Precision Medicine at PULSE

Precision Medicine at PULSE

Precision Medicine at PULSE

Precision Medicine at PULSE

The Nelson PULSE Centre makes health care more personal by combining many kinds of information into one clear picture.

We bring together imaging, clinical records, population health data, and advanced omics research to create insights that support better decisions in care.

Our work helps doctors and researchers turn complex data into knowledge that improves health for patients and communities.

Explore Our Story

Explore Our Story

Explore Our Story

Explore Our Story

Our Purpose

Our Purpose

To support innovation, lead the development of AI-driven health technologies, and create patient-focused, transformative solutions that move the needle for what really matters – improving patient care.

To support innovation, lead the development of AI-driven health technologies, and create patient-focused, transformative solutions that move the needle for what really matters – improving patient care.

Collaborate

Across disciplines, breaking down silos between universities, health services, and government.

Collaborate

Across disciplines, breaking down silos between universities, health services, and government.

Collaborate

Across disciplines, breaking down silos between universities, health services, and government.

Collaborate

Across disciplines, breaking down silos between universities, health services, and government.

Innovate

Using secure, privacy-preserving health data platforms and advanced AI.

Innovate

Using secure, privacy-preserving health data platforms and advanced AI.

Innovate

Using secure, privacy-preserving health data platforms and advanced AI.

Innovate

Using secure, privacy-preserving health data platforms and advanced AI.

Translate

Discoveries into real-world solutions that improve patient outcomes.

Translate

Discoveries into real-world solutions that improve patient outcomes.

Translate

Discoveries into real-world solutions that improve patient outcomes.

Translate

Discoveries into real-world solutions that improve patient outcomes.

The Nelson PULSE Centre is Alberta’s hub for precision medicine and learning health systems, dedicated to making health care smarter, faster, and more personalized for all Albertans.

We bring together clinicians, researchers, patients, and health leaders to transform health data into better care.

Our Story

Our Story

The vision for the PULSE Centre has been more than two decades in the making. Alberta has invested steadily in health data, digital systems, and precision medicine research. Key milestones include:

The vision for the PULSE Centre has been more than two decades in the making. Alberta has invested steadily in health data, digital systems, and precision medicine research. Key milestones include:

Early precision medicine efforts

2000s

Pioneering cardiovascular research with the launch of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the Stephenson Cardiac Imaging Centre. Development of APPROACH (Alberta Provincial Project for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease), one of the world’s largest cardiovascular outcome registries.

Early precision medicine efforts

2000s

Pioneering cardiovascular research with the launch of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the Stephenson Cardiac Imaging Centre. Development of APPROACH (Alberta Provincial Project for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease), one of the world’s largest cardiovascular outcome registries.

Early precision medicine efforts

2000s

Pioneering cardiovascular research with the launch of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the Stephenson Cardiac Imaging Centre. Development of APPROACH (Alberta Provincial Project for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease), one of the world’s largest cardiovascular outcome registries.

Early precision medicine efforts

2000s

Pioneering cardiovascular research with the launch of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the Stephenson Cardiac Imaging Centre. Development of APPROACH (Alberta Provincial Project for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease), one of the world’s largest cardiovascular outcome registries.

Provincial digital health

2010s

Implementation of Connect Care, Alberta’s electronic health record that connects providers across the province and lays the foundation for system-wide digital health transformation.

Provincial digital health

2010s

Implementation of Connect Care, Alberta’s electronic health record that connects providers across the province and lays the foundation for system-wide digital health transformation.

Provincial digital health

2010s

Implementation of Connect Care, Alberta’s electronic health record that connects providers across the province and lays the foundation for system-wide digital health transformation.

Provincial digital health

2010s

Implementation of Connect Care, Alberta’s electronic health record that connects providers across the province and lays the foundation for system-wide digital health transformation.

Secure data infrastructure

2020s

Development of MANTA, MARC, and DARC platforms, enabling privacy-preserving integration of clinical, imaging, and diagnostic data. These tools, supported through joint investment by Alberta Innovates, AHS, and academic partners, position Alberta as a leader in secure, scalable health data infrastructure.

Secure data infrastructure

2020s

Development of MANTA, MARC, and DARC platforms, enabling privacy-preserving integration of clinical, imaging, and diagnostic data. These tools, supported through joint investment by Alberta Innovates, AHS, and academic partners, position Alberta as a leader in secure, scalable health data infrastructure.

