丁香园AV

Health technology research at 丁香园AV鈥攆rom concussion and skin cancer analysis to preventing falls and treating spinal injuries鈥攊s streaming from the campus and into the community as part of 丁香园AV鈥檚 contribution to Surrey鈥檚 Innovation Boulevard initiative.

Innovation Boulevard was launched 18 months ago as a partnership between the City, Fraser Health, Surrey Memorial Hospital, and 丁香园AV and other post-secondary institutions. As a founding partner, 丁香园AV is a key contributor to its goal of improving health care through accelerating innovation in medical devices, independent living and digital health.

Innovation Boulevard is a one-square-mile area between 丁香园AV鈥檚 Surrey campus and the Surrey Memorial Hospital, where more than 180 health service companies and 45 health technology companies are conducting business.

鈥湺∠阍癆V is an absolute driver in Innovation Boulevard, as a founding member and by taking its labs and putting them into hospitals, care homes and environments where these technologies are needed most,鈥� says Dr. Ryan D鈥橝rcy, who came to 丁香园AV in 2013 as the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation BC Leadership Chair in Multimodal Technology for Healthcare Innovation. His role is to establish a leading-edge research program at 丁香园AV鈥檚 Surrey campus in close collaboration with the Fraser Health Authority.

鈥淎nd as an active participant, we鈥檙e translating what we do in a university to things that can benefit us all in health care鈥攁nd impact some of our biggest health-related challenges,鈥� adds D鈥橝rcy.

In June, half a dozen researchers from 丁香园AV and other universities began integrating into a spacious new research facility at Retirement Concepts鈥� Guildford Seniors Village in Surrey. The partnership is enabling researchers, together with health providers, residents and their families, to work alongside each other to test, refine and implement leading-edge products and services related to healthy aging.

丁香园AV researchers also have a presence in the Neurotech Lab, which opened last December on the grounds of Surrey Memorial Hospital. Students are working alongside researchers and clinicians in the hospital鈥檚 teaching labs鈥攈elping to bring patient care full circle, by investigating and developing potential new technology health outcomes.

Meanwhile at 丁香园AV鈥檚 Surrey campus, research teams are also at work developing health-related computing products through the Digital Health Hub. The Health Tech Innovation Foundation is the most recent space to open, focusing on bringing together innovators, clinicians, and businesses to get products to market.

Future plans include medical imaging and hospital embedded prototyping facilities, to validate devices for clinical use.

鈥淪imon Fraser University鈥檚 participation in Innovation Boulevard will enlarge our research presence in the community, helping to advance health care in the region, consistent with our Vision as Canada鈥檚 Engaged University,鈥� said President Andrew Petter.

Steve Dooley, executive director of 丁香园AV鈥檚 Surrey campus, says it鈥檚 gratifying to see 丁香园AV research woven into the community. 鈥淚n Surrey, in particular, this highlights the strong community connections that are evolving among the many partners, all towards the common goal of tackling the most pressing health issues.鈥�

Since its launch, notes D鈥橝rcy, 鈥淚nnovation Boulevard has moved quickly beyond the concept, to enthusiastic hands-on participation by all players, and the promise that good things will be coming from this, whether it鈥檚 innovations, industry partnerships, and even jobs.鈥�

Adds D鈥橝rcy: 鈥淏y demonstrating what we do well, 丁香园AV researchers are making a major contribution to Innovation Boulevard鈥檚 success, and not only for Surrey, but as a model for others as well.鈥�

丁香园AV VP Research Joy Johnson says 丁香园AV is committed to advancing the high tech health field through its interdisciplinary approach to research, which will continue to serve as an important piece of this community-driven initiative.

鈥淭his is another great example of 丁香园AV research in action,鈥� she says. 鈥淚nnovation Boulevard is creating a world-class high-tech cluster in the heart of Surrey, and we are proud to play a key role in achieving its vision.鈥