Innovation is in Waterloo's DNA.
With a progressive university intellectual property policy, Waterloo researchers retain full ownership of all their ideas and inventions. At Waterloo, those who create it, own it.
This entrepreneurial-minded approach encourages collaboration with industry and fosters an environment where new technology can move quickly from the lab to the marketplace. Whether it’s developing technology to identify lipids linked with brain injuries or creating mobile health solutions to help older adults manage their health at home, Applied Health Sciences researchers are at the forefront of pioneering new technologies to improve health and well-being for individuals, communities and populations.
A technology powerhouse for health research
Each day, subtle and simultaneous changes to our metabolic, neurologic, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems set us on a course for either health or disease later in life. In a specialized health research centre run by the Department of Kinesiology, our researchers are collaborating with clinicians, engineers, industry leaders and members of the community to develop the next generation of personalized health care.
Home to one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of research equipment focused on aging, the centre is a place where disciplines cross and health technology is pioneered. From wearable devices that monitor small changes in a person’s nervous system to new diagnostic tools and therapies, our researchers are generating technological advances that will set a gold standard for early disease detection, injury prevention and best practices for healthy aging.
Wearable technologies to improve stroke rehabilitation
Stroke is the third major cause of death and the leading cause of adult neurologic disability in Canada. As researchers work to prevent the causes, new wearable devices are being used to speed recovery.
Work by Professor Bill McIlroy is focused on developing wearable tools to assess a stroke survivor’s cardiovascular system, nervous system, balance and gait. The devices send the data to clinicians in real time, allowing for assessments that span 24 hours a day, rather than just half an hour in a check-up. Personalized diagnostic reports give clinicians information to make better health-care decisions and accelerate rehabilitation.
DEPARTMENT OF KINESIOLOGY
Online communities prevent postpartum depression
New and experienced mothers often face isolation and loneliness after the birth of a child. But beating the baby blues may be just a click of a mouse away.
Professor Diana Parry is investigating the roles online communities play in connecting and supporting women with children, especially during the crucial postpartum months. Looking at MomsTown.ca, a Canadian online community for mothers, Professor Parry found that membership in virtual communities not only provides women with missing support but can also prevent postpartum depression, an issue that affects one in five women.
DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES
Getting health technology into seniors' hands
Innovations in health technology can dramatically improve quality of life for older adults. But it can take years before new devices are approved for use by those who would benefit the most.
As part of a national multimillion-dollar project, Professor Paul Stolee is working with innovators, industry and government to develop policy recommendations that will expedite the regulation process for new technology benefiting seniors. By understanding barriers to health technology adoption, Professor Stolee is creating resources to help innovators better navigate the approval process, ensuring that seniors get faster access to devices that can increase their safety and security, support their independent living and enhance their overall well-being.
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SYSTEMS
