AGE-WELL Core Facilities
AGE-WELL Core Facilities promote and trigger national and international interactions for AGE-WELL and provide physical and/or virtual venues for researchers to meet, collaborate and exchange ideas. AGE-WELL is currently supported by four Core Facilities which provide research expertise and support across the Network.
The Canadian Centre for Elder Law
The University of British Columbia is home to the Canadian Centre for Elder Law (CCEL), a national non-profit law reform centre dedicated to exploring the particular legal issues that affect older Canadians. Formally established by the B.C. Law Institute in July 2003, CCEL’s mandate includes research, law reform and education relating to legal issues impacting older adults. Headquartered in Vancouver with a second office in Toronto, CCEL is believed to be the only centre of its kind in the world and is now serving as a model of interest for several other countries.
As an AGE-WELL Core Facility in Elder Law, CCEL provides AGE-WELL researchers, trainees and partners with education and expert help on understanding and navigating the Canadian legal system, including legal issues raised by startups and commercialization. CCEL also addresses legal and ethical issues of critical importance when working with older adults.
Contact the CCEL.
The iDAPT Centre for Rehabilitation Research (Toronto Rehab – UHN)
TRI-UHN is home to the iDAPT (intelligent Design, Adaptation, Participation and Technology) Research Centre, one of the most technologically advanced rehabilitation research centres in the world. iDAPT research facilities include state-of-the-art laboratories including a subterranean motion simulator with removable payloads and additional simulation labs that are used for the development and testing of new technologies. The iDAPT research centre has commercialized several products aimed at maximizing life for people living with the effects of disability, illness and aging.
As an AGE-WELL NCE Core Facility the iDAPT Centre provides access to its simulation environments to AGE-WELL network investigators to support the development and commercialization of new technologies, use of its unique environments as demonstration sites for potential investors, and educational supports for AGE-WELL investigators to help move their technologies to market.
The Impact Centre (University of Toronto)
The University of Toronto is home to the Impact Centre (IMC), a research institute that strives to bring science to society through industry projects and partnerships, entrepreneurial companies, and unique training programs. The Impact Centre connects exceptional research, talent, innovative companies, and government to create products and services both for existing industry partners and as the basis for startups.
As an AGE-WELL Core Facility in Entrepreneurship, the Impact Centre provides AGE-WELL researchers and trainees with startup support, one-on-one student mentoring, customized training programs on entrepreneurship, access to labs and equipment, and other services related to innovation and commercialization.
The Ward of the 21st Century (W21C)
The University of Calgary is home to the Ward of the 21st Century (W21C), a research and innovation initiative based in the O’Brien Institute for Public Health in the Cumming School of Medicine, and the Calgary zone of Alberta Health Services. W21C is a beta test site for new technologies, prototypical hospital design, and novel approaches to health care delivery. W21C’s primary aim is to Make Care Better through research focused on improving patient safety and the quality of health systems delivery.
W21C’s unique infrastructure includes the ‘Living Laboratory’ (the only one of its kind in Canada) located in Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre, and the Healthcare Human Factors and Simulation Laboratory (HHFSL) at the University of Calgary. Through these spaces and through expertise provided by its multidisciplinary research team, W21C collaborates with industry partners, healthcare providers, government, and patients and families to create and test evidence-based solutions to gaps in care, in both clinical and non-clinical environments.
As an AGE-WELL Core Facility in Human Factors and Usability Testing, W21C will provide human factors expertise and infrastructure to support the development and testing of new technologies and spaces for health care. This will include expertise in usability and user experience, environmental design and evaluation, and safety and simulation. User interviews and focus groups, surveys and questionnaires, behavioural analysis and usability testing to improve safety, satisfaction and performance, are among services offered.