Health Futures

While founding Canada’s next tech startup or discovering a major research breakthrough are the impetus for some University of Waterloo changemakers, others use their curiosity and imagination to find ways to unlock social impact locally and globally.

In many cases, the first steps towards making a difference happen at Waterloo where students immerse themselves in a culture of curiosity, entrepreneurship and global stewardship. It’s at Waterloo where a sense of belonging and a responsibility for others can really take root.

Engineering and health researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a radar and artificial intelligence (AI) system that can monitor multiple people walking in busy hospitals and long-term care facilities to identify possible health issues.

The new technology — housed in a wall-mounted device about the size of a deck of cards — uses AI software and radar hardware to accurately measure how fast each person is walking.

The Region of Waterloo is one of the fastest-growing regions in the province. To keep up with current and emerging needs, attracting, retaining and training top health-care talent is a priority.  Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) have launched a 52-week pharmacist hospital residency program in partnership with the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy to attract and train talent within the region.

In Dr. Dale Martin’s lab at the University of Waterloo, his team is leading biomedical research, making innovative advancements in treating neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington disease and ALS.

Among the team is Yusra Kureshi (BSc ’25), recipient of the 2025 Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) Student Fellowship. Kureshi first joined the Martin lab in January as a volunteer, where her potential as a researcher quickly stood out.

The University of Waterloo is pleased to welcome 10 outstanding students to its incoming first-year class through the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarships program.  

Awarded annually to 100 high school graduates across Canada, these scholarships recognize exceptional individuals who demonstrate strong entrepreneurial potential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Each Schulich Leader receives between $100,000 and $120,000, empowering them to pursue their academic goals with financial peace of mind. 

How the brain is wired has been understood for a long-time, but how that wiring results in neural activity and cognition remains a mystery. Researchers like Dr. Travis Craddock are using quantum mechanics to gain new insights into the brain and how it works.

Craddock, a Science professor and the Canadian Research Chair in Quantum Neurobiology, bridges the disciplines of biology and physics to map out the physical and molecular processes within the brain.

An innovative method that uses modified versions of a bacterial virus effective at delivering treatments to human cells shows promise as a more inexpensive and efficient way to treat some deadly genetic diseases.