St. Michael’s Hospital is hosting its 11th annual Angels Den competition where innovative ideas to enhance the healthcare system are presented and awarded. The event, taking place at Koerner Hall, features six teams of top scientists from the hospital pitching their groundbreaking research ideas to judges and over 1,000 attendees. The teams compete for prizes totaling $700,000 to support their research, along with $300,000 in grants.
Among the finalists is Dr. Hagar Labouta, a nanomedicine researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, who has developed a targeted drug delivery system to treat pregnant women while safeguarding their babies from potential side effects. The system uses nanoparticles to deliver medication precisely to the mother’s body, ensuring the safety of the unborn child.
The competition has had a significant impact over the years, with over $7 million awarded to medical research, 86 research projects supported for patient care transformation, and the creation of 34 medical devices and 10 spin-off companies. Dr. Ori Rotstein, VP of Research and Innovation at the hospital, highlighted the competition’s role in bridging science with society and providing essential funding for early-stage research.
Last year’s winners, Dr. Christopher Witiw and Dr. Alun Ackery, developed an AI surgical consult to assist in identifying traumatic brain injury patients who require surgery. The tool, based on thousands of trauma patient data, has been successfully deployed at St. Michael’s Hospital and is set to undergo a pilot program across 12 hospitals in Ontario.
The winners of this year’s Angels Den competition will be announced at the event on Wednesday, continuing the tradition of fostering innovative solutions and advancements in healthcare.