Mitacs collaborates with research partners to investigate innovative therapies

Submitted by megan on Tue, 06/19/2012 - 14:43
Success Story
19 Jun, 2012

 

Intersection 2012 looked at using digital media to help children with brain disorders.

As a firm believer in connecting groundbreaking research to industry applications, Mitacs recently collaborated with research partners NeuroDevNet and GRAND, as well as CanAssist, on Intersection 2012: Advancing Digital and Assistive Technologies for the Brain and Body at the University of Victoria. The conference, which took place May 15th and 16th, brought together key academic, non-profit, industry and health organizations to discuss therapeutic methods and best-practices in support of children with neurological developmental disabilities.

Every year, thousands of Canadian children are diagnosed with, or treated for, brain disorders such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and cerebral palsy. As a national scientific research network, NeuroDevNet has dedicated its mission towards finding the root causes of these disorders. 

GRAND (Graphics, Animation and New media), also a national research network, combines a multidisciplinary approach to research in order to find effective applications for digital media in unconventional areas such as education, healthcare and public policy.

Based out of the University of Victoria, CanAssist, is a non-profit organization which provides assistance programs and customized technologies to people with disabilities and developmental disorders with the goal of finding ways to improve their quality of life. .

The conference, organized with the assistance of Mitacs Conference Services, included discussions and workshops highlighting the advances in research for FASD therapies through digital media as well as research discoveries surrounding cerebral palsy, ASD and Attention Deficit Disorder.

However, one of the greatest benefits to come from the conference was the chance for industry organizations, such as Holland’s Grendel Games, to see how their technologies can be used for health care applications.

Mitacs looks forward to continuing to build these connections between our research partners and wishes NeuroDevNet, GRAND and CanAssist the greatest of success in their future collaborations.



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