Health Innovation Roundup

Headlines

• Many people experience "sleep shame", Atul Khullar of MedSleep said on CBC's Edmonton AM. He noted people conflate sleep habits with strength and productivity despite evidence to the contrary. "(There's) sort of a Puritan work ethic that we have in North America, that you get up early, go to bed early, get everything done, and even compromise your sleep." Khullar said. Meanwhile, University of Alberta political theorist Cressida Heyes argues that "sleep is the new sex," in her research and podcast, which she'll discuss at a sold-out show on March 29.
• Among the projects to receive funding from a $20-million federal investment in genomics and biotech are a joint project between the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary aimed at improving treatment decisions in thyroid cancer, as well as a U of A project that aims to measure chemical exposures through blood tests.
• Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation has launched a newsletter called Innovation Translated, designed to help the life sciences community navigate the journey from lab discovery to market. The first edition explores how medical devices are classified in Canada.
• Covenant Foundation donors have funded a state-of-the-art colposcope at the Covenant Community Health Centre in south Edmonton, improving early detection of pre-cancerous cervical cells and expanding access to colposcopy for women in the community.
• ARTARx, a pharmacy owned by the Alberta Retired Teachers Association, has built a model of personalized, proactive pharmacy care that serves more than 3,700 clients, many of whom are retired teachers, Folio wrote. Several staff members are University of Alberta pharmacy graduates. The pharmacy is expanding to Calgary this year.
• The CroneCast explored the unexpected lessons of dementia caregiving through a candid conversation between host Trudy Callaghan and guest Helen Metella of Storybooks for Seniors about their experiences caring for mothers with dementia. Metella, whose book Marika and the Auction is to be published in April, urged caregivers to "give yourself grace."
• Personal trainer Nicole Lark of Breathe Fitness discussed how to maintain bone health through aging on CBC's Edmonton AM, noting that bone density loss often goes undetected until a fracture occurs. "Are you getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet?" Lark asked. "That's going to help the rebuild of the bone. Other factors like alcohol, smoking, even high amounts of caffeine, they can actually reduce our bone mineral density."
• Grade 3 and 4 students at Wîhkwêntôwin School have created hospital room designs for the future standalone Stollery Children's Hospital, as part of a collaboration with the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation. The students focused on bright colours, nature, and child-friendly environments.
• Applications are open until March 30 for Startup TNT's spring investment summit in Edmonton. Selected companies will be announced on April 7, before pitching on April 16.
• Edmonton Unlimited is hosting an information session on March 24 for its Student Founders summer program at the eHUB Entrepreneurship Centre. The program offers weekly workshops, coaching, and a demo day.
• The University of Alberta's Alberta School of Business and the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business have partnered with Creative Destruction Lab - Rockies to give MBA students the opportunity to work directly with startup founders. Applications for the course are open until April 2.
• BioAlberta is accepting nominations for its annual achievement awards until May 15.

Social innovation

• Unbreakable Sisterhood is raising funds for a dedicated hub where Muslim girls and women can connect through social, recreational, and wellness programs. "It's a very diverse type of community," co-founder Siciida Sabrin Ibrahim told CBC Edmonton's Radio Active. "Programs range all the way from Islamic classes and reminders to events about social justice."
• A new report by the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters highlighted how rural survivors of domestic violence face significant transportation barriers when attempting to flee abuse and access essential services. The report, "A Ride Can Save a Life," details how a lack of safe, affordable, and reliable transport forces some to remain in abusive relationships. The ACWS previously distributed $114,000 to 22 rural shelters, providing transportation assistance to 3,430 Albertans, during a 14-month pilot that wrapped in 2025.
• The Settle Down podcast, co-hosted by Shani Gwin of pipikwan pêhtâkwan and wâsikan kisewâtisiwin, explored Indigenous-led AI and how Indigenous women are shaping the technology, from moderating online racism to protecting cultural data and languages. The conversation continued in Episode 6, asking "Can AI ever strengthen our relationship to the land — or is it replacing it?"

