Innovating for Everyone: The Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge
In partnership with Canadian Cancer Society
Challenge description
People in Canada continue to die from colorectal cancer even though survival rates for those diagnosed early is very promising. While organized colorectal cancer screening programs for early detection are in place in most provinces and territories, there are gaps in these programs, and some population groups experience barriers and inequities to accessing them.
MaRS and the Canadian Cancer Society are challenging you to develop solutions that will meaningfully engage underserved populations and address barriers that prevent or hinder the early detection of colorectal cancer.
Who should participate
- Practitioners in the healthcare and cancer sectors
- National, regional or community based non-profit organizations
- Innovators in the private/public sector, including healthcare organizations
- Researchers in post-secondary/academic institutions
- People or groups with lived experience of cancer
- Health system designers
- General public
Prizing
Participants will compete for a total prize amount of $150,000, including:
- One Grand Prize Award of $100,000
- One Runner-up Prize Award of $50,000
What’s happening now
Congratulations to the grand prize winner, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre, and Runner-up, Flemingdon Health Centre. Read about these winning solutions here.
Watch the closing event and winners announcement here.
Colorectal cancer in Canada
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Canada. In 2022, approximately 24,300 new cases of colorectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Canada [1]. The human, societal and financial costs that this disease carries are real and significant.
The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated this situation tremendously by causing national disruptions to organized colorectal cancer screening programs for early detection. For example, colorectal cancer screening rates fell by 65% in Nova Scotia, 56% in Ontario, and 35% in Alberta in the first year of the pandemic [2]. Nationally, a six-month screening delay could result in an additional 1,320 late stage diagnoses and 960 deaths [3].
Despite these statistics, colorectal cancer deaths are highly preventable if diagnosed in a timely manner. The five year survival rate of colorectal cancer is 67%. With a stage one diagnosis, that number jumps to over 90% [4].
The solution, therefore, seems quite simple: improve access to screening for early detection of colorectal cancer.
Unfortunately, it is not that straightforward.
Access to organized colorectal cancer screening in Canada
Access to organized colorectal cancer programs is not the same for everyone living in Canada. While organized screening programs are in place in most provinces and territories, there are gaps in these programs, and some population groups experience barriers and inequities in accessing them.
These population groups, collectively termed as “underserved populations” for the purpose of this challenge, include [5]:
- People with lower income: increasing screening availability to lower income people in Canada could have an immense impact on colorectal cancer rates. For example, increasing screening rates across all income quintiles will have the greatest impact on the two lowest income groups in terms of colorectal cancer cases averted and deaths avoided.
- New immigrants: recent immigrants to Canada and persons from racialized communities face systemic challenges in accessing timely colorectal screening due to barriers such as: 1) inaccessibility of educational and health promotion materials (two-thirds of recent immigrants said they had not been tested because they did not know the test existed or was needed), and 2) fluency in one of Canada’s official languages (people who speak primarily English and/or French at home have higher screening rates than those who speak other languages because healthcare services are predominantly delivered in English or French).
- People living in rural and remote areas: colorectal cancer incidence rates are 13% higher amongst people living in rural and remote areas. This disparity signals a need to provide targeted strategies towards increasing screening for rural and remote populations to address issues such as access to healthcare resources and expertise (e.g., access to a family physician), as well as long travel times and financial costs to access preventive care.
- Racialized and marginalized communities: there are numerous accounts of how the healthcare system, generally, and the colorectal cancer screening system, specifically, has not met the needs of racialized and marginalized communities across Canada (including Black communities and other racialized groups, First Nations, Inuit and Métis, persons with disabilities, those experiencing mental illnesses, LGBTQ2+ individuals, etc.). Issues such as systemic racism, stigma, trust in healthcare providers, or lack of research and data related to these communities, need to be addressed in order to have a meaningful impact on colorectal cancer screening.
The problem, summarized
People in Canada continue to die from colorectal cancer even though survival rates for those diagnosed early is very promising.
