Announcing a Research and Innovation partnership between Blockchain@UBC and Lifeguard Digital Health Inc.
Lifeguard Digital Health Inc, a firm with life-saving digital health solutions that support emergency frontline health services, and senior care, is delighted to announce a new strategic research collaboration with Blockchain@UBC research cluster, at the University of British Columbia, Canada. The academia-industry partnership is aimed primarily to augment Lifeguard’s flagship solution in the sensitive opioid crisis prevention domain via novel engineering protocols and blockchain enabled security enhancements. Blockchain@UBC Graduate researchers have successfully gained research opportunities at Lifeguard Digital Health Inc., by applying for grants from MITACS (Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems), a Canadian non-profit research organization that fosters cross-sector collaboration and develops talents for the innovation ecosystem in Canada. This summer, UBC researchers will conceptualize, and help Lifeguard Digital Health to evaluate new engineering protocols and blockchain enabled privacy enhancements for the Lifeguard solution.
Jeff Hardy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lifeguard expressed his pleasure in this strategic partnership and said that it is a crucial step toward strengthening the collaboration with UBC. “I am excited to welcome MITACS students from UBC to Lifeguard as they will lead the future with cutting edge, innovative solutions in digital health that save lives,” he said.
Dr Chandana Unnithan, Chief Security and Informatics Officer (CSIO) and industry supervisor for Mitacs internships notes that agile research, innovation and real-time phased deployments is the hallmark of Lifeguard Digital Health Inc. “We have received a National Research Council of Canada grant through the Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) which has augmented our innovation capacity. We are also a member of the Digital Technology Supercluster Canada and have been working with Blockchain@UBC research cluster over the past year, to enhance research with digital solutions for public health”, she added.
Dr. Victoria Lemieux, Blockchain@UBC Co-Lead and Associate Professor at UBC's School of Information, adds: "We're excited to build on our ongoing research relationship with Lifeguard Digital Health Inc., and for students to apply their knowledge and skills in engineering and information management, as we travel together in enhancing solutions that add value and protect public health”.
Dr. Chang Lu, Research Manager at Blockchain@UBC states that, "Lifeguard offers long term opportunities with a vision to create job-ready graduates, inspiring the space for students in our NSERC CREATE funded blockchain graduate pathway to sharpen their skills. We are delighted for the students to have this real-time applied research opportunity in a crucial business, engaged in saving lives”.
Lifeguard Digital Health launched its first solution in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, to support emergency services engaged in managing the surging opioid crisis. The province of BC deployed the ‘Lifeguard App’, the flagship product from the company. Lifeguard also obtained a National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program grant for enhancing their solution in 2020. Lifeguard offers digital health solutions in preventing opioid crisis and enhancing senior care via contactless solutions enriched with AI.
About Lifeguard Digital Health
Lifeguard Digital Health Inc develops virtual health solutions (applications) that reduce harm, prevent involuntary deaths, and improve quality of life. The company leverages and embraces novel technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet-of-Things (IoT), blockchain and informatics. Complying with the highest levels of security and privacy regulations, it works in close collaboration with government health authorities, emergency health services, research institutions and academia.
For more information, please visit www.lifeguarddh.com
Research Partnerships Contact: Dr Chandana Unnithan, CSIO, chandana@lifeguarddh.com
Twitter: @lifeguardDH LinkedIn: #Lifeguarddh