UVic's CanAssist wins big

A University of Victoria post-doctoral student’s efforts to help people with learning and memory problems related to Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive disorders have earned her a $50,000 award.

Celina Berg will also have access to office and lab space in San Francisco for up to six months at the Canadian Technology Accelerator, a startup incubator supported by the Consulate General of Canada.

The consulate partnered with Johnson & Johnson Innovation to create the “Cognition Challenge.” It asked for submissions from Canadian researchers to help deal with unmet medical needs caused by Alzheimer’s and cognitive disorders.

Berg is one of two winners chosen from 45 entries. Her submission, “CanDo: A Smart App for Cognition”, proposed a series of apps to help people with cognitive challenges do everything from mastering daily tasks to travelling independently. She has been working on the apps with CanAssist at UVic.

CanAssist develops practical, customized technologies and innovative programs to fill gaps in existing services for people across the disability spectrum. CanAssist works in close collaboration with UVic students, faculty and community partners.

The award and lab space will allow further study and also take the apps one step further into commercialization.

-- 30 --