Health Technology Innovation

Every year, more than 4.5 million people need blood transfusions in Canada and the United States. That amounts to about 36,000 RBC units per day for the US alone. Transfusions are needed for trauma response, surgery and cancer care. The medical system relies on a complex system of blood donations to meet that need. Without a sufficient, reliable supply of safe blood, the health-care system comes into jeopardy.

Nafiseh Nafissi
MSc ’09, PhD ’13
> Executive vice-president of research and development, Mediphage Bioceuticals

In the midst of a surge in COVID-19 cases in fall 2020, hopeful news emerged: Vaccine trials by several large drug makers showed promise. 

Laura Middleton became passionate about Alzheimer’s research after a much-loved aunt was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at age 47. 

Laura Middleton
Professor, Faculty of Health 
> Alzheimer's Research 

Hamid Tizhoosh was looking for a new idea, a fresh start, when he began talking to doctors about how they do their jobs and how they might do them better.

Hamid Tizhoosh
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
> KIMIA Lab
> Waterloo.ai

Never before have our lives been so fraught with life-and-death questions. The COVID-19 pandemic has left leaders and citizens asking: Will lockdowns work? Can schools be opened? When can we visit our loved ones? 

Chris Bauch 
Professor, Faculty of Mathematics 
> Waterloo.AI