PHOTO CAPTION: At the second annual QEII Foundation Innovation Den in November 2024, six local scientists pitched their health-related business concepts and product ideas to a panel of judges, vying for the top prize of $100,000 to expand their innovation to advance patient care.
PHOTO CREDIT: Darren Hubley
QEII Foundation Innovation Den funding new ideas to advance health care
On November 14, more than 100 guests gathered to hear six local scientists pitch their health-related business concepts and product ideas at the second annual QEII Foundation Innovation Den.
Funded through the Innovation Catalyst Grant program, established with a $1-million gift from John Hunkin and Susan Crocker in 2023, the Innovation Den brings together some of the brightest minds in Nova Scotia with ideas to ignite and advance health care. John and Susan’s gift ensures the longevity of this pitch competition, with a minimum of $100,000 being granted each year.
Their gift solidifies the key role philanthropy plays in health care – now and in the future.
“We know that tackling the challenges in health care is not an easy task,” says Susan Mullin, president and CEO at the QEII Foundation. “But when we pair the innovation and care of experts with the generosity of donors, we have a powerful combination that creates hope and opportunities for patients and their loved ones.”
Thanks to donor generosity, including that of matching donors, Andy and Nora Louise Gross, and QEII Foundation board chair Gord Cooper and his wife Chere Chapman, the 2024 Innovation Den awarded a total of $200,000 to this year’s competitors. The event was also supported by corporate sponsor, belairdirect.
Modeled after the popular series Dragons’ Den, six finalists pitched their health-related business concepts and product ideas to a panel of Den judges based on scalability, evaluation and overall impact on clinical care and patient outcomes.
The judges, all from healthcare and innovation backgrounds, had the challenge of scoring and ranking the finalists. With the lineup of presenters, it was no easy task.
“The caliber of innovation we witnessed by these inspiring local entrepreneurs truly reflects the bright future of health care in Nova Scotia and beyond,” says Den judge Travis McDonough, founder and CEO of Wellnify.AI. “These pitches are not just ideas; they’re potential medical breakthroughs with global impact.”
With a passion for health care and technology, Travis returned for a second year as an Innovation Den judge.
“Having spent the last 35 years as an aspiring entrepreneur in the health, wellness and human performance industry in Nova Scotia, it is a bit surreal being on the other side of a pitch,” says Travis. “I’m grateful to be a part of this and beyond excited to watch the measurable impact these innovations have on the citizens of our province.”
The impact will be felt across care areas and different levels of health care.
This year, the presentations were divided into two streams: the Next Big Idea stream, with awards ranging from $8,000 to $12,000, and the Medical Breakthrough stream, ranging from $20,000 to the top prize of $100,000.
The Next Big Idea stream featured healthcare staff who have identified gaps in patient support or opportunity for system transformation that want to take their idea to the next stage, with a focus on making a positive impact on how care is accessed, delivered or experienced.
The projects in the Next Big idea stream focused on trauma care, orthopaedics, and well-being for healthcare professionals.
The Medical Breakthrough stream featured those who are bringing a medical discovery forward that may include an innovative product or device, a new therapy or treatment, or improved diagnoses for patients. Innovators in this stream either plan to or currently have a registered business.
Initiatives in this stream included an AI-based platform to detect and analyze heart murmurs, a personalized pain management app for knee and hip surgery patients, and an innovative, proprietary topical product line to prevent and treat moisture associated skin damage.
The $100,000 top prize, the New Path Award for Health Innovation, was awarded to Dr. Emily Johnston for her Pain Coach innovation. Dr. Johnston, a QEII clinical pharmacist in orthopaedic surgery, received a $10,000 One to Watch award for Pain Coach at the inaugural Innovation Den in 2023. This year’s win will help her reach the next milestone.
“I’ll use these new funds to take the Pain Coach app version we have now for clinical trials and iterate it to become a commercial product that we can distribute across Canada,” says Dr. Johnston.
She says that she’s currently waiting on data from the clinical trial but if all goes to plan, the product will be available a year from now.
Pain Coach is a digital healthcare tool for personalized pain control for patients of orthopaedic surgery, who often struggle at home with pain management and adherence to their pain medication regime can be complex. Pain Coach provides prescribers support to be more intentional and specific when prescribing. It also helps patients with scheduled notifications and tracking for medications and pain assessment.
“I’m hopeful that Pain Coach is going to help patients feel more supported and in control of their care and pain management after surgery,” says Dr. Johnston. “The ultimate goal is to help improve patients’ pain outcomes and help them get back to doing the things they love quicker with their pain managed better.”
Investment in healthcare research makes these breakthrough opportunities like Pain Coach possible. The QEII Foundation is committed to supporting local innovators and researchers as they apply their expertise and new ideas to transform health care, here at home.
This year’s Innovation Den award winners are working to reshape the healthcare landscape in Nova Scotia.
To read more about this year's Innovation Den winners, click here.