Secure data infrastructure

2020s

Development of MANTA, MARC, and DARC platforms, enabling privacy-preserving integration of clinical, imaging, and diagnostic data. These tools, supported through joint investment by Alberta Innovates, AHS, and academic partners, position Alberta as a leader in secure, scalable health data infrastructure.

Secure data infrastructure

2020s

Development of MANTA, MARC, and DARC platforms, enabling privacy-preserving integration of clinical, imaging, and diagnostic data. These tools, supported through joint investment by Alberta Innovates, AHS, and academic partners, position Alberta as a leader in secure, scalable health data infrastructure.

Patient-oriented research

Currently

Through the Cumming School of Medicine’s strategic plan Reimagining Health for All, Ahead of Tomorrow, the University committed major institutional investment toward precision medicine, digital health, and the development of a learning health system. This plan embedded patient-oriented research as a core value, strengthened capacity across institutes, and laid the groundwork for an integrated digital learning health system.

Patient-oriented research

Currently

Through the Cumming School of Medicine’s strategic plan Reimagining Health for All, Ahead of Tomorrow, the University committed major institutional investment toward precision medicine, digital health, and the development of a learning health system. This plan embedded patient-oriented research as a core value, strengthened capacity across institutes, and laid the groundwork for an integrated digital learning health system.

Patient-oriented research

Currently

Through the Cumming School of Medicine’s strategic plan Reimagining Health for All, Ahead of Tomorrow, the University committed major institutional investment toward precision medicine, digital health, and the development of a learning health system. This plan embedded patient-oriented research as a core value, strengthened capacity across institutes, and laid the groundwork for an integrated digital learning health system.

Patient-oriented research

Currently

Through the Cumming School of Medicine’s strategic plan Reimagining Health for All, Ahead of Tomorrow, the University committed major institutional investment toward precision medicine, digital health, and the development of a learning health system. This plan embedded patient-oriented research as a core value, strengthened capacity across institutes, and laid the groundwork for an integrated digital learning health system.

A transformational philanthropic gift from Susan Nelson established the Nelson PULSE Centre, bringing this history together into a platform that unites precision medicine, secure data infrastructure, and learning health systems to shape the future of healthcare for Alberta and beyond.

A transformational philanthropic gift from Susan Nelson established the Nelson PULSE Centre, bringing this history together into a platform that unites precision medicine, secure data infrastructure, and learning health systems to shape the future of healthcare for Alberta and beyond.

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Our Team

Our Team

Meet the experts driving innovation at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

Meet the experts driving innovation at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

Dr. James White

Cardiologist, Alberta Health Services Director

Nelson PULSE Centre

Dr. Christiane Job McIntosh

Director, Strategy & Impact

Nelson PULSE Centre

A complete list of faculty and team members coming soon.

A complete list of faculty and team members coming soon.

The Future of Healthcare

The Future of Healthcare

We believe Alberta can be a world leader in precision medicine and learning health systems.

We believe Alberta can be a world leader in precision medicine and learning health systems.

Our Vision

The Nelson PULSE Centre envisions a world where every clinical decision is informed, every patient is heard, and health data drives equitable, personalized care across all communities.

The Nelson PULSE Centre envisions a world where every clinical decision is informed, every patient is heard, and health data drives equitable, personalized care across all communities.

The Nelson PULSE Centre envisions a world where every clinical decision is informed, every patient is heard, and health data drives equitable, personalized care across all communities.

Our Goals Include

Supporting the co-creation of Alberta’s secure data research ecosystem.

Supporting the co-creation of Alberta’s secure data research ecosystem.

Supporting the co-creation of Alberta’s secure data research ecosystem.

Supporting the co-creation of Alberta’s secure data research ecosystem.

Developing and supporting implementation of AI-enabled clinical decision support tools that help patients and clinicians make faster, more personalized choices.

Training the next generation of researchers and innovators.

Training the next generation of researchers and innovators.

Training the next generation of researchers and innovators.

Training the next generation of researchers and innovators.

Driving collaboration across health, social, and community sectors to improve outcomes for all Albertans.

Driving collaboration across health, social, and community sectors to improve outcomes for all Albertans.

Driving collaboration across health, social, and community sectors to improve outcomes for all Albertans.

Driving collaboration across health, social, and community sectors to improve outcomes for all Albertans.

What is Precision Medicine?

What is Precision Medicine?

Precision medicine is health care that is tailored to each individual. It considers genetics, environment, lifestyle, and the phenome.

At the Nelson PULSE Centre, we are building precision medicine around phenomics and multi-omics.

