) Alex Baron, W21C Research and Innovation Centre

Theme 1: Bridging Community and Acute Care Advance eHealth Innovation to Enable Intelligent Patient Monitoring Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. January 5, 2024 | Dr. Jaime Kaufman 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. Image Sources: Adobe Stock (top), XSENSOR.com (middle) Project Contact- Dr. Jaime Kaufman

Dr. Matthew James is a distinguished specialist in Nephrology, holding the position of Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. His research program is dedicated to patient-oriented research , with a specific focus on the development and implementation of risk prediction and clinical decision support tools aimed at enhancing the quality of care. Driven by a commitment to advancing healthcare, he also engages in pragmatic clinical trials centered around kidney and cardiovascular disease, contributing significantly to the ongoing evolution of medical practices in these critical areas. Bridging Community and Acute Care Lead Dr. Matthew James mjames@ucalgary.ca PREVIOUS THEME LEAD NEXT THEME LEAD

Tyler Williamson serves as the Director of the Centre for Health Informatics, previously holding the position of Associate Director. Simultaneously, he holds the role of Associate Professor of Biostatistics in the Department of Community Health Sciences and directs the Health Data Science and Biostatistics Diploma Program at the University of Calgary. Actively contributing to research, he is a member of the O'Brien Institute of Public Health and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Williamson's academic journey includes earning a BSc in Statistics in 2005 and a PhD in Biostatistics in 2011, reflecting his commitment to advancing statistical methodologies in the realm of health research. In 2018, he was honored with the NAPCRG New Investigator Award for outstanding contributions as a new primary care investigator within the North American Primary Care Research Group, the largest primary care research organization globally. He is also a also a member of the Libin Cardiovascular institute and his research expertise lies in health data integration, chronic disease surveillance, and the utilization of electronic medical record data for public health surveillance and practice quality improvement . Recognized both nationally and internationally, he collaborates with esteemed organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada to solidify his impact on health services research and public health initiatives. Connectivity and Data Access Lead Tyler Williamson  tyler.williamson@ucalgary.ca PREVIOUS THEME LEAD NEXT THEME LEAD

Tyler Williamson serves as the Director of the Centre for Health Informatics, previously holding the position of Associate Director. Simultaneously, he holds the role of Associate Professor of Biostatistics in the Department of Community Health Sciences and directs the Health Data Science and Biostatistics Diploma Program at the University of Calgary. Actively contributing to research, he is a member of the O'Brien Institute of Public Health and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Williamson's academic journey includes earning a BSc in Statistics in 2005 and a PhD in Biostatistics in 2011, reflecting his commitment to advancing statistical methodologies in the realm of health research. In 2018, he was honored with the NAPCRG New Investigator Award for outstanding contributions as a new primary care investigator within the North American Primary Care Research Group, the largest primary care research organization globally. He is also a also a member of the Libin Cardiovascular institute and his research expertise lies in health data integration, chronic disease surveillance, and the utilization of electronic medical record data for public health surveillance and practice quality improvement. Recognized both nationally and internationally, he collaborates with esteemed organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada to solidify his impact on health services research and public health initiatives. Connectivity and Data Access Lead Tyler Williamson  fe4@ualberta.ca NEXT THEME LEAD

Accelerating healthcare innovations through strategic collaboration and partnerships. Advancing eHealth and mHealth ALBERTA'S DIGITAL HEALTH HUB The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the virtual capabilities of healthcare, while also serving as a catalyst for the accelerated adoption of these capabilities. The pandemic underscored the resilience and adaptability of healthcare systems worldwide, demonstrating that technology could bridge gaps in access to medical services. Here in Alberta, we have tremendous potential in digital health that simply needs a centralized and integrated approach to harness its full capabilities. Health Everywhere emerges as a response to the shortcomings of uncoordinated eHealth and mHealth efforts. Hosted within the W21C Research and Innovation Centre at the University of Calgary, Health Everywhere will serve as the catalyzing Alberta activity hub for innovators, health system stakeholders, researchers, and investors. Health Everywhere will advance a system of supports that facilitate the adoption, spread, and scale of eHealth and mHealth technologies. Alberta's Untapped Potential Engage With Us LEARN MORE Health Systems and Non-Profits ​ Leaders or key stakeholders within not-for-profit, health service, and innovation support organizations. LEARN MORE Industry Stakeholders ​ ​ Industry leaders or key stakeholders ranging from early-stage start-ups to large multi-national corporations. LEARN MORE Researchers and Educators ​ Academic researchers, faculty members, or students associated with an academic institution. SEE MORE News and Events Health Everywhere Launch Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe Lectureship – Digital Health Today and Tomorrow NEWS On January 23, 2024, over 100 guests joined us as we held the Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe Lectureship on Digital Health Today and Tomorrow. January 23, 2024 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants NEWS UCalgary's innovation ecosystem just received a $20.3-million boost, thanks to Alberta's Major Innovation Fund. September 6, 2023 UCalgary-based program expands province-wide NEWS SPARK program receives grant from Alberta Innovates, supporting post-secondary innovators across Alberta. September 11, 2023 A hub for innovators, researchers, and service providers LETS BRING ALBERTA TOGETHER Contact Us 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).

