Opening the door for new ideas and AI adoption in Women’s health

Co-founders Christine Goudie and Crystal Northcott launched Newfoundland-based Granville Biomedical in 2019 to address a lack of realistic teaching tools for health education. Their anatomically accurate, low-cost pelvic models provide clinicians, educators, and patients with products that promote health equity, evidence-based care, and inclusive design.

“We believe it’s time to start prioritizing women’s healthcare,” says CEO Christine Goudie, “[We want to] increase the hands-on confidence of practitioners and educate patients at a higher level because women deserve to know more about their bodies.”

Opening the door for new ideas and AI adoption

Granville Biomedical’s partnership with Mitacs is enabling the team to explore new technology. “With Mitacs’s support, we’re taking a deep dive into how pressure detection software and AI can be incorporated into our models to assist with advancing hands-on healthcare training,” said Goudie. “We wouldn’t have been able to explore this avenue otherwise.”

The technology is making a difference in clinics like Vitality Wellness in St. John’s, where uses the models are used daily to promote pelvic health, reduce fear around procedures, and improve patient understanding.

Canadian innovation, Global impact

Now selling into 28 countries, with products mass produced here in Canada and used by medical schools, clinics, and sexual health organizations worldwide, Granville Biomedical is impacting women’s health education on a global scale.

To date, the company has sold its models to obstetrics and gynecological residents, nurse practitioner students, osteopaths, oncologists, pelvic floor specialists, doulas and midwives, sexual wellness advocates, sexual assault (SANE) nurses, and even rape crisis centres around the world. Later this year, the company will be releasing its first beta app, which is designed to be an educational platform and learning resource for practitioners and trainees.

From research project to growing global supplier, the Mitacs-Granville collaboration shows how targeted innovation support can strengthen healthcare education.

Mitacs’s programs receive funding from multiple partners across Canada. We thank the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon for supporting us to empower Canadian innovation. 

Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: [email protected].