Underserved populations are more likely to experience barriers to timely, appropriate and quality care before and after diagnosis.
To help address this problem, we need greater access to, and engagement with, personally meaningful information and solutions to help initiate screening for early detection of colorectal cancer, and continue along the diagnostic path, if required.
[1] Projected estimates of cancer in Canada in 2022, by D Brenner et. al; Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) 2022.
[2] Living at the Crossroads of COVID-19 and Cancer, published by the Canadian Cancer Society 2022
[3] Yong, JH et al. (2020). The impact of episodic screening interruption: COVID-19 and population-based cancer screening in Canada. Journal of Medical Screening
[4] Statistics sourced from the Canadian Cancer Society website
[5] Adapted from Equity-Focused Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening: Program Pack; published by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, 2021
Challenge statement
MaRS and the Canadian Cancer Society are challenging you to develop solutions that will meaningfully engage underserved populations and address barriers that prevent or hinder early detection of colorectal cancer.
You have the flexibility to consider a wide range of approaches, such as process improvements to existing organized colorectal cancer screening programs, system enhancements that have worked in other sectors, or incorporation of new partnership models, novel impact measurement tools, and re-imagined educational and health promotion strategies, to name a few.
Winning solutions will need to demonstrate the potential to:
- Address one or more key barriers preventing greater uptake of colorectal cancer screening for early detection;
- Meet the needs of at least one underserved group(s);
- Be easily adopted or spread widely; and
- Be feasible and impactful.
What do we mean by “early detection”?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early detection of cancer [1] is comprised of:
- Screening, which consists of testing healthy individuals to identify those having cancers before any symptoms appear; and
- Early diagnosis, which focuses on detecting symptomatic patients as early as possible.
Through the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge, we seek innovative solutions to address barriers to early detection of colorectal cancer screening for underserved populations. We are particularly interested in solutions like process improvements to existing organized colorectal cancer screening programs, system enhancements that have worked in other sectors, incorporation of new partnership models, novel impact measurement tools, and re-imagined educational and health promotion strategies, and other creative interventions that facilitate an individual completing a colorectal cancer screening test.
Solutions that are out of scope for the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge include new things that aim to replace or improve upon current diagnostic testing services and technologies to detect and diagnose colorectal cancer, such as:
- Home testing kits outside of an organized screening program (e.g., Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Test (iFOBT))
- Laboratory tests (e.g., blood or urine tests),
- Imaging tests (e.g., computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scan, ultrasound, etc.), and
- Biopsies
- Endoscopy tests as primary colorectal cancer screening tests (e.g., flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy).
[1] World Health Organization Fact Sheet, Cancer – Screening and early detection, May 16, 2021
Assessment criteria
The best solutions will build upon and leverage previously successful interventions within or outside the colorectal cancer screening domain; apply new insights, methods or approaches into the intervention design in order to increase early detection of colorectal cancer through screening; and generate evidence of impact in addressing barriers to early detection of colorectal cancer screening.
