A competition known as Angels Den, hosted by St. Michael’s Hospital, is showcasing research projects aimed at enhancing the healthcare system. The event, now in its 11th year, is set to take place at Koerner Hall on Wednesday, where scientists will present their ideas to a panel of judges, jurors, and over 1,000 attendees.
During the competition, six teams of leading scientists from St. Michael’s Hospital will have the opportunity to pitch their innovative research concepts in a bid to secure prizes totaling $700,000 for further research endeavors, along with $300,000 in grants.
Organized by St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation, the event will feature pitches ranging from a device designed to efficiently clear blocked dialysis catheters, thus avoiding risky surgeries, to collaborative physician-paramedic teams providing critical emergency care directly to trauma patients at accident sites.
Dr. Hagar Labouta, a nanomedicine researcher at St. Michael’s Hospital, is one of the six finalists in this year’s competition. She has developed a targeted drug delivery system tailored to treat pregnant women while safeguarding their unborn babies.
Labouta highlighted the challenge of ensuring medication safety for pregnant women, emphasizing the potential risks to unborn babies posed by certain drugs. To address this issue, she and her colleague, Luis Pérez Dávalos, are developing an innovative drug delivery system that specifically targets the mother, shielding the baby from any adverse effects.
Labouta explained, “We utilize nanoparticles, tiny particles that encapsulate the medicine, enabling precise drug delivery to the intended body areas.”
She believes this breakthrough could revolutionize treatment across various conditions, including cancer and epilepsy.
Transformative Impact of Winning Pitches
Dr. Ori Rotstein, the Vice President of Research and Innovation at St. Michael’s Hospital, praised the broad impact of Angels Den over the past decade. The competition has awarded over $7 million to medical research, supported 86 projects in transitioning to patient care, facilitated the development of 34 medical devices, and spawned 10 new companies.
Rotstein emphasized the competition’s role in translating scientific advancements into societal benefits, showcasing science to the public and providing crucial funding for early-stage research initiatives that often struggle to secure financial support.
Success Story of Previous Winner: AI Surgical Consult
Dr. Christopher Witiw, a neurosurgeon, and Dr. Alun Ackery, an emergency physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, emerged as winners in the previous Angels Den edition. Their winning pitch introduced an AI surgical consult to expedite the assessment of traumatic brain injury patients necessitating surgery.
Witiw highlighted the successful deployment of their AI consult system, which leverages historical trauma patient data to identify surgical candidates promptly and accurately.
Since their victory, the team plans to launch a pilot program across 12 hospitals in Ontario to validate their platform in real-world scenarios and establish global partnerships.
According to Ackery, the support from St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation and Angels Den has been instrumental in propelling their project forward by providing momentum and enabling team expansion.
The winners of this year’s Angels Den competition will be announced on Wednesday.
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