From early feedback to real-world validation, AIM helps health-tech companies succeed based on facts - backed by rigorous research on patients and lived clinical experiences.
Who We Are
As part of Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCHF), we are a social enterprise that partners with innovative health-tech companies, providing clinical insights grounded in deep expertise, alongside clinical trial design and execution.
What We Do
At the AIM Institute, we help these companies from Idea to Commercialization by leveraging our extensive healthcare networks and seasoned experience. Our motivational ‘north star’ is patient care enhancement and we believe that this result is correlated 1:1 with commercial success.
Our Process
1. Guidance
We engage clinical champions to deliver targeted and timely expert input who provide a range of guidance from the in-depth, but time-bound, Hi2 rounds feedback sponsored by IRAP to longer-term relationships with experts in the field.
2. Clinical Trials
From initial pilot through to large, multi-center clinical trials which are critical for medical devices to be adopted. Our clinical trial specialists meticulously design and execute trials for early-stage technologies or innovations transitioning to new patient populations.
3. Real-World Evaluation
Following a successful clinical trial we partner to deliver “real-world” evaluation of the device with medical staff to facilitate feedback from front-line worker lived experiences.
4. Funding Facilitation
We partner to obtain funding to defray costs from organizations such as InnovateBC, Circle Innovation, CANHEALTH, MITACS and the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCHF).
5. Scaling
Following a successful trial and evaluation, we leverage our network to help encourage broad procurement.
The AIM Leadership Team
President and CEO
Royal Columbian Hospital
Foundation
AIM Executive Lead, RCH ICU
physician and clinician-scientist
View Steve's Research Gate profile
AIM Entrepreneur in Residence
and accomplished tech entrepreneur
Research Director
AIM
Click Here to Meet the Academic Team Behind AIM
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of innovation do we support?
We primarily focus on potentially transformative medical devices requiring rigorous clinical evidence to demonstrate patient and system benefits.
How are we compensated?
As many/most early stage innovative health-care entities are starved for cash, we seek equity in our partnering companies. This equity compensates the Foundation for deploying clinical champions and conducting high-quality trials.
How do we impact BC’s health-tech ecosystem?
AIM uniquely aligns incentives to propel Canadian innovations. By conducting high-quality, ethically rigorous research, we actively enhance patient outcomes, support health systems, and foster growth within the innovation community.
What does “social enterprise” mean in relation to BC healthcare?
All AIM proceeds beyond operational expenses are reinvested into our hospital and healthcare system. We redirect resources to enhance care quality and efficiency, ultimately reducing healthcare costs through the application of innovations validated through careful, rigorous, and ethical clinical trials that we conduct.
Successes to Date
Mindful Garden: Nature Digital Medicine Article
Ondine Biomedical: Steriwave ICU Application
CLiCK Trial with SterileCare Inc.: Trials Journal Publication
Some of Our Funders and Partners to Date
