nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in the Americas, the 2025 winners of Canada’s largest medical research competition were announced. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include the world’s largest meat company taking advantage of a loophole in an anti–deforestation law, the aquatic weed putting an El Salvadoran tourist hot spot in jeopardy, and the dead migratory birds that sparked an uproar in Canada.
Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation just hosted its annual Angels Den competition, where Canada’s top innovators in various areas of medical research compete for direct funding as well as visibility with private investors. For the competition, the largest of its kind in Canada, entrants submit early–stage research or device concepts intended to improve healthcare. It has resulted in over $7 million in awards to medical research, the development of 34 medical devices, and the creation of 10 spin–off companies. The competition also encourages private investors to get involved in healthcare innovation development.
The previous top prize winner of the 2024 Angels Den competition was an AI surgical consultant that could identify which patients with traumatic brain injuries needed surgery. This tool has already been implemented at St. Michael’s Hospital emergency room and will soon be adopted in 12 other Ontario hospitals.
The top prize for the 2025 Angels Den competition was awarded to a team developing a machine that monitors lung oxygen levels in real time without radiation, allowing it to operate at the patient’s bedside. The Health System Innovation award was given to a team creating a device called the DialySnake, intended to easily clear catheters at home. The DialySnake allows a person suffering from kidney failure to use peritoneal dialysis treatment without worrying about having to get surgery to unclog the catheter, which is one of the most common complications. The Cancer Research Prize was awarded to a scientist who has created “custom–engineered viruses” that target the CD47 protein often found on cancerous tumors. Research suggests that blocking the CD47 protein on tumors could improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
Notably, there has been discussion in the scientific community about the intersection between academic research and industry development of medical devices. Some possible difficulties include conflicting timelines, regulatory barriers, and the difference in collaboration between academics and industry professionals. A 2025 paper suggests that for the most “seamless” integration, investors should get involved at the beginning of a project to ensure all interests are aligned, rather than, as with the Angels Den competition, after preliminary work has already been done. There is also criticism of investors allocating scientific funding through competition, as researchers must spend more time on proposals, pitches, and presentations rather than on actual research and development.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from the Americas:
- A Human Rights Watch investigation suggests that the world’s largest meat company may have found a loophole in anti–deforestation laws.
- A tourist hotspot in El Salvador is at risk from an invasive aquatic weed that feeds off lake pollutants.
- Recently, 142 bodies of migratory birds were found on private land in Saskatoon, Canada, sparking uproar over freelance hunters.
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Canada’s medical research innovation in the spotlight
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October 31, 2025
Diplomatic Courier’s Stephanie Gull brings you weekly under–the–radar stories from around the world. This week in the Americas: winners of Canada’s largest medical research competition were announced in October, including a prize for a virus designed to fight cancer.
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nder the Radar is a weekly special series bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world, one region at a time. This week in the Americas, the 2025 winners of Canada’s largest medical research competition were announced. Other noteworthy under–the–radar stories from the region include the world’s largest meat company taking advantage of a loophole in an anti–deforestation law, the aquatic weed putting an El Salvadoran tourist hot spot in jeopardy, and the dead migratory birds that sparked an uproar in Canada.
Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation just hosted its annual Angels Den competition, where Canada’s top innovators in various areas of medical research compete for direct funding as well as visibility with private investors. For the competition, the largest of its kind in Canada, entrants submit early–stage research or device concepts intended to improve healthcare. It has resulted in over $7 million in awards to medical research, the development of 34 medical devices, and the creation of 10 spin–off companies. The competition also encourages private investors to get involved in healthcare innovation development.
The previous top prize winner of the 2024 Angels Den competition was an AI surgical consultant that could identify which patients with traumatic brain injuries needed surgery. This tool has already been implemented at St. Michael’s Hospital emergency room and will soon be adopted in 12 other Ontario hospitals.
The top prize for the 2025 Angels Den competition was awarded to a team developing a machine that monitors lung oxygen levels in real time without radiation, allowing it to operate at the patient’s bedside. The Health System Innovation award was given to a team creating a device called the DialySnake, intended to easily clear catheters at home. The DialySnake allows a person suffering from kidney failure to use peritoneal dialysis treatment without worrying about having to get surgery to unclog the catheter, which is one of the most common complications. The Cancer Research Prize was awarded to a scientist who has created “custom–engineered viruses” that target the CD47 protein often found on cancerous tumors. Research suggests that blocking the CD47 protein on tumors could improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
Notably, there has been discussion in the scientific community about the intersection between academic research and industry development of medical devices. Some possible difficulties include conflicting timelines, regulatory barriers, and the difference in collaboration between academics and industry professionals. A 2025 paper suggests that for the most “seamless” integration, investors should get involved at the beginning of a project to ensure all interests are aligned, rather than, as with the Angels Den competition, after preliminary work has already been done. There is also criticism of investors allocating scientific funding through competition, as researchers must spend more time on proposals, pitches, and presentations rather than on actual research and development.
Here are some other under–the–radar stories from the Americas:
- A Human Rights Watch investigation suggests that the world’s largest meat company may have found a loophole in anti–deforestation laws.
- A tourist hotspot in El Salvador is at risk from an invasive aquatic weed that feeds off lake pollutants.
- Recently, 142 bodies of migratory birds were found on private land in Saskatoon, Canada, sparking uproar over freelance hunters.
