Minutes

MedTech Task Force

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Thursday, May 30, 2024

4:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Hybrid Meeting - Virtual Option & In-Person in Council Chambers – 4th Floor – City Hall

Members Present:

• Deputy Mayor H. Singh (Chair)
• Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President, Toronto Metropolitan University (Vice-Chair)
• Regional Councillor R. Santos - Wards 1 and 5
• Dave Casimiro, Managing Director, NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT
• Vito Ciciretto, President and CEO, Dynacare
• Sheri Dodd, President, Medtronic Canada
• Jason Field, President and CEO, Life Sciences Ontario
• Jaipaul Massey-Singh, CEO, Brampton Board of Trade
• Dr. Frank Martino, President & CEO, William Osler Health Systems
• Dr. Janet Morrison, President & Vice Chancellor, Sheridan College
• Jay Stevens, CEO, The Stevens Company
• Amy Swanson, Vice-President, MedTech Canada
• Andreas Wegner, General Manager, Taro Pharmaceuticals 
• Vincci Wilson, VP NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT
• Mahes Wickramasinghe, EVP & Chief Administrative Officer, Rogers
• David Wyatt, Senior Vice President, Morguard Investments Ltd
• Deepak Sharma, William Osler Health Systems (Alternate)

Members Absent:

• Regional Councillor M. Palleschi - Wards 2 and 6
• Regional Councillor G. Toor - Wards 9 and 10
• Tony Chahine, CEO, Myant Inc.
• Anton Katipunan, Development with RioCan, RioCan
• Brian Leahy, Director, External Community Relations, Algoma University
• David Moores, Vice President, Development Engineering, Orlando Corporation
• Dr. Dante Morra, Chief of Medical Staff, Trillium Health Partners
• Peter Nikolakakos, Executive Vice President, Development & Planning, First Gulf
• Carl Rodrigues, CEO, SOTI
• Ken Spears, General Manager / Vice-President, Boston Scientific Canada
• Darren Steedman, Vice-President, DG Group
• Blair Wolk, President, Orlando Corporation

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 4:08 p.m. and adjourned at 5:39 p.m.

2.

Approval of Agenda

The following motion was considered.

• MTTF001-2024

  That the agenda for the MedTech Task Force Committee Meeting of May 30, 2024, be approved as published and circulated.

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

4.

Previous Minutes

The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on November 29, 2023, and were approved by Council on December 6, 2023.  The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

5.

Presentations / Delegations

5.1

Presentation by Stakeholders:

1.  Algoma University

• • Dr. Istvan Imre

2.  Roga Life

• • Dr. Alison Smith, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist

3.  Medical Alley, MN

• • Frank Jaskulke

Dr. Istvan Imre, Algoma University, provided a brief overview of the company that included the following:

• Two initiatives being implemented:
  • Ontario Mental Health & Addictions Research Training Institute (OMHARTI) at the Sault Ste. Marie and Brampton locations 
  • National Centre of Excellence in Immersive Technology partnering with Unity. 
• Outlined the purpose and goals of OMHARTI. 
  • Brampton location - 145 Queen Street East - newly leased independent building.
  • The facility will host undergraduate and graduate programming in the areas of Psychology and Social Work. 
• The National Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Immersive Technology focuses on bridging the divide between the augmented reality.
  • outlined  the vision and mission of the initiative
  • CoE Pillars - Education Advancement and Skill Development; Innovation and Industry collaboration; Community Integration and Outreach.

Dr. Alison Smith, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Roga Life, provided a brief overview of the company that included the following:

• Roga Life is an early stage MedTech startup that is part of the Brampton Venture Zone. 
• Mental healthcare platform to treat employee stress, anxiety and burnout. 
• Sells corporate health benefits. 
• Since the pandemic stress and anxiety have significantly increased, especially for those within the work force. 
  • 72 percent of employees are experiencing intense stress resulting in performance decline, absenteeism, turnover and medical expenses. 
  • To deal with such anxieties people only have access to talk therapists and medication. 
  • Looking for MedTech solutions to assist individuals wherever they are. 
  • Mental Healthcare Platform - wearable device (effectively reduces stress and burnout) and AI guided meditations (personalized guided meditations and treatment progress analytics). 
  • Currently on the market as a "wellness device" for intense stress and burnout.
  • Future goal is to achieve "Medical Device Status" to treat anxiety. 

Frank Jaskulke, Medical Alley, MN, provided a brief overview of the company that included the following:

• Not-for-profit trade association.
• Outlined the companies mission and vision.
• Partnership services: connections, advocacy, insights, engagement. 
• Foundational and sustaining partners.
• Medical Alley Board of Directors
• Strategic Value Creation - four core initiatives: Medical Alley Starts, Medical Alley Global, Healthcare Transformation Initiative (HTI) and Local and Federal Policy. 
• Strategic Initiatives: enabling healthcare innovation, elevate business progress, transform health equity. 

