Chemical engineering professors support the growth of promising biotech startup
From left: Dr. William Anderson, Oliver Aramini, Andrew Cordssen-David, Dr. Shazia Tanvir, Dr. Marc Aucoin
In 2023, Professors William Anderson and Marc Aucoin supervised preliminary research on concussion biomarkers found in bodily fluids, particularly saliva.
Exploring concussion biomarker research
Initially, Shazia Tanvir, a research associate of Anderson’s, began exploring research on concussion biomarkers. She was later introduced to Andrew Cordssen-David, who was a Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology student at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business at the time.
Cordssen-David was also a former student-athlete who played for the varsity men’s hockey team at the University of Waterloo and had experienced his share of concussions. Recognizing the potential impact of a saliva-based concussion test, Cordssen-David and Tanvir got to work, committing themselves to developing a new concept for a saliva-based concussion screening tool.
Founding a startup
This work ultimately inspired Cordssen-David and Tanvir to establish the startup HeadFirst Inc. (“HeadFirst”) in 2023. In the early stages of developing the prototype in Anderson’s lab, a meeting with Aucoin, director of the Applied Virus and Complex Biologics Bioprocessing Research Lab, provided Cordssen-David and Tanvir with valuable insights that contributed to advancing the design. From the early days of HeadFirst, the team also received support from the University of Waterloo’s Velocity incubator, which helped them refine their business plan, develop pitch materials, access grant funding, particularly through the Velocity Up Start program, and build a network of industry professionals. Additionally, HeadFirst benefited from the support of other incubator and accelerator programs, which broadened their scope and provided further resources and mentorship to propel their growth. HeadFirst continues to collaborate with Velocity as they advance their saliva-based concussion screening device.
Nurturing a start-up
Behind the scenes, Anderson and Aucoin played a vital role in nurturing the start-up. They provide lab space and support the team in overcoming challenges as they develop their prototype. For instance, while the materials needed by HeadFirst are costly, Anderson and Aucoin assisted HeadFirst in securing funding through government and academic grants, such as Mitacs and the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology Seed Fund at the University of Waterloo. Anderson also introduced HeadFirst to researchers at another institution, using equipment that may be valuable for future prototype testing. Aucoin serves as HeadFirst's technical advisor, supporting the team in R&D and helping them navigate the research ethics requirements needed to test the device.
The startup is set to begin a pilot project this month with the University of Waterloo Athletics Department, aiming to test its prototype and further validate the target biomarker for detecting concussions.
“It's very rare nowadays for people to give their time and energy and expect nothing in return. Our start-up was in such an early stage when Professors Anderson and Aucoin started helping us. We had no idea what we were doing. It was a risk to put time into something that could very well go nowhere. They did not know me well when I approached them, but they lent their support to our start-up. We are very grateful because, without their guidance early on, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” said Cordssen-David.
Detecting concussions in real-time
HeadFirst’s prototype is designed for rapid testing in point-of-care settings, such as on the sidelines of sports fields, to detect potential concussions soon after an injury occurs.
The biomarker that Headfirst is targeting is released through the blood-brain barrier and into bodily fluids shortly after impact. The device, using saliva from the injured individual, would test saliva onsite and the result would be rapid and accurate, giving healthcare professionals, athletic therapists, and athletes results in real-time. Detecting a specific concentration of this concussion biomarker in saliva signals that the athlete should be sidelined from play and begin appropriate concussion management.
Anderson and Aucoin continue to provide technical and administrative support to HeadFirst, assisting with prototype refinement, pilot implementation, grant acquisition, and navigating the regulatory process for medical devices. Anderson and Aucoin’s efforts reflect the University of Waterloo’s long-standing entrepreneurial spirit and its outstanding interdisciplinary research culture.
Their mentorship exemplifies how the Department of Chemical Engineering, collaborates with other departments and leverages its expertise in biotechnology and biomedical engineering to empower students to follow their entrepreneurial ambitions while advancing innovative research.
This aligns seamlessly with the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, which has cultivated and supported countless startups, reinforcing the region’s reputation as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.