Get involved, Medical competition

The Medical Innovators' Challenge 2025

The 4th edition of our medical competition – to be held in Spring 2025 – will offer teams’ a chance to compete for $600,000 in awards to fund healthcare innovations that address critical challenges the healthcare sector is facing.

2025 Awards

The Award for Healthcare Innovation      $500,000

The Award for Community Impact            $100,000

Winning initiatives will demonstrate innovative impact in at least one of the following impact areas identified by the Foundation: patient experience, access, flow and/or community-based health care.

Please note that applications are now closed. 

A look back at impactful past projects

2021

  • First 3-D Imaging Center in Atlantic Canada and first hospital in Canada to adopt AI solutions allowing clinicians to create a virtual copy of their patient's anatomy to plan and practice surgery

2018

  • First-in-Canada Nobel Prize winning super resolution microscope, kick-starting a first-of-its-kind multimillion-dollar research program

2017

  • An extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device, also known as cardiac bypass in a box, launching a study to show improved survival rates for cardiac arrest patients in the Emergency Department

Additional projects identified & funded thanks to medical innovators:

  • Canada’s first ever fluoroscopic navigation bronchoscopy helping reduce risks and improving care for lung cancer patients
  • Purchased the gold standard in drug testing improving speed and accuracy of drug detection enabling clinicians to incorporate results more quickly into effective clinical decision-making
  • First-of-its-kind Minimally Invasive Sinus Surgery program

From past participants

“I am thrilled to share the remarkable progress and success of the Imaging Enhancement Centre (IEC) in Medical Imaging at the SJRH, which has witnessed an unprecedented response from healthcare professionals, patients, and stakeholders since its recent rollout.

Our visionary initiative to integrate cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented reality (AR)applications has proven to be a game-changer, elevating the standards of patient care, and revolutionizing the field of medical imaging and pre-surgical planning.

-Zack Kilburn, Interim Vice President Professional Services

“Being part of the Lion’s Den Competition was one of the most exciting and enjoyable things I’ve done so far in my career.

I would definitely encourage anyone who is interested in something like this to apply!

Throughout the competition, we had the full support of the SJRH Foundation, who guided us step-by-step through the entire process. Taking part in something like this was initially outside of my comfort zone, and certainly different than my typical day-to-day tasks. The Foundation made it easy though to jump in with both feet! We were immensely pleased and proud of the final pitch video.

It was a great opportunity to highlight the need for better laboratory testing for those with substance use disorder and allowed us to bring awareness of this need to a far greater audience than we could have reached on our own.”

-Dr. Jennifer Shea, 2021

Impact by the numbers

generous investors

projects funded

events

$
M

granted