35 Research Teams Find Market Need through Dalhousie University’s Lab2Market Cohort
Lab2Market Atlantic and Lab2Market Health aim to address the growing academic demand for commercialization and research training
HALIFAX, NS (February 6, 2023) – Dalhousie University (Dalhousie) is kicking off two iterations of the Lab2Market program, an Atlantic cohort, and a national Health cohort, with graduate students, postdocs and faculty focused on science and deep tech exploring the commercial potential of their ideas. In total, 35 teams representing six universities in Atlantic Canada, and 15 universities across Canada will participate in Dalhousie’s Lab2Market programs.
Every year, Canada invests more than $700M+ in applied research from coast to coast, with only a handful of ideas reaching the market. The Lab2Market program aims to change that by providing training and support to students and faculty looking to commercialize research emerging from Canadian universities.
Today’s announcement highlights the inaugural launch of Dalhousie running two cohorts of the program simultaneously, driven by an upswing of academic demand. Dalhousie’s Lab2Market offerings are part of a national programming expansion, with universities across Canada delivering more opportunities to unleash the market potential of the country’s leading research. In addition to Dalhousie’s Atlantic and Health cohorts, Concordia is leading the first French language program in Quebec and Toronto Metropolitan University and University of New Brunswick are leading a national Cybersecurity program.
In just three short years since Lab2Market was founded, over 315 teams have graduated from cohorts across Canada, with more than 30 companies started and over $50 million in equity value created. Dalhousie’s program has graduated 66 teams, with 9 companies started and $11.5 million in equity value created.
“Lab2Market is an engine for entrepreneurial thinking and doing at Dalhousie,” said Dr. Alice Aiken, Vice President, Research and Innovation. “The program is empowering researchers across the Atlantic region and around the country to identify markets for their ideas that have the potential to improve lives.”
These 16-week programs will support the teams to validate their ideas through customer discovery by identifying a problem with commercial value that they can solve. Participants will be provided with hands-on support, access to mentorship, a tailored curriculum, and the opportunity to receive $15,000.00 in funding. Each research team includes three participants: the graduate student or post-doctoral fellow, the applicant’s supervisor or primary investigator, and an industry mentor from a related business sector.
Crystal Sweeney, who is an upcoming program participant with Lab2Market Atlantic joined the program after first exploring her idea through Lab2Market Discover (previously known as Scientist2Entrepreneur).
“I was thrilled to learn that each participant in the Lab2Market cohort is provided with ample support from a stacked team of entrepreneurial mentors,” said Sweeney. “Without a doubt, my participation in this program will be paramount to the success of my startup. I can’t imagine embarking on this journey without the guidance and knowledge I’m receiving from this experience.”
Dalhousie’s Lab2Market cohorts are made possible with support from the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Mitacs, Springboard Atlantic, and I-INC through the Future Skills Centre.
Lab2Market is one of a suite of offerings from Dal Innovates that teaches innovation and entrepreneurial skills and attitudes in students. Teams can go on to participate in the Lab2Market Launch accelerator (formerly known as Ready2Launch), which is an intensive three-month pre-accelerator to help teams advance and spin-out new start-ups.
Interested future applicants and mentors can find more information at lab2market.ca.
Meet the teams:
National Lab2Market Health Cohort
Technology | University | Team |
The Flow-Through Uroflow brings diagnostic urine flow testing to any regular toilet, making monitoring and improving your bladder health easier than ever before. | University of Toronto | Dr Alexander Koven Dr. Monica Farcas |
Development of a non-viral gene delivery platform to accomplish a safe treatment option for Breast Cancer. | University of Alberta | Dr. Daniel Nisakar Meenakshi Sundaram Dr. Hasan Uludag |
The creation of sub-classes of nucleoside derivatives to treat various cancers. | Brock University | Emili Rimar Costa Metallinos |
A sensor for quantification of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD IgG Antibody and SARS-CoV-2 Virus. | University of Alberta | Faisal Hossain Dr. Michael J Serpe |
Practical applications based on brain-computer interface technology. | National Polytechnic Institute | Hamidreza Maymandi Dr. Aaron Newman |
Providing easy access to daily at-home health screenings using affordable Near Infrared (NIR) imagers based on nanomaterials. | University of Alberta | Jiangwen Zhang Dr. Xihua Wang |
Pathology and disease diagnosis using artificial intelligence and machine learning. | University of Manitoba | John Lewis Dr. Young-Jin Cha |
Development of a risk reducing device used in endoscopic procedures that also acts as a sensor and drug delivery vehicle. | University of Manitoba | Maryam Khorshidikia Dr. Malcolm Xing |
A chitosan-based fragrance formulation that results in sustained scent release. | McGill University | Mingrui Guo Dr. Marta Cerruti |
Smart prosthetic liner for health monitoring of lower limb amputees. | University of Toronto | M. Amin Jamshidi Dr. Fae Azhari |
Developing a co-care system driven by the mutual needs of people living with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers. | Western University | Dr. Parisa Daemi Dr. Ana Luisa Trejos |
Nanofacile offers biotech and researchers an easy-to-use kit with everything to encapsulate their molecules into lipid-based nanoparticles without the use of specialized equipment. | McGill University | Dr. Ruben Rodrigo Lopez Salazar Dr. Julia V. Burnier |
A new method to deliver cell AKT1 protein to cells that do not require the use of costly transfection reagents and provide reliable results from cell-based assay. | Western University | Tarana Siddika Dr. Ilka Heinemann Dr. Patrick O'Donoghue |
Printed medical temporary tattoo electrodes used for biophysical signal acquisition in long-term healthcare settings. | York University | Yoland El-hajj Dr. Gerd Grau |
Development in the fabrication of oxide nanowires which are used in biosensors. | University of Manitoba | Zhina Razaghi Guozhen Zhu |
Lab2Market Atlantic Cohort
Technology | University | Team |
Exploring the unique health opportunities associated with canola oil produced in boreal climates compared to other vegetable cooking oils. | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Western University | Albert Adu Sey Dr. Raymond Thomas |
An odour-based trap to capture Varroa destructor mites in domestic Western honeybee hives as an alternative to synthetic miticides beekeepers currently use. | Acadia University | Alicja Marie Muir Dr. Kirk Hiller and Dr. Dave Shutler |
A natural acaricide based on balsam fir that kills overwintering ticks in Canada and similar climates. | Dalhousie University | Amal El Nabbout Dr. Shelley Adamo |
A viable high-efficient micro-scaled cooling system. | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Dr. Amin Etminan Yuri S. Muzychka |
Mitro- A one-stop platform that helps fight against intimate domestic abuse. | Dalhousie University | Anik Ahmed Dr. Jenny Baechler |
Building understanding of how we interact with AIs for a world where human-AI teams are the norm. | Dalhousie University | Christopher Holland Dr. Heather Neyedli |
Sweating the small stuff: a simple, rapid, and effective self-test for the biomonitoring of fireground carcinogens in the sweat of firefighters. | Dalhousie University | Crystal Sweeney Dr. John Frampton |
A technology to help teachers identify and support the needs of diverse learners in inclusive classrooms. | University of Prince Edward Island | Diane Montgomery Dr. Kathy Snow |
A social platform that enables individuals to securely send and receive international payments in various currencies. | Dalhousie University | Jafar Pashami Dr. Colin Conrad |
A terpene standard mixture for the comprehensive assessment of edible and essential oils. | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Western University | Le Anh Minh Nguyen Dr. Raymond Thomas |
A solution to address the problems associated with ROS detection. | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Maryam Faghih Abdollahi Dr. Yuming Zhao |
Technique development, design, and implementation of a system to optimize the efficiency of ocean tidal turbines. | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Mohmmadjavad Abedinilaksar Dr. James Yang |
Exploring how life and matter function on a structural level. | University of Prince Edward Island | Nauman Nazeer Dr. Marya Ahmed |
An assay that will effectively assess the health of honeybee hives and help detect early infections. | Université de Moncton | Pascale Michaud Dr. Gilles Robichaud |
A framework to mine and fuse productivity metrics with code quality information in software projects | Dalhousie University | Qurram Zaheer Syed Dr. Tushar Sharma |
Efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen as a green source of energy via liquid organic hydrogen carriers using two-dimensional catalysts. | University of British Columbia | Samira Shirvani Kevin J. Smith |
“Biolabmate” was designed on the principle of creating a biodegradable lab product for university laboratories and private research centers. | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Sanjay Dubey Dr. Sarika Kumari Dr. Lesley James |
A next generation green lithium-ion battery to support Canada’s 2030 clean energy transition. | St. Francis Xavier University | Srinivas Mukund Vadrev Dr. James Hughes |
Enzymatic technology derived from microbes to biodegrade and recycle petroleum and biobased plastics. | University of Prince Edward Island | Stacey Goldberg Dr. Russell Kerr |
A new micro aerial vehicle with shape morphing wings for wildlife research and monitoring | Memorial University of Newfoundland | Tingting Sui Dr. Ting Zou |
About Lab2Market:
Lab2Market is a national suite of programs that gives academic research teams the practical skills to spark their passion for entrepreneurship, validate their ideas, and successfully launch innovative new businesses. Funded by the Government of Canada, Mitacs, NSERC, and the Ocean Startup Project, the program is based on the immersive, entrepreneurial I-Corps training program in the United States, and the leading ICURe accelerator program in the United Kingdom.
Learn more at www.lab2market.ca.
About Dalhousie University:
Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of the university’s 20,000-plus students coming from outside the province. Dal’s 6,000 faculty and staff foster a diverse, purpose-driven community, one that spans 13 faculties and conducts more than $200 million in research annually. Part of a cluster identified as one of the world’s top international centres in ocean research, the university proudly celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2018.
Learn more at www.dal.ca.
About I-INC:
The Incubate Innovate Network of Canada (I-INC) is a pan-Canadian, internationally connected network of high-performance university-linked accelerators and incubators. I-INC creates an ecosystem for the efficient commercialization of university-based and science and technology-enabled innovation. Founded in 2014, the network has expanded to include 13 universities across Canada.
Learn more at www.iincanada.ca.
Media contact:
Emily Neil
Project Manager
Dal Innovates | Dalhousie University
902-300-0022
emily.neil@dal.ca
