At St. Michael’s Hospital, a research competition named Angels Den is underway, showcasing cutting-edge ideas to enhance the healthcare system. The event, now in its 11th year, is set to occur at Koerner Hall on Wednesday. Participants, including top scientists from the hospital, will present their innovative research concepts to judges, jurors, and a large audience. The aim is to secure a share of the $700,000 in prizes for research funding and $300,000 in grants.
Among the featured pitches at the event will be a device designed to swiftly clear blocked dialysis catheters, potentially averting risky surgeries. Another proposal involves physician-paramedic teams delivering critical ER care directly to trauma patients at accident sites. Dr. Hagar Labouta, a prominent nanomedicine researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, is a finalist in this year’s competition. Her project focuses on a targeted drug delivery system to treat pregnant women while safeguarding their unborn babies.
Labouta highlighted the challenge of ensuring the safety of medications taken by pregnant women, emphasizing the need to protect the fetus from potential harm. Her innovative drug delivery system, utilizing nanoparticles, aims to precisely target treatment to the mother, minimizing risks to the baby. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize care across various medical conditions, ranging from cancer to epilepsy.
Dr. Ori Rotstein, the hospital’s Vice President of Research and Innovation, emphasized the significant impact of Angels Den over the past decade. The competition has facilitated over $7 million in research funding, supported 86 projects for patient care enhancement, led to the creation of 34 medical devices, and spawned 10 spin-off companies. Rotstein praised the event for bridging the gap between scientific research and societal benefits, while also promoting public engagement with science.
In a previous edition of Angels Den, Dr. Christopher Witiw, a neurosurgeon, and Dr. Alun Ackery, an emergency physician, emerged as winners. Their winning pitch introduced an AI surgical consult system to streamline the identification of traumatic brain injury patients requiring surgery. The AI tool, developed using data from previous trauma cases, has been successfully deployed at St. Michael’s Hospital, demonstrating efficacy comparable to board-certified neurosurgeons.
Following their victory, the team is gearing up to launch a pilot program across 12 hospitals in Ontario to validate the AI platform in real-world scenarios and expand collaborations globally. Dr. Witiw and Dr. Ackery credited the support from St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation and Angels Den for propelling their project forward and enabling them to form a dedicated team.
The winners of this year’s Angels Den competition will be announced on Wednesday, marking another milestone in fostering healthcare innovation and driving impactful research initiatives.