The Pulse
May 28, 2026

Almost three decades after being part of the team that revolutionized the transport of kidneys for transplants, the leader of Northernmost is getting close to the green light for a sequel.

The Edmonton-based company is working on a kidney transport device for organ transplants called the NoMo Kidney Pump. It is more efficient at preserving kidneys than the current technology, said founder and CEO Ron Mills, thanks to advancements in machine perfusion (in layman's terms, pumping blood to keep the kidney viable).

Mills was part of the American team at Organ Recovery Systems that is responsible for the LifePort Kidney Transporter, the gold standard of machine perfusion — at least for now.

"Nobody's really done anything in 27 years," Mills told Taproot, noting that the LifePort launched around 2003 and doesn't appear to have changed much since it was first developed. "That's too long for something so good to not have a next act. My unfinished business — if I'm angry about anything — is that we're still using so much static cold storage, those ice coolers, for kidney transport."

Montreal's Innovobot Resonance Ventures believes Mills's company can execute on that next act; it invested an undisclosed sum in April to help Northernmost continue to innovate in kidney perfusion and extend the technology to other organs.

"Ron and his team have done this before," Innovobot said in its announcement. "They helped build the first generation of kidney perfusion technology. Now they're back to make it obsolete … By increasing the share of kidneys that arrive viable and transplant-ready, NoMo directly reduces wait times and saves lives."

That investment, as well as one by the UA Innovation Fund in February, has greased the wheels for a Series A round that Northernmost is raising. He has a good story to tell, and a refusal to settle for anything but the best way to transport kidneys, he said.

"A revenge plot is a legitimate thing that investors look for," Mills said. "Sometimes a really good motivating factor is personal drive, and sometimes that drive can be to get even."

• Edmonton Public Schools has significantly reduced the use of seclusion rooms, but does not have a timeline to eliminate them. During the 2021-22 school year, seclusion rooms were used 1,469 times, compared with 272 uses this school year, according to a report. Criticism surged eight years ago after a Sherwood Park family sued the Elk Island Public School Division and the Alberta government over their son's treatment in such a room. Although a 2019 ban was reversed by the UCP government, it introduced guidelines on the use of seclusion rooms, including the requirement to inform parents every time they are used.
• Edmonton Transit Service partnered with students from two schools to create safety-themed art promoting vigilance around rail crossings. Displayed at LRT crossings on 111 Street NW, these projects aim to help prevent pedestrian and cyclist collisions, the City of Edmonton said in a release.
• Edmontonians are invited to celebrate the reopening of William Hawrelak Park on May 30 from 11am to 4pm. The event features performances, games, food trucks, and a scavenger hunt, with a formal ceremony from 12:30pm to 1pm. A new public art piece by Indigenous artist Cheyenne Rain LeGrande can also be viewed. Transportation options include limited parking, public transit, and free shuttles.
• Edmonton city council's council services committee approved an additional $7,000 for Calgary Stampede expenses, totaling $12,000, for four councillors and their staff after debating its value for intergovernmental relations. Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette emphasized the Stampede's role as Canada's largest government relations event, crucial for addressing infrastructure needs amidst provincial funding cuts. In the past, councillors spent less on the event, with no travel expenses filed last year.
• Edmonton's Muslim community celebrated Eid al-Adha with prayers and gatherings on May 27. Muslims gathered for communal prayers at mosques around the city, followed by festive activities and meals shared among families and friends. Eid al-Adha, known as the "Festival of Sacrifice," holds significant religious importance, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
• Edmonton high school student Josh Kirsch received a $100,000 scholarship for developing Ancient Roots Alberta, a website that tracks and maps urban trees. His project helps identify tree species and assesses the environmental impact of Edmonton's urban foliage. The scholarship aims to support his pursuit of further studies in environmental science and technology.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Coffee with the Chamber starting at 8:30pm at Hot Coffee Café and Play in St. Albert
• Lunch N Learn: Vital Within starting at 12pm at St. Albert Chamber of Commerce
• Startup TNT Edmonton Summit Finale starting at 5pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• The Future of Cybersecurity: Securing trust in the age of LLMs starting at 5pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• IABC Edmonton Capital Awards Celebration starting at 6pm at Fu's Repair Shop
• Love Unleashed: The Haevën Project starting at 6:30pm at The Creative Hive Event Centre
• Bye Bye Blues starting at 6:30pm at Garneau Theatre
• Between Us: An Interactive Talk on How the Body Remembers starting at 7pm online
• Nerd Nite Edmonton #93 starting at 7:30pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 4: Annual Homeless Memorial at Homeless Memorial Plaza
• June 12: Spill the Tea: Readings from the 2SLGBTQIA+ Human Library at Robertson-Wesley United Church
• June 13: Housing Is A Human Right: Celebrating 40 years of ECOHH at Alberta Avenue Community Centre

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

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