A major breakthrough may be on the horizon for treating infant brain injuries. HAON Life Sciences, an Irish cell therapy biotech, has received a €10.7 million grant from the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund (DTIF) to accelerate its pioneering treatment for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)—a condition caused by oxygen deprivation at birth that often leads to lifelong disability or death.
For years, therapeutic hypothermia has been the only standard care for HIE. But this approach is only effective within a narrow window—hours after birth—and benefits just a fraction of affected newborns. HAON Life Sciences aims to change that narrative with a new, scalable cell therapy that can potentially repair neurological damage even after the initial treatment window has closed.
Backing a Bold Vision for Regenerative Neonatal Care
The €10.7 million in non-dilutive funding will support the clinical development of CanVas-001, HAON’s flagship therapy targeting early brain injuries. The grant was awarded to the CanVas consortium, a multidisciplinary collaboration led by HAON and supported by University College Cork’s INFANT Research Centre, the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), and biomanufacturing specialist Hi-Tech Health.
Each partner plays a key role: NIBRT leads analytical development, Hi-Tech Health will manufacture the product for clinical use, and INFANT contributes deep expertise in neonatal brain disorders like HIE.
Filling a Critical Gap in Infant Brain Injury Treatment
CanVas-001 is designed specifically for neonatal hypoxic brain injuries, a leading cause of cerebral palsy and long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities. The condition accounts for around 20% of cerebral palsy cases, and with limited options beyond hypothermia, the need for innovative treatments is urgent.
HAON’s therapy combines Endothelial Colony Forming Cells (ECFCs)—known for their vascular regenerative properties—with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) to create a powerful cell-based therapy that tackles both inflammation and vascular injury. This dual mechanism could significantly improve outcomes for infants who previously had little hope of recovery.
Led by Experts in Stem Cell Science and Translational Medicine
HAON was founded in 2022 by biotech veterans Mark O’Neill FCA and Moayed Hamza. Together, they bring decades of experience in regenerative medicine, clinical research, and neurodevelopment. The idea for HAON grew from early research showing how ECFCs could restore brain and blood vessel function in severe injury models.
With this scientific foundation, HAON developed CanVas-001 into a promising allogeneic therapy, meaning it’s derived from donor cells and doesn’t require patient-specific customization—making it easier to scale and more accessible.
Toward a New Era in Brain Injury Treatment
The newly awarded grant marks a critical milestone. It positions HAON and its partners to launch clinical trials of CanVas-001, bringing the therapy one step closer to becoming a first-in-class treatment for HIE.
But HAON’s ambitions don’t stop there. The broader CanVas platform is already being explored for applications in adult neurodegenerative diseases, signaling long-term impact well beyond neonatal care.
With regenerative medicine gaining traction globally, HAON Life Sciences stands at the forefront of a new wave in therapeutic innovation—offering hope where traditional medicine has fallen short.
