Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging

What Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging does

CIRA (Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging) is a private nonprofit research organization incorporated in spring 2018 and embedded within the York Care Centre campus in Fredericton, New Brunswick — Atlantic Canada's largest long-term care facility. The organization conducts applied research aimed at improving quality of life for seniors, caregivers, and long-term care staff, with project areas spanning medication safety, dementia care, physical rehabilitation, social isolation, palliative care, vaccination tracking, and aging in place.

Its portfolio consists of pilot-stage research technologies rather than commercial products, including MedReviewRx (a medication deprescribing web application built on MedSafer drug data), PassiveAware (passive sensor-based activity of daily living monitoring for dementia), GENIE (a registered-trademark telecommunications portal co-developed with Ambient Activity Technologies for social connectivity), VR for Rehab and non-immersive VR mood interventions, the Centivizer system and 2RaceWithMe augmented reality pedal exerciser, the Sleep Kit (multi-sensory sleep therapy for dementia), the piloted CANImmunize digital immunization platform, and the more recently launched AgingRights.ca bilingual human rights data repository.

CIRA does not sell products or services commercially. Revenue is generated exclusively through research grants and collaborative funding from the Government of New Brunswick, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation, and academic partners including Bruyère Research Institute, University of Toronto, University of Moncton, and University of Regina. Its GTM is community- and event-driven: research is piloted directly within York Care Centre, extended to other New Brunswick LTC facilities, and disseminated through the annual Aging Care & Research Symposium, open houses, newsletter, media coverage, and peer-reviewed publications. The organization shares a Board of Directors with its host facility, York Care Centre.

Name

Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging

Legal name

Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging

Website

https://agingresearch.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CIRA is a nonprofit aging research organization embedded within York Care Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick, that pilots technology and care interventions for seniors in long-term care, funded by government and institutional research grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aging and Senior Care Research Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (623110)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment & Care Planning (HSABAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) / Virtual CCRC Programs (HLADAEAH), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) with Memory Care (HLADACAD), Caregiving, Aging-in-Place & Home Safety Education (For seniors & family caregivers) (EDAAAMAL), Arts, Culture & Creative Learning for Seniors (Music, writing, crafts) (EDAAAMAI)

Keywords

• Aging research services
• Senior care technology
• Long-term care research
• Medication deprescribing solutions
• Passive monitoring sensors

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: CIRA is a nonprofit research organization incorporated in spring 2018 that generates revenue through government and institutional research grants. Major funding sources include the $75 million Healthy Seniors Pilot Project (Government of New Brunswick and Public Health Agency of Canada), Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) funding programs, and various granting agencies.
2. Research Collaborations: Collaborative research projects with academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and technology partners. Revenue derived from research project partnerships and shared research initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIRA is a research organization that develops, pilots, and evaluates technology-enabled solutions to improve quality of life for seniors in long-term care. Its core activity is conducting applied aging research spanning medication safety, social connectivity, cognitive health, physical rehabilitation, dementia care, and caregiver support, with projects piloted at the York Care Centre and extended to other New Brunswick facilities through grant-funded programs. It also delivers dementia education training and operates the AgingRights.ca bilingual human rights data repository for older adults.

Product overview

CIRA (Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging) is a research organization focused on aging research, not a traditional product company. CIRA develops and pilots various technology applications for senior care, including MedReviewRx (medication deprescribing web application), VR for Rehab (non-immersive virtual reality exercise system), CANImmunize (digital immunization tracking platform), PassiveAware (passive monitoring technology for dementia care), GENIE (social connection telecommunications portal), 2RaceWithMe (augmented reality physical activity device), The Sleep Kit (dementia sleep therapy), and the Centivizer System (cognitive and physical activity platform). These research technologies are developed in partnerships with organizations like Ambient Activity Technologies, Centivizer Inc., CANImmunize, and Person Centred Universe, and are primarily tested within the York Care Centre long-term care facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MedReviewRx: A web-based application designed to produce medication deprescribing reports for long-term care healthcare providers.
• GENIE
• AgingRights.ca

Products and services

• MedReviewRx Web-based application that cross-references medication information from long-term care resident charts with drug information from MedSafer to produce deprescribing reports highlighting medications that could potentially cause harm or could be tapered or stopped, for healthcare providers in long-term care.
• VR for Rehab Non-immersive virtual reality system incorporating computer hardware and software that tracks individual movements, allowing seniors to interact with therapeutic games and activities on a television screen for rehabilitative exercises in long-term care.
• CANImmunize Canada's digital immunization tracking system piloted by CIRA to track vaccinations in assisted and independent living facilities at York Care Centre, including a mobile app, web portal, and Clinic Flow for managing digital vaccination clinics.
• PassiveAware Assistive technology platform that passively monitors individuals using non-intrusive sensor tags placed on everyday objects such as refrigerator, front door, bathroom door, and medicine cabinet to track activities of daily living, providing caregivers mobile/web notifications for temperature, humidity, and movement plus weekly summaries, designed for proactive care of those with memory loss or dementia.
• GENIE Telecommunications Portal Standalone telecommunications portal unit with individualized messaging platforms, media entertainment centers, and a community bulletin board designed to help older adults in long-term care maintain social connections with families and community. GENIE is a registered trademark originally co-developed with Ambient Activity Technologies.
• 2RaceWithMe Augmented reality device developed by Centivizer Inc. that simulates biking at scenic locations worldwide, consisting of a pedal exerciser with a library of travel videos displayed on a TV screen, designed to promote physical activity in long-term care residents.
• The Sleep Kit Small box of alternative sleep therapies for individuals with dementia, focused on one-on-one social interaction before bedtime using items based on the five senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, sound), and including a custom-made sleep diary and journaling opportunities.
• Centivizer System Engagement system providing activities and monitoring physical and cognitive status over time, including steering wheel input, six button input, driving simulator, 360-degree travel video, and exercise pedals, designed for seniors' cognitive and physical activation.
• VR Interventions for Negative Mood Virtual reality therapeutic intervention exposing long-term care residents to world travel, animal visits, ocean environments, nature tours, and interactive games, designed to treat negative mood and improve well-being in seniors.
• SuzyQ HotFood Cart Mobile food cart for long-term care dining enhancement, implemented through CABHI Discover + Adopt Program to improve mealtimes for residents at York Care Centre, with goals of enhancing dining experience, improving staff work environment, and reducing food waste.
• Dementia Education Training Dementia education training offered in partnership with Person Centred Universe, designed to help long-term care staff reflect on their practice by addressing blind spots in dementia care, with CIRA researching the impact of this training on staff working with residents living with dementia.
• Aging Rights Data Repository Bilingual rights-based data repository developed as an educational intervention to improve knowledge and human rights of older adults, hosted at AgingRights.ca and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada Intersectoral Action Fund, with ethics approval from University of Regina Ethics Board (#841).