Explore project stories and upcoming opportunities. Breakthroughs in eHealth and mHealth NEWS & EVENTS Register Join us in unveiling Health Everywhere—an innovative eHealth and mHealth hub led by Dr. Mary Brindle. The opening event will feature a keynote from Dr. James Makokis (pictured here) and a lecture on the integration of mobile health to optimize recovery presented by Dr. Christy Cauley . ​ The event honours Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe and his contributions in digital health and rural telemedicine, along with his promotion of health equity. ​ Register now! Dr. Mamoru 'Mo' Watanabe Lectureship – Digital Health Today and Tomorrow  Keynote Speaker: Dr. James A. Makokis  Date: January 23, 2023  Time: 12:30 - 4:00 PM  Location: Foothills Medical Centre FEATURED EVENT NEWS UCalgary-based program expands province-wide in supporting digital health researchers NEWS SPARK program receives grant from Alberta Innovates, supporting post-secondary innovators across Alberta in transforming ideas into clinical practice. 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants NEWS UCalgary's innovation ecosystem just received a $20.3-million boost, thanks to Alberta's Major Innovation Fund (MIF). On Sept. 5, Nate Glubish, minister of technology and innovation... 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants NEWS UCalgary's innovation ecosystem just received a $20.3-million boost, thanks to Alberta's Major Innovation Fund (MIF). On Sept. 5, Nate Glubish, minister of technology and innovation... FEATURED NEWS Read More On Sept. 5, Nate Glubish, minister of technology and innovation, announced that three UCalgary projects have received four years of funding to lead province-wide strategic initiatives to accelerate research and commercialization in the areas of medical devices, electronic and mobile health, and space and defence... 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants EVENTS Health Everywhere Hub will host and support various community events every year. More events coming soon. Where innovation meets healthcare HEALTH EVERYWHERE Contact Us 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).

Theme 3: Connectivity and Data Access Building the basic infrastructure to allow data to flow securely Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. ​ | ​ 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. ​ Project Contact- ​

Jill de Grood jointly leads the W21C Research and Innovation Centre with Dr. Jaime Kaufman, PhD. Together, Jill and Jaime support the strategic direction of the initiative, promoting W21C’s value proposition as an organization dedicated to research, innovation, and education . They support day-to-day W21C operations and processes, and lead specific portfolios. ​ Jill completed her Master’s degree in Sociology at the University of Calgary. Her thesis project examined factors impacting lawyer’s physical and mental health. She completed a Certificate in Professional Management in 2015 and received her Project Management Professional Certification in 2018. ​ Jill has been in an evolving leadership role with W21C for more than nine years, and became Director of the Centre in 2013. Over the years, Jill has led and been involved in numerous industry partner projects in areas such as technology assessment, infection prevention and control, and examining the effectiveness and impact of health care innovations for patient care. Jill is a published author with fourteen journal publications along with a number of knowledge translation pieces. ​ As Director of Development and Partnerships, Jill continues to bring a strategic perspective to the W21C, to solve challenges and identify opportunities for the Centre. Jill is responsible for establishing and enhancing new and existing community partnerships with government and external organizations. Jill oversees the clinical trials and human factors teams in conjunction with Michelle Wright. She is also accountable for externally focused innovation support programs like SPARK Calgary. W21C Leadership Representative Jill de Grood  gjde@ucalgary.ca PREVIOUS OPERATIONS MEMBER NEXT OPERATIONS MEMBER