Winter 2021 (Volume 31, Number 4)

Arthritis Needs Innovation

By Trish Barbato, President and CEO, Arthritis Society

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We all know arthritis represents a group of diseases in need of solutions. Through research, we have made progress in treatment and management, but there is still so much we have to do.

At the Arthritis Society, we're embracing innovation like never before. And as part of our new innovation strategy, we want to bring everyone in the arthritis ecosystem together – to tackle the problems in arthritis, large and small.

Our innovation strategy has three pillars.
Through our new Ignite Research grants, we’re supporting researchers pursuing high-risk, high-reward ideas. The first of these grants was announced in November 2021. We believe this research will lead to unlocking better diagnosis, better treatment and, ultimately, a cure.

We want to collaborate with researchers and clinicians across Canada to deploy innovative therapies, programs and interventions through our new Social Impact Program. We are currently reviewing the expressions of interest we received, with the aim of helping bring one or two programs to fruition over the next year.

Our exciting new Arthritis Ideator Program is also underway. Entrepreneurs from across the country have submitted ideas and products they think could help improve the lives of people with arthritis. The finalists will be announced in early 2022 and will then present at our Arthritis Ideation Den™ in April 2022. Four innovators will each receive a $50,000 grant to help get their idea to the people who need it.

If we’re going to create the kind of transformational change that people with arthritis deserve, we have to do things differently. We look forward to partnering with you on this journey. Learn more and join us at arthritis.ca/innovation.