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In the world of medtech and artificial intelligence, NovaResp is using AI to quietly transform how we treat obstructive sleep apnea using software — one restful night at a time.
But this story is about more than just sleep software innovation. It's about how that innovation is happening on Canada’s east coast - in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Smarter Sleep Through AI
NovaResp is the developer of cMAP®, an AI-powered software that works with CPAP machines to help patients sleep longer and more comfortably. Instead of reacting to breathing blockages after they happen, cMAP® predicts them — much like a weather forecast — and adjusts the air pressure before a blockage occurs. This proactive approach allows for lower pressure levels, better comfort, and a higher likelihood that patients stick with their therapy.
It’s a small software shift with massive real-world implications. And it's happening in Nova Scotia.
From Idea to Impact: A Made-in-Nova Scotia Story
NovaResp’s founder, Dr. Hamed Hanafi, began working on the idea during his postdoctoral fellowship at Dalhousie University. Support came early from Invest Nova Scotia’s Early-Stage Commercialization Fund, which provided critical funding to build and protect the technology.
Deep Tech, Deep Roots
What started as a prototype quickly gained traction — thanks in large part to Nova Scotia’s rich network of academic, government, and innovation support.
Today, NovaResp’s team consists entirely of local graduates, many of whom started with the company as interns or researchers. And the company continues to give back — offering co-op placements and hands-on experience to students looking to explore innovative careers.
The Innovation Hub at Nova Scotia Health made it possible for the company to run two major clinical trials with new and existing CPAP users. The outcomes demonstrated effectiveness, proving NovaResp’s software outperforms the current standard of care.
Proximity, People, and Purpose
NovaResp’s office is within walking distance to multiple universities and a large teaching hospital — a rare combination that allows for faster collaboration, quicker clinical feedback, and smoother integration of research into real-world testing.
The talent pool is exceptional, and the people are just as impressive — kind, collaborative, and invested in helping one another succeed. It’s an ecosystem that encourages innovation without sacrificing quality of life. As the NovaResp team puts it: “It’s a magical place to live.”
Breathing Even Easier
NovaResp is preparing to launch new generations of cMAP® that will bring more personalized, AI-driven insights to patients — including phenotyping and endotyping capabilities that tailor PAP therapy to individual needs.
They’re also working toward integration with CPAP manufacturers — a big step that would bring Nova Scotia-born innovation to machines around the world.
Long before the current AI usage boom, NovaResp was using AI to explore proactive, preventative therapies in sleep medicine, proving that world-class innovation doesn’t have to come from Silicon Valley.
It can (and does) come from Nova Scotia, Canada.
Could your business be Nova Scotia’s next success story? Expand your search horizons and get in touch with Invest Nova Scotia to learn more.
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