On March 27, 2025, during Canada’s Brain Health Awareness Month, the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, announced an allocation of CAD 2.6 million in funding to support 23 innovators in aging and brain health through its new Ignite program. This initiative aims to accelerate early-stage Canadian innovators who are developing solutions to critical challenges faced by older adults.
Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist at CABHI, highlighted the surge of innovators from various backgrounds, including researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs, all contributing to meaningful advancements in elder care. The Ignite program provides these innovators with essential resources such as mentorship, scientific coaching, and access to CABHI’s network, geared towards helping them reach significant milestones that can impact real-world scenarios.
The inaugural cohort of the Ignite program addresses a comprehensive array of themes, including Aging at Home, Caregiver Support, Cognitive and Mental Health, and Women's Brain Health. The funded projects aim to tackle pressing issues concerning the health and well-being of elderly populations.
Among the awardees is Epiloid Biotechnology, which is focusing on drug development for Parkinson’s disease using a novel platform that employs lab-grown brain tissue models, potentially revolutionizing the understanding and treatment of cognitive disorders. Incluzia Inc. is creating two platforms—IncluzIT PRO for occupational therapists and IncluzIT HOME—a free safety planning tool for the public aimed at making housing accessible for all.
Carleton University is advancing a minimally invasive bio-analyzer for early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease using blood and saliva samples, aiming for timely diagnosis and intervention. Expertiqa Technologies is introducing Hummingbird, a device that enables communication for those with cognitive decline through vocal cord vibrations.
Baycrest Hospital seeks to enhance the treatment of paratonia in dementia patients with a clinical outcome assessment measure for administering Botulinum Toxin A. Other notable projects include a virtual reality platform from caregiVR to alleviate symptoms of dementia and an AI-powered health platform from Kelello Health for ongoing mental health monitoring.
Elderado has developed a comparison tool for long-term care and retirement homes, ensuring families can find the right elder care based on cultural needs, while ConSoul Caregiver Support is introducing an automation platform to ease caregiver burden. Additionally, Estate Kit provides essential planning tools for individuals unable to express their future healthcare preferences.
The Ignite program also welcomes applications for the CABHI Fuel program, which offers up to CAD 500,000 in funding to support mid-stage researchers and startups looking to refine their innovations. Researchers and startups have until April 23, 2025, to submit applications.
CABHI, founded in 2015, emphasizes collaboration across healthcare, science, industry, and government to support transformative innovations that enhance the lives of older adults. As a leader in aging research and care, Baycrest aims to ensure that all older individuals live with dignity and purpose, leveraging its significant expertise to drive forward innovations in brain health and aging.
For more information, visit CABHI’s website at www.cabhi.com or Baycrest at baycrest.org.
