CABHI and Alberta Innovates partner to accelerate tech innovation, create jobs, and protect brain health

As Canada’s population ages, dementia and other brain disorders are becoming more prevalent, with more than 20% of Canadians over the age of 65 being diagnosed. The rise in the decline of brain health in our aging population has increased pressure on our healthcare system, the economy, and most importantly, caregivers in the workforce.

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Graphic with the CABHI and Alberta Innovates logos to announce partnership

The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI, powered by Baycrest) and Alberta Innovates are partnering to advance aging and brain health innovation in Alberta with the goal of supporting caregivers, strengthening care delivery, accelerating the adoption of promising solutions, and building a stronger economy.

As part of this growing collaboration, CABHI and Alberta Innovates are supporting Team CarePal: a family-centred app that helps caregivers coordinate care, stay connected, and access personalized supports while caring for their loved ones living with cognitive decline and dementia. The app aims to make caregiving more organized, collaborative, and less overwhelming, thus improving care for their loved ones. 

As our population ages, the pressure on caregivers, care systems, and the broader economy continues to grow. Through this partnership with the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, Alberta Innovates is enabling Alberta-based innovators and health system partners to develop, evaluate, and scale solutions that improve aging and brain health outcomes. Together we are driving innovation to support caregivers, strengthen care delivery, and realize economic benefits widely.

Cheryl Holden, Vice President of Health Innovation at Alberta Innovates

Building on the success of Alberta Innovates’ Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) program, this partnered investment will drive critical testing and validation milestones along the innovation path to market, including integration of Team CarePal into Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Bridgeland Seniors Health Clinic in Calgary.

This marks the first project supported through a deepening collaboration between CABHI and Alberta Innovates, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing innovation that improves the aging experience, supports brain health, and addresses growing healthcare system pressures associated with Canada’s rapidly aging population.

We’re incredibly proud to partner with Alberta Innovates, accelerating innovation at a moment when the need for new approaches to aging, brain health, and economic resilience has never been more urgent. Albertan researchers and entrepreneurs are developing breakthrough solutions with the potential to change the trajectory of dementia throughout the province, across Canada, and around the world. Together, this partnership will expand capacity, unlock critical funding opportunities, and create high-quality jobs — positioning Alberta and Canada as global leaders in brain health innovation, and ensuring the future of our brain economy.

Dr. Allison Sekuler, President & Chief Scientist of CABHI

CABHI funded Team CarePal through its Ignite program, following Alberta Innovates’ initial investment of $300,000. Ignite provides healthcare, long-term care, and research organizations—as well as tech startups—with up to $150,000 in non-dilutive funding and access to a proprietary suite of Acceleration Services designed to remove barriers that stall innovation and set the stage for commercializing at scale.

Through this progressive partnership, CABHI and Alberta Innovates are jointly enabling Alberta-based innovators, care organizations, and health system partners to successfully develop, evaluate, adopt, and scale solutions that improve aging and brain health outcomes while contributing to economic growth and innovation capacity in the province.

  • About the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation:

    The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, was established in 2015 to support researchers, clinicians, and innovators, as they develop and adopt transformative innovations that improve the lives of older persons, including those impacted by dementia. CABHI is a unique collaboration of healthcare, science, industry, not-for-profit, and government partners. Through its funding programs and tailored acceleration services, including access to diverse end-user groups, CABHI advances transformative aging and brain health innovations across Canada and the world.

    Learn more

  • About Alberta Innovates:

    Alberta Innovates is the province’s most comprehensive research and innovation agency. From funding to commercialization, it is Alberta’s innovation engine. Alberta Innovates fosters and accelerates research and innovation to benefit citizens and drive economic growth. 

    Alberta Innovates works across sectors to fund, partner and enable entrepreneurship throughout the province. The corporation operates in numerous locations with more than one million square feet of industrial testing and lab facilities and 600 acres of farmland.  

    Learn more

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