Impact Report 2023-24


Defy Dementia

2023–24 Impact Report

DIGITAL VERSION

About CABHI

Mission

To drive the development and adoption of transformative aging and brain health innovations.

Vision

A world where every older person lives with purpose, fulfillment, and dignity.

Leadership Message

Accelerating Innovations that Defy Dementia

Last year at CABHI we continued our strong track record, further expanding our leadership position as the preeminent and most active global innovation accelerator in the aging and brain health sector.

Read a message from our President and Chief Scientist, Dr. Allison Sekuler, and the Chair of our Board of Directors, Jeff Blidner.

From supporting frontline healthcare workers in refining and testing grassroots concepts, to facilitating the growth and scale of early stage healthtech companies, to building capacity for innovation adoption by healthcare delivery organizations, CABHI remains at the forefront of mobilizing science, technology, and innovation to shape a future of enriched lives and boundless possibilities for all.

In 2023, we deepened our strategic partnerships with system-level partners including healthcare organizations, distributors, accelerators, and venture capital firms in Canada and globally. For instance, as a founding member of the Dementia Research and Innovation Funders Alliance, led by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Aging, CABHI has – and will continue to – actively collaborate with key partners to amplify dementia research and innovation across Canada. Similarly, our collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association empowered the expansion of our Discover + Adopt Program to bring more innovations into home healthcare and community-based organizations. On an international level, CABHI has worked with partners like the AARP to help export Canadian products and services globally. Over 10 of our portfolio companies have joined The AgeTech Collaborative™ to connect with investors, enterprises, and testbeds, and bring AgeTech innovations to market.

As the most active global innovation accelerator in the aging and brain health sector, CABHI grew its reach again this year by building and nurturing an extensive culture of innovation through virtual, local, national, and international outreach events.

A few highlights:

  • A total of 775 attendees from 23 countries engaged with dozens of thought leaders and exhibitors in the aging and brain health sector at the sixth annual CABHI Summit.
  • Our virtual Leap platform continued to grow, bringing the total community membership to over 1,200 older persons and caregivers, and reaching thousands more through our community partners. Leap members also participated in community engagement discussions in Halifax, Vancouver, and Whitehorse.
  • We extended our post-secondary outreach across Canada. For example, we hosted an Atlantic Innovation Showcase with Dal Innovates and a student hackathon with University of Waterloo.

The recent announcement of CABHI’s funding through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Science Fund recognized our value in advancing the National Dementia Strategy and reinforced our efforts to mobilize science-based innovation to achieve health, social, and economic impact in Canada.

Our achievements are largely credited to our Baycrest community, Community of Innovation, Board of Directors, Seniors Advisory Panel, and dedicated CABHI staff who share our vision: A world where every older person lives with purpose, fulfillment, and dignity.

As the aging population and the number of individuals living with dementia continue to increase, we remain steadfast in our commitment to accelerating innovations that defy dementia until we defeat it.

Allison Sekuler Sig

Allison Sekuler, PhD

President and Chief Scientist
Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation

Jeff Blidner Sig

Jeff Blidner

Chair
Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation
Board of Directors

Our Impact

$185M+

in funding directed toward advancing innovative projects

$79M+

levered in addition to CABHI’s government funding

$610M+

in follow-on funding secured by CABHI-affiliated companies

528

projects launched

$80M+

in jobs created and sustained

CABHI’s

Impact to Date

415

unique solutions supported

199

solutions evaluated

110,000+

Canadian older persons and caregivers engaged in CABHI projects

4,700+

highly qualified personnel (HQP) involved in CABHI projects

353,000+

people reached directly through CABHI-supported education, knowledge mobilization, and communication activities

151

solutions introduced into real-world and clinical settings

$185M+

in funding directed toward advancing innovative projects

$79M+

levered in addition to CABHI’s government funding

$80M+

in jobs created and sustained

CABHI’s

Impact to Date

110,000+

Canadian older persons and caregivers engaged in CABHI projects

4,700+

highly qualified personnel (HQP) involved in CABHI projects

$610M+

in follow-on funding secured by CABHI-affiliated companies

528

projects launched

415

unique solutions supported

199

solutions evaluated

353,000+

people reached directly through CABHI-supported education, knowledge mobilization, and communication activities

151

solutions introduced into real-world and clinical settings

*Figures as of March 31, 2024.

