Health Arena advances oncology innovations with $250,000 in Philanthropic Funding
A collaboration between the Institut du cancer de Montréal (Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal), the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute), and the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, Arène Santé is a competition that connects Montreal’s leading oncology researchers with the investment and philanthropy communities.
Source: Montreal General Hospital Foundation
At the inaugural edition of the Health Arena competition, more than $250,000 in philanthropic funding was awarded to two promising oncology projects, chosen by our esteemed jury. Among the winning initiatives were a novel prebiotic derived from an Amazonian fruit designed to enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, and an AI-powered molecular imaging platform that enables the assessment of bone cancer margins during surgery.
These breakthroughs, developed by researchers in Montreal, have the potential to transform cancer care and improve patient outcomes around the world.
Designed to showcase the work of Montreal researchers, this exciting initiative aims to accelerate the development, funding, and Designed to showcase the work of Montreal researchers, this exciting initiative aims to accelerate the development, funding, and commercialization of high-impact discoveries with the potential to improve patient outcomes. The initiative also seeks to create a sustainable innovation ecosystem for funding innovation in Montreal, by fostering meaningful collaboration across institutions, while breaking down barriers between researchers and investors.
This inaugural edition focused on oncology and culminated in a live pitch competition featuring six finalist teams selected through an open call for submissions. Held in the presence of the Honourable Senator Danièle Henkel, the inspiring event brought together leading researchers, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists.
Uniting Institutions, Researchers, and Investors
“At the MGHF, our mission is to inspire philanthropy in support of transformative initiatives that can redefine the future of healthcare. Health Arena is a powerful example of that vision in action. By bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and investors, it helps accelerate innovations that have the potential to transform cancer care and improve lives far beyond our city,” explains Brian Thompson, President and CEO, MGHF. “We are proud to support a model that connects bold ideas with the people and resources needed to bring them to life.”
“What makes Health Arena so powerful is that it builds the bridge that has so often been missing: a direct connection between our most innovative cancer research and the investors and philanthropists who can help bring it to life. And uniting the research communities of McGill and Université de Montréal makes our entire Montreal ecosystem stronger,” said Dr. Rhian Touyz, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, The Institute. “When we collaborate rather than work in silos, everyone benefits — most of all, patients.”
“Health Arena showcased the strength of Montreal’s scientific ecosystem. The six projects presented today, from McGill University and Université de Montréal, illustrate what becomes possible when institutions join forces with investors and committed partners,” expressed Naomi Huck-Ananou, CEO, Institut du cancer de Montréal. “It is precisely this collaboration that allows us to highlight and commercialize technologies developed right here in Montreal, turning scientific discoveries into concrete advances for patients.”
Congratulations to Health Arena’s Research Teams!
- The first Philanthropic Prize, valued at $150,000, was awarded to Dr. Bertand Routy’s team for a project that uses an Amazonian fruit, called camu-camu, to develop a breakthrough castalign prebiotic to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy treatments.
- The second Philanthropic Prize, valued at $100,000, was awarded to Qalam Health Solutions for the Quadrapen, a project submitted by Dr. Ahmed Aoude, orthopedic surgeon at the MUHC and investigator in the Surgical and Interventional Sciences Program at The Institute, and his team, which features an AI-enabled multimodal spectroscopy platform for intraoperative bone cancer margin assessment. It will empower surgeons by helping them make more precise decisions in the operating room.
The Institut du cancer de Montréal and the Montreal General Hospital Foundation each contributed $125,000, bringing the total philanthropic funding awarded through the inaugural edition of Health Arena to $250,000.
In addition, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt generously offered a prize of legal support for emerging organizations, valued at $5,000, awarded to MISO Chip.
The Vitruvius prize, which includes a $10,000 technological development grant for matched funding, a range of business and coaching services offered by Virtruvius valued at $5,000, and a six-month residency at the organization, went to Unlocking TIL Therapy for Solid Tumors: Biomarker-Guided Cell Selection for Rapid, Scalable Cancer Immunotherapy.
Heartfelt thanks to our jury:
- Roberto Bellini, BSQUARED Capital
- Dr. Camille Couture, Finchley Healthcare Ventures
- Dr. Clarissa Desjardins, Congruence Therapeutics
- Dr. Sheldon Elman, Esplanade Ventures
- Dr. Tarek Hijal, The Institute
- Dr. Tom Hudson, Versant Ventures
- Lloyd Segal, Aktis Oncology
With its inaugural edition, Health Arena has demonstrated the power of bringing together research, philanthropy, and investment to accelerate healthcare innovation. By helping promising discoveries move closer to real-world applications, Health Arena creates new pathways for scientific breakthroughs to improve patient lives.
Thank you to Health Arena’s partners:
CQDM, MEDTEQ+, Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Cedars Cancer Foundation and Vitruvius.
And to our generous sponsors: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP & Amplitude Ventures.