The Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), in conjunction with the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) has awarded Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute (RRI), a global leader in innovations in aging and brain health, over $5-million to develop innovative neuroeducation and cognitive assessment / fitness products for the global market.

The Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State responsible for FedDev Ontario, made the announcement today at a press conference in Toronto. The multi-million dollar funding to RRI is part of an overall package of nearly $11-million being provided through FedDev Ontario's Technology Development Program to support 14 different Ontario neurotechnology projects comprised of 28 partners. The partners include 12 not-for-profit organizations and 11 private-sector companies, all located in southern Ontario, in addition to fiveinternational companies. The funding package will contribute to growing Ontario's neuroscience sector, enhancing the competitiveness of local brain technology companies, and bringing innovative brain technologies to market in Canada and abroad.

RRI, a global leader in innovations in aging and brain health, will receive FedDev/OBI grants for two neurotechnology projects that are well along the development trajectory, have strong commercialization potential with industry partners, and tremendous appeal to parents and educational instructors of children, as well as to aging adults worried about their changing memory and attention capacities.

"Baycrest's capacity to translate cutting edge cognitive science into innovative and future-focused products that will help people across the lifespan and address health system challenges with an aging population, has received a major boost today with the FedDev Ontario announcement," said Dr. William Reichman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Baycrest.

"Whether it's preparing young children's brains to optimize learning in the classroom, or helping worried aging adults assess their cognitive health from the privacy of their home to determine if they should see their doctor, there is tremendous market potential for these types of products backed by exemplary scientific and clinical validation from a reputable and trusted source such as Baycrest's world-renowned Rotman Research Institute."

In neuroeducation, Baycrest will receive a $4.7-million FedDev/OBI grant for the development of "Cognitively Positive Games for Kids". Industry partner Cookie Jar Group of Companies, a leader in the creation, production and marketing of animated and live action programming for children, will match the grant with an additional $5-million. The combined investment supports the testing and development of a suite of neuroeducational transmedia products for children. The neuroeducational games will be based on several years of neurological research conducted by Dr. Sylvain Moreno, a world expert in neuroeducation and lead scientist with the Baycrest Centre for Brain Fitness. This research has produced compelling evidence that preschoolers can improve their memory, attention, reading and preparedness for learning after only 20 days of classroom instruction using interactive, music-based cognitive training cartoons. The project has exciting implications for future development of additional product lines for older children, adults and seniors. The future includes new clinical interfaces, such as virtual/web platforms, Smart TV and other products that have the potential to strengthen cognitive abilities.

In the field of memory and brain health, Baycrest and Cogniciti Inc., a joint venture between Baycrest and MaRS, will receive $764,000 from FedDev/OBI to develop a suite of digital products for consumers and the workplace. Earlier this year the World Health Organization reported that the number of people worldwide with the most severe form of memory loss - dementia - is expected to triple by 2050 to more than 100- million adults. The same report recommended the development of programs that focus on improving early diagnosis, providing better care and giving more support to caregivers. The suite of digital products being developed by Baycrest and Cogniciti Inc. will directly deal with these issues. The initial Cogniciti product will be an Online Memory Assessment that is designed to help adults answer the question, "Is my memory normal or should I see my doctor?"  The test involves a variety of mentally challenging and time-sensitive exercises that probe immediate memory, delayed memory, attention, executive function and consistency. An overall test result will indicate to the person whether they have nothing to worry about or need to follow up with their doctor. It's a triage tool that can help reduce unnecessary visits to the family doctor or hospital by the "worried well" and encourage those experiencing serious changes to their cognitive health to get help in the earliest stages when interventions are most effective. Cogniciti's plans are to follow the release of this screening tool with other science-based digital products that will empower adults to better care for their brains, cope with memory and attention problems they might face, and provide education and support to caregivers.

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The FedDev/OBI contributions support the OBI's mandate to develop a world-class neurotechnology cluster in the province, focused on imaging analysis, cognitive assessment and neuroeducation. For information on all 14 neurotechnology projects that received funding as a result of today's announcement, visit the OBI website.

For more information on this press release, please contact:
Kelly Connelly
Senior Media Officer
Baycrest
kconnelly@baycrest.org
416-785-2432