*Figures as of March 31, 2024.

Innovation Themes

Our innovation themes ensure our projects and partnerships build upon our mission and help realize our vision. When assessing opportunities, we ensure alignment with our core innovation themes and our cross-cutting innovation themes.

Illustration of couple on bikes

Core Themes

Enabling older persons and people living with dementia to live in the setting of their choice and remain active in their communities for as long as possible.

Aiding or simplifying day-to-day caregiving responsibilities, providing education or training on caregiving topics, or helping caregivers maintain their own well-being while they care for older persons and people living with dementia.

Helping older persons and people living with dementia and their caregivers navigate the healthcare system to access timely and appropriate care, while also supporting healthcare providers align their practice with long-term care standards.

Ensuring early detection of cognitive impairment or dementia in older persons, implementing preventative care approaches to maintain or enhance older persons’ brain health (including both cognitive and mental health supports), and protecting the cognitive and mental health of healthcare providers and caregivers.

Helping older persons remain financially independent, stay safe in the workforce longer, seek later-life employment, prepare for retirement, plan for financing care, and prevent financial exploitation.

Illustration of couple on bikes
Holding hands, one younger and one older

Cross-Cutting Themes

Diversity, Accessibility, and Health Equity: Ensuring aging and brain health needs are addressed and solutions are accessible for Indigenous, Black, and racially and culturally diverse communities; women; people living with disabilities; members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community; rural or Northern communities; or other vulnerable populations; and including issues of intersectionality.

Creating opportunities and programs for enhanced engagement and social connection for older persons, including intergenerational programs to combat ageism and stigma and support strong cognitive and mental health in older persons. Protecting older persons, particularly those living with cognitive decline and dementia, against elder abuse and other unsafe relationships.

CABHI Programs

The team at CABHI, in conjunction with all program offerings, were instrumental in ensuring we were equipped with resources needed to thrive throughout the program’s duration

— Curv Health, CABHI MC2 portfolio company

spark-logo

Spark

The Spark program empowers point-of-care workers, clinicians, researchers, and caregivers to test ideas that have the potential to change the care landscape for older persons. In addition to funding, Spark provides tailored coaching, mentorship, networking, and end-user validation to move innovative ideas from proof-of-concept to reality.

MC2 logo

Mentorship, Capital, and Continuation (MC2)

The Mentorship, Capital, and Continuation program (also known as MC2) is a program, in partnership with National Bank, that works with early-stage healthtech and fintech companies to help them achieve their validation and business milestones on their pathway to commercialization, growth, and scale. In addition to funding, MC2 provides acceleration services such as access to end-user validation, business and research expertise, our Innovation Network, and so much more.

D+A (Discover and Adapt Program) Logo

Discover + Adopt (D+A)

The D+A program supports healthcare organizations (e.g., long-term care homes, hospitals, home healthcare and community-based organizations, etc.) to build their skills and receptivity to adopt innovation within their organizations. In addition to funding, participants receive training and coaching support to find, introduce, implement, and sustain high-quality innovative solutions that address their pain points.

Ling Ly Tan, M.ADS, BCBA, CEO of Linggo, MC2 portfolio company. Photo: Eric Benchimol, 2024.
Ling Ly Tan, M.ADS, BCBA, CEO of Linggo, MC2 portfolio company. Photo: Eric Benchimol, 2024.

Acceleration Services

CABHI offers innovators a range of acceleration services to enhance the success of their funded projects. These services are meant to provide end-to-end support, guiding innovations through the various stages of development, from testing to validation, implementation, and scaling.

alison smith Ph.D
alison smith Ph.D
alison smith Ph.D
alison smith Ph.D
alison smith Ph.D

Alison Smith, Ph.D.,
Co-founder and Chief Scientist of Roga Life Inc.,
MC2 portfolio company.
Photo: Eric Benchimol, 2024.

alison smith Ph.D

Alison Smith, Ph.D.,
Co-founder and Chief Scientist of Roga Life Inc.,
MC2 portfolio company.
Photo: Eric Benchimol, 2024.

Our Coaches Community provides innovators with access to subject matter experts (e.g., business development, finance, regulatory affairs, etc.) to help them grow and scale their solution.

