grrit improved healthcare & economic …...glenrose rehabilitation research innovation and...

Glenrose Rehabilitation

Research Innovation and Technology Hub (GRRIT)

GRRIT

Improved Healthcare & Economic

Diversification

Dr. Lois Macklin, Sr. Consultant

Research and Technology

Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

1

Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

• 244 bed publically funded hospital

• Dedicated to the delivery of rehabilitation

medicine

• 122 different clinics (neo-natal to geriatrics)

• ~30,000 active patients annually

2

Glenrose Rehabilitation, Research, Innovation and Technology Hub

Mission:

To advance and assist research and

innovation that improves the quality of life

for people with disabilities through

cooperation with academic and industrial

partners

3

GRRIT

GRRIT Role and Function

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Building an Innovation Eco System

GRRIT contributes by:

• Assisting academic and industrial partners

with access to AHS/GRH

• Brokering collaborations with external

partners

• Providing partial financial support for R&D

• Pursuit of external funding

• Changing organizational culture

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GRRIT Advisory Council

Guided by Eleven Representatives From:

• Industry

• Research Community

• Glenrose Hospital Foundation

• Patient Population

• Academia

• Senior Executives

• AHS

• Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital

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GRRIT Funding

• Glenrose Foundation provided base

funding

• NRC – Industrial Research Assistance

Program provided a series of 3 grants

• Alberta Innovation and Advanced

Education grant

• Western Economic Diversification Program

• Total Funding ≈ $1.25 million 7

Current and Future Projects

Projects included are:

• Push,

• Pull,

• Combination

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Hot – Cold Sensor (PULL)

Scoliosis Active Bracing – (PULL)

GRH Prosthetics

GRH Researcher

Edmond Lou

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3Scape Immersive Videos (PUSH)

11 http://www.imageworksalberta.com/

Dynamic Shoulder Orthotic (PULL)

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Quality of Life Project 2016-2017

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A major multi-disciplinary initiative:

What is required to maximize the Quality of Life of

Older persons with Disabilities?

1) Identify the challenges by creating a collision space for

intellectual exchange between industry and clinicians

2) Develop technical solutions to those challenges

through collaboration

1) Provide clinical validation and testing at the Glenrose

(Push and Pull)

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Philosophic Approach

“When you come to a fork

in the Road –

TAKE IT” Yogi Berra

To achieve our innovation ambitions at the

GRH, we must be a meaningful partner in

the innovation/commercialization process.