Health Innovation Roundup
April 8, 2026
A Sensory Gala and Community Festival is coming to Bison Lodge on April 10 and 11 to raise money for some good causes and make a fun, creative space for everyone. "Sensory was created because I have two daughters, one who's neurodivergent and one with disabilities," said Louise Berezowsky, founder of Sensory Canada. "We've been in a lot of spaces where they're both included, but they don't really feel like they belong." These events are designed to truly make space for everyone, she told Taproot. "It's not our responsibility as a community to ask people to shrink into spaces where they don't feel like they belong," she said. "We hope at Sensory to change that scaffolding and that foundation so our girls don't feel like they need to shrink."
The gala on April 10 will raise money for Autism Edmonton, the oldest autism organization in the province. The Braille Tones will perform, and there will be "immersive sensory zones, creative installations, and opportunities to connect with community leaders and changemakers." Everything is designed to not just give lip service to inclusion, but to create that sense of belonging. "We're all different flowers in the same garden; if we were all the same, we wouldn't really be a beautiful garden," Berezowky said.
The festival on April 11 will offer a day-long experience meant to be accessible and enjoyable for all ages and all abilities. There will be live performances, a neurodivergent market, and sensory installations. Proceeds will support AdaptAbilities, the Edmonton Association of the Deaf, and community-driven accessibility initiatives such as The Braille Tones. Such fundraising is important because grant funding for non-profits is becoming sparser, Berezowsky said. "We noticed that there's a really big gap in the funding model. Grants are getting smaller, and charities are having to compete," she said. "Grants come with golden handcuffs — you can usually only use grants for your programs and services, but often charities can't use that for their operating dollars."
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Headlines
- The Edmonton Community Foundation shared the story of the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation, which is working to increase diversity in the stem cell donor registry so Black Canadians battling leukemia have a better chance of finding a compatible match. Only 2% of registered donors come from African, Caribbean, and Black communities. Jacob Marfo, who started the foundation in memory of his son, spoke to Episode 204 of The Well Endowed Podcast, as did filmmaker Sandro Silva, whose documentary The Perfect Match brings the story to the screen. The film premieres on April 11 at the Garneau Theatre as part of NorthwestFilmFest.
- Antigoni Studios is putting on an event on April 28 to launch Canada's first femtech venture studio. It's aimed at entrepreneurs and investors focused on women's health and innovation.
- PanTHERA CryoSolutions was one of four companies recognized at the second annual YEG Acquisition Party at the end of March. PanTHERA, which specializes in cryopreservation solutions for life sciences, was acquired by BioLife Solutions last year.
- NiaHealth co-founder and CEO Sameer Dhar discussed reimagining preventative care on The Thin Air Labs podcast. NiaHealth can test blood for early signs of more than 1,000 health risks. Dhar previously founded Sensassure, an elder-care incontinence monitoring company that was acquired in 2016.
- Brain Care Technologies founder Greg McGillis sat down with The Dementia Collective podcast to discuss how his company expedites the detection of cognitive decline. Cognitive decline is often detected too late, he said, and earlier awareness, even without a definitive diagnosis, can help families plan and preserve dignity in care.
- The CroneCast featured writer, editor, and director Helen Metella discussing the practical side of caring for a loved one with dementia — from navigating paperwork to finding moments of laughter. Metella, whose mother has dementia, suggested reading picture books or playing music for loved ones as ways to find levity while caregiving.
- University of Alberta researchers have identified a genetic variant that predicts which patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension will deteriorate most quickly. The condition kills 50% of patients within five years, and the finding, published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, could help prioritize high-risk patients for more intensive care and earlier transplant referrals. "This could potentially save lives and health-care costs, and improve the well-being of both patients and their loved ones," principal investigator Evangelos Michelakis told Folio.
- A University of Alberta team has received $1.4 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to study so-called "orphan neurons" in the spinal cord. They appear to be crucial to standing, based on research in mice, and the research may lead to future treatments for people with spinal cord injuries. The study, led by David Bennett in the faculty of rehabilitation medicine, is one of 23 U of A research projects to share in a total of $18 million from CIHR.
- The University of Alberta has launched a 12-week psychiatric training program for family doctors aimed at improving mental health care for rural and Indigenous patients — a program that has already reached 80 physicians. David Ross, the program's co-lead and psychiatry chair, spoke to CBC Edmonton's Radio Active about closing the care gap. Ross estimated that some Albertans must wait up to 12 months to see a psychiatrist.
- Foyer Lacombe Hospice in St. Albert celebrated the addition of 11 new specialized Centrella beds, a roughly $200,000 investment funded by community donors and the Covenant Foundation. The beds are designed to help caregivers reposition residents and monitor their well-being more easily.
- Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation CEO Andrew MacIsaac said the war in the Middle East has led to renewed calls for a sovereign Canadian medical supply chain after Iran-linked disruptions to Qatar's natural gas exports cut liquid helium supplies — used as coolants in MRI machines — by 50% for at least one provincial health authority. The Alberta not-for-profit said it could serve as a short-term domestic supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients should drug shortages worsen.
- Innovotech reported $4.5 million in revenue for 2025, more than double its 2024 figure of $2.2 million, driven largely by the integration of Keystone Labs. The company posted net income of $89,000 for the year.
- Arden Tse of Yaletown Partners commemorated the end of Fit for Tech, a workout-and-networking event for the tech community that he launched with Future Fields CEO Matt Anderson-Baron in 2023. The event provided an alternative to environments where alcohol is served, Tse told Taproot when it started.
- The RAEdio Podcast from the REALTORS Association of Edmonton explored support for survivors of domestic violence with Amber Blaszkiewicz of the REALTORS Community Foundation and Marla Poelzer of the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation.
Social innovation
- New Grocery Movement and the Food Secure Canada Youth Caucus have launched a cross-country food politics book club called Reading Between the Barcode Lines, offering free book access to participants across Canada who want to explore food systems and community action.
- The Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship podcast featured Jodi Abbott, president and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation, in conversation with lawyer Heather Barnhouse. The two discuss navigating complexity, developing bold strategies, and the role of values in leading organizations through change.
- The Unapologetic podcast featured Constance Scarlett, president and CEO of TELUS World of Science - Edmonton, in a conversation about inclusive leadership and designing public spaces where all community members can genuinely see themselves.
More health news
- Marcello Di Cintio examined the barriers to healthcare and education faced by undocumented people in Alberta, most of whom entered Canada legally but lost status through expired permits, rejected refugee claims, or other circumstances. "Their lack of status leaves them profoundly vulnerable," he wrote in Alberta Views, citing the situations of families he has met in Edmonton. Alberta is preparing for a referendum on non-permanent residents' access to services in October.
- A man was charged after stabbing another man in the Royal Alexandra Hospital emergency room in Edmonton on April 3. The 42-year-old victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was treated on site. Police arrested the assailant and charged him with assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, and two counts of failure to comply with probation. The province said enhanced security measures, including more personnel and an approved weapons-screening program, are being implemented.
- Free COVID-19 boosters are now available for eligible Alberta residents at participating pharmacies and Primary Care Alberta clinics. Those eligible include adults 80 and older, long-term care residents, immunocompromised individuals, and adults aged 65 to 79 with underlying medical conditions.
- Spruce Grove and Strathcona County said they are reviewing proposed changes to their provincial ground ambulance service agreement after Emergency Medical Services asked them to absorb additional costs or transfer operations to another provider. Leduc and St. Albert also received similar orders. The municipalities have until May 31 to respond.
- Nearly 40% of calls to St. Albert ambulances in 2025 sent them outside the city, according to a report from the city's fire chief.
- Edmonton Fire Rescue Services is inviting high-school students in Grades 10 to 12 to apply for its Fire Cadet program, offering first-hand experience for those interested in emergency services careers. Through a mix of classroom learning and hands-on activities, students develop leadership, teamwork, and employment skills, learn the importance of mental and physical wellness, and gain insight into the day-to-day work of a firefighter, the City of Edmonton said in a release. The program begins in September with an April 30 deadline to apply.
- Alberta is not considering social media restrictions for youth, the province's justice ministry said, following Australia's ban on social media for those under 16. However, the federal Liberal Party is set to debate social media age restrictions at its national convention.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
- April 8: New to Life Sciences: What I've Learned in my First Year at a Life Sciences Startup starting at 5pm at MKT Fresh Food | Beer Market
- April 9: Understanding Arthritis starting at 7pm at St. Albert Public Library (Downtown)
- April 10: Sensory Gala starting at 5:30pm at Bison Lodge
- April 11: Sensory Festival starting at 10am at Bison Lodge
- April 12: High Flying Brunch: Yoga & Brunch starting at 11am at Halo Bar and Bistro
- April 15: A Taste for Life at various locations
And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:
- April 20: Reading Between the Barcode Lines at Magpie Books
- April 27-28: Engaged and Empowered 2026 at Edmonton EXPO Centre
- April 29: Invest In Alberta's Continuing Care Think Tank at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.
This roundup was sponsored by Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation.
API is one of Canada's largest not-for-profit life sciences commercialization organizations. We catalyze growth in the life sciences sector by addressing key challenges that hold companies and innovators back.