The Innovation Network provides innovators with access to key contacts at healthcare and other industry organizations to pilot studies, expand their business and customer base, and more. Organizations can join the Network to gain early access to promising CABHI-vetted solutions and participate in pilot studies.

Leap is an online community that connects older persons and individuals with lived experience to innovators. Members are empowered to share their stories, learn from one another, and provide critical insights to innovators for refinement. This influential community works together to ensure innovators have the space to work directly with their target audience, meeting their needs and making real-world impacts.

The Perks Package provides innovators with a catalogue of exclusive discounts and services from select industry partners to help grow their business.

Our Online Learning Series provides innovators with access to tailored, program-specific learning focused on developing knowledge and skills in key areas of innovation, strategy, and change management.

KL-CARE works with innovators to facilitate and implement formative, process, outcome, and impact evaluations, and basic and applied research to inform client care and optimize program and organizational efficiencies.

Services that provide innovators with guidance on how to promote uptake of their solutions to target audiences and support with dissemination through CABHI and partner channels (socials, website, and events).

Scientific Officers provide innovators with access to researchers in the aging, brain health, and dementia space to collaborate and ensure scientific validity.

Our Student Intern Program provides innovators with subsidies to hire a student intern to complete a specific scope of work.

Our Consulting Services provide innovators with a spending stipend to access various services from third-party contractors (legal, design, software development, etc.).

Impact Stories

Empowering Point-of-Care Workers to Spark Change

Music therapy programs and intergenerational programs have been proven to offer immense benefits for older persons. Through music therapy, older persons can experience improved mood, decreased loneliness, positive communication, and better quality of life. Intergenerational programs are known to help break down existing stigmas between generations and improve the mental and physical wellbeing of everyone involved. The Intergenerational Jamboree Music Therapy Program (Jamboree) seamlessly blends together these two forms of therapy to create a unique, multi-pronged program.

The Jamboree fosters connections between older persons and children through music therapy – ones that extend beyond the walls of the music therapy setting.

Dr. Kate Dupuis, a Schlegel Innovation Leader in Arts and Aging at Sheridan College whose work lies at the intersection of arts, health, and aging, leads the Jamboree program and has witnessed first-hand the strength of these connections, especially during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“[The parents] of a child who had been in the [Jamboree] program posted an image of her to a social media site holding a little sign that said, ‘I miss you, Grandpa …,’ because she was so used to going into the village and seeing her grand friends on a weekly basis, and could not at that moment for safety,” explained Dr. Kate Dupuis. “The family really wanted to share this message with the resident and the staff. It really spoke to the importance of this program, and why we must continue this type of opportunity for [long-term care] residents.”

Music therapy can be an incredible way for older persons to communicate with others, especially when spoken language becomes more challenging. Of note, this purposeful music therapy program boasts benefits not only for the older persons involved, but also for care providers and care workers through positive work experiences, and for community members by reducing ageism and ageist stereotypes.

Thanks to CABHI Spark funding, long-term care homes are recognizing the value of this intergenerational program and adopting the Jamboree into their sites as a music therapy program for their clients. After observing positive results, Kate’s team hopes to expand the program across the country.

Seniors playing instruments

Movement is often associated with increasing one’s physical health, but there is now growing research demonstrating how movement is also beneficial for the mind. GERAS DANCE is a dance-based exercise program created to help older persons and people living with early cognitive decline reap the benefits of moving for the mind.

Operating out of the Geras Centre for Aging and Research at Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, and developed by geriatric specialists and rehabilitation experts, GERAS DANCE provides participants the opportunity to take part in engaging classes that facilitate gentle movements.

This evidence-based, recreational, and rehabilitation program provides older persons with opportunities for physical exercise – a significant protective factor against dementia – and leverages the brain’s ability to adapt by learning through physical activity and multitasking. GERAS DANCE routines use movement patterns that, in addition to supporting cognitive function, help participants build strength and mobility to conquer their daily tasks.

With CABHI Spark+ funding, GERAS DANCE has been able to grow and expand across Canada, now operating in 40 locations and reaching over 2,000 participants. One of the newer locations is the Hindu Samaj Temple, located in Hamilton, Ontario.