The assessment of solutions will be based on the following criteria:
Need and target (10%)
This criterion will assess what barrier, problem, gap or inefficiency the solution will address, as well as the underserved group that will be targeted
- The solution clearly identifies (drawing on evidence) a barrier, problem, gap or inefficiency in the current system of colorectal cancer screening and early detection
- The solution clearly identifies at least one underserved group in Canada
Innovation (20%)
This criterion will test whether the solution is designed to deliver impact in a manner consistent with challenge statement
- The solution does something substantially different or better than existing approaches to address a barrier to early detection of colorectal cancer
- The solution draws on research, evidence and/or insights that demonstrate its applicability towards colorectal cancer screening for early detection
Adoption (20%)
This criterion will assess whether the solution is designed for replication and wider adoption should it be successful in implementation
- The solution will either be co-created with an underserved group(s) and/or will have a high likelihood of adoption by an underserved group(s) due to the solution’s process of engagement
- All or part of the solution could be adapted or spread widely to other underserved groups and/or other health or social policy domains
Feasibility (25%)
This criterion will assess the practicality of the solution in terms of expected value creation and cost-effectiveness
- The solution is designed with clear, attainable objectives, and includes an implementation approach that is realistic and achievable
- The solution is deemed to generate a high potential for success/return on investment based on how it will help address an early detection barrier(s) and facilitate the completion of colorectal cancer screening tests
- The solution can be easily adapted while still creating value should it receive the Runner-up prize award
Impact (25%)
This criterion will assess the approach taken to measure the results of the intervention through quantitative and/or qualitative data collection and analysis
- The solution identifies key outputs and outcomes important to achieving impact
- The solution assesses and accounts for potential downstream system impact (positive and negative)
- The solution includes an existing or well-developed approach/methodology to data collection and impact measurement
Timeline
Information Webinar #1 (11/01/2023)
(English)
Information Webinar #2 (12/01/2023)
(French)
Information Webinar #3 (01/02/2023)
(English)
Submission Deadline (04/03/2023)
Remember to submit your solution by 11:59pm ET
This post is also available in: Français
This post is also available in: Français
Participants will compete for a total prize amount of $150,000, including
∗ One Grand Prize Award of $100,000
∗ One Runner-up Prize Award of $50,000
Eligibility
Eligible applicants to the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge include individuals, groups, and organizations in the non-profit, public or private sectors in Canada.
This includes:
- Practitioners in the healthcare and cancer sectors
- National, regional or community based non-profit organizations
- Innovators in the private/public sector, including healthcare organizations
- Researchers in post-secondary/academic institutions
- People or groups with lived experience of cancer
- Health system designers
- General public
Application process
Participants must submit their application using one of the following three options by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on March 4, 2023:
- Submit your written application online via our challenge portal: Innovating for Everyone: Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge
- Send an email to challenges@marsdd.com with an attached audio or video file answering the submission question
- Mail your answers to the submission questions to:
MaRS Discovery District – 101 College Street Suite 100 – Toronto ON M5G 1L7
ATTN: Shilpa Sharma – Innovating for Everyone: Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge
Contact us at challenges@marsdd.com or (647) 255-1452 if you have questions or require another submission format.
Challenge rules
In addition to the resources and information available to you on this website, please consult our official Challenge Rules to learn more about the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge.
Required for Submission
Resources
Useful Links
FAQ
Since initiatives like developing a new health technology require different processes for testing and evaluation (such as regulatory stages), they are considered out of scope for this challenge. However, there are other programs or funding streams that this type of innovation may be eligible for, such as CDL Cancer and funding opportunities via the Canadian Cancer Society.
For individuals:
- You are a legal resident of Canada, and
- You are at least the age of majority in your resident province or territory.
For groups:
Each member of the team, at the time of entry, is:
- a legal resident of Canada, and
- at least the age of majority in their resident province or territory.
For companies or organizations:
At the time of entry, the company or organization is either
- incorporated under the laws of Canada, or
- operating in Canada.
You are ineligible to participate in the challenge if:
- You are an employee of MaRS or the Canadian Cancer Society; or
- You are an immediate family member of a MaRS or Canadian Cancer Society employee.
Winners will be selected by a panel of expert judges based on the Challenge Evaluation Criteria. Please see the Challenge Rules to find out about the Evaluation Criteria.
No. All submissions are kept private and no details are shared with other competitors.
The entrant(s) (individual, team, company, or organization, as applicable) will retain all intellectual property rights to their proposed solution. For more details on intellectual property rights, please see the Challenge Rules.
Website Submission
- You or your team leader must create a profile on our MaRS Challenge Platform
- Review the Challenge Rules and ensure you meet all the eligibility requirements.
- Click “Accept Challenge” on the Innovating for Everyone: Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge webpage.
- Complete the Submission Form, following word limits, and save in Microsoft Word or PDF format with your team/applicant name and date listed in the file name (e.g. Team-MaRS_Mar012023_Submission-Form.pdf).
