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For immediate release by Kingston Economic Development Corporation
June 8, 2022

Cross Border Conference Strengthens the Region’s Unique Economies

Kingston startup wins the first Pathway pitch competition

Kingston, Ontario – June 8, 2022 – Kingston Economic Development hosted this year’s Kingston-Syracuse Pathway Cross Border Conference focused on the health innovation and life sciences sectors.

The world-class speakers focused on topics including vaccines, global health, infectious diseases, health care systems, and the changes COVID-19 has put on the health care system.

“Our first Cross Border Conference on Health Innovation covered global health, vaccine development, living with COVID-19 and pandemic planning; connecting to communities for health access, new tech adoption, reimaging the hospital, Lyme disease research, SMART cities, workforce challenges and ended with an exciting pitch program by US- and Canadian-based early stage startups. What a fantastic program!” says Kathi Durdon, Executive Director at Central New York Biotech Accelerator.

The full-day event included the keynote speaker, Alison Turner, a serial entrepreneur and Co-founder and Director of Product Development at PnuVax Incorporated. Since founding PnuVax in 2008, Allison has held academic research and teaching appointments, and enjoys ongoing engagement with her local startup communities. In response to the 2020 pandemic, Allison and her team pivoted and are now working to develop lower cost COVID-19 products for distribution worldwide.

"Congratulations to the organizers on a successful Kingston-Syracuse Pathway Cross Border Conference. It was an energizing and informative day of sessions covering research and innovation topics related to current and future health care challenges. And, as the conference finale, the pitches from five startups showcased a promising future as these companies bring their health-related innovations to the marketplace. A special thanks to the attendees that travelled from upstate New York to attend this conference," says Jim Banting, Associate Vice-Principal Partnerships & Innovation at Queen’s University.

New this year, a pitch competition for health and life sciences startups in the region. Neuractas Therapeutics, Caddie Health, StemCultures, Quadrant Biosciences and mDETECT pitched for a prize of $5,000 to support their venture.

mDETECT provides cutting-edge liquid biopsy technology won the pitch competition. The technology provides a personalized response to any cancer treatment so that women are not subjected to harsh, ineffective therapies. Their mission is to help women manage their breast cancer so that they can live a long and fulfilling life.

With world-class institutions from both sides of the border, the Kingston-Syracuse Pathway Cross Boarder Conference provided an opportunity to discuss and collaboration to advance research in key areas on health innovation.

“It was truly wonderful to see Syracuse and Kingston researchers, mayors, industry and medical professionals connect and collaborate. The pitches and early-stage companies showcasing their innovative ideas really brought energy to the event. It was magnificent to witness all the collisions happening under one roof,” says Ben McIlquham, Investment Manager – Health Innovation at Kingston Economic Development Corporation.

The Kingston-Syracuse Pathway is a cross border partnership that provides companies with innovative and easy solutions to help them grow into the international markets.

Thank you to all the Kingston-Syracuse Partners: Central New York Biotech Accelerator, Upstate Medical University, Queen’s University, Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Center State Corporation for Economic Opportunity for a thought-provoking conference.

To learn more about Kingston Syracuse Pathway visit investkingston.ca/KSP

Media Contact:
Nour Mazloum
Marketing & Communications Officer
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-329-9270
mazloum@kingstoncanada.com

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���˴�Ƭ Kingston Economic Development Corporation
Kingston Economic Development Corporation is focused on building a strong community and supporting Kingston’s thriving economy. Its mission is to provide dynamic and collaborative leadership by leveraging Kingston's unique assets to create jobs and investments in order to sustain, grow, and transform Kingston's economy to meet the needs of the 21st century.