AHFMR News
New Initiatives to Assist Alberta Innovators
(Edmonton, AB) Monday, June 19, 2006... The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) is pleased to announce the expansion of its technology commercialization program, now called ForeFront. This expansion responds to needs expressed by the health and medical research community to help fill the gaps in the innovation chain in Alberta. New initiatives will focus on capitalizing on the investment in health research, developing a successful health industry, and creating careers for highly skilled and educated Albertans.
The Alberta Government has defined innovation as a priority area and the ForeFront program is a direct answer to issues many innovators face. Linda Humphreys, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Commercialization, says, "AHFMR is committed to growing Alberta's health industry, and the new initiatives within the ForeFront program will assist innovators both now and into the future."
Mr. Henry Kay, Vice President of New Market Development at Boston Scientific Corporation, a $29 billion market cap company, and the leader of manufacturing and marketing medical devices will speak about how ForeFront and these new initiatives are addressing Alberta's needs.
Edmonton
| What: | Media opportunity: for the ForeFront Launch and interview Mr. Henry Kay, VP New Market Development, Boston Scientific Corp., guest speaker | |
| When: | Monday June 19, 2006 | |
| Time: | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (lunch provided) | |
| Where: | University of Alberta - Telus Centre - 111 St. & 87 Ave. |
Calgary
| What: | Media opportunity: for the ForeFront Launch and interview Mr. Henry Kay, VP New Market Development, Boston Scientific Corporation, guest speaker | |
| When: | Tuesday June 20, 2006 | |
| Time: | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (lunch provided) | |
| Where: | Heritage Medical Research Bldg - Libin Theatre 3330 Hospital Dr. NW. |
For more information call Dwayne Brunner, AHFMR Communications and Media Coordinator at (780) 423-5727
Backgrounder
Since 1985, AHFMR has supported over 280 people and projects for over $23 million.
The ForeFront program consists of one-on-one consultations between innovators and experts to help innovators understand and successfully develop products and business. Additionally, ForeFront's team of advisors will provide technical, business, marketing, and entrepreneurial input for promising projects. The program will also develop and provide highly focused workshops and case studies on business and entrepreneurship. Up to $685,000 in funding is available to researchers and innovators wishing to explore pre-commercialization opportunities.
In addition to assisting innovators, the ForeFront program will provide career development internship for recent graduates wishing to pursue real world, practical, paid training within Alberta's biotechnology industry.
Four new initiatives: Executive-in-Residence award, Senior Recruitment Health Industry Award, Industrial Researcher Award, and the Masters in Biomedical Technology/MBA Studentship awards will reinforce AHFMR's commitment to supporting people who are translating knowledge into products that lead to improved health.
Career Development:
- Internship Program
- MBT/MBA Studentship Awards
Industry Development:
- Executive-in-Residence Award
- Senior Recruitment Health Industry Award
- Industrial Researcher Award
Technology Development:
- Three phases of project funding
- Mentorship
- Education
The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) currently provides funding for over 600 researchers and researchers in training at the province's three main universities. AHFMR's commitment is to fund health research based on international standards of excellence and carried out by new and established investigators and researchers in training. Total AHFMR funding for more than a quarter of a century is in excess of $850 million. For more information, visit www.ahfmr.ab.ca.