More health news

• The Alberta government is spending $7.5 million to create about 100 secure beds in hospitals under the Compassionate Intervention Act, a program that allows for involuntary medical treatment for substance use. The sum is split between five existing sites, including Alberta Hospital Edmonton, ahead of dedicated facilities opening in 2030. Critics told the Investigative Journalism Foundation that the plan will strain already-overcrowded hospitals, with a physician warning that hospitals regularly exceed 100% capacity and secure psychiatric beds are already in short supply.
• The Alberta government plans to close Edmonton's two remaining supervised drug consumption sites at the George Spady Society and Radius Community Health and Healing, along with one at Grande Prairie's Wapiti House. Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis announced on March 20 that sites in Calgary and Lethbridge would also close. Mental Health and Addiction Minister Rick Wilson said that Edmonton's closures are "not in the immediate future" and depend on establishing more recovery communities.
• Alberta's proposed Bill 18 would restrict medical assistance in dying eligibility to those whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable within 12 months, drawing a mix of opposition and support. Disability advocacy group Inclusion Alberta argued that the current MAID access is "unequal and discriminatory" for people with disabilities, while family members of those who have used MAID worry the changes would deny patient autonomy. An analyst on CTV's Alberta Primetime argued the province should focus on improving health care delivery rather than restricting access to MAID.
• Former Alberta Health Services surgery program officer Stacey Litvinchuk argues in an Edmonton Journal opinion piece that Alberta's $34.4-billion healthcare budget prioritizes non-urgent surgical volumes while neglecting critical care, and that an estimated $225 million in waste has undermined the system's capacity to improve patient outcomes.
• Orthopedic surgeons are warning of widespread surgery cancellations in the coming weeks, as stipend contracts for surgical hospitalists expire on April 1. Without hospitalists to manage post-operative care, inpatient orthopedic services at some hospitals could cease.
• RCMP officers executed multiple search warrants at the west Edmonton offices of MHCare Medical and Carver PA Corporation, CBC News reported. The searches come amid an ongoing investigation, which began in February 2025, into alleged contracting irregularities at Alberta Health Services. Businessman Sam Mraiche controls the companies at the centre of probes by the RCMP, Alberta's auditor general, and a retired judge concerning contracts for personal protective equipment, children's medication, and private surgeries.
• A retired judge's addendum report on contracting at Alberta Health Services found the agency paid $42 million for children's medication that was never delivered, and that a renegotiated contract cost $7 million more without forensic accountants being able to justify the increase. AHS officials also say $49 million is still owed to Alberta taxpayers from the company at the centre of the contracting scandal.
• The City of Edmonton and the Canadian Red Cross are offering free Get Ready in the Neighbourhood workshops through October to equip residents with emergency preparedness skills. The workshops focus on creating family emergency plans, preparing emergency kits, and strengthening local support networks. Spring workshops are scheduled for March 26 at YWCA Edmonton Cushing House and April 9 at Meadows Community Recreation Centre.

Happenings

Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:

• March 26: UofA Entrepreneurial Law Clinic Pop-Up: Free Student Legal Support starting at 12pm at Edmonton Research Park
• March 26: Why Entrepreneurs Stay Stuck (And How to Move Forward) starting at 12pm online
• March 26: Between Us: An Interactive Talk on Pelvic Physiotherapy Management for Endometriosis starting at 7pm online
• March 29: Fit For Tech starting at 9:45am at Black Tusk Athletics
• March 30: Community Sound Healing & Meditation Event starting at 6pm at Delwood Community Hall
• March 31: SR&ED for Startups starting at 10am online
• March 31: Intellectual Property for Startups starting at 5pm at University of Alberta ICE Engineering Incubator

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• April 3-4: Canada International Health & Medical Expo at Evario Events Centre
• April 15-16: Alberta Health & Safety Conference at Edmonton Convention Centre
• April 25: Women's Heath Symposium at Holiday Inn Conference Centre Edmonton South by IHG

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.