Major Federal Support to Transform Retinal AI Research in Canada

On February 4, 2026, in Brossard, Quebec, a landmark initiative was announced by DIAGNOS Inc. and the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) to advance artificial intelligence (AI) technology focused on retinal image analysis. This collaboration brings together industry, academia, and federal funding sources to accelerate research and development in clinically meaningful AI for eye health and disease detection.

Understanding the Partnership

The vision behind this collaboration is to harness cutting-edge AI algorithms and research potential to build next-generation tools that improve detection and clinical relevance in retinal healthcare. The announcement highlights a strategic and multi-year funding plan aimed at pushing the boundaries of AI innovation while nurturing talent and strengthening Canada’s research ecosystem.

Key Contributors and Funding Breakdown

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC): Committed $725,734 CAD over five years through its Alliance Grant program to support core research activities.
• Mitacs: Contributed $293,331 CAD to fund Accelerate internships, aimed at strengthening industry-academic collaboration.
• DIAGNOS Inc.: Providing matching financial and in-kind contributions totaling $500,000 CAD over five years via the establishment of an industrial research Chair at ÉTS.

Focus of the Research Program

The funding supports a multi-year research program titled “Towards the Next Generation of Deep Learning Algorithms for Retinal Image Analysis.” Its main goal is to advance the accuracy, robustness, and clinical relevance of AI methodologies in retinal disease detection and monitoring.

Talent Development and Innovation

A total of eight Highly Qualified Personnel (HQPs) — including five graduate students and three postdoctoral researchers — will be supported through this initiative. These researchers will engage in innovative work at the intersection of AI and healthcare, focusing on developing state-of-the-art algorithms that may soon be translated into clinical and commercial tools.

Comments from Leadership

André Larente, President and CEO of DIAGNOS, highlighted the strategic importance of combining federal investment with the company’s internal expertise, clinical partnerships, and proprietary datasets to accelerate innovation. He remarked that the support would provide a powerful engine for clinical impact and commercial advancement.

Professor Ismail Ben Ayed, research Chair at ÉTS, stated that being selected for the highly competitive NSERC Alliance program validates the scientific and translational quality of their work. According to him, this enables the team to pursue ambitious research goals and strengthens Canada’s leadership in medical AI.

Strengthening Canada’s AI and Healthcare Research Ecosystem

This initiative reinforces DIAGNOS’ strategy of leveraging world-class academic research to accelerate innovation in AI-driven solutions for retinal health. The collaboration underscores a broader effort to support earlier disease detection, improve patient outcomes, and translate research breakthroughs into clinical practice.

Real-World Impact Potential

Retinal image analysis powered by AI plays a crucial role in identifying and monitoring diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and other vision-threatening conditions. Advanced AI systems can analyze patterns and anomalies in retinal images that may be difficult to detect through traditional methods. This supports healthcare professionals in making earlier, more accurate diagnoses.

By improving diagnostic accuracy and enabling early intervention, these innovations can help reduce the global burden of vision loss and enhance quality of life for patients at risk of retinal diseases. Cutting-edge models based on deep learning and neural networks have shown remarkable performance in identifying subtle changes in retinal morphology, which could potentially lead to better patient outcomes when embedded into clinical workflows.

How the Funding Supports Collaborative Innovation

The combined contributions from NSERC, Mitacs, and DIAGNOS provide a comprehensive foundation for advancing both academic research and practical implementation:

• NSERC Alliance Grant: Encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration and supports research excellence.
• Mitacs Internships: Offers hands-on, industry-focused training for students and researchers.
• Industrial Research Chair at ÉTS: Establishes a dedicated research leadership position to guide innovation.

Significance of Industry-Academic Partnerships

Partnerships between corporations and academic institutions are vital in bridging the gap between theoretical research and real-world healthcare solutions. By combining DIAGNOS’ proprietary AI technology and clinical datasets with ÉTS’ research expertise, this collaboration strengthens Canada’s position in the global AI healthcare landscape.

Such cooperation ensures that emerging AI technologies are not only scientifically rigorous but also tailored to meet clinical needs — increasing the likelihood that innovations will successfully transition from the laboratory to patient care settings.

Looking Ahead: Future Prospects

With the research team now nearing completion of onboarding and entering the second semester of the project, the next phases will focus on refining AI algorithms and preparing them for real-world clinical use. This includes enhancing accuracy, robustness, and interpretability — key factors for safe and effective AI tools in healthcare.

As AI technologies continue to evolve, the knowledge and tools developed through this partnership may have implications beyond retinal imaging — helping to pave the way for broader applications of AI in medical diagnostics and patient care.

About the Organizations

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

NSERC is Canada’s primary federal agency responsible for promoting and supporting research in the natural sciences and engineering. Its Alliance Grants foster industry-academic collaborations that translate research into societal and economic benefits.

Mitacs

Mitacs is a national not-for-profit organization that connects academia with industry to drive innovation. Its Accelerate program supports internships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to work on real-world challenges.

DIAGNOS Inc.

DIAGNOS Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian corporation dedicated to early detection of critical eye-related health issues through AI-based technology. Its solutions aim to support healthcare clinicians by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, streamlining workflows, and improving patient outcomes globally.

École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)

ÉTS is a Montreal-based engineering school known for its applied research and industry partnerships. Through this collaboration, ÉTS provides research leadership and academic expertise to advance next-generation AI for retinal healthcare.

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