Toronto, Ontario — December 1, 2025 — Leads & Copy — The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, has allocated $2.8 million CAD in funding to eight early- to mid-stage researchers and companies through its Fuel program. The aim is to accelerate the development and adoption of cutting-edge aging and brain health solutions.
According to Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist of CABHI and the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Canada’s aging population necessitates investments in brain health and healthy aging. She emphasized that CABHI’s Fuel program addresses a critical need in the innovation ecosystem by supporting made-in-Canada solutions and providing early-stage innovators access to domestic financing.
CABHI’s Fuel program supports early- to mid-stage researchers and companies in achieving milestones related to research and development, product testing, and validation. Innovators also benefit from CABHI’s Acceleration Services, which are designed to streamline their innovation journey and pathway to market.
The need for innovative solutions in areas like agetech products, biotech breakthroughs, and pharmaceutical therapies is increasing as the Canadian population ages. CABHI states that investing in aging and brain health innovation can secure a more resilient healthcare system and more sustainable economic outcomes, contributing to Canada’s brain economy.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, stated that the Government of Canada is committed to enhancing Canadian-made innovations, strengthening the economy, and improving investment opportunities. She also said that the Strategic Science Fund supports CABHI in developing solutions that can transform health and economy as the Canadian population ages.
The $2.8 million CAD in funding from the Fuel program has been awarded to eight Canadian innovators with solutions that can potentially change the Canadian healthcare landscape. These include:
Neuropeutics: Developing targeted therapies to extend the survival and improve the quality of life for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s lead asset is a small molecule that prevents and reverses protein aggregation to halt disease progression, showing efficacy in models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Sinaptica: Developing a noninvasive brain stimulation therapy targeting the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN), whose dysfunction is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The therapy is thought to induce widespread neuroplasticity, strengthening and stabilizing the DMN, thereby slowing disease progression.
Panaxium: A neuroscience company developing personalized therapies to restore motor function following stroke and brain injury. The company’s platform integrates proprietary soft neurostimulation systems, AI-enabled neuroimaging, and adaptive stimulation protocols to tailor treatment to each patient.
Scotiaderm: Developing a proprietary natural active agent in a skin barrier formulation that protects against Moisture Associated Skin Damage. They’re launching early adopter marketing trials while conducting Class III studies for this agent.
Juno Technologies: A medtech company developing a discreet, wearable device for sustained relief from menstrual pain, supporting cognitive and emotional resilience in women of all ages.
Diamond Therapeutics: Developing safe, FDA, EMA and Health Canada-approved therapies for neuropsychiatric conditions, starting with sub-perceptual psilocybin-based medicines.
TheraVac Biologics: A preclinical company developing innovative immunotherapies for neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
University of Waterloo (Dr. Carolyn Ren Laboratory): Developing air-muscle actuated compressive massage sleeves for arthritis, DVT, and lymphedema, improving mobility and circulatory health.
The eight Fuel awardees will be working through various research and development, product testing, and validation milestones during their contracts with CABHI.
For more information, visit: www.cabhi.com.
Source: Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation
