McGill has a rich history of driving innovation and entrepreneurship globally, having recently . A standout supporting neuroscience innovation within this university ecosystem is NeuroSphere, which has funded 13 startups and helped secure 10 licenses, 31 patents and 61 reports of invention in just five years.
NeuroSphere is McGill’s neuroscience innovation accelerator, born from Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL), an interdisciplinary program at Ď㽶ĘÓƵ dedicated to advancing brain health research. Designed to support researchers in realizing their entrepreneurship and innovation goals, NeuroSphere acts as the “training wheels” for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to transition projects from research to industry. In addition to funding, it provides a comprehensive suite of resources, from project crafting and vetting to in-kind support and guidance, offered throughout the grant application process and on an ongoing basis once funded.
Since its inception in 2019, NeuroSphere has supported 69 projects, playing a crucial role in strengthening the field of neuroscience in McGill’s innovation ecosystem. NeuroSphere's funding opportunities revolve around two key programs: the Neuro Partnerships Program and the Neuro Commercialization Grants. The Neuro Partnerships Program provides industry-academic collaborations with matched funding by NeuroSphere, provincially funded organization and industry partners. Meanwhile, the Neuro Commercialization Grants support projects at various stages of development, helping them move toward the market.
By combining resources and expertise, NeuroSphere helps transform innovative neuroscience research into practical, sustainable solutions for the public. “Ensuring social impact is first and foremost for many researchers and academics,” said NeuroSphere Director Adrienne Crampton. “It's essential to project an invention's social impact and financial returns, while also highlighting potential alternative applications. This way, inventors see their vision prioritized and investors see even more possibilities ahead.”
A collaborative and interdisciplinary approach is at the heart of NeuroSphere’s mission: not only does it help accelerate scientific progress, but it also facilitates the transition from innovation to commercialization, translating into tangible benefits for the public.
Reflecting on the value of NeuroSphere's specialized funding, Professor Amir Shmuel noted, “McGill researchers can now apply for funding that supports innovation, even for risky projects. Such funds are not available from mainstream funding agencies.” As the Director of the Brain Imaging Signals Lab at McGill, Prof. Shmuel used NeuroSphere funding to develop a method to help stabilize patients during MRI scans. Echoing these thoughts is Dr. Simon Wing, who is a Professor of Endocrinology & Metabolism at the Ď㽶ĘÓƵ Health Centre (MUHC) and is working on a promising treatment for Parkinson's Disease: “NeuroSphere provided resources not easily available elsewhere in Canada to commercialize, translate and test an innovative, risky idea.”
In fact, commercialization opens new doors for researchers, moving beyond traditional research avenues. “Projects oriented towards commercial objectives aren’t always well-positioned for traditional academic funding,” observed Crampton. “They have to turn to other sources of funding, from private impact investors and industry partners to special public government programs and philanthropic support.”
NeuroSphere's dynamic approach shows that commercialization goes beyond just making money. Neuroscience is a broad field, enabling NeuroSphere to support a wide array of innovative projects, from remote physical therapy devices and ophthalmic tools to virtual therapy platforms and the . This diverse portfolio ensures that NeuroSphere can contribute to various aspects of public health, enhancing the quality of life for many individuals.
“Our team assists each project with scientific strategy and in-kind support, driving them towards their commercial objectives and key milestones,” explained Crampton. “That includes developing strategic roadmaps, regulatory planning, intellectual property strategy, market analyses, business development and partner engagement, identifying alternative sources of leverage funding, developing a brand and so much more.”
NeuroSphere also offers entrepreneurial training for researchers and students through workshops and support programs like the , which matches students from the Desautels Faculty of Management with researchers to outsource vital business skills for these scientists' projects.
Practical and immersive initiatives like the annual Demo Day further highlight NeuroSphere's commitment to setting researchers up for success. Every year, funded project teams present their innovations to a room full of experts, collaborators and potential funders, gaining invaluable experience in how to effectively pitch their ideas and translate them to the next step. NeuroSphere's guidance and resources, such as pitch workshops with industry experts, teach scientists to navigate the commercial landscape and lead their research to market.
NeuroSphere is more than just an accelerator—it's a partner in innovation. In a landscape where translating research into market-ready products often poses challenges, NeuroSphere stands out as a vital resource for McGill's innovation community. Through its unique combination of financial resources, skill development and strategic support, NeuroSphere ensures that groundbreaking research doesn't just stay in the lab, but instead becomes an integral part of the solution to real-world problems.
