Lighthouse seeks to pair cardiometabolic problems with solutions

The Alberta Lighthouse Initiative has opened its intake for expressions of interest from health service delivery partners to express a problem in the realm of cardiometabolic health, which innovators will then pitch to solve. Projects may be related to Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (or fatty liver disease), for example. The goal of Lighthouse, a joint program between the Alberta government, Alberta Innovates, and Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk, is to improve the prevention, early detection, and management of such conditions.

Eligible health service delivery partners have until June 29 to apply. Some will be selected to hear pitches from innovation solution providers so they can choose one to collaborate with. Then the tandem of service provider and innovator will co-create a full proposal due in December for funding of $500,000 over a period of up to two years. Some examples of what decision-makers are looking for are community programs, early detection clinics, and digital tools. Delivery partners must be able to act as an implementation site for the project and be based in Alberta, among other eligibility requirements.

Proposals must answer one of two challenges. The first is centred on getting ahead of health consequences before they reach the management stage: "How might we enable earlier, equitable detection and risk stratification … so that Albertans have better health outcomes?". The second asks, "How might we make it easier for Albertans to access practical, culturally relevant prevention supports that help reduce everyday barriers to cardiometabolic health?"