The following motion was considered.

• MTTF002-2024

  That the following presentations to the MedTech Task Force Committee Meeting of May 30, 2024, re: 

  1. Algoma University
  2. Roga Life 
  3. Medical Alley, MN

  be received. 

  Carried

6.

Other / New Business / Information Items

The following motion was considered. 

6.1

Updates:

1.  The Brampton Medical School

• • Dr. Mohamed Lachemi

2.  Update from the Brampton Venture Zone 

• • John MacRitchie and Fardan Khan

    
Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), provided an update on the Brampton Medical School that included: 

• On track to welcome the first group of medical learners in 2025:
  • 105 residents (July 2025 Intake)
  • 94 MD students (September 2025 Intake)
• Clinical affiliations will ensure the delivery of high-quality placements and celebrate primary care. 
• Integrated Health Centre (IHC) will increase primary care access.
• Accreditation process is proceeding on schedule.

John MacRitchie and Fardan Khan, Brampton Venture Zone, provided a brief update on the Brampton Venture Zone that included the work undertaken to date and the work that is upcoming for 2025. 

The following motion was considered. 

• MTTF003-2024

  That the following updates to the MedTech Task Force Committee Meeting of May 30, 2024, re: 

  1. Brampton Medical School
  2. Brampton Venture Zone

  be received. 

  Carried

6.2

Follow-up on Key Projects:

1.  Wet Labs - Outline of Feasibility Study / Consultation

• • Martin Bohl, Sector Manager, Health & Life Sciences, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton

2.  The MedTech Conference, Toronto - October 15 - 17, 2024 

• • Amy Swanson
  • Martin Bohl, Sector Manager, Health & Life Sciences, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton

3.  Other Items - Sector MedTech Outline (new) with Our Stakeholders (Including BIO 2024)

• • Martin Bohl, Sector Manager, Health & Life Sciences, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton

Martin Bohl, Sector Manager, Health & Life Sciences, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton provided an update on the Wet Lab - Feasibility Study/Consultation.  

Amy Swanson, Vice-President, MedTech Canada and Martin Bohl, Sector Manager, Health & Life Sciences, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton provided an update on the subject matter that included the following: 

• Four pillars of the conference: Networking, education program, partnering and investor forum and the MedTech campus. 
• Flexpass Campaign
• Registration rates.
• All-access pass includes: four days of education, networking, access to the Medtech campus, and partnering with thousands of Medtech innovators. 
• Partnered with Destination Toronto at the conference and will be at booth 700. 
• Deputy Mayor Singh and Councillor Toor will be available on October 17th for half a day.
• Looking at setting up a panel discussion at the booth. 

Martin Bohl, Sector Manager, Health & Life Sciences, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton provided an update on the subject matter that included the following:

• Looking to update the marketing panel.
• Change the narrative and look at our research, startup companies.
• Asking for input or key items to showcase moving forward into 2025. 

The following motion was considered. 

• MTTF004-2024

  That the following Verbal Updates on Key Projects to the MedTech Task Force Committee Meeting of May 30, 2024, re: 

  1. Wet Labs - Outline of Feasibility Study/Consultation
  2. MedTech Conference, Toronto - October 15 - 17, 2024
  3. Sector MedTech Outline (new) with Our Stakeholders (Including BIO 2024).

  be received. 

  Carried

6.3

Information Item re: Concept for a 2025 Conference in Brampton –Brain Injury Association Peel Halton, Nick Kuryluk and Sarah Diaz

Nick Kuryluk and Sarah Diaz, Brain Injury Association Peel Halton provided information regarding the Concept for a 2025 Conference in Brampton and advised they were seeking the Committee's support and financial backing to secure the Rose Theatre for a one-and-a half to two-day conference in 2025. 

The following motion was considered. 

• MTTF005-2024

  That the presentation from Sarah Diaz, Brain Injury Association, Peel Halton, re: Concept for a 2025 Conference in Brampton, to the MedTech Task Force Committee Meeting of May 30, 2024, be received. 

  Carried

7.

Member Questions / Roundtable

Nil

8.

Correspondence

Nil

9.

Question Period

Nil

10.

Public Question Period

Nil

11.

Adjournment

Closing Remarks were provided by Deputy Mayor Singh and Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

The following motion was considered. 

• MTTF006-2024

  That the MedTech Task Force do now adjourn to meet again for a Regular Meeting of Committee on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. or at the call of the Chair.

  Carried