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"The United States spends more on health care-related research and development than any other country. In 2003, it was estimated that the Federal government alone spent over $26 billion. Pharmaceutical companies, device manufacturers and other private companies invested over $10 billion more. At its best, the American health care system is capable of delivering care unsurpassed anywhere else in the world. Yet, a 1999 Institute of Medicine study estimated that as many as 98,000 Americans die each year from hospital related medical errors. A recent study by the Rand Corporation (a non-profit think tank) concluded that less than 50 percent of encounters with doctors and hospitals resulted in optimal, evidence-based treatment. Studies show that as many as 42 million Americans - almost 15 percent of the population - lack health care insurance. Surveys reveal that patients do not feel they have adequate information about their conditions, and that their experience with health care ranks below that of most other sectors, in fact below that of the post office. In the aggregate, the country is spending nearly $2 trillion on health care, and yet the nation's health care system does not meet acceptable thresholds for safety, quality, access or cost. In 2005, VHA Health Foundation's board of directors sought to better understand the reasons behind this paradox. The foundation commissioned Larry Keeley and his associates at Doblin Inc. to apply the rigorous analytical methods that are used in their evaluation of other American industries and companies. The project set out to discover when, where and how innovation was taking place in health care. It also sought to identify organizations that were developing model innovation processes, and to explore where opportunities for successful innovation might lay."

As stated in MaRS Press release "IDC Canada has featured MaRS client Mensante as one of its "Ten Canadian Health Companies to Watch" in 2009. Leading international psychiatrists, family physicians, psychologists, work place mental health experts and mental health economists developed an innovative web-based mental healthcare system called FeelingBetterNow(R).The College of Family Physicians of Canada has reviewed and approved FeelingBetterNow(R) as a practice management tool available to assist family physicians in patient care. The Ontario Medical Association approved the program for its members' personal use."

Seniors are staying healthier and living longer. Dr. Jane Barratt, secretary general of the International Federation on Aging, believes only one in seven seniors needs to live in a long-term care facility. Even some quite frail elderly people can and should remain independent in their homes. A conference Tuesday and Wednesday at the MaRS Centre in Toronto explored the business of aging and looked at public policy solutions to issues such as brain health, health care and pensions. Dec 4, 2009

Dr John Semple helped to created an app that is being in the healthcare industry in Canada for diagnoses. Peter Adams, senior health-care IT adviser, MaRS Discovery District, describs "Dr. Semple's app as the "tip of the iceberg," ... technology and others like it are capable of saving the health-care system millions in unnecessary hospital readmissions, needless suffering and potential deaths."

The Ivey Centre for Health Innovation and Leadership was launched in 2009. The goal of this initiative is to bring students together together with experts from the science and business sectors, with the ultimate goal of better identifying and commercializing health technologies.Dr. Kellie Leitch, a Hospital for Sick Children orthopedic surgeon, is the first executive director of the centre, which is based at Western. Sept 10, 2009

Canada's aging population is about to drive medical costs sky high. The The Business of Aging event happening at the MaRS Centre on Dec 1 & 2, 2009. This event will explore the business of aging and look at public policy solutions to issues such as brain health, health care and pensions. Nov 29, 2009

WSIC's Mental Health Forum is reviewing how we deal with mental illness and about the state of Canada's mental health care. WSIC's April event will focus on Innovation and Technology. Dr. Ilse Treurnicht, CEO, MaRS Discovery District will be speaking at the event.

"The Graham Boeckh Foundation will be hosting its' first symposium, The Next Frontier in Mental Health: From Research to Patients, to discuss and provide insights on the translation of research into improved patient care and how we can move forward towards greatly improving community mental health practice in this country." The event will be held at the MaRS Centre on April 24, 2012.

Are you working to solve a health-related issue? Apply to join Rock Health, a group of dedicated individuals working to catalyze innovation in the interactive health space, and become one of the first start-ups to access the community of experts and seed-accelerator program.

The Ontario Innovation Summit: The Business of Aging - Dec. 1-2, 2009 - will feature some of the world's top experts on the many issues that the aging of the global population poses for communities, governments, academic and health-care institutions, and businesses. The Summit's audience of technology, health care and business leaders will explore the profound public policy challenges as well as the growing opportunities associated with the aging demographic phenomenon. The Summit's Science & Technology Showcase will give organizations a unique opportunity for exposure to this influential audience. Nov 10, 2009

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) publishes yearly reports on Canadians' research dollars at work. In addition to reporting on specific health care 'research successes' and developments, the site links to regional profiles (Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, The Prairies, and British Columbia). The 2006-2007 editions are now up.\n\nCIHR's 2-page Commercialization report (PDF) for 2006-2007 reveals Canada's Innovation Index for the year as well as the country's shift towards investing in new companies and capacities. CIHR's commercialization strategy includes research, talent, capital, and linkages.

MaRS Innovation (a sister company of MaRS Discovery District) brokers a deal between scientists at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Sanofi-Pasteur Canada. The product helps wounds heal more quickly -- potentially benefiting diabetics whose wounds tend to reopen. It's an example of how commercialization of medical technologies is moving from lab to real health outcomes.

Dr. Patricia Lobo, Editor of PMPS reports on the significant development in the health care in Ontario.

Dr. Patricia Lobo, Editor of PMPS reports on the significant development in the health care in Ontario. Spring 2002

Robert Lawton Burns focuses on the key role of the 'producers' as the main source of innovation in this wide-ranging analysis of business trends in the manufacturing branch of the health care industry. Written by industry academics and executives, the book provides a detailed overview of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, genomics/proteomics, medical device and information technology sectors. Most importantly, it describes the growing convergence between these sectors and the need for executives in one sector to increasingly draw upon trends in the others.

Harper committed the cancer funding, starting April 1 2012, while visiting Toronto's MaRS Discovery District. The funding announced today will help doctors detect cancer sooner and give health care workers, support groups and survivors the help they need to fight back against cancer. The funding builds on the program's progress on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and hope, on a path to a cure.

"Jack Stewart a biotechnology entrepreneur, is about to start a human trial for a drug developed from a compound found in shrew spit that could treat ovarian, breast and prostate cancers without many of the side effects of chemotherapy." Veronika Litinski, a Senior Advisor at MaRS in the Life Science and Health care practice says it is difficult to run trials with a clear robust criteria.

John Goddard, Business Reporter from The Star states "A tax introduced with U.S. health care reforms helps boost Toronto's attractiveness to U.S. medical device manufacturers, says a consultant's report to be released this week.""Toronto's MaRs Centre represents Canada's largest bioscience research cluster, anchored by Sunnybrook Health Research Centre, York University Life Sciences Centre, the University of Toronto and more than two dozen affiliated research institutes."

Canada's lead federal funding agency for health research, this website collects funding news and developments from all over Canada, including: * Funding opportunities * How to apply for funding * Funding enquiries

Canada's lead federal funding agency for health research, this website collects funding news and developments from all over Canada, including:\n\n * Funding opportunities\n * How to apply for funding\n * Funding enquiries

Media advisory that Dr. Williams Ontarios Chief Medical Officer of Health will be providing an update regarding H1N1 flu virus.

A pair of Toronto scientists has developed a unique technology that combines contrast agents with targeted, long-lasting nano-particles for use in multiple medical imaging platforms. MaRS Innovation (MI) and the University Health Network (UHN) have now entered into an agreement to collaboratively commercialize this promising technology. Nov 20, 2009