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Discover more stories about Mitacs — and the game-changing innovations driven by students and postdocs.
Winnipeg, MB — The Honourable Renée Cable, Manitoba’s Minister of Advanced Education and Training, joined Mitacs at the R&D labs at Riverview Health Centre (RHC) to review some of the ground-breaking innovation underway in the province.
Minister Cable was joined by Research Manitoba CEO, Jennifer Cleary, Mitacs VP, Sylvain Giguère, Riverview Health Centre Foundation Interim Executive Director, Heidi Stuck, Riverview Health Centre CEO, Kathleen Klaasen, as well as Zahra Moussavi, Professor, University of Manitoba. They were accompanied by two current Mitacs-funded RHC interns, Rashmita Chatterjee and Maria Uehara, both post-doctoral students at the University of Manitoba.
Minister Cable toured facilities and got a glimpse into two Mitacs-supported projects currently underway at RHC — research to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation paired with cognitive training on executive function in dementia populations and work to design an augmented immersive virtual reality driving simulator for advanced Alzheimer’s disease patients. Both projects, unique in Canada, have the potential to transform healthcare in areas of vital importance. They illustrate the critical role Manitoba plays in game-changing innovation.
Mitacs has a long-standing partnership with RHC, working with the Centre to advance research aimed at improving elder care and the quality of life for residents in personal care homes, particularly those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
The projects showcased in Winnipeg today are just some of the essential R&D projects made possible through Mitacs’s partnership with Research Manitoba, with financial support from the Government of Manitoba. Currently, Mitacs has a three-year funding agreement with Research Manitoba, spanning from 2023-2026 and with a total value of $4.8M in funding to drive innovation, talent, and productivity across the province.
Quotes
“Through our continued partnership with Research Manitoba and the generous support of the Government of Manitoba, Mitacs is playing a critical role, nurturing the research and development advances that will share the future of health care. The work underway at Riverview Health Centre is an important example of what we can achieve when talent is supported by strategic partnerships.”
Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs
“I’ve had the honour of meeting students whose research projects are supported by Mitacs and I am inspired by the contributions they are making to building healthy communities in our province and beyond. Through our government’s investment in Research Manitoba, we are fostering the next generation of innovators who are key to making life better for all Manitobans.”
The Hon. Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training, Government of Manitoba
“Research Manitoba’s partnership with Mitacs is crucial for fostering applied research opportunities in the province. Today, we were pleased to visit Riverview Health Centre and learn more about their advancements in elder care and dementia research. We take pride in collaborating to support this vital progress for our communities.”
Jennifer Cleary, CEO, Research Manitoba
“Riverview Health Centre Foundation engages with the community to improve health care experiences for all Manitobans. In addition to supporting unique programs at Riverview Health Centre, the Foundation is also committed to supporting research and innovation. The support from Mitacs is significant because it amplifies support from donors, which accelerates advancements in medical innovation for the benefit of all.”
Heidi Stuck, Interim Executive Director, Riverview Health Centre Foundation
“Together, we are pioneering innovative, non-pharmaceutical therapies that offer new hope to those affected by dementia, paving the way for personalized treatments that improve lives and transform care for future generations.”
Dr. Zahra Moussavi, Professor, University of Manitoba
About Mitacs
As Canada’s innovation organization, Mitacs connects businesses and researchers with unrivalled access to talent, financial support, and the partnerships needed to turn ideas into impactful innovations. Through unique collaborations, Mitacs is driving productivity and positioning Canada as a global innovation leader.
Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.
Learn more at mitacs.ca
About Research Manitoba
Research Manitoba promotes, supports, and coordinates the funding of research excellence and innovation in health, natural and social sciences, engineering, and the humanities in Manitoba. Research Manitoba supports local talent development by providing research support to early career researchers and graduate students, along with fostering strategic partnerships to strengthen research and innovation in Manitoba.
Learn more at researchmanitoba.ca