The dance program operating out of the Hindu Samaj Temple is the first of its kind, not only for its Bollywood themed programming, but also for its peer-led approach. Older persons within the temple’s Senior Wellness Club receive training to become GERAS DANCE instructors, and then lead sessions for their peers.

“The Bollywood songs reminded me of my childhood, and it brought something different and new to the club,” says a GERAS DANCE participant. “I liked singing along while dancing.”

The peer-led program is seeing tremendous success, boasting a 50 percent increase in session attendance and receiving high satisfaction ratings from participants, demonstrating a promising future for community-centred GERAS DANCE initiatives.

Seniors in a dance class

When Chelsey Roberts joined the Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners in 2021, she quickly identified a critical need: Social programming for people living with dementia within the community. While programs often exist in urban areas, The Alzheimer’s Society Southwest Partners noticed an opportunity to fill a gap in service within the London, Ontario community and set out to create a solution.

Within three months of joining the organization, Roberts and her team developed The Social – a weekly three-hour program providing social connection for people living with dementia and respite for their caregivers.

Between long waitlists associated with existing day programs and varying client comfort levels in social settings, it can be challenging for people living with dementia to access recreational programming. The construct of The Social took those factors into account, and in turn, offered a flexible, transitional option for clients not served by other social groups. The Social features activities focusing on stimulating the six domains of wellbeing: Cognitive, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, and physical.

After a successful launch with a client base of 100 individuals (and their accompanying care partners), The Social expanded in 2022 with support from CABHI’s Spark program. The growth resulted in programming opportunities in three rural Ontario communities – St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg – and was called The Mobile Social.

“I thank my lucky stars that I got in touch with the Alzheimer Society. I didn’t know what to expect and have been extremely pleased with everything. The meetings we have had, the Social, [and] the informative brochures are all a great assistance,” explained one client.

The Mobile Social expansion allowed for five new weekly sessions in smaller communities outside of London and brought on 14 new volunteers. It continues to reach approximately 65 clients weekly along with their 65 care partners – care partners who have shared that The Mobile Social gives them time to “refresh, and offers peace of mind knowing [their family member] is in good hands.”

orange plus

Accelerating Agetech Companies through the Mentorship, Capital, and Continuation Program

Upon realizing the need first-hand for local, personalized care for aging loved ones, Rustam Sengupta sought out to create a solution to target this need. With a
fragmented care ecosystem and a growing number of older persons needing support, Sengupta took it upon himself to develop a platform called Tuktu to relieve stress from
families living far away, and provide companionship and help at home to those who need it most.

Tuktu, which means “caribou” in the Inuktitut language of the Inuit people living in the arctic regions of Canada and represents the local culture and spiritual relationship with the land, is revolutionizing the concept of Aging in Place.

What began with a spreadsheet and eight volunteers has grown into an artificial intelligence (AI -powered digital platform, matching over 3000 community members – “Tuktus” – to like-minded older persons looking for support, companionship, and care across British Columbia, Alberta, and now Ontario.

Through a thorough vetting process and intelligent AI technology, families can feel at ease knowing matches are safe, local, and compatible. With services ranging from companionship to mobility assistance, help at home, and specialized services (overnight
care, dementia care, etc.), Tuktu ensures older persons have access to the care they need while living independently.

The essence of Tuktu lies in its innovative approach to matching care recipients with tailored services. Through intelligent matchmaking algorithms, Tuktu’s platform considers various factors such as demographic details, language proficiency, and cultural nuances. This ensures users relate to caregivers who understand and respect their  individual preferences and needs. The result? A personalized care experience that fosters a sense of choice, reliability, and trust.

In March 2024, Tuktu reached a major milestone: Launching in Ontario.

“At Tuktu Care, we believe in redefining the way families access essential care services,” says Laurie Lathem, Vice President of Growth at Tuktu Care Inc. “Our platform is more than just a service – it’s a commitment to providing choice, reliability, and a deep understanding of the unique needs of our users. We are bringing back the feeling of community support to Canada.”

With remarkable success in Canada’s west coast, the Tutku team understands the need is widespread across the country, and the Ontario expansion is just the beginning.

Our platform is more than just a service – it’s a commitment to providing choice, reliability, and a deep understanding of the unique needs of our users. We are bringing back the feeling of community support to Canada.

