Five Kingston life sciences startups secure funding to fast-track health innovations

Cancer detection, chronic pain and women’s health projects among those supported.

Five Kingston-area life sciences companies have received $282,700 through the Helix Funding program to help move new health technologies toward commercialization.

Kingston Economic Development Corporation announced the funding Thursday, noting the projects will exceed $565,000 when matching funds are included. The program connects companies with a regional Validation Network of more than 20 partners offering technical, regulatory and clinical expertise.

The funded companies are Cntrl+, eTransplant, LenSense Inc., mDETECT Inc., and Octane Innovation Inc. Their projects span medical devices, diagnostics, digital health and femtech, addressing needs from stress urinary incontinence and kidney transplant care to cancer detection, glaucoma monitoring and chronic pain treatment.

Launched in April 2025, Helix Funding is supported by the federal government through FedDev Ontario. It is part of Kingston’s $3.4-million life sciences initiative, which aims to support more than 100 businesses and create or maintain over 400 high-quality jobs across Eastern Ontario.

Story by Alyssa Brush

 

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