91˿��Ƶ Innovation Fund (MIF)

Detecting the undetectable

junji.nishihata@mcgill.ca — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:52:05 +0000

Dr. Lucy Gilbert, Director of the MUHC’s Gynecologic Oncology Division and Women’s Health Research Unit has witnessed, for years, the gruelling chemotherapy cycles that rarely lead to cure for patients with advanced ovarian and uterine cancers. Frustrated by countless end-of-life conversations, the path forward became clear to Dr. Gilbert in 2014: “The only way to give patients a fighting chance is through early detection, before it’s too late.”

MIF stars shine in anniversary pitch competition

junji.nishihata@mcgill.ca — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:15:51 +0000

It was a night for the ages. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the founding of the 91˿��Ƶ Innovation Fund (MIF), a special one-time pitch competition was held: the MIF Evolution. The event was designed to showcase the tremendous range of talent that has been nurtured over this period of time, and the teams did not disappoint.

Back in the saddle: the 91˿��Ƶ Innovation Fund (MIF) returns

junji.nishihata@mcgill.ca — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:41:35 +0000

The 91˿��Ƶ Innovation Fund (MIF) returns for a fifth year with its unique formula of supporting research-based innovations with a rich program of support, training and advice. Since inception, the MIF has emerged as one of the largest entrepreneurial programs at 91˿��Ƶ with over $1 million awarded to 26 unique teams.

The core of the MIF program is the generous funding packages it provides to team across three different levels:

Can 3D printers help find a cure for cancer?

Sara Bauman — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 14:21:40 +0000

Cancer. If ever there has been a disease that has dogged human life, it is this one. Seemingly random, often hidden, it is an all too often lethal illness that is almost older than life itself. There is evidence from 70-80 million years ago that even the mighty dinosaurs suffered from this scourge.

Better Health in the Blink of an Eye?

Sara Bauman — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:15:27 +0000

We’ve all experienced the frustration of using eyedrops—missing the eye, feeling the liquid spill down our cheeks, or even tasting the medication moments after application. But what if this wasn’t just a minor inconvenience, but a fundamental flaw in drug delivery?

65 million people use eyedrops, with applications ranging from dry eye relief, allergy and infection treatment, and even post-surgical care. Despite their widespread use, eyedrops are exceptionally inefficient by design, leading to considerable treatment waste.

When Hearing Is Healing

Sara Bauman — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:30:25 +0000

Ask the parent of any newborn child, and they will often tell you that the most satisfying sound a child makes is when they are sleeping. Something in the simple act of a baby’s breathing fills the heart with quiet joy. But it is not the same for many preterm infants, whose lungs are not yet developed. Breathing for these children can be fraught with problems and often only possible with some kind of mechanical assistance.

Fourth edition of the MIF puts spotlight on life science

Junji Nishihata and Sara Bauman — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 15:25:36 +0000

Entrepreneurial spirit is thriving at 91˿��Ƶ, as shown by a record-breaking 31 applications to the 91˿��Ƶ Innovation Fund (MIF) this year. Since its inception in 2020, the MIF has been a catalyst for cutting-edge innovation, and this year’s cohort marks the most competitive pool of candidates yet. The seven selected teams are all in the area of life science working to deliver groundbreaking technologies and solutions to global challenges.

The Future of Farming is Vertical

Sara Bauman — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:36:54 +0000

Global food production must increase 70% by 2050 to meet the growing population demand.

Cao the Creator

Sara Bauman — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 19:06:52 +0000

Professor Changhong Cao from 91˿��Ƶ’s Faculty of Engineering is no stranger to the MIF. An Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a Chwang-Seto Faculty Scholar, Cao is also an MIF veteran having won both the Discover ($25,000) and Develop ($50,000) MIF awards. Manifesting a bold entrepreneurial impulse, he has harnessed these resources to push the boundaries of his groundbreaking research in microchip-based characterization technology.

The Right Treatment for the Right Patients

Sara Bauman and Charlotte Bawol — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:14:35 +0000

In these polarized times, there seems to be one thing everyone agrees on: Canada's healthcare system is in crisis.

91˿����Ƶ Innovation Fund (MIF)