— Laurie Lathem, Vice President of Growth at Tuktu Care Inc.

Seeing into the future is a superpower many used to only dream of, but never experience. Now, that dream is becoming a reality.

Perceiv AI, a Canadian medical technology company based out of Montreal, Quebec, has created an AI-powered platform that accurately predicts the progression of age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Through comprehensive analysis of personalized data (e.g., clinical variables, biomarkers, genetics, imaging, etc.), Perceiv AI’s innovative platform – Foresight – offers insights into the future of a patient’s disease.

The use of Perceiv AI’s Foresight platform has the power to transform and accelerate clinical trials by identifying candidates who, based on their health data, would yield the best outcomes, and companies are taking notice. In January 2024, Perceiv AI partnered with Alleo Labs, a US-based biotechnology company that plans to use Foresight to select candidates for its clinical trials.

As Perceiv AI continues to enable prospective drug clinical trials and support physicians with timely diagnoses, its impact will continue to spread.

Thanks to the support of the CABHI MC2 program, we have successfully deployed our enterprise-grade Foresight platform, which is fully secure and compliant.

— Christian Dansereau, CEO of Perceiv AI

Aging in a setting of choice and healthcare access are two of CABHI’s innovation themes;
two areas we are working to dramatically improve the lives of older persons in Canada and
around the world. PragmaClin, one of CABHI’s portfolio companies located in Canada’s east coast, has created an innovative digital health technology to address these two areas for older persons with mobility disorders.

While studying at Memorial University, CEO Bronwyn Bridges met Gord Genge, an older person living with Parkinson’s disease. Together, they created PRIMS (Parkinson’s Remote Interactive Monitoring System) – a trailblazing technology that assists in
diagnosis and medical care more rapidly, regardless of location or access to medical centres.

The concept is user-friendly and effective: PRIMS cameras connect to a computer to  monitor client movements. The software collects and analyzes movements in real time, resulting in rapid results readily available to the client and their healthcare providers.

“The story behind PragmaClin is rooted in a commitment to improving the lives of those affected by neurological disorders,” says Bronwyn Bridges, CEO of PragmaClin. “PRIMS is a testament to that commitment, offering a ground-breaking approach to PD assessment through advanced technology. CABHI’s support has been pivotal, not only providing the necessary financial resources but also validating our efforts and giving us the confidence to push forward. As we prepare for testing, we are excited about the potential impact PRIMS can have on patient outcomes and the broader healthcare community.”

Currently in the validation stage, PragmaClin is refining its product development in  preparation for country-wide testing. The introduction of innovative technology like  PRIMS will help ensure that all people, whether local or in rural areas, can access the  healthcare they need when they need it.

Supporting Healthcare Organizations Discover + Adopt Innovations

In 2023, CABHI expanded its newest program, Discover + Adopt (D+A): A program that matches healthcare delivery organizations to companies with tailored solutions to target their pain points.

After successfully pairing an organization with a company, CABHI supports the  organization with building their skills and readiness to introduce, implement, and sustain
innovation in their own settings. The participating companies also gain access to case scenarios and end-user feedback to further refine their solution for improved product- market fit.

In its first cohort, six organizations participated in D+A, such as:

  • Perley Health, which implemented Magic Table to target resident social isolation;
  • Bruyere, which implemented Pegasus Medical Concepts to improve staff processes and efficiencies;
  • Schlegel Villages, which implemented the Bellabot Food Service Robot to improve dining room and meal delivery experiences.

After a successful first year with a procurement rate of 67 percent, the D+A program has expanded its reach to include more organizations across Canada. As part of the expansion, the D+A program augmented its reach to include organizations that support older persons in community and care settings thanks to CABHI’s partnership with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

“The CMA collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders to meet the needs of an aging population, and we are thrilled to partner with CABHI to advance our shared goals of
supporting older persons in aging with dignity in community and care settings across the country,” said Dr. Kathleen Ross, President of the CMA.