Quantifiable outcome

• VR interventions showed statistically significant well-being improvements compared to control group (being read to by volunteer), with medium to large effect size
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Person Centred UniversecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Person Centred Universe (founded 2013 in New Brunswick by Ashley King and Daphne Noonan) to provide dementia education training to long-term care facilities in New Brunswick. CIRA researches the impact of this training on staff working with residents living with dementia.
• Ambient Activity TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Co-developed GENIE, a telecommunications portal for social connectivity in long-term care. GENIE includes individualized messaging platforms, media entertainment centers, and community bulletin board. Originally developed in conjunction with CIRA and York Care Centre in 2019 with promising user-testing results.
• CANImmunizecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership with CANImmunize, a Canadian digital immunization tracking system company. CIRA pilots their platform to track vaccinations in assisted and independent living facilities at York Care Centre. CANImmunize provides Clinic Flow technology allowing hospitals and senior residences to run digital vaccination clinics.
• Centivizer Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership with University of Toronto spinoff company Centivizer Inc. CIRA evaluates effectiveness of Centivizer system including 2RaceWithMe (pedal exerciser with travel videos) and other cognitive/physical activation devices. Research showed significant improvement in MoCA scores for residents using Centivizer equipment.
• Bruyère Research InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership for the VR for Rehab project investigating virtual reality as a motivating way to encourage seniors to participate in regular rehabilitative exercises.
• Victoria HospicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Victoria Hospice for Palliative Care Education Program. Victoria Hospice palliative experts connect with staff mentors at York Care Centre to help implement a palliative approach to care through online training modules.
• University of MonctonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership for 2RaceWithMe project, evaluating the effectiveness of augmented reality device to promote increased physical activity levels of residents at York Care Centre.
• University of TorontosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership for 2RaceWithMe project (Centivizer is a University of Toronto spinoff company), evaluating augmented reality intervention for physical activity promotion in long-term care.
• York Care CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization and primary research site. CIRA office is housed within York Care Centre campus, New Brunswick's largest long-term care facility. All research projects are piloted at York Care Centre. CIRA and York Care Centre share the same Board of Directors.
• University of ReginasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Regina Ethics Board approved the Aging Rights project (#841) for research on human rights of older adults.
• NB Seniors AdvocatesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Aging Rights project focused on development, implementation, and evaluation of bilingual rights-based data repository for older adults.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SE Health (Saint Elizabeth Health Care): One of Canada's largest social enterprises providing home and community-based senior care, including research arms like SE Research Centre. Comparable to CIRA in applied senior-care research, but with a much larger operational footprint.
• AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence: Canada's federally funded Technology and Aging network coordinating aging-tech research across 40+ institutions. CIRA is a participant; AGE-WELL serves as a broader incumbent ecosystem that competes for similar funding and shapes policy.
• Healthcare Excellence Canada: A federally funded organization that funds and disseminates evidence-based senior care innovations across Canadian health systems — a likely national-stage peer for any scaling of CIRA's tools.
• Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI): A major Canadian aging-innovation funding and acceleration entity. CABHI is both a CIRA funder and an ecosystem shaper; its portfolio overlaps with CIRA's technology validation mandate but operates at a much larger national scale.
• Alzheimer Society of Canada: National funder and research commissioner for dementia and Alzheimer's programs. CIRA's dementia-focused tools (PassiveAware, Sleep Kit, Person Centred Universe partnership) overlap with the Society's research priorities.

Direct peers

• Baycrest: Toronto-based academic health sciences center specializing in aging, dementia care, and long-term care research. Runs the Rotman Research Institute and is a global leader in senior care innovation — comparable to CIRA's LTC research and technology focus.
• National Institute on Ageing (Toronto Metropolitan University): A policy and research institute focused on healthy aging, dementia, and senior care systems. Comparable to CIRA in producing applied research evidence for senior-care stakeholders in Canada.
• Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging: A Canadian aging research institute embedded within long-term care communities (Schlegel Villages) that develops, tests, and scales innovations for seniors living with frailty, dementia, and complex health conditions — directly comparable to CIRA's embedded-LTC research model.
• Bruyère Research Institute: Ottawa-based research arm of Bruyère, the largest provider of sub-acute care in the Champlain region. Operates aging and long-term care research programs with academic partners — directly comparable to CIRA's LTC-embedded research mission.

Regional players

• CanAge: Canada's national seniors' advocacy organization focused on aging policy, healthy aging, and caregiver issues. Tangentially comparable through the Aging Rights work CIRA has launched via AgingRights.ca.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AgingResearchCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AgingResearchCA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cira-ycc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Innovation and Research in Aging