Nearly 900 nursing students participated in an immersive virtual reality pilot project that put them through several clinical scenarios at the University of Alberta's Nursing Simulation Centre this past semester. "This gives people the chance to practice (care) on their own and give their best swing at it, without any of the real-world consequences that could come with it," student and facilitator Drew Owen told Global News. "You forget that you're in this space and you really feel like you're there in the hospital. "
Collaboration in classrooms, simulations, and the real world all help health professionals work better together, the U of A's Sharla King said on a recent episode of the Advancing Healthcare Through Simulation podcast from CAMS. She said collaborative simulation environments are "always growing" and "always expanding," and she'd like to see real-life practicums follow suit. She added that it may be easier to see that result with new advanced degrees for educators, such as a doctorate that she is trying to co-build that takes inspiration from interprofessional education and principles of health systems science.
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Headlines
BetaKit profiled Myrna and Dean Bittner, co-founders of RUNWITHIT Synthetics, the Edmonton-based startup building synthetic environments to model potential futures for disaster response, climate resiliency, and health. The Bittners started their first groupware company, Bittco, out of their home near Elk Island Park in the 1990s, which caught the attention of a wealthy Australian engineer named Graham Dawson. His support gave them time to develop the intellectual property that now powers RWI.
DrugBank CEO Lisa Downey appeared on the AI For Pharma Growth podcast, arguing that most pharmaceutical AI initiatives will fail without high-quality, structured biomedical data. DrugBank's two decades of data-building work now underpins the AI tools pharma companies are racing to deploy, she said.
Researchers at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are using AI and nanomedicine to accelerate drug development, aiming to cut the roughly 20-year timeline and 90% failure rate that have historically defined the path from lab discovery to patient care.
University of Alberta researchers have developed D-GK17, a synthetic human-derived peptide that attacks the biofilms of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and fungi, offering a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics that bacteria cannot readily resist.
A University of Alberta study found that pet therapy visits benefit both residents and staff in long-term care settings, reducing social isolation and improving mental health. A pilot project is now bringing therapy dogs into an Edmonton care home this summer to test the approach in practice.
Traci Bateman, founder of Bliss MediSpa & Integrated Wellness and recipient of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year award, shared her entrepreneurial journey on the Executive Wins Podcast. She described building the business from a yoga studio to a luxury wellness centre, and how a forced pivot during COVID shaped its current form.
Sherwood Park author Kimm Hutton shared her breast cancer journey in a newly published book chapter as she marks five years cancer-free. Her contribution to The Embers We Carry focuses on resilience, accountability, and rebuilding through recovery.
Social innovation
Edmonton Pride Seniors Group and Right at Home Housing Society have secured land and nearly $9 million in provincial funding for a 64-unit inclusive seniors housing development in The Quarters. The project — in the works since 2013 — could break ground as early as next summer. "My personal opinion is that there is no normal timeline when it comes to building affordable housing … Right now, we're in an amazing funding environment, but in 2014 or 2013, those funds probably wouldn't have been available," Right at Home executive director Marisa Redmond told Taproot.
The City of Edmonton has launched a 2SLGBTQIA+ safe spaces action plan to enhance inclusivity over four years. The plan, unanimously approved by city council on June 17, involves making facilities sensitive to diverse community needs. Mayor Andrew Knack emphasized the critical timing of these initiatives amid restrictive provincial laws affecting transgender rights. A $750,000 budget will be available to support community groups, and discussions are ongoing for continued funding. In 2024, 50 hate crime incidents were reported in Edmonton alone.
Jeff McLean, co-founder of Pride Tape, joined the Startup Canada Podcast to describe how the Edmonton-born initiative — rainbow-coloured hockey tape signalling acceptance — grew from a small idea into a global movement promoting safety for 2SLGBTQI+ people in sports.
Shani Gwin of wâsikan kisewâtisiwin won Startup Canada's Global Pop Up Pitch in Calgary on June 16. "I am shocked, elated and crying my head off," Gwin posted about winning the $15,000 prize. Her company combats unconscious bias and racism in writing about Indigenous peoples.
Alberta Blue Crossnamed 12 recipients of its 2026 Indigenous Scholarship Program, awarding $1,500 each. The program received nearly 240 applications — double last year's total — and expanded from nine awards to 12 for the first time. Tennile Ermineskin will use her scholarship to advance her education towards advocating for Indigenous rights via the legal profession.
The Edmonton Community Foundation released its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting $1.7 million in student awards to 565 students and grants supporting affordable housing, early childhood development, and Indigenous health and wellness.
More health news
Edmonton emergency departments are experiencing the longest wait and stay times in Alberta. Hospitals in the Edmonton Zone were responsible for 65% of all emergency department stays that lasted over 48 hours, data obtained by Postmedia indicated. Misericordia Community Hospital alone accounts for nearly one-fifth of extended stays in the province. The average stay in Edmonton emergency departments is more than nine hours, significantly longer than the Alberta average of six hours, according to recent Alberta Health Services data. Acute Care Alberta said it plans to improve patient flow by enhancing community-based care to reduce pressure on emergency departments.
Alberta will launch its dual practice health model in September, allowing eligible physicians to work in both the public and private systems, with a minimum number of hours required in the public system first. CUPE Alberta has criticized the regulations as inadequate, warning they could starve the public system and worsen wait times. The founders of Advantage Medical spoke to CBC about their clinic, which offers 24/7 service and access to a suite of services for a $250-per-month membership fee. "This is the way primary care is really meant to be delivered," argued physician Nicolaus Weishaupt.
A survey of Albertans found that 83% have a family doctor, but 16% struggle to get timely appointments, with many turning to emergency rooms and walk-in clinics to fill the gap. Nearly 78% of walk-in visitors said they went only because they couldn't reach their own doctor.
Lisa Schaffer from Obesity Canada argued that even though obesity is designated a chronic disease in Alberta, it's not being treated like one. More than one million Albertans live with obesity and continue to face stigma and limited care options, she wrote.
Writer Leif Gregersen described relying on Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped for nearly 30 years while living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He warned that the Alberta Disability Assistance Program — the replacement program for 79,000 Albertans launching next month — will cut payments by $200 per month by 2027, add work requirements, and keep benefits below the deep poverty line. "If I am lucky, I'll adjust to the changes imposed by ADAP, though I may need to sell my car, cut back on comforts, and rely on the food bank," Gregersen wrote. "Others will not be so lucky. I'm left wondering: How can anyone justify austerity measures for people already living in poverty as economically viable or humane?"
A report from Alberta's child and youth advocate, Terri Pelton, urged the province to strengthen supports for homeless children and youth. In 2025, the office handled more than 100 cases, but the true number of homeless youth is likely higher. The report highlighted systemic issues, with many youths coming from unstable homes or aging out of systems. It recommended a youth-specific homelessness strategy, enhanced data collection, and specialized shelter support as essential measures to address this crisis.
The Community-Based Research Centre released educational guides to advance syphilis awareness, including resources for sexual- and gender-diverse people and healthcare providers. The materials also cover Doxy-PEP, a single-dose antibiotic that can prevent syphilis when taken within 72 hours after sex.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
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.