The D+A program also grew its offerings to engage French-speaking organizations and the communities they serve. For example, Groupe Sante Sedna, a Quebec-based French-
first organization, was matched with Welbi, an English-first company, because of its well-suited innovation. However, Groupe Sante Sedna required a French translation of Welbi’s platform to effectively use the innovation. The CABHI team facilitated a discussion with both the healthcare organization and the company to highlight the importance of French, the availability of future markets, and the willingness to work within the organization’s budget, leading to the development of a French platform for Groupe Sante Sedna.

The D+A program will continue to engage healthcare delivery organizations across Canada in innovation skill building and peer-to-peer networking to enhance their receptivity to adopting innovation.

senior outdoorsy couple look up in a forest, smiling

Fostering Strategic Partnerships for National and Global Impact

CABHI envisions a world in which people can age in the setting of their choice, maintaining their cognitive, emotional, and physical wellbeing as well as their independence for as long as possible. To achieve national and global impact, CABHI is encouraging system-level changes.

In 2023, Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA) launched the Dementia Research and Innovation Funders Alliance (the Alliance) – a collaborative network of research organizations with the common goal of advancing the National Dementia Strategy – of which CABHI was a founding partner. Together, along with 21 other Canadian research- and innovation-focused organizations, the Alliance will support greater coordination and collaboration across these groups.

CABHI will bolster the Alliance’s work by contributing to the key themes identified during the Alliance’s inaugural meeting in November 2023, including:

  • achieving shared aims and co-creating solutions;
  • mapping the research, innovation, and funding landscape;
  • delivering on the research and innovation pillar of Canada’s national dementia strategy; and
  • enhancing knowledge exchange and mobilization.
CABHI showcase attendees

As part of Canada’s National Dementia Strategy, PHAC disbursed $9.6 million from the Dementia Strategic Fund to catalyze efforts focusing on mobilizing knowledge to enhance dementia awareness. CABHI partnered on three projects funded by the Dementia strategic Fund: Baycrest Academy for Research and Education’s (BARE) Defy Dementia: Curating, Designing, and Disseminating Co-Designed Knowledge Products to Raise Awareness About Prevention, REENA’s Canadian Best Practice Guidance for Quality Community Supports and Care for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia and Their Caregivers, and Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging Foundation’s Addressing Stigma and Supporting Living Well for Persons Living with Dementia and Care Partners: The Forward with Dementia Initiative.

CABHI supported these projects with Leap community engagement and co-design for enhanced awareness and uptake through:

  • engaging older persons, persons living with dementia, and their caregivers in the development and dissemination of Defy Dementia resources;
  • designing tailored resources to promote the uptake of the recommendations in REENA’s updated guidance for community care and supports; and
  • co-designing with the Leap community as Forward with Dementia adapted its dementia-focused resources for national expansion.
blue and orange plus symbols

As the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging’s (CCNA) inaugural commercialization and social impact partner, CABHI works closely with the CCNA to advance dementia research and innovation.

In 2023, CABHI partnered with the CCNA to support projects led by CCNA Team 18,  focusing on Issues in Dementia Care for Indigenous Populations. CABHI committed to support three projects to ensure CCNA’s Brain Health PRO, a web-based Brain Health Support Program, is adapted to meet the needs of Indigenous communities across Canada.

With a funding envelope of $250,000, along with access to acceleration services, CABHI is supporting:

  • Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal based in Quebec to improve and expand the program to make it available for the broader community and reflect user feedback;
  • University of Calgary to refine Brain Health Pro specifically for the Metis community, ensuring safe and relevant dementia care for this population group;
    and
  • File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council to adapt Brain Health Pro to share vital knowledge around dementia care and prevention with the First Nations community.

Our ongoing engagement in this work reinforces our promise to ensure programs and services are designed with, and accessible to, the widest range of users, and that diverse, Indigenous communities are included in the innovation community and the broader ecosystem.

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Thought Leadership

Mobilizing Knowledge and Sharing Community Insights

As a national and global leader in the aging and brain health sector, CABHI continues to build a strong culture of innovation and demonstrate thought leadership by mobilizing knowledge through conferences and outreach events. We bring together a wide range of stakeholders, from innovators to CABHI alumni, investors, healthcare providers, researchers, older persons, caregivers, and industry leaders, with the ultimate goal of fostering diverse connections to exchange and apply knowledge for greater collective impact.

