CABHI launches new program to grow and commercialize homegrown brain health breakthroughs, adding to over $243 million in funding directed to Canadian innovators

TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2026 /CNW/ -- CABHI (Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation), powered by Baycrest, is marking World Alzheimer's Month by launching a new funding program to accelerate the growth and commercialization of Canadian life sciences technologies, including innovative approaches to dementia detection, prevention, treatment, and care. The new Amplify program will add to the over $243 million in direct and match funding provided by CABHI to Canadian innovators since 2015--$24.9 million of that in the past year alone --resulting in over $97 million in Canadian jobs and over $1 billion in follow-on investments into the economy.

"The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation is at the forefront of developing and testing innovations that improve quality of life for older adults and families. Their work will help make important advancements in dementia detection, prevention, treatment, and care. The Government of Canada is proud to support their work in transforming brain health care for the benefit of all Canadians through the Strategic Science Fund," says the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

"Canadian innovators are harnessing emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve brain health and quality of life for older Canadians. The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation is helping turn promising research into real-world solutions, supporting Canadian businesses, driving innovation and creating new opportunities for economic growth," says the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation.

Amplify will award up to $600,000 to Canadian life sciences companies in the later stages of their aging and brain health projects, enabling them to scale into new markets and maximize health and economic impact. This program comes at a critical time: Canada's population is now "super-aged", with skyrocketing rates of dementia exerting immense pressure on care partners, healthcare, and the economy. The number of people living with dementia is projected to hit 1.7 million nationally by 2050, at an annual cost of $110 billion nationally. With Canada emerging as a key player on the international tech stage, garnering considerable recognition and foreign investment to enable trade diversification and sovereignty, Amplify will further support Canada's economic action plan while protecting our brain capital and enabling older persons to live with purpose, fulfilment, and dignity.

"Now more than ever, our province's best and brightest researchers are producing groundbreaking innovations that are protecting Ontario. Our government is proud to support the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, and we commend their Amplify program, which will drive critical breakthroughs to prevent and treat dementia and keep Ontario healthy," says the Honourable Nolan Quinn, Ontario Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.

Amplify complements CABHI's existing innovation programs which support and accelerate early- to mid- stage projects, removing barriers that stall breakthroughs that have significant potential to lengthen Canadians' healthspans, strengthen healthcare systems, and grow the economy. Canadian companies will now have access to integral funding and tailored acceleration services--including direct engagement with older persons and care partners for end-user feedback--across the entire innovation pipeline, from discovery through to commercialization, scale, and adoption.

"Canada creates world-class brain health innovations, but those innovations only become breakthroughs when they reach the people who need them to improve their lives," says Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist, CABHI and Baycrest Academy for Research and Education. "With Canada's aging population and dementia rapidly rising, we don't have time to leave promising Canadian solutions stranded on the path to scale. Amplify closes that gap, helping homegrown companies move further and faster toward commercialization, adoption, and global markets. That means better brain health and quality of life, stronger health systems, high-value Canadian jobs, and a more competitive Canadian brain economy."

CABHI's programs are having a unique and demonstrative impact on Canada's brain economy and innovation ecosystem: a recent survey showed more than 90% of participating innovators said their experience was "one-of-a-kind", with 96% saying they enhanced their skills and knowledge about aging and brain health.

CABHI's latest annual impact report, 'Building Canada's Brain Economy for a Bold Future,' is available now. Applications for Amplify are open until October 14, 2026.

About the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation:

The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, was established in 2015 to support researchers, clinicians, and innovators as they develop and adopt transformative innovations that improve the lives of older persons, including those impacted by dementia. CABHI is a unique collaboration of healthcare, science, industry, not-for-profit, and government partners. Through its funding programs and tailored acceleration services, including access to diverse end-user groups, CABHI advances transformative aging and brain health innovations across Canada and the world. For more information, visit cabhi.com.

About Baycrest:

Baycrest is an internationally recognized academic health sciences organization based in Toronto, focused on aging and brain health.

Baycrest brings together a post-acute care hospital, long-term care, senior living, memory care, research and education, supporting older adults, caregivers and others on the journey of aging. This integrated ecosystem allows care, discovery and learning to inform one another, improving lives today while shaping how aging is understood and supported tomorrow.

Guided by a vision of a world where every older person lives with purpose, fulfilment and dignity, Baycrest translates knowledge into practice, advances specialized care and shares its expertise with health systems, partners and communities in Canada and around the world.

The future of aging is here.

For more information, visit baycrest.org.

SOURCE Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation

Rhea Singer, Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected], [phone]