Early career researchers at the 2024 AGE-WELL Annual Conference with Dr. Alex Mihailidis, AGE-WELL Scientific Director and CEO, and Dr. Mohamed-Amine Choukou, CIHR-IA Institute Advisory Board Member (second row, centre).

AGE-WELL has been at the forefront of funding and training undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and research staff in AgeTech since 2015. Through the exclusive Early Professionals, Inspired Careers (EPIC) Program, the network has built a pipeline of highly qualified professionals – including entrepreneurs, government decision-makers, industry professionals, and researchers – who emphasize working in the “AGE-WELL Way”: co-creating with stakeholders, collaborating in transdisciplinary teams, considering equity, diversity and inclusion principles, and integrating knowledge mobilization and commercialization as project end goals.

Thanks to a recent grant from the CIHR Institute of Aging (CIHR-IA), AGE-WELL was able to extend their support of Canada’s early career researchers (ECR) through a special Rising Stars in AgeTech stream at the AGE-WELL Annual Conference in October. “ECRs form a vital part of the Canadian health research landscape and are key to ensuring that new knowledge and technologies can positively affect the lives of older Canadians and their caregivers. As the largest AgeTech research network in Canada, AGE-WELL is uniquely placed to support them to work in ways that enable translational and impactful research,” said Dr. Alex Mihailidis, AGE-WELL Scientific Director and CEO.

Dr. Cari McIlduff, assistant professor in Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan, presents research at AGE-WELL 2024 on wearable technologies to support Indigenous older adults.

Twenty-two ECRs from 17 institutions successfully applied to attend the conference and participate in the Rising Stars stream of programming. ECRs took part in a series of capacity building workshops on media interviews, strategic foresight, and the role of researchers in informing policy decisions. They were matched with senior scholars and multi-sectoral stakeholders for mentorship and networking and several participated in a field trip to the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, generously planned and hosted by network ECRs based in Edmonton.

The conference provided opportunities to showcase the outstanding research conducted by ECRs across Canada and create fertile ground for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Rising Stars participants presented their work in a special poster session held during the iconic “Drinks and Demos” reception, were able to demo their technology interventions, provide research presentations and lead workshops. The AGE-WELL Conference was well-attended by a diverse and vibrant AgeTech community that served as an ideal platform for these Rising Stars to share their research findings and foster valuable connections for future collaboration.

Touring the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton.

“A common thread to my journey as a trainee to early career researcher (ECR) is the unique training and support from AGE-WELL. I strengthened my experiences and perspectives in both AgeTech and policy-relevant research through the AGE-WELL Summer Institute and Michael F. Harcourt Policy Fellowship. This past October, I was recognized as an ECR Rising Star and engaged in mentorship and networking with senior scholars and diverse knowledge users during the AGE-WELL Conference. I also toured the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton and learned about advancements in rehabilitation research, innovation, and technology development with fellow ECRs. I am deeply grateful for the support and opportunities provided by AGE-WELL!” said Dr. Jessica Wong, Assistant Professor, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University.