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Powering innovations that support Parkinson’s disease
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness and support research for the 120,000+ Canadians, and millions worldwide, living with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s and dementia—CABHI’s driving force—are closely connected, with up to 80% of individuals with Parkinson's developing dementia as the disease progresses.
At the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, our mission is to drive transformative innovations in aging and brain health that meaningfully improve the lives of older persons, especially those living with dementia. Supporting innovations that address Parkinson’s aligns with our bold mission. From rehabilitation to symptom management, treatments, and care coordination, our funding programs support innovators throughout their innovation journey, developing solutions for Parkinson’s many stages and challenges. These solutions focus on increasing individuals’ independence and well-being, allowing them to age comfortably and confidently in the settings of their choice.
Handl, a project from the NextGen Support Package, empowers people living with Parkinson’s disease to maintain their independence while eating—a small but meaningful activity that can significantly impact quality of life. Handl is a utensil attachment that stabilizes against hand tremors using real‑time sensors and micro‑motors. Designed to fit onto standard cutlery, it is both affordable and accessible.
Another solution that supports people living with Parkinson’s maintain their independence is PragmaClin’s PRIMS, which received funding through the Mentorship, Capital, and Continuation program in partnership with National Bank (now Fuel). This trailblazing technology enables Parkinson’s assessment regardless of location: cameras connect to a computer to monitor a client’s movements, analyze data in real time, and deliver results directly to both clients and their healthcare providers.
Meanwhile, Epiloid Biotechnology, supported through the Ignite program, is addressing a major barrier in neurological drug development: the high failure rate of therapies during clinical trials. Using lab-grown, three-dimensional brain tissue models, Epiloid aims to improve preclinical testing for diseases like Parkinson’s and dementia, helping accelerate the development of more effective treatments.
Together, these innovations illustrate CABHI’s commitment to supporting solutions that address Parkinson’s across its many stages and challenges—from early‑stage ideas that promote independence to breakthrough technologies that are reshaping medical discoveries.
This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, we are proud to support and spotlight innovators who are turning ideas into impact and improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.