Transforming discoveries into real applications for patients can take years of development, refinement, validation and testing.
While UHN's research and clinical investigators have long been at the forefront of global discoveries, securing funding for early, pre-clinical research can often be challenging due to the high risks and high costs of this phase.
This creates a funding gap that can delay the scaling of promising technologies via commercialization.
UHN Foundation and The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation are addressing this gap through the creation of the
Accelerator Fund, a philanthropic fund exclusively supporting commercialization efforts at UHN, helping promising innovations from within UHN and its ecosystem reach patients faster and maximizing their commercial potential.
Creating a catalyst for commercial potential
Buoyed by philanthropy and substantial investment from partnerships, the process of commercialization takes health care innovations derived from research breakthroughs and brings them to market in the form of new medical products, devices or therapies.
UHN Commercialization has helped change the trajectory of patient care by providing support to companies such as Adela, which is facilitating the development of cutting-edge early cancer detection technology, and BlueRock Therapeutics, currently pioneering innovative stem cell therapies.
From these and other commercial successes, UHN Commercialization has helped generate nearly $111 million in licensing revenue since 2018, with a substantial portion being re-invested back into UHN research that will lead to even more breakthroughs in patient care.
Philanthropy's transformative effect
The new
Accelerator Fund will address the commercialization funding gap by allowing UHN to not only discern the most promising commercial opportunities but also provide these projects with quick, critical funding to advance early-stage scientific research and maximize impact on patient care.
Dr. Brad Wouters, Executive Vice President of Science and Research at UHN, emphasizes the
Accelerator Fund's strategic focus on fostering collaboration and accelerating the commercialization of research. He envisions it as a catalyst for transforming bold ideas into tangible solutions that have a meaningful impact on health care delivery.
"Through the
Accelerator Fund we support early-stage projects, providing funding, mentorship and access to essential resources," says Dr. Wouters. "This support enables researchers and innovators to de-risk their discoveries, attract investment, and ultimately, bring life-changing therapies to those in need.
"Without this support, these new drugs and treatments might never leave the lab."
The
Accelerator Fund is a critical resource for advancing patient care in Canada and around the world, fuelling leading-edge projects across UHN to change the lives of patients everywhere.
For more information, please contact
shannon.carkner@uhn.ca or
shannon.stuart@thepmcf.ca