Engaging our Global Community of Innovation

  • The sixth annual CABHI Summit: Defy Dementia, held virtually on March 26, brought together hundreds of innovators, CABHI alumni, investors, healthcare providers, researchers, older persons, caregivers, exhibitors, and industry leaders. Attendees gained insights into the most pressing challenges, opportunities, and trends in defying dementia and healthy aging.
  • CABHI produced season five of the Community of Innovation Podcast, bringing the total number of free episodes to 60. The series features experts in healthcare, research, technology, and business, as well as older persons and their caregivers, discussing hot topics in innovative healthtech solutions, aging, and brain health practices.
CABHI Summit data
CABHI Community if Innovation Podcast data

Creating Opportunities for Inclusive Innovation

CABHI has a strong commitment to ensuring our Community of Innovation is reflective of diverse groups, including women. Our programs are designed to bring entrepreneurship opportunities directly to women and other equity deserving groups. Although only 18 percent of small- and medium-sized businesses in Canada are womenowned, the vast majority of project leads in our programs are women led. For example, we have run 6 cohorts of MC2, and over 40 percent of the investments have gone to support Female Founders with the latest cohort reaching 60 percent. Similarly, 78 percent of the Spark Portfolio has been female-led projects to date. In the most recent Spark cohort, 45 percent of projects addressed ageism, 35 percent addressed socioeconomic inequality, 25 percent addressed racial inequality, and 15 percent specifically addressed Indigenous health.

Engaging Students, Colleges, and Universities

Through campus-linked accelerators, like Collision Days and Hackathons, we connect students, entrepreneurs, and early career researchers from colleges and universities with each other and members of the community to co-design aging and brain health solutions. Through these opportunities, student ventures gain access to CABHI funding and acceleration services, including Leap community engagement.

Spotlighting Innovators

Through Innovation Showcases, like our 2023 Atlantic Innovation Showcase in Halifax, we connect innovators to industry professionals spanning government, healthcare, and investors. Our Atlantic Innovation Showcase hosted more than 75 people, including leaders from start-up companies, researchers, investors, hospital administrators, and government staff. Dr. Allison Sekuler, Dr. Lara Swarek, an investment associate with Invest Nova Scotia, and eight companies from Atlantic Canada presented; three of which were existing CABHI portfolio companies and five were in the process of applying to CABHI programs.

Looking Ahead

The future is bright for CABHI. We will continue to foster innovation, skillbuilding, and collaboration among diverse groups, including innovators, researchers, older persons, caregivers, and healthcare organizations. We will harness their experience and expertise to co-design solutions that enrich lives. By providing funding, mentoring, training, and networking, we will develop, validate, and scale innovative solutions in aging and brain health. Our programs and dynamic partnerships will lead to critical knowledge exchange that influences behavior, practice, and policy, catalyzing breakthroughs and transforming the landscape of aging and brain health.

Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist of CABHI.
Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist of CABHI.

CABHI’s Global Thought Leadership and Active Engagement at Conference Panels, Workshops, Exhibits, and Trade Missions

  • May 2023

    May 23

    Ontario Trade Mission to BioMed in Israel

  • June 2023

    June 2023

    + International Federation on Ageing Conference in Thailand
    + What’s Next Longevity Venture Summit in the United States
    + UK Canada AgeTech Innovation Exchange in the UK

  • July 2023

    July 2023

    Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in the Netherlands

  • August 2023

    August 2023

    Transatlantic Telehealth Research Network in the United States

  • September 2023

    September 2023

    Global Ageing Network Conference in Scotland

  • November 2023

    November 2023

    Canadian Women’s Mission to Korea and Thailand

  • January 2024

    January 2024

    JP Morgan Health in the United States

  • March 2024

    March 2024

    + South by Southwest (SXSW) in the United States

    + American Society on Aging’s On Aging Conference in the United States

    + AgeingFit in France

Guided by Visionaries

Our Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and Seniors Advisory Panel lends expertise and strategic oversight to ensure CABHI continuously strives for the greatest impact with its initiatives.

Financial Report

Please click on the Financial Report to view.

Financial Report

If you have any questions or would like more information about CABHI or our annual report, please contact info@cabhi.com.

CABHI gratefully acknowledges the support of our funders.

CABHI Sponsors

The views expressed herein are those of the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Ontario or the Public Health Agency of Canada.