- Click “Submit Application” on the Innovating for Everyone: Colorectal Cancer Early Detection Challenge webpage and upload your saved Submission Form.
Please contact the MaRS Team if you require a different submission format.
You may submit a maximum of one entry per individual, team, or organization
Please contact the MaRS Team, we are happy to help!
If needed for any question in the submission form, you can include a chart or figure within your response to that question. Any text included in a figure or graphic will not count towards the question’s maximum word count. For tables, the text will count towards the maximum word count.
Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society works tirelessly to save and improve lives. We fund the brightest minds in cancer research. We provide a compassionate support system for all those affected by cancer, across Canada and for all types of cancer. As the voice for people who care about cancer, we work with governments to shape a healthier society. No other organization does all that we do to make lives better today and transform the future of cancer forever.
MaRS Discovery District (MaRS)
The mission of MaRS is to help innovators create a better world. Our 2025 vision is to be the engine for Canada to lead in the innovation economy. We do this by accelerating the growth of Canadian science and technology-based companies into global businesses. We also work with philanthropic, government and corporate partners to accelerate the adoption of innovation across business and society. MaRS convenes over 2,000 meetings and events annually, leveraging our state-of-the-art collaboration centre and our digital platform.
Dr Jean-Paul Bahary
Dr. Jean-Paul Bahary is a Full Professor in the Department of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Nuclear Medicine at the University of Montreal and head of neuro-oncology at the CHUM. He completed his medical course at the University of Montreal, his radiation oncology residency at McGill University from 1987 to 1990, and then completed additional training in neuro-oncology with Dr. D. A. Larson at the University of California, San Francisco in 1991. He also participated in the EXTRA/EXTRA program, then completed a master’s degree in health administration at the University of Montreal.
Dr. Bahary has been a radiation oncologist at the CHUM since 1996 and a researcher at the CRCHUM and the Montreal Cancer Institute. He specializes more specifically in radiotherapy in the treatment of tumors of the central nervous system. He directs numerous clinical research projects, which have, among other things, allowed him to be the co-author of more than a hundred publications. He has been a guest speaker on more than 80 occasions and has participated in several reports in different media.
He has received several awards and recognitions including, 2009 Distinction – CARO Lecturer 2009, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists (Quebec).
Jenna Long
For the past 14 years, Jenna Long has worked as a registered nurse in the Northwest Territories (NT), working both in the capital city of Yellowknife, NT, and in the regional hub of Fort Smith, NT. In her current role as the Territorial Manager, Cancer Care with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA), Jenna is accountable for the development, implementation, and evaluation of organized cancer screening programs (colorectal, breast, and cervical), cancer navigation, oncology clinical services and supports, program direction for active chemotherapy treatment, and survivorship programs in accordance with the NTHSSA and the Registered Nurses Association of Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Jenna most recently has supported the co-development of a sustainable territorial colorectal cancer screening program in partnership with stakeholders from across the NT that has required innovative strategies specific to community engagement and program implementation, exploring community nuances across health regions and in consideration of the challenges and barriers experienced in northern rural and remote communities.
Natalie Fitzgerald
Natalie Fitzgerald is the Director, Performance at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. With previous experience in the pharmaceutical industry and Ontario Health, Natalie applies quantitative methods to inform health system planning and decision support. Natalie received her Masters of Arts in Economics at Dalhousie University.
Scott Antle
Scott Antle is a Division Manager in the Provincial Cancer Care Program of Eastern Health. Scott has responsibility for management, operations and strategic initiatives of the Newfoundland and Labrador Colon Screening Program, co-management of the Cervical Screening Initiatives Program and Smoking Cessation in Cancer Care. He is a member of multiple networks and committees with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and is volunteer chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco. Scott has over 20 years of experience working in the cancer system from research with Harvard Universities Nurses’ Health Study to advocacy at the Canadian Cancer Society to his current role in cancer screening programs.
Dr. Kensuke Hirasawa