ASTech’s 2012 Winners

Posted on by IT Admin
Dr. Marvin Fritzler won the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Alberta Science and Technology Community for his visionary leadership and dedication to shaping Alberta’s scientific landscape. As a professor at the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health University of Calgary and chair of important institutions like the Alberta Research and Innovation Authority, Dr. Fritzler’s influence extended beyond research, fostering collaborations and advancing public policy to enhance the province’s economic performance and social security. He played a pivotal role in founding Genome Alberta, the Alberta Prion Research Institute, and MitogenDx, a lab using leading-edge diagnostic technologies to aid in disease prevention and treatment planning.
Drader Custom Manufacturing in collaboration with University of Alberta Professor Dr. Yongsheng Ma, won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Applied Technology and Innovation for their innovative advancements in the plastic manufacturing industry. Based in Edmonton and led by the McTavish family, the company evolved from a traditional machine shop into a leader in custom plastic products. Through collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta to integrate scientific research into their product development, Drader enhanced product reliability and effectiveness, positioning themselves as pioneers in applying advanced 3D design and automation technologies in the industry.  In 2023, Drader became certified as a member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Businesses and has recently expanded operations in both Alberta and Ontario facilities.
Founded by Alison Sunstrum GrowSafe Systems Ltd. won the Innovation in Agricultural Science award for developing transformative technology to increase productivity and sustainability in the cattle industry. The company’s patented systems enabled real-time monitoring and management of individual animals.  Ms.Sunstrum is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor focused on sustainable agriculture solutions, currently serving as CEO of CNSRV-X Inc., General Partner at The51, Managing Partner at Builders VC, and Fellow and Founding Member at Creative Destruction Lab.
Drs. Seema Gupta and Rajan Gupta won the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Applied Technology and Innovation for developing the world’s first point-of-care test (POCT) for Vitamin D levels through their company, NanoSpeed Diagnostics Inc., located in the Edmonton Research Park. Their innovation, the Test4™ series, enables quick, affordable, and accurate health assessments using a lab-on-a-chip device that processes tests for Vitamin D, thyroid hormones, and minerals like calcium and iron within 10 minutes. Currently, they are advancing their work by pursuing an artificial intelligence and machine learning approach to increase accessibility to essential health diagnostics.
Dr. Gregory Cairncross, honoured with the Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science Award, spearheaded groundbreaking advancements in cancer research, particularly in brain tumour biology and therapy. As the former Head of the Clinical Neurosciences Department at the University of Calgary, Dr. Cairncross has revolutionized treatment strategies and provided hope to countless patients. He founded the Brain Tumor Site Group of the National Cancer Institute of Canada and holds the Brain Tumor Research Chair at the University of Calgary. Some of his honours include being a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Alberta Cancer Research.
KMT Hepatech Inc. won the award for Outstanding Commercial Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology for pioneering a novel technology with their transgenic KMT Mouse™, which revolutionized research on liver-related diseases like Hepatitis C and malaria. Founded as a University of Alberta spin-off by leading researchers and clinicians Dr. Norman Kneteman, Dr. David Mercer, and Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, the company’s breakthrough mouse model provided a cost-effective solution for testing therapies and vaccines, addressing a critical need in the field.
Dr. Breanne Everett won the Leaders of Tomorrow award for combining her passion for medical science with entrepreneurial acumen when she co-founded Orpyx Medical Technologies while starting her medical career in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Calgary. Orpyx develops innovative sensor solutions for managing diabetic foot ulcers and is now advancing cloud-based data solutions to personalize patient care. For her commitment to advancing healthcare technology, Dr. Everett was inducted into the Alberta Business Hall of Fame, named in Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40, and awarded the Governor General’s Innovation Award in 2016.
Dr. Sean Sanders won the Innovation in Oil Sands Research Award for his significant contributions to advancing pipeline research in the oil sands industry, with a focus on sustainable resource recovery. As a Professor at the Faculty of Engineering – Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Dr. Sanders developed innovative methods to improve bitumen recovery while reducing environmental impacts, particularly through pipeline optimization and the transformation of bitumen during transport. 
Kristy Burke won the award for Excellence in Science and Technology Public Awareness for her efforts in enhancing public engagement with science and technology while managing Youth Science Programs at the University of Lethbridge. She made science engaging and accessible for young students through initiatives like Operation Minerva and the Travelling Lab Coats, actively working to reduce the intimidation factor in science education, particularly for girls and Aboriginal youth. Her dedication significantly boosted science outreach efforts, including bringing major events like the 2013 Canada Wide Science Fair to Lethbridge, earning her recognition by the Alberta Women’s Science Network as a Mentor of the Millennium.
Innovative Trauma Care Inc. won the Outstanding Science and Technology Startup award for revolutionizing first responder capabilities with the ITClamp™, a groundbreaking wound closure device designed by Dr. Dennis Filips, a former military trauma surgeon. The ITClamp™ addresses critical bleeding in traumatic injuries by swiftly controlling hemorrhaging, potentially saving countless lives by bridging the crucial gap between injury and hospital care. 
University of Calgary Professor Dr. Zhangxing (John) Chen, honoured with the Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Technology Award, revolutionized petroleum reservoir simulation through his pioneering research. Dr. Chen’s innovative methods and advanced simulation toolkits significantly enhanced oil recovery processes, increasing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and precision. Additionally, he has been honoured as a Fellow of the Energy Institute of Canada, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, among many others.
Additional 2012 Winners Include:
  • Hatsize Learning Corporation (Now part of Jones & Bartlett Learning) won the Innovation in Information and Communications Technology award for revolutionizing cloud-automated learning with its innovative virtual lab technology. Founded by Guy Hummel, this Alberta-based company enabled users worldwide to access training and demos for IT environments, delivering millions of hours of hands-on training remotely. Hatsize became a crucial resource in the tech sector, supporting companies like IBM and Symantec. 
  • Scat Dogs, honoured with the Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Technology and Innovation Award, utilized rescue dogs to gather critical data for environmentally sustainable practices in Alberta’s oil sands region. Led by Dr. Sam Wasser at the University of Washington, the innovative use of “conservation canines” aided in studying endangered species like caribou, providing insights into population size, distribution, stress, and nutrition, ultimately informing better wildlife management decisions for industry and government stakeholders.