Precision medicine is health care that is tailored to each individual. It considers genetics, environment, lifestyle, and the phenome.

At the Nelson PULSE Centre, we are building precision medicine around phenomics and multi-omics.

Phenomics

is the complete set of measurable traits of a person. It includes heart function, blood pressure, imaging results, and the way diseases progress over time. Studying the phenome gives a real-time picture of health that goes beyond DNA.

Multi-omics

brings together information from many sources such as genomics (genes), proteomics (proteins), and metabolomics (metabolism). When combined with phenomics, these data layers uncover patterns in health and disease that would otherwise remain hidden.

This integrated approach makes it possible to:

Detect disease earlier and more accurately.

Detect disease earlier and more accurately.

Detect disease earlier and more accurately.

Detect disease earlier and more accurately.

Tailor treatments to the way a condition behaves in each individual.

Tailor treatments to the way a condition behaves in each individual.

Tailor treatments to the way a condition behaves in each individual.

Tailor treatments to the way a condition behaves in each individual.

Predict outcomes and risks with greater precision.

Predict outcomes and risks with greater precision.

Predict outcomes and risks with greater precision.

Predict outcomes and risks with greater precision.

Driving AI use to translate complex information into insights that support patients and clinicians across health, social, and community sectors to improve outcomes for all Albertans.

Driving AI use to translate complex information into insights that support patients and clinicians across health, social, and community sectors to improve outcomes for all Albertans.

Driving AI use to translate complex information into insights that support patients and clinicians across health, social, and community sectors to improve outcomes for all Albertans.

Driving AI use to translate complex information into insights that support patients and clinicians across health, social, and community sectors to improve outcomes for all Albertans.

The Role of AI in Health

The Role of AI in Health

AI tools analyze vast, complex datasets to:

Predict patient outcomes.

Predict patient outcomes.

Predict patient outcomes.

Predict patient outcomes.

Support clinical decisions at the bedside.

Support clinical decisions at the bedside.

Support clinical decisions at the bedside.

Support clinical decisions at the bedside.

Offer personalized recommendations instantly.

Offer personalized recommendations instantly.

Offer personalized recommendations instantly.

Offer personalized recommendations instantly.

Improve efficiency and accuracy in patient care.

Improve efficiency and accuracy in patient care.

Improve efficiency and accuracy in patient care.

Improve efficiency and accuracy in patient care.

By combining AI with Alberta’s secure health data platforms, the Nelson PULSE Centre is advancing next-generation healthcare.

By combining AI with Alberta’s secure health data platforms, the Nelson PULSE Centre is advancing next-generation healthcare.

The Nelson Gift

The Nelson Gift

The Nelson Gift

In 2025, Susan Nelson, a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, made a $12 million gift to the University of Calgary to establish the Nelson PULSE Centre.

In 2025, Susan Nelson, a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, made a $12 million gift to the University of Calgary to establish the Nelson PULSE Centre.

This investment:

  • Accelerates Alberta’s ability to integrate health data and AI into patient care.

  • Funds new infrastructure, faculty positions, fellowships and studentships.

  • Creates a collaborative platform that connects government, universities, health services, and industry partners.


Her generosity has given Alberta a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of healthcare.

Join Us

Join Us

Want to support innovation, lead the development of AI-driven health technologies, and create patient-focused, transformative solutions that move the needle for improving patient care?

Want to support innovation, lead the development of AI-driven health technologies, and create patient-focused, transformative solutions that move the needle for improving patient care?

CONTACT OUR TEAM

CONTACT OUR TEAM

CONTACT OUR TEAM

CONTACT OUR TEAM

About Us

About Us

About Us

About Us

Our Story

Our Story

Our Story

Our Story

The Future of Healthcare

The Future of Healthcare

The Future of Healthcare

The Future of Healthcare

Our Donor

Our Donor

Our Donor

Our Donor

Join Us

Join Us

Join Us

Join Us

Website Terms & Conditions

Website Terms & Conditions

Website Terms & Conditions

Website Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Website Feedback

Website Feedback

Website Feedback

Website Feedback

University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary Alberta T2N 1N4
CANADA

Copyright © 2025

University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary Alberta T2N 1N4
CANADA

Copyright © 2025

University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary Alberta T2N 1N4
CANADA

Copyright © 2025

University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary Alberta T2N 1N4
CANADA

Copyright © 2025

The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”

The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”

The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”

The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. On this land and in this place we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”